The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-22
The Puragunyan War.
Correspondent of the n. Y. Times.l
RIO JANEIRo, Dec. 9, 1866.

RIO JANEIRo, Dec. 9, 1866.
The last news received here from the seat of
war in Paraguay is up to the 23d ult., and
from Montevideo to the 18th. The presence of
the new Brazilian Commander-in-ChiefM Mar
ouis de Caxias, had been hailed with the great
est enthusiasm by all the army and fleet, the
Argentines themselves joining the Brazilians
in their demonstrations of joy. The Marquis
is on the best of terms with Gen. Mitre.
No engagement has taken place yet between
the beligerent forces; occasional shots OF ar
tillery are exchanged between the outposts OF
Curupaity and Cuaugar. The Brazilian army,
encouraged by the presence of the Marquis, -
fortifying Itself more and more every day, anu
preparing for decisive action, which, lnough
not likely to come off before the end OF fepru-
airy, promises to be the last one OF In,S un Mo
tunate war if we are to judge from tne Mar
uuis scientific attainments as soiuier, ana
from all the precautions nc - haa une re-
,or,, oifect on the morale of the private SOL
Jiayys and have increased that confidence so
necessary in the officers, who now seem to
brave ali dangers for the glorious termination
of this campaign.
Immediately after his arrival at Corrientes
tbe Marquis had an interview with Admiral
Tamandare, the result of which was depar-
ture of a fiotilla of three eunboats to Itapua,
in the Upper Parana River, to watch the Par
aguayans in that quarter, as it was discovered
that they have been receiving supplies through
the borders of the Province of Rio Grande, in
Brazil, and that OF Corrientes, in the Argen-
tine Republic How this had not been provid-
ed against by Tamandare cannot be understood.
1t is the first important work the fleet will have
done for many months.
Theer is a tendency now, on the part OF some
Buenos Ayres papers, to execute the Admrai
for not having gone up the Paraguay kiver, on
the strength of reports made by American ana
other foreign officers who have been up TO GU
rupaity lately, that the river is alive with tor.
pedoes for seven miles above the fortress; out
why did he not pass up year ago, Deioie r H.
had time to guard himself SO We'll! AS ior INC
river Parana, running along the soutnerh 1rol
tier of Paraguay. it has never been in the least
INSTRUCTED, and single gunDoat might nave
bloekaded every paso in it without difficulty OF
danger.
war Tamandare should have been recalled long
since. for it has been knownover year that
he would do nothing because he could mo-
agree with the other commanders. The Impe
rial Government has at last remedied this stat,
of things by appointing Vice-Admiral j. J. Ig
naso to substitute Tamarande, who is coming
back shortly. The new Vice-admiral lett her
ON the 9th inst, and will be in charge yer.
soon He was accompanied on board tn
transport by host of friends and admirers
who consider him and Caxias as the only tw
men capable of saving the country from a dis
graceful defeat 7 Lll
The imperial feet at present in Paraguayal
waters is composed of nine iron-clads, twent,
gunboats, two sloops-of-war, Zone steame
carrying 81 guns,) two bomb vessels, and seyel
other small steamers, besides a large number o
transports, carrying in all 215 guns and 800
men,. A very formidable force, surely, for
small country like Paraguay to oppose itsel
to. ~. .lil4 o. %
a Paraguayan deserter who came over t.
the allied lines few days ago, declares tina
Lopez's army is very much reduced; that hi
men are in rags, and on the point of starvation
Sc, &c. In contradiction to this statement
an American officer writing from on board tn
% says are IS qa hs w,sn IN
sight; they seemed as if they had been fed u
tor show, and kept in the best possible TRIM
They looked fresh, well clad, and had the bear
ing of defiant men, and able to do their wer
bravely." r i-g a..b4AHn3 Lluy gas3
Curupaity is now stronger than before til
assault of the 22d of September last, havin
been greatly fortified by heavy battery on th
river side. e --.-..-.-.-- .