Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1868 — THE FIGHTING IN PARAGUAY. [ARTICLE]

THE FIGHTING IN PARAGUAY.

Atlauti o* JBvmIIIuB Boat *—C'uptwre as The Anglo Brazilian Times has several account* of the fighting on the Paraguay river, and on’laud, preceding the capture of the Fortress of Humaita, showing the most determined energy and bravery on hrAh rVmnariHnff tha best Ettaok midnight on the 9th of July, one writer

savs “The Paraguayans had twenty canoes fattened together in pain, each boat with twelve men and an officer in it, and they came from the River Bermejo, edging along the island of Montevita and oohiing out liehind a great collection of aquatic plants, which lay not far from the leading vessel, the Barroso, which, with the Rio Grande. lay al-ovu Tayi As soon- as thev camo beyond these Slants the officers on duty on the arroso receiv' d them and called the men to quarters, so that by the time the boats got alongside the forward part of the vessel the crew were able to keep up a severe musketry fire from the inside and top of th' casemate, and as soon as a sufficient number bad got on deck the two forward guns of the casemate were discharged, loaded with grope, into them, causing gret>t destniction 'rhe Paraguayans fired revolvers, and they also attempted to throw inside the battery asphyating and inflammatory grenades, but without success, and then, finding they could effect nothing forward, tfie Ixiats were dropped astern, blit were repulsed in like manner by the fire of the defenders. Meantime the vessel had gathered way sternwatds. by the working of her screw, and the Paraguayan boats were all ups< tor filled with Water. Some of the Piragnayans then jumped into two boats belonging to the Barroso, and paddled off to the monitor Rl6 Grande, and the rest were destroyed by the crew of the Borroso, who sailed out and slew all that were clinging to the upset or waterlogged boats. Abont the same time the monitor Rio Grande was boarded by the , remaining Paraguayans. The Rio Grands was then within reach of the fire from j Tayi, whose musketry showered upon the swimming Paraguayans. Thirteen boats were captured and the others sunk. Seven Paraguayans were made prisoners on board the two vessels.”

Concerning the capture of Humaita an account written from Passo I’ocn says: ’ “On the evening of the 16th July, Osorio with 10,(100 mpn attacked the part of the works of Humaita, known us the triangle. Tbe two battalions forming., the vanguard got close to’ one of the redoubts without opposition, but when within short range, reeeive<l a tt-rriHe fire Empc "and musketry, which threw them into disorder. The other battalions were then brought up to their support and the redoubt was carried with the bayonet,'but with considerable loss. That he then sent word to the Marquis de Caxias that he held a redonbt and wanted all the reserves at oner- to enable him to bold it and pursue the advantage gained; bnt Caxias ordered him to retreat. That on this order being given, tli? troops fell into confusion, and in their retiral were swept by grape, falling dead in hundreds, and that Osorio, who had two horses killed under him and lost most <4 his staff, was unable to control them in their retreat. Two battalions were almost entixelv. destroy cd in less than forty minutes, and the writer says the Brazilian Joss was at least one thousand men, most of them killed. Another writer says the Paraguayan missiles flew as thick as a handful of .grain; that one battalion, the 4th of the . line, lost ■27.oflfoerß.QHt -2IL-4Uld. nearly, all the privates. He estimates the Brazilian loss at 800 killed and 500 wounded. Another says 1,019 privates and over 150 officers were killed and wounded. The ditches, at part attacked, are said to be of extraordinary depth and width, and the abattis to have been 20 feet higfi, The iron-clad Lima Barros, engaged the batteries of Humaita at the same time. A shell exploded close to one of the gun ports of the forward turret, instantly causing the death of two men, wounding or bruising seven more and setting fire to the mattress lining of the turret. Beside this she was struck with fifteen shot. Anew Paraguayan battery of two guns opened upon the allied position in the Chaco, and thus placing it between two fires, that of the battery and that of Humaita, the Marquis de Caxias ordered Gen. Rivas to attacK upon the 18th and dismantle the new; work. By General Cclly Obes’s dispatch to General Mitje it appears that the battery lay beyond a deep stream and that the ground was almost flooded. Col. Martinez was ordered to advance and reconnoitre the ground with the Rioja battalion, forty or titty skirmishers and two Brazilian battalions, with iionsnottopassthebridgewjtiieh?ihe_Paragnayans had on the stream. Rivas, with the mainlbrces. hail not' started when he received word from Martinez that he had killed forty or fifty Paraguayans; and had learned from prisoners that the Paraguayans were in force. Rivas sent word that he was coming, but before he had mounted received information that Martinez had advanced, Orders were sent to him to retire: but when Rivas arrived he found tEe “ vangnanT lia<T alreafly been routed" and pursued. Checking the pursuit, he obtained reinforcements of two battalions, and drove the Paraguayans over the bridge alter a severe fight. The lossß Of the allies were severe, being stated iu the dispatch at 350 killed and wounded. Many of tho» Riojun battalion threw themselves into the river, and some were picked up. together with their flag, by the gunboats Martinez and Campos, and were either killed or prisoners. Another statement makes the loss 500. Gen. Rivas’ dispatch states the loss to have been as follows: Argentines. 91 killed and 224 wounded; Brazilians. 6(1 killed and 208 woundedTotal, 585.”