The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-10-01
THE FIGHTING IN PARAGUAY.
A,,aeE ON Brazilian Boats-Cspturs OF
HumaitR.

NNANA NA -
Humaitn.
TbaAnelo Brazilian Times has several
accounts Of the fighting IN the Paraguay
river, and on land, preceding the capture
of the Fortress OF Humaita, showing the
determined energy and bravery. on
both sides. Concerning the boat ottack nj
midnight on the 9th of July, n writer
'SThe Pamguayaus had twenty canoes
fastened together in pairs, each boat with
twelve men and an officer in II, and
they came from the River Bermejo, edging
along the island Of Montovita and coming
ont behind n great collection of aquatic
plants, which lay not far from the leading
vessel, the Barroso, which, with the
Rio Grande, lay above Tayi. As
soon as they zane beyond these
plants the officers on duty on the
Barroso received them aud called the men
to quarters, no that by the time the boats
got alongside the forward part OF the yes
sci the crew were able to keep up n severe
musketry fire from the inside and top OF
the casemate, and rs soon as a sufficient
number had got on deck the two forward
Gums Of the casenate were discharged,
loaded with grippe, into them, causing great
destruction. The Paraguayans fired revolt
vers. and they also attempted to throw in
side the battery asphyating and milan
matory grenndes, but without success, n
then. finding they could effect nothing for
ward, the boats were dropped ostern, but
were r%epulsed in like manner by the fire OF
the defenders. Meantime the vessel had
Gathered way stemwnrds, by the work
inc of her screw, and the P|arnguayan
boats were oil upset or filled with water.
some of the %Poraguayans then jumped in.
10 two boats belonging to the BarToso, and
paddled oil TO the monitor Rio Grnnde,
| and the rest we're destroyed by the crew Of
the Borroso, who sailed out and slew oil
that we're ~clinging to the upset or water
logged boats. About the same time the
monitor Rio Grnnde twas bDarded by the
remaining Pamguayans. The Rio Gmnde
was then within reach OF the fire nom
Tayi, whose musketry showered upon the
swimming P~araguayans. Thirteen boats
were captured aud the others sunk. Seven
Parnmayans we're made prisoners on board
the Two vessels.
Concerning the capture of Humaitn an
account written nom Passo Poem says:
"On the evening of the 10th July, Osorio
with 10000 men attacked the part of the
works Of Humaita, known as the triangle.
The two battalious forming the vanguard
Got close to one Of the redoubts without
| opposition, bnt when within short range,
received IA terrible fire OF gmpe and mus
kerry, which threw them into disorder.
The other bnttalions were then brought mp
TO their support and the rodoubt was car
ried with the bayonet, but with considen-
bic loss. That he then sent word to the
MARQUIS de Caxias that he held a redoubt
and wanted all the reserves mt nee to ena-
BILE him TO hold it and pursue the adyan-
tape pained: but Caxias ordered him 60
retreat. That on this order being given,
the troops fell into confusion, and IN their
retiral were swept by grape, falling dead in
hundreds, and that Osorio, who had two
horses killed under him and lost most OF
his staff, was unable TO control them in their
retreat. Two battalions were almost en-
tirely destroyed in less than forty minutes,
and the writer says the Bnzilan loss was
at least one thousand men, most Of them
killed Another writer says the Paraguay
an missiles flew az thick rs a handful OF
grain; that one battalion, the lth of the
line, lost % officers out of %, and nearly
ali the privntes. He estimates the Brazil
ian loss at 800 killedand 800 wounded. An
other saws l,OlO priyates and over 100 OIL
GERS were killed and wounded. The bitches,
AT mart attacked, are said To- be Of extmor-
binary depth and width, and the abattis 10
have been 20 feet high. The iron-clad Ii
ma Barros, engaged the batteries OF Humai-
n ut the same time.
A shell exploded close 10 one of the gun
ports Of the forward turret, instantly caus-
ing the death of two men, wounding or
bruising seven more and setting fire to the
mattress lining of the tuIrct. Beside this
she was struck with fifteen shot. A new
P%araguayan battery OF two guns opened
upon the allied position IN the Chnco, and
thus placing 1t between two fires, that OF
the battery aud that of Humaita, the Mar
auis de Caxias ordered Gen. Riyas to attack
upon the 18th and dismantle the new
work. By General Celly Obes's dispatch
to Geneml Mitro il appears that the
battery lay beyond n deep stream
and that the ground was almost
flooded. Col Martinez was ordered TO nd
vance aud r%cconnoitre the ground with the
Rioja battalion, forty or fifty skirmishors
and two Brazilian battalions, with instruc-
tons not TO pass the bridge which the Par
aguayaus had on the stream. Riyas, with
the main forces, had not started when he
received word from Martinez that he had
killed forty or fifty P~amguayans, and bad
learned from prisoners that the Paraguay
aus We're in force. Riyns sent word that
he was coming, but before he had mounted
received information that Martinez had adj
vanced, Orders We're sent TO hin to re-
tire; hut when Riyas arrived he found
the vanguard had already been routed
and pursued. Checking the pur-
suit, he obtained reinforcements of two
battalions, and droyethe ~Paroguayaus over
the bridge after n severe fight. The losses
of the allies were severe, being stated in
the dispatch at $50 killed and wounded.
Many Of the Rioian battalion threw them
selves into the river, and some were
picked up, together with their flag, by the
/ gunboats Martinez and Campos, and were
either killed or prisoners. Another state
ment makes the loss 500. Gen. Rivas'
dispatch states the loss 10 have been as fol-
lows: Argentinest9l killed aud 224 wound
ed; Brazilians, 60 killed and POS wounded.
Total, $50"