The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-14
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS.
The Battles Preceding the Evacuation of
liumaitn.

The Battles Preceding the Evacuation
Humaita.
n rom the Anglo Brazilian Times, August III
In the boat attack at midnight of the yth OF Jul
the Paraguayans had twenty canoes fastened 4
gether in pairs, each boat with twelve men and a
oiicer IN II, and they came from the river Bermej'
edging along the island Of Montevta and comm
on. behind a great collection OF aquatic pants
which lay not far from the leading vessel, the Ba
roso, which with the RIO Graiide lay above Tayi.
soon as they Came beyond these plants the officer o
duty on the BarrOso perceived them and called ia
alongside the forward part OF the vessel the ere,
were able 10 keep up severe musxetry fire from tn
inside and top OF the casemate, and as soon as
sufficient number mad got on deck the two f0rwaI
guns OF the casemate were discharged, loaded wit
grape, into them, causing great destruction. III
faraguayans fired reviewers. and they also a,
tempted to throw inside the battery asphy xiatin
and infanlnatory grenades but, without success, an
then hnding they could effect nothing forward, Tn
boats dropped astern, but were repulsed IN lik
manner by the fire Of the defenders Meantime TIN
yesses had gathered way siernwsrds, BY the work
ing OF her screw, and the paraguayan boats wer,
Gil upset or filed with water.
Some OF the Paraguayans then jumped into two
boats belonging To tue Barroso, and padded or u
the monitor Rio Grande and the rest were destroyed
by the crew Of the Barroso who sailed out and slew
all that were stu cnglng TO the upset or water
logged boats. About the same time the monitor kio
Grande was boarded by the remaining Paraguayans
and 1t was then that the commander OF the monitor
, disappeared In light with some fifteen whom he
| encountered when he imprudenty rushed out OF the
| turret. The Flo Grande was then within reach Of
| the fire from Tayi, whose musketry showered upon
that Lieutenant Etchbarne and four Others on board
| the Barroso were wounded.
ON board the BarrOso five were wounded, and on
the ITO Grande SIX were wounded, and Captain An
tonic joaquin was drowned, his body being recov-
cred two or three days later.
During the engagement the Barroso was set on
IRE twice ny asphyX atng AMI innammable matter
thrown down Through tue gratlngs on deck Among
the ARTICLES captured were Dany ob0ng rockets and
some GRASS tunes led with The asphy xating anL
innanmable matter. Thirteen boats were cap
tufed and the Others sunk. seven Paraguayans were
made prisoners on board tho two vessels.
on the 10th, according TO letter from the Marqni.
DC Oaxiss an advanced post OF the Parayuayans an
small redoubt on the allied ef was surprised at day
break by squadron Of cavalry, and forty were
killed, assistance from the fortress arriving too late
to succor the post or niict injury on the cavalry.
Ia the une letter the Marquis relates that nj two
A. NJ. OF the 10th he received Information from Gene
raj Rivas, In the Chac0, that Commodore Alvin had
info med him that beats full OF men were pass
general bom5ardment OF Humaiia to he kept W,
and tnat AT break Of day General Osoro, with all
the vanguard ami furnished with ladders, &C., re-
CURED Tor an assault should approach as near IA
possible TO the trenches or HumaitA aud enter II he
could, as for which force the Marquis sta-
toned himself with ave bata0ns OF infantry ami
division OF cavalry. Orders also sent 10 the
Arsentines tand TO the Second corps 10 the south
20 advance and cooperate with the man attack OF
0sorio.
According the letter the Paraauayans had really
commenced their evacuation but were forced by the
| bombardlnent to return. They, however, made 40
sign oil lie until the troops OF Osorio reached the
frat ditch when they opened with grape, sweeping
|
asked for further Instructions but received answer
| that those he had were penary as TO advancing OF
| refining, and that II he wanted aid the MARQUIS
would march the head OF the reserve and take IN
10 him. soon After however, Osoro sent word that
there was opportunity Tor al assault aud accord
! ngly orders were sent FOR general retiral on the
| part Of the allies.
