“MONSTROUS AND ILLEGAL PROCEEDINGS”: LAW ...

The incident also revealed how imperial officials could be pulled into borderlands
disputes over property rights. What began in the 1850s with allegations of fraud had by
1860 escalated into a direct confrontation between the Brazilian consulate and Uruguayan
officials in Montevideo. Bica’s efforts to protect his own property and personal reputation
in the Estado Oriental equally began to intertwine with the conflicts between Mitre and
Urquiza to secure local political allies in the correntino borderlands. Flores had occupied
Corrientes to support Mitre’s provincial allies. With the province now secure, Flores now
utilized his connections with Mitre to prepare an invasion of the Estado Oriental. Flores
actively drew upon his connections to the ranching communities in Corrientes and the
colorados in Uruguay to assemble a small force. Not surprisingly, Mitre supported Flores’
efforts. A colorado triumph promised to increase his own influence in the neighboring
republic by providing a more reliable ally than Berro. It also promised to further weaken
Urquiza by surrounding Entre Ríos on all sides with pro-Mitrista forces. 226
Mitre again provided logistical support for his old ally by supplying arms and
finances to the Uruguayan general. Within a year, Flores was ready to invade the Uruguayan
borderlands. On 19 April 1863, Flores crossed the Uruguay on a ship provided by Mitre’s
government. Colorado and Brazilian groups quickly bolstered his ranks. Despite substantial
support from both Brazil and Argentina, Flores still lacked sufficient strength to confront
the Uruguayan government directly. The colorado general avoided pitched battles,
maneuvering his smaller force across the borderlands. The goal was to destabilize Berro’s
government and lay the groundwork for an intervention from either Argentina or Brazil. 227
226 Barrán, Apogeo y Crisis, 88-90.
227 Ibid.
253