The allied land army still occupies the same position as reported in my
despatch above alluded to, and its complete inaction affords the
Paraguayans time to strengthen their old fortifications and throw up new
ones, and thus render an attack by the allies every day more difficult.
The Paraguayans have also again occupied the Curuzu position, abandoned
by the allies, and are busy mounting heavy guns there.
While matters stand in this critical position at the seat of war, the
party of reaction in the Argentine Republic is again putting forth its
hydra head of rebellion. A revolution broke out in Cordova on the 16th
instant, pregnant with the most serious and alarming consequences.
It appears that Governor Luque, of Cordova, having suddenly determined
upon a journey to Buenos Ayres for the purpose of conferring with the
national government, had delegated the governorship of the province to
Don Carlos Roca and left Cordova. He had, however, scarcely arrived in
Rosario, on his way to Buenos Ayers, when a messenger from the governor
delegate Roca overtook him, and informed him that the day following that
on which he had started from the capital of his province, a
revolutionary movement, headed by one Luengo, had successfully broken
out; that the national minister of war, General Martinez, who happened
to be in Cordova on a mission from the federal government, the commander
of the national forces in the province, Colonel Ayala, and the federal
judge, had been thrown into jail, and that he, the governor delegate,
had been obliged to hide in a convent. On the receipt of this alarming
intelligence, Governor Luque, seconded by Governor Oroño, of Santa Fé,
at once proceeded to take the most energetic measures to put down this
outbreak, and on the morning of the 19th started back again from Rosario
towards Cordova, accompanied by Governor Oroño and a small force of
Santa Fé national guards. The news reached the national government here
on the 19th, when it immediately issued a decree against the authors and
abettors of this new revolution, and appointed General Couesa to march
at the head of an expeditionary force to re-establish order and release
from jail the imprisoned national authorities. A copy of this decree you
will please find in enclosure A, my daily memoranda of political events
from the 12th to the 24th of August, under date of the 22d. Minister
Rawson was, moreover, despatched yesterday to the theatre of
disturbances under a commission from the national government. By latest
accounts General Conesa had proceeded on the 24th instant from Rosario
to Villanueva, where Governor Luque was waiting for him at the head of
1,200 men.
The news of this Cordova revolution seems to have had not a little
influence upon the deliberations of the national senate on the question
of the capital, inasmuch as on the very day of its arrival, the bill
fixing the capital in Rosario, sent up from the lower house, where it
had passed by a large majority, was thrown out in the upper house by the
very narrow majority of one, the numbers being 11 for and 12 against the
motion.
For further details I beg leave respectfully to refer you to enclosure A,
already alluded to, containing my daily memoranda of political events in
the river Plata from the 12th to the 24th of this month.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
Daily memoranda of political events in the River Plata from the
12th to the 24th August, 1867.
August 12.—The mail steamer from Paraguay,
arrived yesterday, has brought news of a partial engagement between
a column of the allied and another of the Paraguayan army. A
translation of the official document is herewith appended:
“San Solano,
August 3.
“To his Excellency General MlTRE, Commander-in-chief:
“Having returned from the commission intrusted to me, I have the
honor to report as follows:
“Before daybreak I set out with my division, taking Colonel
Rodriguez’s 11th regiment. Arriving near San Solano I ordered
Colonels Sobrinho and Da Silva, with their respective regiments, to
support Rodriguez. At 7 a. m., when within 1,500 yards of San
Solano, Rodriguez came upon an enemy’s picket of 20 men, who fell
back to Penimbú. Here the Paraguayans had a force of 600 or 700
cavalry, mostly badly mounted, which he drove back and pursued as
far as Arroyo Hondo, some three miles from Penimbú.
“Brigadier Neves being then ordered up with three companies, the
enemy were routed and put to the sword as far as Posta Chuché, some
six miles below Villa Pilar. Many of the fugitives saved themselves
in the woods.
“The enemy’s loss is estimated at 150 slain and 34 prisoners, besides
a booty of 600 head of cattle, 360 horses, two wagons, 400 lances
and carbines, seven swords, and a quantity of sappers’ implements.
We have, moreover, cut their telegraph wires running from Humaita to
Asuncion in 10 or 12 places, destroying their communication for
about, four leagues.
