The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-25
A Naval Baatie In soutn America.

A@NAAAC
Our readers are aware that a fierce Wal
is raging among the South American
Powers. The contest is between Paraguay
on the one side, aud Brazil, the Argentine
Republic and Ursgusy on the other. The
correspondent of the New York Times gives
the following vivid account of 8 naval en-
gagsment which cane of on the ParAna
river, near Corrientes, on Sunday, june
lIth: m 7tg =
The PsrsguAyan feet consisted Of eight
amAll steamers, besides SIX floating bat.
teries These we're aided By battery on
shore, which during the action kept up 3
hot fire. The feet and floating batteries
carried Al guns. These were 68, and, what
are described ss, 80 Founders. Their land
battery was armed with 40 rifled guns, de-
scribed as of heavy ealibre, bat probably
nothing more than light field pieces Their
feet carried boarding crews, numbering
100 men, and the land batteries were
manned by 1000 horse and foot. The Bra
zilians had nine vessels in their feet, carry
ing 81 guns of large calibre, and most of
them rifsd.
The ball was opened by the Paragusysns.
T6eir feet forced its wsy down the river
and speedily came in contact with the
Brszilisns. Two Parsgusyan vessels, the
Tacusri, (Ihe hsgship) and the Marquis
d0linds. boldly attacked the PsranAhiba,
Brazilian steamer carrying eight guns
The two were speedily joined by third,
the Sslts, and soon { Il three were engaged
in brisk fight with their single sntsgo-
mist A boarding party sprsng on deck
and soon were masters of the whole of the
afterpart of The Parsnshiba. A Paraguay
an officer had even seized the helm and
was giving orders to the engineers. The
Brazilian flag, too, was already hauled
down, and the steamer apparently captured
beyond redemption, when the Brazilian
ship Amszonas came TO the rescue. The
aid was timely and successful The Salta
was sunk; the TacuAri and Olinda were
to draw Of, the latter getting so
badly aground as TO compel her
and the Psranahiba
was sgain safe in the hands of the
Brszilians. This was only accom-
plished after desperate and bloody fight,
Ihe consequences Of which decided the fate
Of the b4ttle. The commanders Of the
Olinds and the SRlto were captured, Ad-
nirsl Mesa, of the Tscusri was severely |
end many of the ParagusYRns |
put hOTs du combat The Amszonss fol- |
owed up her success by sinking another
PsrsguRyGn vessel, and capturing |
i've of the fltbosts used as floating |
batteries. The Psrsgusyans, who had |
Ought with such desperation as to
win the admiration Of their enemy, now
made haste 10 get away. They succeeded,
however, in saving but four of their |
steamers from which the crews had al
'esdy swan ashore. The fight, which had
commenced st in the morning, had
ssted until in the evening. If we are
% believe Brazilian accounts, the loss of
he Parsgusyans was 30 great as to make
his one of the most ssDguinsry of naval
,Attles. The official bulletin from Rio
Taneiro fixes it st l. 300 in the fset put
lors du combat, and 500 killed and
wounded in the batteries. The Brs zilians
loss on their side of 300, in
luding l9 officers. Th& also lost one Of
heir gunbosts, and q Azilians, who
wan ashore, fell intS ~ hands of their
nemy.
1t is said that Lopez confidently relied
N success that he had even provided his
hips with cables to tow the Brazilian ves-
els he spaa To capture. A proclamation
vas found on board bis steamers addressed
o the boarding crews, styling them the
flower of his armies" Yet when the
Jews of the defeat came to the Paraguay
n leader, he is rep rted TO have said
an easily afford to lose three thousand
nen and four steamers
Many stories are told of the ferocity OF
he Paragusyans. This is the most strik-
ng: "Among the wounded prisoners who
sli into the hands Of the Brszllians was
2oble, the commander of the Sslto one of
he sunk steamers, and 8 brother Of the
Commanding General of the Parsgusyan
.rmy in Corientes. His wounds we're ten
isrly dressed by the Uommander-in-Chief
# the Brazilian feet, ,Bsrross, but ho0i1i
With his teeth, tore off the bAndsges from
lis wounds, preferring death to captivity.
Aost of the commanders of the Paraguay
IN vessels are among the dead"