Battle of Jenipapo The Battle of Jenipapo was fought near the river Jenipapo in the then province of Piauí , on 13 March 1823 , between the Brazilian Army and the Portuguese Army during the Brazilian War of Independence . The Battle of Jenipapo occurred on the banks of the creek of the same name on March 13 , 1823 , which was decisive for the independence of Brazil and consolidation of the national territory . Consisted in the fight Piauí , Ceará and Maranhão against the troops of Major John Fidié José da Cunha , who was the commander of the Portuguese troops , charged with keeping the north of the former Portuguese colony loyal to the Crown . It is noteworthy that the Brazilians fought with simple tools , not with weapons of war , had no experience , i . e . , knowing the condition of struggle , they departed for combat . They lost the battle , but made the troop divert your destination . If the Major continued to march Oeiras , then capital , may not find strength and fulfill its goal . It was one of the sharpest and bloodiest battles fought in the war of independence of Brazil . Painting depicting the Battle of Jenipapo , which is available in the museum at the monument in Campo Maior Unfortunately the date is forgotten , not in the history books and few know of the incident , even in Piauí , where the battle occurred . But , after a few moves by politicians , historians and the public , the date was added to the flag of Piaui and is ongoing deployment of the Battle of Jenipapo study in the discipline of history . During the celebrations and reflections on the 13th of March the city of Campo Maior takes delivery of Merit Medal Heroes Jenipapo and ( a ) Governor ( a ) of Piauí , the Order of Merit of the Piaui Renaissance , during which uses the same track government . The Battle The population of Campo Maior , to learn that Fidié came from Parnaíba bound to Oeiras and would there be mobilized in order to prevent him from continuing journey . On the night of March 12 , the men of the city and surrounding areas were regimented . Everyone wanted to fight to rid the Piauí Portuguese rule . Women encouraged their husbands , relatives and friends , packed up what they could have sold their jewelry , all were committed to unite in one ideal : to fight . The dawn on March 13 , 1823 heralded a clear day with few clouds and very hot . It was a year in which drought punished the Northeast . The command signal , all men gathered in front of the Church of St . Anthony . The combatants Piauí and Ceará were not wearing uniforms . Outside the city , to meet Fidié , there was a performance with the band music in which there was a military parade . The mass of fighters who would fight for Brazil left elated to the drums . Without even predict the steps they took with them the flame of freedom burning in the chest . The certainty of death did not take the spirits of those who would die for his country . About two thousand men marched into battle . The weapons they used were old swords , spears , axes , knives and sickles , sticks and stones and some rifles used . Without any experience in wars , piauienses reached the shores of Rio Jenipapo , where they intended to prevent the passage of Fidié . As the creek was almost dry , most patriots hid himself in the very bed of the stream , while the other part is hidden in the thickets of scrub drain near the ravine . And they were waiting for the Portuguese army , which , of course , had to pass that way . Where were you could see when the Portuguese were close to the scene of the fight because the terrain was quite flat , with vast plains , open without shelter algum . O minded people to become independent was entrenched and knew that ahead of them was a road was divided into two , one for right and one left . Only they were in doubt which of the paths coming Fidié . Shortly after eight o ' clock , Captain Rodrigues Chaves sent a patrol to probe where the battle would be fought . Fidié to arrive at the place where the road was divided decided to send one half of the army on one side and half on the other side . He was one of the halves with the left and the cavalry was on the right . The independent , not knowing that the division Fidié had done in his contingent were right by the road meeting with the Portuguese cavalry , being surprised . They advanced bravely against cavalry . The Portuguese were dismayed with the courage and bravery of Piaui , where they ended up retreating . At this time the piauienses chased the Portuguese inland road . The combatants Piaui , hearing the shooting , found that the confrontation had begun . Came out of the trenches in which used as a defensive position and were precitadamente the road right behind the enemy , only the Portuguese troops were no longer there . Fidié to learn of the incident crossed the river Jenipapo the left road , hastily built a barricade , distributed heavy weapons , organized the shooters position battlefront ( online ) in the trenches where they were before the Piaui and hoped they return there . Before the piauienses were in a favorable position now everything is reversed . When piauienses saw the adverse situation only found an alternative , attacking Fidié the same time and in all directions along the banks of the river . In the first moment of the fight were many casualties on the part of Piaui . Dozens of bodies fell by the bullets of the Portuguese army . The few who managed to cross the line of fire gave their last breath to the mouth of the cannon , with great boldness not fearing anything against life but for country representation in tremendous love for the same . With this demonstration of love for the motherland and bravery that piauienses had meant that the Portuguese stay scared , because they have never seen such audacity anywhere in the world . Successive attacks as a result of Piauí had many dead on the floor . The musketry and cannon fire of the Portuguese swept the battlefield from one side to the other . Those who could pass by blocking fire could grapple with the Portuguese . At noon , the piauienses were tired and not sure that would win the Portuguese , this time no longer fought over crawled to the encounter with death . At two o ' clock in the afternoon , after five hours of fighting , the liberators withdrew in disorder , leaving 542 prisoners , 200 killed and wounded , Fidié that whose losses were estimated at 116 dead and 60 wounded , parked on the farm Tombador the about one kilometer from Campo Maior . Fidié and his army fell tired . The sun scorching and fear of Valour piauienses not allow the Portuguese troops should pursue them , even though they had already defeated them . The Ceará Captain Nereus at the time of withdrawal led most of the baggage of the Portuguese , consisting of food , water , some weapons and even a small treasure Fidié brought the plunder they had done in the city of Parnaíba . Fidié spent two days in the city of Campo Maior burying their dead . On March 16 , 1823 , left the city going to the Tin . Fidié months later was arrested in Caxias , Maranhão , there Oeiras taken to where it was sent to Rio de Janeiro . River he was sent back to Portugal , where he was received with military honors for services to the Portuguese Crown . Among the titles received the Commander of the Order of Avis , the oldest military decoration Portuguese founded by Afonso Henriques in 1162 . Just received this commendation the soldier who showed extreme courage , boldness and courage . In the place where there was the Battle Monument was erected in memory of the one who died there piauienses the independence of our country . Situated on the left bank of the river is actually an attractive tourist spot and is also a part of the collection used by war fighters . These pieces belonged to the former Museum of the leather that has been transferred there .