[Extract.]
Mr. Asboth to Mr.
Seward
No. 38.]
Legation of the United States,
Buenos Ayres,
August 10, 1867.
Sir: In connection with my despatch No. 36,
dated 26th ultimo, I have the honor to report that the long-looked for
account of a decisive action in Paraguay has not yet been received. By
latest news the main allied army, consisting as is asserted of about
30,000 men, which, as anticipated in my above-mentioned report, began
its flank march on the 22d ultimo, had on the 31st of the same month
reached a place called San Solano, to the rear of Humaita, and about a
league and a half distant from that fort. President Mitre, who had
simultaneously landed at Itapiru following the somewhat original
invitation of the Marquis de Caxias, which I beg to enclose, marked A,
arrived at headquarters on the same day and at once resumed the
command-in-chief. In their circuitous march the allies had met with no
opposition from the Paraguayans, who seem to have fallen back within
their intrenched lines round Huamita, setting fire to every camp as they
retreated. The vanguard under the orders of Osorio had pressed forward
to a place further north called Pilar, but the Paraguayans, lurking
along the extended line of the invading army, had succeeded in carrying
off a troop of 800 cattle, which proves the insecurity of the allied
army’s communications with its river base, and the great risk it runs of
having its supplies cut off, unless it can put itself in contact with
the Brazilian fleet above Humaita. No signs, however, of a movement on
the part of the fleet is reported.
The state of affairs in the interior provinces gives room to fear new
troubles. The government has received official intelligence that Juan
Saá, one of the leaders in the late revolution, after reorganizing a
force in Chili, had landed at Oobija and set out on an expedition
against the Argentine Republic. Energetic measures to meet the occasion
are said, however, to have been adopted, both by General Paunero and by
the governor of Salta, by which province it was surmised that Juan Saá
intended to invade the Argentine territory.
The house of representatives of the national congress has passed a bill
making Rasario the future permanent capital of the republic. The bill is
now before the senate, by whom also it will probably be approved.
[Page 217]
On the night of the 27th ultimo, a second fire broke out in the
government house here, and, with the exception of the documents and the
cash kept in the iron safes, destroyed almost everything that had been
saved from the former one. The cause of the fire is still a mystery.
The national government has applied to the Provincial Bank for a loan of
2,000,000 of hard dollars, which it will most probably obtain, since the
provincial government is in favor of granting it.
* * * * * * * *
Enclosed, marked E, you will moreover please find copies of another note
of Señor de Elizalde, dated 1st instant, with the official announcement
that Vice President Paz had once more taken charge of the executive,
consequent on President Mitre’s departure for the seat of war, and of my
reply thereto.
For further particulars I beg respectfully to refer you to my daily
memoranda of political events in the river Plata, from 27th ultimo to
10th instant, in enclosure D.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Marquis de Caxias to General Mitre
Headquarters, in Neyute,
July 28, 1867.
Your Excellency: I have been favored by his
excellency, General Don Juan A. Gelly Y. Obes, with the announcement
of your excellency’s safe arrival at the camp in Tuyuti, for which I
and the allied armies congratulate ourselves most cordially,
awaiting the orders which your excellency as commander-in-chief may
be pleased to transmit to me, in order that I may duly carry them
out.
Meanwhile I beg herewith to inform your excellency that having
undertaken a march at the head of the allied armies on the 22d
instant, I took the direction of a pass called “Tio Domingo,” and
wading at that point the Rojas stream, we followed in a line
parallel with it, seeking the left of the enemy’s intrenched lines,
where they have as it appears to me reconcentrated themselves,
without, however, having up to now opposed any impediment to our
march.
The position we occupy to-day is that of Neyute, which as your
excellency knows is at about a short league distance from the Rojas
stream and the Piris pass, and our communication with the base of
operations remains as yet clear. This means that if your excellency,
complying with the wishes of the allied armies, should decide upon
coming and honor this camp with your presence, you can do so with
the utmost safety.
