, 1865-11-08
THE PLATE WAR
Terrible Prfvaflons and Sudcr1n.B of
the Alfies-lO0,OOO Para:.uaynns In
the Ranks-Naynl Operations

inc All1eA-lOQ,UOU FafAHuaYnnH In
the Ranlks-Navai Operations.
Correspondence New York uesald.l
BUEHos AYRE5, Sept. II, 1865.
Ihe var between thc three allied powers,
tlon, on the one hand and Paraguay on the
other, is not only continued, but 1t threatens
to be one Of long duration. The resources of
Paraguay arc taxed to the utmost and the re-
suits arc truly surprising. For quarter of q
century all the changes and revolutions Of
South America hare been achieved By armies
Of less than q, 100 men on a side; but Para-
guay is preparing TO place in the field an army
Of 100, ,00O men. 1t Is claimed by those who
know the stntc Of affairs there that Paraguay
can man all her forts and defend all her yui-
ncrablc points, and send 100, 900 men outside
Of her own boundaries. It sccrtaln that thus
hnrass and oyerrun two Brazilian provinces
and one Argentine.
At latest accounts the Pararuayans had
made dash across the Gran Chaco, rs If to
invade the province Of Santa Fe. If wc are
rightly informed Of their numbers, we shall
be able 10 meet and rcpel them without much
trouble.
At present all eyes arc turned toward the
Braziltan province OF R1o Grande, where the
fourth division Of the Paraguayan army fol-
lowed too closely a retrea1ing force Of tho
Brazflians, and was hcmmcd in, In the town
Of Uruguayana. On August s, rhirty-seyen
days ago, they went IN, and were Immediately
surrounded and 1esieged by the allies. The
number Of Paragunyans 20 entrapped Is yari-
ously estimated at from six thousand to
twelve thousand. lake medium figure as
about The truth-thnt is, about eight thou
sand. They have built wall about the
town Of the demolished brick houses, and
they hare also dug ditch around it. As the
circumference Is over four miles, this has
been . good work for thirty days. They
havc, 1t ia said, only eight or ten pieces Of
cannon. President 1itrc has gone 10 super
intend the siege in person, and Don Pedro IL,
Emperor Of Brazil, Is said to have b:cn, eight
days ago, only twenty leagues distant from
Uruguayana. The investing force cannot be
only wonder is that they allow tho little gar-
yison to hold the town another day. we
hourly expect to hear Of It's fill
There Is urugna5aD colonel named Pal
leeas among the al1ics who writes daily
report Of progress, which he sends as cur
respondence to Montevidean paper. From
his letters II seems that the allies at Uru.
suayana are Mt considerable distance from
their base Of supplies and laboring under
great disadvantages. The grass Is too short
to allow horses to be kept by any but the
commanding general, and their feld pieces
can only be moved with difficulty. Pro-
visions at times become dtstressingfy scarce,
md by this the mortality Is greatly Increased.
three extracts from his notes as published
here" August l0-Ihe frost last night
killed two Brazilian women. They died troun
want of clothing. August 37-Men and
horses die for want of food. It is cold and
vet, and there Is no fuel. We hare no
wagous. August e5-No men have died Of
hunger today up to 4p. NJ
And yet tho troops seem In good spirits, aud
60 far as tried In this war, they fight well.
This destitution Will not long continue, but it
tests mn army severely while 1t lasts. This ,s
among the CEuguayan troops led by General
Flores: This General has many Of those qual-
tiles which distinguished "stonewall" jack
sou He possesses the unbounded confidence
Of his troops. He has great celebrity OF moyc-
ment, and his successes are all brilliant dasA-
cs, which render him Invaluable TO tho allies.
1t is strange fact, that rs the allies take
prisoners they Incorporate them into the army.
A fortnight only, suflsccs to change uniform.
flag, commander md cause, and generally, the
prisoner soldiers thus metHmorphoscd, fight
about as we'll as when on the other side. The
officer Of the day has to he little careful
about the sentinel duties to which be assigns
these men, but with this exception the plan
works we'll. II eayes prison guards, expcti,t:
Of transportation md prison fare, and swclls
tie army after battle.
The Brazilian feet has moved farther down
The Patana river, and the Paragnayan fleet Ia
advancing. They are making return difficult
for the Brazi1ians By planting on the shore
heavy batteries. At cuevas, lor example, a
battery q forty guns sadly damaged portion |
Of the Braz1liau squadron as 1t came past |
They then added thirty guns, and extended
I thc lines ofearthworks to the distance OF four
miles This Is about Hfty leagues above the |
city Of Parana.
At Esquina, a small town in the province OF
Co5rientes there Is general gathering OF i'm |
poverished refugees, who hare fed before the |
advancing PaIaguayans. These louseless and |
almost penniless Thousands, many of whom |
have already died Of cold and hunger, are
being dec1mated By the measles.
Despite the gloomy state Of affairs the peo-
pie, with most commendable patriotism. sus.
tain the Government. Our civil and military
leaders are universally propular, and the peo-
their independence There are no Indications
y dist17st IN the gold market. For the last
three months the variations have not. been
Ereater on Change than In times Of profound
peace
business is little dull at present, bnt the
'anhs are doing . splendid business, the trans
actions Of one OF the banks ofthfs city having
amounted TO one and half millions Of Span
81 dollars In one day last weck. It was
little unusual, but many such days occur, and
'et 1t Is not In my way a Government bunk
The effect Of the war In transferring our
ommefclAl navy 10 othCf 1aE3 Is still felt In
his port. There are to-day only two vessels
1ndcr American colors IN this harbor-the
Selly Abbott and the Alice .Thomdike.
The railroad between the Custom House In |
bis city and the Boca, tue village at The
mouth Of small river four miles away, will
'e opened this week. It connects the centre
+ the city with the harbor where all ottr pro-
luce Is embarked.
To-day, as close this letter ut ten o'clock,
!. m., We have the news in by the packet
rom New York up to August 4.