Language, flags, denominations and distinctions vary along the way north, but the underlying cause for war would remain the same for another century.

The world is changing too fast for the tradition- oriented, earthbound gaucho. Immigrants flock into the cities with modern but strange ideas; political ideas such as government through Republic, or economic ideas such as free trade. Foreigners also enrich themselves faster than the tradition- oriented citizens, expanding their de facto political power. In response to these sweeping changes, Argentine Unitarians, led by Justo José de Urquiza, stand up against Rosas, El Restaurador de las Leyes (The Restorer of Law), and side with the traditionalist Blancos party in Uruguay, led by Oribe, Defensor de las Leyes (Upholder of Laws), and monarchists in Brazil.

Ultimately it was Urquiza, backed by Brazilian monarchists and others, who deposed Rosas and triggered Argentine modernization, including the substantial improvement of the population's education under Sarmiento. The tradition- oriented Brazilians who supported Urquiza never trusted him; their first choice should have been to side with Rosas. But Rosas was too much for them. They knew they would do better with a weaker leader in Argentina who would not hamper Brazil's access to Montevideo and Paraguay.

As Fierro and Sombra made progress on their northern destination, they encountered several instances of these ideological clashes with similar protagonists, largely unaware of each other's battles.

On the eastern side of the River Uruguay, Oribe proved to be more of an educationalist than his ally Rosas in Argentina ever was. Oribe had decamped his forces at the Cerrito de la Victoria and built a seventy- five- foot- tall observation tower to peep into the fortressed city of Montevideo, which he would besiege for almost nine years. Oribe could well have been a voyeur. During that time, much to the chagrin of Oribe's gaucho army, there were some battles, though not many, and all were indecisive. Oribe balanced the penchant for immediate results of his gaucho army with the hesitancy of his intellectual supporters. Oribe controlled the land, but Montevideo was a port and it would be supplied by the French and British ships that backed the city.