It will be agreeable to me to hear that your excellency,
notwithstanding the drawbacks generally attending a journey, has
suffered no alteration in your health, which is so valuable.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your excellency the
sincere assurances of esteem and high consideration with which I
have the honor to be your excellency’s
His Excellency General Don BartolomÉ
Mitre,
Commander-in-chief of the allied armies in the
field against the government of Paraguay,
Daily memoranda of political events in the River Plata from the
27th July to the 10th August, 1867.
July 27.—Another fire broke out last, night in
the government house here and destroyed what had been spared from
the one which occurred on the 14th ultimo, as owing to the very
defective arrangements for fire engines and water supply the flames
were not got under until they had completely burnt out the whole
building. All that was saved was the papers and cash contained in
the iron safes. There are naturally some strong doubts of foul play,
but they do not as yet go beyond unsupported suspicions.
July 29.—The Tribuna publishes the budget and
custom laws submitted by the finance minister to congress.
Expenditure for 1868, 8,000,000; ways and means, 10,500,000; extra
[Page 218]
duties, 3,000,000;
surplus income, 2,500,000. The custom laws remain unaltered both in
imposts and exports.
The provincial government has offered to make room for the national
government in its own house of business, but the latter has accepted
accommodations only for the department of the interior.
July 30.—The Pueblo says that in the secret
session held last week in congress, a very animated debate took
place. Dr. Elizalde, the minister for foreign affairs, was
questioned bythe house, which was entirely opposed to him, and the
result was the unanimous rejection of the articles of the protocol
attached to the triple alliance treaty.
The Martin Garcia fortifications are the great topic of the day in
the Rio papers, and the question is likely to assume alarming
dimensions. The Tribuna of to-day reproduces and comments upon an
article of the Diario de Rio, which insists that no fortifications
should be allowed to be raised in Martin Garcia when the treaty of
the triple alliance disarms Paraguay. The Tribuna maintains the
perfect right of the Argentine Republic to fortify the island.
In Montevideo people look with considerable distrust upon the crisis
which the coming elections in November will bring about in the
capital. General Flores finds himself at present in a position which
will require an extraordinary degree of talent to extricate himself
from in any satisfactory manner. The daily increasing risk he runs
of being assassinated, unless he puts an end to the present
unsettled state of things, and takes some decided step to give to
the country its constitutional form of government, is subject of
open talk in Montevideo.
July 31.—The question of the permanent seat of
government, which is to be brought before the House of National
Representatives to-day, has for some time past been extensively
discussed by the local press. To-day’s Tribuna contains an article
from the pen of Juan Carlos Gomez, one of the most talented writers
of the day in the river Plata, advocating the fusion of the
Argentine, Uruguay, and Paraguay republics into one nation, “the
United States of the River Plata,” having its capital in Montevideo.
Señor Gomez is himself an Oriental who lives in voluntary exile
because, although he belongs to the Colorado party, he is personally
opposed to General Flores. The Tribuna makes some comments favorable
to the idea initiated by Señor Gomez.
The following extract from a correspondence from the seat of war in
Paraguay is taken from to-day’s Standard, and gives the number of
Paraguayan batteries and the strength of the allied army:
“Yesterday there was another grand balloon ascent, taking up four
persons. Mr. James Allen is a clever aeronaut. We are on the eve of
a dreadful battle, but it will not be the last. The Paraguayans are
very strong, and, besides their parks of field artillery, we have
counted from the balloon the following batteries:
| Avanzada |
24 |
Berges |
1 |
| Rancho |
3 |
Mirador |
2 |
| Mme. Linch |
8 |
Pererria |
6 |
| Lopez |
7 |
Aguiar |
6 |
| Diez |
7 |
Caray Guasaie |
5 |
| Barrios |
10 |
Ultima (izquierda) |
10 |
| Hijo de Lynch |
2 |
Angulo |
9 |
| Malacoff |
3 |
|
|
| Naranjal |
2 |
Total number of guns |
109 |
| Corrales |
4 |
|
|
“The allied forces on march are—
| Brazilians |
23,000 |
| Argentines |
6,000 |
| Orientals |
1,500 |
“The division left to protect our camp at Tuyuti comprises 13,120, of
whom 12,000 are Brazilians and the rest Argentines and Paraguayan
prisoners of war.