“At 11 a. m., being close behind Humaita, I ordered the advanced
columns to fall back; and, when all my forces were reassembled, we
marched back to San Salano and encamped here at 2 p. m. Our
casualties do not exceed one man killed and eight wounded. In
crossing the bridge over the Arroyo I detailed the Argentines and a
Brazilian corps to cover our rear. This is all I have to report in
the matter.
“ENRIQUE CASTRO.”
The national government has revoked the edict of punishment against
Messrs. Navarro Viola, Plaza Montero, Lacalle, and others, who had
been exiled on account of the supposed revolutionary movement said
to have been discovered at Buenos Ayres in the month of February
last.
August 13.—The following extract from a
private correspondence from the headquarters of the allied army,
dated Paso Canvas, August 6, 1867, is published in to-day’s Tribuna:
“We find ourselves on the extreme left of the enemy’s lines, in
sight of Humaita It seems resolved that we are to besiege and not
attack. Since the movement began all the army has felt confident of
the good result of this operation. On our march we did not fire a
single shot. Lopez has reconcentrated his men within his
fortifications, and only a portion of the Rio Grande cavalry had a
brush with the enemy and made a brilliant charge near the small
village of Turulene.”
There are some flying rumors that a general citation of the Entre
Riavo militia has been determined on, and that the whole of the
provincial forces are to be called out about the 1st of September
next. People, however, who come down from Entre Rios report
everything quiet there and no sign whatever of any disturbance.
Pursuant to a printed circular from the Austrian consulate here, all
the diplomatic and consular foreign agents of monarchical powers
represented here hoisted their flags at half-mast to-day, in memory
of the late Prince Maximilian, emperor, so-called, of Mexico.
Neither the local government of the Argentine Republic nor the
legations and consulate of the United States of America and of the
republic of Chili have taken part in this manifestation.
August 14.—The Standard of to-day publishes a
letter from its correspondent at the seat of war, dated the 9th
instant, from which the following is an extract: “Respecting the
battle, we will not attempt to predict when it may take place. It
would seem to be the policy of Lopez to avoid fighting. It may
answer his purpose better to make a network of ditches on all sides,
to seek the shelter of the jungles and bogs, and from thence carry
on a guerilla warfare. Perhaps in the whole universe there is not a
spot of such peculiar fitness for a small force to dispute with a
greater number than the Estero Bellaco and the circumjacent
country.”
The diplomatic and consular agents of foreign monarchical powers
represented here hoisted their flags at half-mast again to-day on
account of the death of the late emperor, so-called, Maximilian.
August 15.—The following translation of an
article from a Brazilian newspaper, the Diario do Rio, is published
in to-day’s Standard:
“The Island of Martin Garcia.—The question
which we raised relative to the fortification of Martin Garcia was
frankly and opportunely represented to the chamber by the deputy,
Joaquim Manuel de Macedo.
“His excellency announced his intention to address his inquiries on
this subject to the min
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ister of foreign affairs, and it is to be expected that as far as
diplomatic secrecy permits, the government will furnish at once
satisfactory explanations.
“Under all its aspects this is a most serious question. It is the
future menace, if not the announcement of a conflict which must turn
out a sanguinary one.
“The fortification of the island of Martin Garcia by the Argentine
government would, at the present moment, be the denial of its own
policy in relation to the war with Paraguay.
“In this there would be a want of logic and a want of loyalty which
we cannot expect from an allied and friendly government.
“The first gun fired from the new fortification, if it were carried
out, would be in direct opposition to the treaty of the triple
alliance and to the very declaration of war against the government
of the dictator of Paraguay. Laying aside the affront to the two
countries given by that tyrant, the Paraguayan war is carried on in
the name of principles of humanity and civilization.
“The freedom of river navigation, upheld by Brazil, at the cost of
her best blood, as a cardinal principle of her policy and a
reciprocal guarantee to the commerce and to the peace of South
America, can by no means ever again admit of sophisms.
“The want of action on the part of the empire, in the face of this
monstrous and ill-timed measure adopted by the Argentine congress,
would involve a lamentable complicity, and render the imperial
government author and victim of an incurable error.
“The confidence which we still feel in the good sense and loyalty of
the Argentine people and government leads us to expect a prompt and
amicable solution of the difficulty which has so unexpectedly
arisen.”
