The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-21

In the same errand three English and French men OF
Nar had already gone up to Paraguay to settle with
NE Paraguayan despot for his nhuman treatment OF
British and French subjects.
THE PARAGUAYAN WAR.
--~~--~~~~>-~-7-~~>~~~
Strength Of the Para@uayan P0Sition as VII
Ieta-Armed Reeonnaissances-Omcia Ac-
counts Of the Affairs.
RIO JANErRo, Oct 20, 1868.
AFTER short burst OF action in the way Of leisure
march Of 100 miles, escorted by the Brazilian squad
ron, Caxias is himself again, ana at last dates was
putting on his spectaces to gaze upon the Para
gnayan position. To Judge by the accounts OF It,
Lopez has an excellent one which the allies win look
bong at before sssautng. It Il group of hills about
Ave miles below the little village Of vlleta The high
ground Ia bordered on the river Paraguay side by I'VE
Or six miles Of swampy river bottom except at one
point a. which the high ground runs 70 point south
ward until It reaches the river side ct Angostura,
where the river very narrow Ts point is the near
ct to the allies and being mounted with twenty-five
pieces Of cannon, one Of which Is l6opounder, It
enectualy closes the river TO all but the iron-clad
vessels. The front OF southeast Of the Paraguayar
position is fortified by entertainments thrown up on
The sides Of the hills, mounted with cannon, and
rSttl the Paraguayan encampments close behind
tAem In the woods Or the hills At the foot OF the
hills for fty to sixty miles from the Paraguay, lie
mmense stretches Of lakes or deeply hooded bottoms
which would appear 70 give passage to man or beast
nowhere except close to the river. and even
AZ this part the Paraguaysus have. damned
up wide branch to food the ground. A
very wide and deep branch close to the
Paraguayan Entertainments drains the surplus waters
pf the great Hooded bottoms and has cut deep mol
3Dw into the sandy soil, forming thus most e1ect
nuol oh ~ hatf
night Of the Paraguayan 'front.' This wide branch
suns parallel for some distance to and, enters tie
Paraguay UNDER high bur forming the lowest part
81 the blufrs OF Angostura the NARROWLY, and upon
me blur six 8s-pounders are mounted whose grape
can sweep the branch and the ground necessary TO
be passed over before reaching It, which ground is
sf very narrow extent; that the advantages OF the
defenders are extremely great. only narrow front
Of 20 10 800 1ee width having be crossed by SWIM
ming unless bridged unaer the Paraguayan cannon.
lf does not appear 20 be practicable, "a the whole
country for very many mics back from the river
allies are forced to camp ak mies Seiow the hep fsrs e
0uayan position, not nndng sufficient dry ground
nearer. The dncuities In front are 10 great there
Bore, that Caxias~ 10 apparently contemplating to
send army CORPS TO tine west side OF the Paraguay
and march It MP far enough to get opposite Asun-
get In the rear Of the Paragusyan position
The thing Is practicable carried out by leader OF
che march and crossing, and the man diifi-
Guilty would be TO keep sufficient force sup
& While the allies - have 40 600: and az the front
81 the Paraguayan position rs 80 impossible that its
natura dinic alties are almost a. much In favor
the defence OF the allies before IT, they could throw
the majority OF their the north side TO take
Lopez In The rear. Disodging Lopez from his pre-
war for he can easily retire inaLd and even a few
miles from Asunc0n there Is strong position: while
others OF greater resisting capabty exist nearer the
me following gives accounts Of two reconnoitrings
which took place on the I'D OF September aud octo
On the cd, IN pursuance OF instructions, Baron
Triumpho ordered Colonel Federauer 70 march with
ty the upper road TO the bridge the surubhy. to
cover tlie right nank OF the main column, which
Ealing 20 The bridge. On the ' asds A. hall.
past I'VE O'Clock A. NJ, all the forces set out
upon march through successive mudnoes and
hnds covered with marshes Colonel Niederauer
having gone by the right hand road indicated TO
him, he advanced the two squadrons Of the Sixth
izidro Fernando de Oiveria and these on ap-
preaching the bushroad leading to the bridge came In
With hin. Colonel NIederauer on recsivins word Of
mis-, ordered squadron Of carabineers TO protect
she force, and FASTENED 70 march his brigade up 70
sent ssu IN them ana quietly d.oSses sSs driving
ambush, who poured in q close Ore upon the Bra
Eihan cavalry and sought 10 cut on the retreat OF
hose who, In the heae Of the charge had crossed the
bridge.
Tue colonel In command, percevfne the intent on
she enemy ordered an energetic cnarge upon tho
Ene, breaking It at once, after which he retired m
good order towards the prairie to the lett OF the
bush road, where be awaited the column marching
pndr the orders Of Baron do Triumpho 90 whom
ne sent report Of the occurrences. In the charge
The Gag OF the Paraguay ans was taken By Claudino
eanWSle Baron DO rrumpho on hearing the rapid rapid
hrlng In front, hurried up Lis forces, placed his
cannon In suitable positions and ordered charge
Al ppeTN Mt n hrtAo hv q N
column, commanded by Colonel Fernando Machado,
and composed OF the Seventh battalion OF the line
Deceived With an intense and steady musketry. Il
being then how determined WAS the resistance
attack upon the bridge was necessary more infantry
yere ordered up, commanded BY Colonel Pedra, Of
After stubborn ana desperate struggle a small
part OF the Brazilian infantry succeeded crossing
khe bridge and attacking the enepiy's forces who
Dlanks or the bytdge ttss making its ready crossing
tcult TO The otner forces OF the Braztans, Motto
Eg AZ the mead Of the column. tSe enemy threw zoo
cavalry upon the few who had crossed aud drove
them back 70 The bridge, bat these beng reinforced
by others who had got they made another charge
With such impetuosity that they back and put 10
sght the supcsior number o. enemies these escaping
m reserve. Pursuit was not made beyond half mile
because few cavalry had been able 70 get across the
place where he would charge VITA greater adyan-
tsse. MOUNTAINEERING the advantages Of the lrst
encounter tue losses OF tse Parsgaayaos smosnt 70
is Killed, including three osncers, besiies their
~ouaded who escaped. standard, eleyeo prison
en- sud some war material were the trophies u the
vicnfy. The Brazilians had 2e4 men placed hors &c
eNhy0i nameiy:-Odlcers, Ia killed, IL wounded snd
bruised; prvates, - killed, Ice wounded and .
men.
ihe following Maysaa Cszae' report o. the
snbeeqsent affair
HsADov ARrrrs, sunvrmY, Oct ., Iss.
va. NE honor rsr, you for presentation %
-. hslssy the tti- map which viii De delivered 20
,stssdns zoe sosnys forlestions below vilieta
oroered which Al
ne army wyuid have taken par N reauise gu wl ace
he nhiuIe ~ we terrain 10 front full OF
800, ~ s, 40 Hsst sSamps, thereby causing tbs IN
.ns g H. 70 enasnl league aud ts from the
ssi isi'clly ADD ! eo,.,nsd sms dsts a. 70 She