, 1866-04-04
THE NAVAL VICTORY Of THE
: CHILlANS.
Details and Official Reports Of
the Affair at Abta0.

I
| omc{al Account bv the Allied Com
I mandcr-Rcpora Of omn1auder Juat
l Williams, tho Hero OF tho CovadongE
-RelolciDEs in Lima Orer tn,
| Victory.
From tho New York Sunday Herald, 15th.l
| The steamer Henry Chauncey, from Asoyn
wall, March 233, arrived at this port this eve
! ming.
| ing our Panama and Inns correspondence
and full files Of papers.
TuE c11L1AN-PERUv1AN FLEET.
Chill still remains the centre Of public IN
terest on this coast. The steamer Of the I'LL
inst. from Valparaiso brings confirmation o
the reported victory Of the allied squadron
over the Spanish fEtgntes Villa de Madrid an6
Blanca Fifty-fve guns In the hands Of Peru
ylans md Chilfans proved more than a mattel
for .nincty-four manned by the. veterans o
sometimes 60 out for wool and come back
aborn'' has had another Illustration. Alter I
contest Of two bou1s, in which fifteen hundred
shots were exchanged, at the distance Of froG
oue thousand to fifteen hundred ,ydrds; thu
Spanish vessels retired defeated Peru Is ju
bilant over the success, and, judging from the
tone Of her press, counts It only the precursor
Of future victories which the combined yalo,
Of the South American Republics Is to win
from Spanish inefficlency.
And Jet to the impartial observer the affair
ut Abtao {not Ancud}, On the 7th Of Febru.
ary, wears somewhat less encouraging u.s.
pect. The fact is, tho success Of the allies
was due In large part to luck-an element vury
unsafe as foundation for future calculations.
II appears that the two Spanish frigates, BY q
stratcg1c circuitousness of approach, not
only made an unexpected descent upon the
allies, but actually caught them nt great
disadvantage. Their two finest vessels, the
fhgate Apurtmac, and the corvette America,
were unable to move from their anchorage on
upon their machinery. Only the corvette
Union and the gunbont Coyadongn were in a
condition to mannRvre freely. So fur nil was
favorable 10 the Spaniards, yet they commit
ted the mistake Of placing themselves at Q
distance. which prevented their own own
shot from reaching the enemy with effect, but
which did not preTeut the efficiency Of
Union. Had they moved IN and engaged the
alies At short range, it Is not Improbable
Tint they would have captured or destroyed
both the Apurimuc and America. As 1t was,
they retired without gaining any advantage,
having suffered more serious injuries than the
field. The killed md wounded of the Span
1sh vessels are estimated at forty, whilo the
loss of the allies Is given at two killed and
one or two wounded. Tho latter, therefore,
justly claim the victory-a victory, however,
dnc not to superior courage OF skill, but to
superiority Of armament and to the fortunate
circumstance that, through ignorance of the
press lis advantage. Tho first real contest
will prove instructive to both parties, warn
Ing The one never 10 be OF guard, md the
other to move In stronger force. But as to
who is to win the future Victories remains to
be seen.
or the 18th Of February tho irou.clad Nu-
mancia and the Bianca left Valparaiso for the
south. It Is not improbable that it was their
purpose TO 1yengc the late disaster; yet this
time, Instead Of finding the allies uuprcpared,
they may not find them at all. The hazards
Of rapid currents and an intricate navigation
are nll against them. What if tho formidable
Numaucia should be grounded in some trcach-
the enemy had not only eluded her search,
bnt had mean time made m attack On the
blockading fleet at Valparaiso? Stranger
events have occurred. The actual result of
this last expedition is awaited here with tu-
tense Interest. The probability that the al
lies win act simply on the defensive for the
present Is increased by the fact that they are
expecting the speedy arrival of the new.lron-
clads, the Huescat and Independence. With
the aid Of these they ought TO be able to as
sume the offensive against any force which
Spain now has in the Pacific. The more San
Eulnc here predict that upon the arrival Of
these vessels the Spanish fleet will be Obliged
to raise the blockade Of Valparaiso, and re-
tire from the coast to await iron-clad rein-
forcements from home.
DETAILS or TIE ENGAGEMENT.
The affair at Abtao-for It eau hardly be
called battle--was e ,nducted by the allies
In the most spirited manner, against nearly
double the weight Of metal Of their own yes-
sels. Tho engagement lasted about two
exchanged, when the two Spanish irigates
got go badly knocked about that they cleared
OF In retreat to return to, Valparaiso to report
their defeat md get re1tted.
The allied squadron consisted Of: -
The Peruvian fdeate Apurimac, thirty guns,
Commander Villar; Peruvian corvette Amer
lea, twelve guns, Commander Ferreyro; Peru
nandcr Grau; Chilian schooner Coyadonsa,
three guns, Commander Thompson-in iii
mounting fitty-seyen guns.
The Spanish vessels we're:
FriEnte Blanca, thirty six guns, Commander
Topete; frigate Villa dc Madrid. ffty guns
in oil eighty SIX guns.
Commander Manuel Villar commanded tho
allied vessels.
The Spanlsh vessels were commanded by
Jnan Bautlsta Topcte.
The allies were anchored for general over
haul and coa!l1g In one Of the channels near
Abtao. The fr!gate Apuri,nac had part Of
ler machinery on shore, and the two cor
vctfes were also undergoing repairs; so that
Of the four only the Coraaonsa was in con-
ditioo to chnngc her position II required, On
the 10th Of February, about ten in the morn
inS, II was reported that two ffigates were
nearing, supposed to be Spanish. Every
measure was Immediately taken to place the
vessels In state of defence, and most encr-
gctically was this carried out. By hRlEpast
Two In the afternoon tho two ships Of the en-
emy were seen making head for tho situation
Of the allies, and in half nu hour morn were
within fifteen hundred metres OF their po-
were cncsgetlcally replied to. For about
Two hours o most earnest canuonndine was
kept up, the. fire of the alIies being
well regulated throughout The
Blanca wns rendered almost useless,
and. unable 10 continue the Gght, she drop
,deayored to do damage BY throwing shell
over the island upon the allies. Her cabin
was knocked 10 pieces and while VIC have
no means Of kuoEing actually the amount Of
Killed and wounded, the number must have
been very heavy. Judging from tho dead
bodies atlerward seen floating about. The
other vessel suffered badly also, and both
Sooo ecH eo w. -tpSs ou'oa @u,insSay, - We
have said, fhe machinery OF the Apurinac
}Tas on shore, aud the America md Union
could not leave their anchorage; otherwise
,,rfze ~ -. h-axn-r srd s1.,i1 ~ ~ a,i;s.
80 ~ suo a1u Ssi ~ 'us al.es'
lneir LOSS aMoHnts 70 tllue guy Two men
were killed in the action, md the damage to
the vessels Is scarcely worth mentioning. It
has been recorded ut somc time TINT Captain
Williams whn ralfanflv canturnd the fova.
,,.rna -.,tI, II. es3,tn ~ T1m.-s1aos ~ ~
uonEn. VII IL ~ sup tae Isuetatuas uau ~
snare N !n1s acl'o9, peanH sta!toneu III aaothef
part OF the channel, from Which be could not
This second success of the wnr fills the spirit
of thc ronntrv with enthusiasm. nnif snayn
I'm gra sha hoe ~ N aan ana1r ~ c,Hfan5
Win ID nel fao on Inese coasts'
TIE orr11A1, PrpoRrs.
49,, ~ - n.,
append the 0IHc1Hl reports Of COmmanQcf