This being the birthday of the Emperor Napoleon, the French minister
gives an official dinner, to which all the diplomatic corps here are
invited, as well as the Argentine minister for foreign affairs.
August 16.—The last steamer from the seat of
war has brought the news that on the 11th instant a column of
Paraguayans attacked a convoy of 30 carts within half a league of
Tuyuti. They defeated the guard that accompanied it, and were
carrying off the booty, when re-enforcements sent from the allied
lines succeeded in recapturing a portion of the convoy.
August 17.—The Standard of to-day publishes
the following:
“ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
“Private letter of an Argentine
officer.
“Tuyncué, August 6.
“We are now nearly 30 milesfrom our old encampment of Tnyuti. I do
not think there is any chance of either party risking a battle,
although our position is a difficult one. You can have no idea of
the impenetrable nature of the country, and the bravery of the
Paraguayans is beyond all question. Between us and Humaita there is
an impassable morass, called Estero Ondo; at one narrow part, about
six miles from the outworks of Humaita, our engineers are making a
bridge. General Enrique Castro, with a division 3,000 strong, fell
the other day on a body of 700 of the enemy’s cavalry, who fought
desperately, and many perished sword in hand, refusing to take
quarter, the rest escaping in the woods. Enclosed is a likeness of
Sergeant Gonzales, who maintained a terrible hand-to-hand conflict
with 10 Brazilians. He was at last overpowered and his life spared,
and when asked why he refused quarter, he replied, ‘Because I am a
soldier; and so are all Paraguayans!’
“August 8.
“P. S.—Yesterday and to-day the enemy have been bombarding us, and we
have removed our artillery magazine to the rear.”
August 19.—A bill has been introduced into
congress by Dr. Granel respecting the civil marriage of Protestants,
which, with slight alterations, would fully meet the wishes and
desires of the Protestant clergy, who are the best authorities in
the matter.
On Saturday the discussion on the bill for removing the capital to
Rosario was begun in the senate. It is expected that the division
will be a close one, as opinions are very much divided on the
subject.
August 20.—News of an alarming character
arrived yesterday from Cordova. It appears that Governor Luque had
started from that city on his way to Buenos Ayres, arriving in
Rosario on the 16th instant. The next day news overtook him that the
moment he had left Cordova a revolution had broken out in that city,
headed by one Luengo. The national minister of war, General
Martinez, who happened to be there, had been made prisoner, together
with the commander of the national forces, Colonel Ayala, the
federal judge, and other notable persons. On the receipt of these
news Governor Luque prepared to retrace his steps, and being
actively seconded by Governor Oroño, of Santa Fé, started back for
Cordova in the night of the 18th, at the head of 200 national
guards.
From the provinces in the north there is nothing particular, except
that active preparations were going on to crush Varela, who was
being surrounded on all sides, and to oppose the invasion of
Saa.
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The Galgo, steam transport from Rio de Janeiro, arrived yesterday in
Montevideo with 350 recruits for the Brazilian army invading
Paraguay.
By last accounts from the seat of war it appears that the Brazilian
fleet proceeded to ascend the river on the 15th instant, and passed
Curupaiti under a heavy fire, in which the iron-clad Tamandaré was
disabled and her commander severely wounded.
In yesterday’s sitting of the senate, the bill fixing the capital in
Rosario was thrown out by 12 votes against 11.
August 21.—The following is an extract from
the Standard correspondent’s letter from Itapiru, dated 15th
instant:
“Commander Michell, commanding her Britannic Majesty’s gunboat
Doterel, with Mr. Gould, secretary of the British legation in Buenos
Ayres, returned to-day from the camp of Casaas, apparently well
pleased with the reception they had met with, having had the honor
to dine with the Marquis de Caxias, visiting Porto Alegre, Mitre,
and the camp of Osorio. They report the troops to be in excellent
spirits, well clothed, contented, and anxious to be at close
quarters with the Paraguayans.”
August 22.—By latest news from Paraguay, it
appears that the whole fleet has been brought to a stand-still in
front of Humaita, owing to the canal being completely blocked up,
and that to effect a passage with the iron-clads is utterly out of
the question.
The national government has, on account of the Cordova revolution,
issued a decree, of which the following is a translation:
“Decree of the national government relative to the
Cordova rebellion,
“Buenos Ayres,
August 20, 1867.