August 1.—The Tribuna publishes the tables
of exports and imports for last year, taken from the report of
the finance minister, which show a steady increase over those of
the preceding year. The total imports in 1865 were $27,103,017;
in 1866, $32,269,082. The exports in 1865 were $21,996,777, and
in 1866, $23,029,711.
The Standard says that the national government has obtained a
loan of $200,000 from the provincial government.
The provincial legislature of Santa Fé has sanctioned a law
offering to congress the city of Rosario for the purpose of
making it the capital of the republic.
August 2.—The following is taken from the
Standard of to-day, announcing the advance of the allies in
Paraguay:
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The war in the north.–Important letter from Sinbad.–Advance
movement of the allies.
Gentlemen: On the morning of the 22d the
long-looked for move was made at Tuyuti. Caxias, at the head of
20,000 men of all arms, left the encampment, following an easterly
course, leaving the fens of Estero Bellaco wide upon his left. In
the afternoon a junction was made with the vanguard that marched
hence from this point yesterday, under the command of Osorio. The
aggressive allied forces passed the night at a distance of three
leagues from the starting place. The balloon was seen during the day
a little above the horizon, accompanying the march. At sunset it had
a very different bearing from the previous ascent. Up to a late hour
of the day not a single Paraguayan had been seen by the invaders.
Porto Alegre, with 8,000 men strongly entrenched at Tuyuti, remained
in defence of the lines established there. A short half league hence
is encamped a reserve force of 2,000 Brazilian cavalry. The
earthworks that are being raised here are nearly finished. The
extraordinary fineness of the weather favors the onward movement;
the mornings and nights are cool; the days are calm and cloudless;
the noonday sun, however, is a warning that summer is impending,
when the thermometer will indicate 100° and upwards of heat; when
fatal fevers, or perhaps the cholera, will be rampant; when every
nook and corner will be swarming with millions of flies and gnats
which give no rest by day, while myriads of mosquitos, with their
detestable hum, and still worse painful bites, give no peace at
night. At present we are free from these Egyptian plagues, but in
their absence we have a dangerous insect to cope with, the “pique,”
known in tropical climes as the “jigger.” At the present moment in
the Argentine hospital there are several cases deserving pity; the
sufferers are unable to move, owing to their heels and toes being
lacerated in a shocking manner while extracting the hurtful vermin;
in more than one instance lockjaw has supervened the operation.
August 3.—A decree of the national government
published to-day grants to each of the provinces of San Luis,
Mendoza, San Juan, and Rioja, on account of what they have suffered
during the late revolution, an extraordinary subsidy of 20,000 hard
dollars, to be paid in monthly instalments of 5,000 dollars.
In yesterday’s Kitting of the National House of Deputies the question
of the future capital of the republic was decided. Dr. Quintaua’s
bill removing it to Rosario was carried by a large majority. The
debate was very animated.
The Standard says that the debate in the Senate on the triple
alliance treaty has been kept a great secret, but it would appear
that the Senate approves the vote of the lower house, and that the
articles of the protocol will be cancelled.
The news from Rioja is of a most melancholy nature. The full detail
of the plunder and rapine published by the newspapers are scarcely
to be credited. Taboada is, however, in possession of the province,
and there is now some law and order maintained. The Tribuna calls
upon the deputies of Rioja to appeal to congress for a subscription
in favor of the many families reduced to beggary in this unfortunate
province, certain that it will be generously supported by the people
and the government.
August 5.—The English steamer Georgia Belle
brings dates from Paraguay to 31st ultimo. President Mitre had
arrived at Tuyuti. The allied army was on the march, but was not
supposed to have gone more than eight leagues from Tuyuti. The fleet
had not moved yet to attack and pass Humaita. It is said the Marquis
de Caxias has stated the Paraguayans have 40,000 men, and that he
was deceived as to their numbers, having hitherto believed them only
20,000 strong.
The Tribuna publishes a long article to prove that the legislative
assembly of the province of Santa Féhas violated its provincial
constitution by passing the law offering Rosario as the future
capital of the republic.
The same paper reproduces the note of the Brazilian minister in
Paris, dated 12th June last, answering SeñorBerges’s note to the
Hon. Chas. A. Washburn, of 24th March of this year, relative to the
causes of the present war in Paraguay.