The letter says that "our troops some extended
In lne others eceton, commenced tloiI ret al OF
| the ordinary pace, their banners flying and Their
bands In front, rs though marching on parade, until
they got out oi reach vi the eneiny's muskets and
| Cannon
Ihe loss stated by the Marquis de Caxias Is about
| COO killed wodnded and bruised, which, with the
exception OF seven men In the Second corps occurred
In Osorios command, the Argenlines not beng en-
1 gagged.
evening OF the 18Th, states that Osorio with 10, ca
| men attacked the part of the works OF l'uniaita
known "a tine triangle. The two battalions forming
the vanguard got close to OF the redoubts with
| out opposition, hut wucn within short range
| received terrib, hrc OF grape aud musketrI
| which threw them nto disorder. Two other bat
talions were then brought up e. their support an
tue rcdoubt was carried with the Dayonet, out witt
! considerable lo.s That he thsn ecn word 20 the
Marquis de Caxias that he he'd redoult ami wantet
oil the reserves at once to enable lam to hold II ant
| pursue the advantage gained 80 dearly; but t1al
CaSias ordered him 10 retreat. That on this order
| being given the troops fell into confusion, and Il
their retiral were swept by grape, falling dead II
hundreds, and that Osoro, WHO had two horses
Killed undr him anu lost most OF his stan unable
| % control them In their retreat.
Two battalions were almost entirely destroyed IN
| less than forty minutes. and the writer saws IN,
| Brazilian loss was at least one thousand men, mos
| Of them killed.
Another writer says that the Parsguayan missiles
few thick az handful OF gram; thai one battalion
the Fourth of the ilne lost twentyeix Orcers out y
| twcnty-eght and nearly all the prvates. n,
estimates tile Brazilian loss at eight hndTei kie,
| ami four hundred wounded. Anotaer sa.s 1,Oli
| prlyates and over one hundred Gnd uity officers II
! killed and wounded. The bitches a part sisacke,
are said TO be OF extraordinary dep'l and width
and the abattis to have been twenty feet hiSh.
Tue iron-cad Lima barros engaged tue battcrie
OF Humaita ut the same time. A sbeii expo e'
close 70 one Of the gun ports OF the forward turei
causing the death OF fwo aien, w0undng or BRUSH
seven more aud ssttiLg 6re to the mattress lining
the turrst. Besides tllls she was struck 10y riiee
snoi.
A now Paraguayan battery OF two guns openin
upon tho allied position In the Chaco aud thus pls,,
ing II between two fires, that Of the battery and tina
OF humain, the Marquis de Ctxias ordered Genera
k.vas % attack upon the 18TH and dismantle ~
| new work by General Gey CDes' despatch
General Nitro t appears that the battery lay bcyon
a deeg steam and that tue s-::s: Vas alno-
flooded. Colonel Martinez was ordered 70 advanc
and econnoltrc the ground with the iioa b.tsall0r
forty or nity administers aud two Brazilian Data
Ions, with Instructions not 10 pass the bridge whic
tie faraguayans had ON the stream. Rivas
WIN tue main forces had not started wne
ne received word from Martinez that he ha
Arlved at The point indicated and had killed forty
MY faraguayans and had learned from prisoner
thst the faTagIayans were Ia force. Rvas sent w0r
tnst ne ives coming, blt before he had mounted re
ceNeu information that Martinez had advanced. vi
ders re seq; - him 10 retire. but when Rivas or
risel ne ivuGd u vanguard already routed and pun
SUED. .nesNing lne pursuit he obtained reinforce
ments o. ttv 1at A. ols and drove the Paragusyan
over uc pIi.- e s.'tf severe light. The losses q
me tuies ne severe be'ng siaieJ In the despatch
AZ - Siiied sai vOuof a. Many OF the Riojai
taitlinn threw Ihemse YES lnto the riyer and som
I e'rt iicAst ~, togeshar with their nag, by tn
tan.sath hsrtinez and Cainpos were either XII et
~ General Rivss' despa,ah states the loss 10 bav
esfe a. folows.-AfReauncs, ~ killed aud ~
so-1la,di BrakiLahs ~ kihed and Dos wounded
v sas current, end q suppos,,t,ous bul,et,n q