“Whereas it appears from official communications and trustworthy
information received by the government, that on the 16th a
revolutionary movement broke out in the city of Cordova, which not
only resulted in the deposition of the constituted provincial
authorities, but reached the scandalous point of causing the arrest
both of his excellency the minister of war and marine, who happened
accidentally to be there in the discharge of a national commission,
of the federal judge of that section, and of other national
authorities; and considering that, in view of so grave an offence,
doubly criminal on account of the aid it lends the foreign enemy,
the promoters of this movement have ranged themselves in open
rebellion against the constitution and the laws of the nation that
it is the sacred duty of the general government to afford those who
act in its name, and in the name of the nation, the most ample and
efficacious protection, without which the exercise of the public
power is impossible; and finally, that on account of the violent
proceedings adopted against the persons of the national authorities,
the government has a perfect right to pursue directly their
perpetrators in the province of Cordova, or in any other in which
they might seek refuge, until the said national authorities
imprisoned have been set at liberty, and its criminal authors
punished: For all this the vice-president of the republic, in the
exercise of the national executive power, decrees:
“Article 1. That the perpetrators of the
criminal proceedings of the 16th of August, in the city of Cordova,
are guilty of rebellion against the nation, and shall be pursued and
punished wherever they may be found, with all the power of the
nation and all the rigor of the law.
“Art. 2. That all the forces at the
disposal of the nation shall march, without loss of time, upon the
province of Cordova, to set at liberty the national authorities
imprisoned, and prosecute, seize, and submit to the action of the
national justice the perpetrators of criminal proceeding.
“Art. 3 That General Don Emilio Conesa be
appointed to march at once at the head of all the forces to be sent
into the field according to the provisions of this decree.
“Art 4. That the most peremptory orders
shall be issued by the respective departments to the governments of
Cordova, Buenos Ayres, Santa Fé, Santiago, and San Luis, to call out
the national guard, which is to assist at this solemn reparation to
the national authority and justice, and to lend to the said General
Conesa all the co-operation he may require of them, with the
activity and efficacy to be expected from their patriotism, and
their determination shown in other circumstances in favor of the
national cause, whose security would be endangered if all did not
concur in repressing offences of this nature with promptitude and
energy.
“Art. 5. Let this be communicated,
published, and inserted into the National Register.
“PAZ.
“RUFINO DE ELIZALDE,
“LUCAS GONZALEZ,
“EDWARDO CORTE,
“M. MORENO,
“In charge of the war department.”
August 23.—Passengers arrived from San Luis
bring the news of another fight between the army of the north under
Generals Taboada and Varela. The action was long and sanguinary, and
the battle-field covered with dead and wounded, but it certainly was
very incomplete, inasmuch as Varela and Zalazar both escaped.
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August 24.—A special messenger, arrived
yesterday from Cordova, brings the following news:
The revolutionary party had extorted from the national war minister,
General Martinez, under threat of shooting him, an order to Colonel
Obligado, in command of the national troops stationed in Villa
Nueva, to retire with his force to Rosario, but the order was not
obeyed. More national guards had been despatched by railway to Villa
Nueva, where, by last accounts, Governors Luque and Oroño found
themselves at the head of about 1,200 men. Luengo, the leader of the
revolution, had sent out orders to all quarters to muster the
national guards of the province, but the country districts seem not
to have heeded his orders. Luengo is said to have a force of only
400 men in the city of Cordova. Governor Luque published the
following proclamation on entering the province of Cordova:
“THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PROVINCE.
“Camp on march,
August 19.
“Having resumed the command of the province, in consequence of having
been deposed by the revolt that broke out in the city of Cordova on
the 16th instant, the delegated government, in use of its
attributes, decrees:
“Article 1. The inspector general of
national guards, Don Simon Luengo, as well as all persons employed
by the government that have taken part in the late revolution, are
hereby discharged from their offices.
“Art. 2. All persons who shall have obeyed
any orders emanating from the revolutionists are hereby declared
rebels against the legitimate authorities, and will be punished with
all the rigor of the law.
“The province will not recognize the validity of any compromise
contracted by the revolutionists, and which are hereby declared null
and void.
“SATURNINO D. FUNES, Secretary.”
