The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-13
BATTLE In PARAGUAY.

Heavy Losses on Both Ssdea-FOur
ThOusand ParRguRyaus Said to Have
Falien-Eho Allied Loss Smaller bat
still SertOus-COmplste Defeat of the
Paraguayans - ReiOicings An Buenos
Ayres, Etc.
BUENos AYREs, May 29.-Yesterday morning,
at O'clock the ALiddo, despatch steamer ar.
rived In port, bringing from the seat of war only
one letter, and that was from Senior Don
Marlano Ca0al, a contractor for the army written
to his wife.
1t appears that the efforts of General Mitre to
orlng on general engagement, in order to gain
better ground for encampment, resulted in a
very hardly contested Oattle on May "a. The
field OF battle was between Estero (marshy creek)
Bellaco and Estero Blanco and lasted from half
past eleven A. M. til p. NJ. OF the allies the
Brazilians we're chiefly occupied, and the vigor
ana orhvery OF both SIDES are without parallel
in South American warfare.
The allies had within call thirty thousand
men, but how many were engaged does not
yet appear Of Parag,payans there were said
to be twenty thousand, and Mr.. Cabal writes
six thousand Pataguayans were left dead on
the field.
The Paraguayans, taking advantage of the
creeks and marshes, had very strong positions,
and they fought with desperation. Their
cavalry dashed up in the faces OF the allied ar
tillery, and sahred the men at their guns A
letter nom the allies says:-"0ur loss was by no
means insionihcant." There are reported taken
by the allies six cannon, several banners and
many prisoners.
At this writing cannot vouch for the accu.
racy OF the details. But it seems certain that
there was general engagement on the 24th;
that it was also destructive battle, most likely
to both sides. The attack was made by the
allies. The pews is so trustworthy that the
whole city had an uproar of excitement,
Rockets, cannon and flags demonstrate the
general rejoicing that one step more has been
taken in this slow and costly war.
Rio JANEIRo, June IA few hours after the
departure of the United States mail the English
packet from the river Plate arrived here with
dates from Montevldeo to the 3Oth ultimo.
From this source information was received of a
battle won by the allies, involving the loss of
several thousand Paraeuayans placed hors de
combat The battle took place on the oath ult.,
and the brunt OF 1t again fell on the BraZilians,
under General Osorio.
THE BATTLE.
On the goth the General-in-Chief moved his
whole army to the borders of Estero Bellaco,
where the Paraguayans had fortified themselves.
cavalry charge, and few Brazilans and 0ri-
entail battalions ordeled to attack, were sutfi-
cient to dislodge the enemy from this point The
allies having crossed the Paso of the Estero
Bellaco, made some reconnoi' 'sanceS on the 2lst
and 22d, and prepared everything for an attack
General Mitre had ordered the assault of the
enemys intrenched camp to take place on the
24tb. Before, however, any movement was made
on that day, at halt-past IL in the morning the
of the allies in three columns consisting OF over
twenty thousand men, commanded by Barrios
Resquin, and another general, probably Diaz.
FIERCE ONSET OF THE PARAGUAYANs.
The allies acknowledge that the enemy fell on
them on the centre and flank with extraordinary
bravery, bringing eight batalions of infantry
and eight OF cavalry in the centre, the same
number on the lett, and about one-half on the
right flank. From the very beginning the battle
along the whole line became general. Although
thetallied artillery poured murderous fire into
the advancing Paraeuavan columns, still the
latter attempted to break the line at different
points; and. ln this attempt such was their fury
that the fight became hand-to-hand one in a
few minutes-theIr cavalry dashiug up to the
mouths of the cannon of the allies.
Paraguayan column of three thousand men
even had the audacity to get in the rear of the
allies, but they we're repulsed by Brazilian
division. The Orientals and Brazilians occupy
ing the centre and the left flank, suffered the
most; the Argentines on the right, had smaller
number of the enemy 10 contend with, and
embraced the opportunity OF redeeming them.
selves from the opprobium cast on them at the
commencement OF the struggle through the
flight OF four hundred of their cavalry before the
Paraguayans, who charged them nearly to
Itapiru, about three miles to the rear of the
army.
DEFEAT OF THE PARAGUAYANs.
After four hours hard fighting the Para
guayans withdrew, beaten and routed, to their
fortified camp
LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES.
The estimated losses on the side of the Para.
guayans are set down IN round numbers at four
thousand killed and from two thousand to three
thousand wounded and prisoners, while the
BrazIhans put down their loss at only three
hundred killed and six hundred wounded. 1t is
true, the BraZilians ackno wledge that the
oriental battal1ons were much cut up. The
allies lost great many superior officers. Gene
rails Osorio and Paunero were wounded, the
former having horse killed under him. The
fleeing Paraguayans could not be pursued by
reason of the bad ground, aboundine in swamps
thickets and lagoons.
RUMoRs AND REPORTS.
1t was expected that another battle would be
fought on the following day, namely, the 25th:
but IT does not seem to have come off: for if il
had another steamer would have probably
arrived with the news by this time. Some bull
letins published at Buenos Ayres report the
Paraguayans as retreating to Humaita; but
this must be received with caution, as the
PaTaguayans have always been represented as
reteatng when they have not stirred an inch.
THE ALLIED FLEET.
This arm of the allied service arrived in front
OF Ourupaity on the 20th ultimo, but did not go
higher as the Mdgi, one of the steamers, got
aground. Before this fort the Paraguayans had
planted stockade behind which they placed
few haiboats armed with heavy artillery. 1t
seems that, on the following day, the Magt was
toWed of, and that Visconde Tamandare had
completed his reconnaissance of Curupaity and
arrived at the conclusion that the obstructions
presented by that fort win be easily removed
and DESTROYED IN few hours.
ALARM IN CURUPAITY-sUPPosRD CASUALTIES.
On the arrival of the fleet in front of Curu.
patty the alarm was given, and canoe was
seen to leave the shore and board Iarye
schooner anchored in the channel. few mo-
ments after, this vessel went down, as is sun.
posed, by the bursting of torpedo, for the
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