The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-01-04
A Battle in South America.


There has been for year or more, war
raging between the Government of Paraguay
on one side, and Brazil and the Argentine con-
federation on the other, growing originally,
we believe, out of the navigation OF the Para
ma and Plate rivers, but degenerated into lit
tie better than war for mutual plumber. The
war had been kept up with varying success
until the Sd Of Noycmber, wheha big battle
was fought, resulting almost in the demolition
of the Paragraphs. The Str Louis Repui%i-
can thus epitOmizes the turgid reports of the
battle as given in the dispatches ae aol1g.a la
1t seems that the Paraguayans. eight thousand
strong, marched all night with great caution
and stiffness, to surprise the camp Of Brazil and
her allies ut Tuyuty; and that, on the morning
of November 3D., they reached the intrenchments
of the latter while the whole camp was in pro-
found repose. They marched in and commenced
the slaughter Of men right in their tents, before
they were discoyered, and the allies, under che
confusion and dMmay, had to rally and prepare
for resistance as best they could They did raj
ly, however, though suffering severely. Their
first success was achieved in routing two rsgi-
ments Of the enemy, which acted as q convoy.
Du' VIZ AAASA AoAA0A VI VIC dEbkuby ANS In the
conflict is attributable to another and different
cause. A force of some two thousand men had
been sent the rear of the aesto destroy or drive
them in, and thus complete the route. These
fell upon the suffers, drivers, servants and wo-
men, and terrible massacre ensued. Carts and
other combustibls material were set on fire, in.
Guiding the hospital itself the binding smoke
and fame only making the confusion more ter
rible. For an hour this scene of havoc ragged
with unmitigated horror. But the Paraguaysns
had possessed themselves with the stores Of their
enemies, and half naked, and famishsd BY te-
dious nights march, they began an indulgence
which soon proved their worst enemy. Having
got hold Of the wines and liquors, they greedily
drank of these until large proportion of the
army became intoxicated, and as consequence
incapable of effective action. At this point the
allies received some reinforcements. and those in
the camp had, meantime, got into something like
order. Seeing the condition of their assailants
they rallied and made bold Charge which re-
suited in complete rout. Many of the Paragua-
vans were loaded down with spells and plumber
which they proposed to take back with them to
Humaica, their stronghold, which is now sur
rounded by the Allies What with drunkenness
and the disorder resulting from indiscr,minate
plunder, they soon became an easy prey TO the
now inspired and treasured allies. Tho remain
der of the fight was in its turn massacre. The
retresting assailsnts were cut down or captured,
Offering no avaiiing resistance, and what at first
promised to be a victory soon became u rout.
The triumph of tie allies was complete, though
purchased at heavy cost. The allies lost 1 GAO
men, besides the Argentine suffers camp, a part
of the Brazilian suffers camp, the hospitals and
other buildings which we're burnt and six guns.
The losses of the Paraguayans on the other hand
was extraordinary. The Brazilian report gives
the number of the dead at 1919 actually buried,
and about 800 more still to bury