Saá abandoned his advance before encountering the enemy force, and fled north of the Río Negro.

[8] On 29 December, Field Marshal João Propício Mena Barreto's [pt] Army of the South reached Paysandú, with two infantry brigades and one artillery regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Émile Mallet;[9][10] while Brazilian cavalry established camp a few kilometers away.

[9][11] Meanwhile, in Paysandú commander Gómez beheaded forty Colorados[12] and fifteen Brazilian prisoners and "hung their still-dripping heads above his trenches in full view of their compatriots".

[13] On 31 December, Brazilians and Colorados recommenced their attack, and after a bitter struggle overran the city's defenses on 2 January 1865.

[15][16] "Suárez's actions were not really unexpected, as several members of his immediate family had fallen victim to Gómez's wrath against the Colorados.