Joaquín Madariaga

Pedro Ferré named Joaquín's brother, Juan Madariaga, as commander of Mercedes and Curuzú Cuatiá.Upon the arrival of José Maria Paz in Corrientes, he participated in the campaign against the first invasion of the Governor of Entre Ríos, Pascual Echagüe.On April 1, 1843, the Madariaga brothers and some more officials crossed the Uruguay River near Uruguaiana, on what would later be known as the 'Paso de los Libres'.With the support of some leaders like Nicanor Cáceres and Benjamín Virasoro, within thirteen days they occupied the entire province, forcing Governor Pedro Cabral to flee toward the Entre Ríos.In November 1844 General Paz arrived at Corrientes, and immediately, Madariaga put him in control of the provincial forces.Almost alone, the ex governor Madariaga fled to Paraguay and directed himself to Asunción, where he planned to drag President López into the war against Rosas.