August 6.—The Cisne, arrived late yesterday
afternoon from the seat of war in Paraguay, has brought dates from
Itapiru of the 2d instant. On the 1st the main army had reached the
village of Tuyuleue, distant only one league from Humaita. The
vanguard, under Osorio, had had a brush with the enemy’s cavalry,
who attempted to dispute the pass called Tio Domingo. The
Paraguayans are said to have fought valiantly, but were overpowered
by numbers, and left more than 100 dead on the field. General Mitre
joined the headquarters of the army on the afternoon of the 31st. He
made a march across the country through very dangerous ground,
having almost to cross through the enemy’s advanced lines, at one of
which they tried to impede his passage but were driven back. On his
arrival the Marquis de Caxias surrendered the chief command, and the
whole army was placed under President Mitre’s orders.
In Entre Rios, Deputy Ocampo, who was lately expelled from congress,
has been unanimously re-elected.
August 7.—Further details from the seat of
war, published from private correspondence and other sources, do not
tend to throw much light on the operations and present position of
[Page 220]
the allies. It would
even appear, according to some, that the army had advanced too far,
and that it is in the most critical position, unless the fleet pass
Humaita. But, by last dates, the iron-clads were at the same
anchorage in the river Paraguay, abreast of the abandoned works at
Curuzu.
August 8.—Reports that the government of Entre
Rios had invested largely in the purchase of fire-arms gave rise,
some short time ago, to an article in the Nacion Argentina, calling
upon the national government to ask explanations from that
provincial government about such apparently hostile measures. The
Uruguay, a newspaper which passes for being the official organ of
the Entre Rios government, has published a violent article in reply
to the Nacion Argentina, in which it openly avows that the armament
purchased by the government of Entre Rios is destined to combat and
resist the intentions of the national government, which it goes so
far as to style a “black tyrant” The Tribuna, in reproducing this
article of the Uruguay, comments severely upon its undignified and
irritating tone, and maintains that, if General Urquiza be driven by
those who surround him to raise once more the banner of revolt
against the national authorities, he can have no chance of success
against the rest of the republic, and that his real enemies are
those who may force him into hostilities, since no one, more than
General Urquiza himself, feels the necessity of peace.
The Tribuna says that all the theatres are preparing to give
patriotic demonstrations on the night of the day in which the news
of the battle, expected to take place every moment in Paraguay,
arrives, in case it should be favorable to the allied arms.
August 9.—The Susan Bearne, which was
anxiously looked for with news from Paraguay, arrived here
yesterday, bringing dates to the 4th. No fight whatever had taken
place, and the fleet had not even attempted to pass Humaita. The
army rests in the same place as by last accounts, and the
Paraguayans continue to harass the line of communication. They had
succeeded in carrying off a troop of 800 to 1,000 head of cattle,
and General Hemos, at the head of a flying column, had been detached
to protect the connecting army road.
August 10.—The following are extracts from a
correspondence, dated Itapiree, August 4, published in to-day’s
Standard: “Although the Paraguayans never appeared in such force as
to threaten our flank, still the extreme length and irregular nature
of the road, occasionally traversed by streams and marshes, and
covered here and there on either side by dense woods, offered
shelter to the numerous small squads who prowled about to cut off
stragglers.” “I am inclined to believe that the campaign is far from
being concluded. Lopez has shut himself up within a series of
ditches and parapets, extending from Curupaity to Humaita and thence
to his extreme left in Tuyuti.” “The loss of the 800 head of cattle
produced a fearful sensation in Tuyu Cue’; and, although there was
no lack of provisions, the troops were immediately put on half
rations”
The national government has received a chasque (special messenger)
from the governor of the province of Salta, announcing that Juan
Saa, who was already known to have disem barked in Cobija, had put
himself in march at the head of a considerable number of followers
and reached a place called Calama, in Bolivia, 30 leagues inland
from Cobija, where, after refreshing his horses, he intended to
invade the Argentine territory by the province of Salta. The
government of Salta, as well as General Paunero, seem to have taken
all the necessary measures to give the invaders a proper
reception.
