The former viceroy, Santiago de Liniers, led an ill-fated counter-revolutionary attempt from the city of Córdoba (in Argentina), and it was quickly frustrated by the patriotic forces of the newly formed Army of the North.

[1] The royalist perspectives were favourable: the Junta was not recognized by Paraguay, Montevideo was preparing to take actions, and Goyeneche and Nieto could bring strong reinforcements from the north.

Although this ruling is commonly attributed to Mariano Moreno, it was supported and signed by all members of the Junta, with the sole exception of Manuel Alberti, who could not approve capital punishment because of his religious titles.

[2] Mariano Moreno did not accept this, fearing that the prestige of Liniers may cause a political commotion if held prisoner or executed in the city.

Castelli got to the prisoners in time, and shot them without trial at Cabeza de Tigre, a staging post on the southern banks of Tercero River in southeastern Córdoba.