New-York tribune., 1868-04-21
SOUTH AMERICA.

THE WAR IN PARAGUAY-THE PASSAGE OF HU~
MAITA-INTEREsTING OFFICIAL REPORTS.
We have received n copy of the Brazilian
Times which contains the official report of the
ton between the Paraguayans at Huaita and the Bra
lillian feet Of monitors.
On the night Of the l4h Of February the three small
ironclads, Paras Aagoas, and Rio Grande. built Rio
passed the batteries of Curupay to join the ironclad d
vision above.
first attempt made the previous night, hut
owing to the unmanagabity Of the vessels due the
small power and bad working OF their engines causing
them 10 yaw dangerously in the swift running stream
the officer in command signaled them 10 return before
they came in range OF the enemys guns On their
the Aagoas ran into the gunboat Ypranga and had her
chimney thrown on her deck.
The 18th was spent in reetfyIng the engines and in
improving the steerage of the vessels and at little past
$50 p. m, with dark and showery sky the three niue
numbering about 20 gans, four of them ess Nowith-
standing the precautions taken 10 avoiu ssdng S n1
opened ierce fire. but as the gnnboates husgcd the
Chaco side and scarcely diseerniDle IN inc DARK
having got INTO oatpg grass island forced TO back
out and thus gave favorable opportunity 10 the fara
guayans She struck with two 6Spound cannon balls
the tower dentng 1t inch and on the sde
denting inches and lis said loosenng the plate This
about hour AS the Paraguayan batteries
showed signs Of alarm the wooden division below moved
mp and maintained heavy fire upon them until the Nom
itors had passed in safety; No lives were lost.
sion although her steering was aided by management Of
her twin screws, she waved Sd much as to touch the
AS the successful passing Curupaty by these vessels
was to be followed by the attempt 70 send division OF
to put he best possible order and their
early morn Of the 10Th fixed for the daring essay
This division consisted OF the Bahia, four l5oponnd
rifles urrets carrying the flag of Commodore Del
phim Carlos de Carvaho sOnnlaw Of Admiral Ignacio
Baroso four guns in casemates; Tanandare four guns
g6as, 70pOund rife in turret; and the no
Grande one 70pOund rifle in turret. The Bahia
the Tamandare and Pardo The river had risen greatly
that the chains placed antng across the river IN face or
great battery London OF Humata, bagged In tho
middle much owing TO the destruction OF the threo
supporting flats as TO be there IL feet below te
monitors five to six feet Of wafer and so far they were al
tbe cnnS OF he heavy chains under the concentrated
and heavy fire Of the batteries convergng ON them would
have been an operation Of great and difficulty. Tho
great rise Of the river it believed had disabled or
carried off the OrpedOes in the channel But with all tho
advantages arising from those circumstances il was
looked upon as probable that one or more Of the adyen
turous vessels would succumb To the dlihcues OF the
range the majority Of which were GSpounders ana Two
The dispatch of Admiral Ignacio relates the feat
ION the 10Th instant, at $3.50 Of the morning, tho third
the ironcads Bahia BarrosO and Tamandar aud tho
monitors Para Aag6as and Rio Grande under the orders
of Capt Dolphin Carlos de Carvalho, and protected by
the fire OF the ironclads Brazil, Lima Barros Colombo,
Cabral Silyado and Herva under my command In chet
and of the respective commander Of division. Capt Joa
quinn ROdrigues da Costa, forced the famous pass OF
Humaita and. after il, the still stronger OF limbo
"a ball from Humata cut the hawser fastening the
Bahia the Alag0as the latter carried down stream
and | signaled to it TO anchor. Commander Maurty,
however, initiating Nelson, did not Parsers signal
He steamed up steam and passed, under cloud Of balls
all the batteries Of Humata, getting past them only
when daylight was clear
1.-The Alag6as hardly beyond the batteries OF
Hnmaita when ii assaulted by ~ boats cramIDed
with Para aguayans. Maurty on To then sank few,
drove of the and steamed on trumpany to reoin ms
chief.
1--WE have only Commodore Dolphin bruised, and
Lieut. Etchbarne and few Others slightly wounded,
with some important damages TO the Third DIVISION.
The fire Of the enemy terribe compute the shots
they sent at 5000. answered by us with about 1000
the vessels neared the London battery the
Paraguayans threw reballs upon the water continuing
to renew them every minute and the Chaco side they
lit up three electric lights at different points 10 illuminate
the proximlties Of the chains of the BOOM TOrpedoes
had been fastened TO the ehan but whether the con
rise Of the river had sunk them out reach or they
had got spoiled, none OF them exploded The heaviest
hiring was from the work called 1lnbO, situated
little above Humaita and which appeared to have more
than the latter including the pound Whtworth
captured mouth ago from the Brazbians at
Tuyuty'"