Fourth son of a humble family of 14 children, he learned to read and write without regular studies. On May 1, 1823, with fifteen incomplete years, he enlisted as a volunteer in the Cavalry of the Legion of São Paulo, current 5th Mechanized Cavalry Regiment, and accompanied his father's regiment in the fight against the Portuguese troops of Brigadier Álvaro Da Costa, stationed in Cisplatina (present - day Uruguay), during the War of Independence of Brazil (1822-1824). He was only 15 years old when he had his baptism of fire on the banks of the Miguelete stream (May 13), near Montevideo, in a battle against Portuguese cavalry. A year later, he was appointed cadet and, later, second lieutenants of the 3rd Regiment of Cavalry of the first line.