 The peaceful lull following the Cisplatine conflict did not last long . On 20 September 1835 , a civil war erupted in Rio Grande do Sul . The revolt , known as the Ragamuffin War , began after the provincial president ( governor ) was removed from office in a coup d 'état . Despite the nickname , the Ragamuffin rebels were landlords , like Marques de Sousa , who after losing elections tried to take power by force . Marques de Sousa was among the army officers in the province who remained loyal to the deposed president . He fought in the Battle of <unk> Grande on 14 October 1835 , in which rebel troops were defeated . But the forces loyal to the legitimate government were heavily outnumbered . Marques de Sousa and the deposed president departed for Rio de Janeiro to request aid , but the central government was unable to render much assistance , as rebellions and riots had broken out all over the country . With the infantry 's 1st Battalion of Caçadores ( Sharpshooters ) placed under his command , Marques de Sousa embarked on 8 March 1836 for Pelotas , in southeastern Rio Grande do Sul , after being named its military commander . 
