The New York herald., 1869-03-18
SOUTH AMERICA.

AHaIrs and Revelations In Parasuay-l1e
Rerrcat Of Lopcx-Pertinacity Of thc Para-
xuayans--Asuncioa Sacked by tho Brazil-
iany-Crueitics of Lopcz--Anairs iu Buenoa
Ayres.
BUENos AYRRs, yan.2 s, 1850.
The Paraguayan war as war has ended. So re-
cent Il that the forces of three nations have found
no opposing army before Them that they stu have
the attitude OF belIgerents and occupy the enemy's
country. Two places only are OF Importance
enough TO attract an army OF occupations; these
are Asunclon, the capital and Cerro Leon. a
small town OF the interior. These were towns Of
considerable Importance In the lifetime OF the little
republic, but now not native Is to be seen. They
have retired before the allies Houses business, all
articles difficult OF removal, have been abandoned,
and the people have gone In the direction In which
Lopez has sought safety. Despite his atrocious cru
elites his than savage ferocty his people cling
10 him as before. The few soldiers unscathed the
mnltitudes OF the sick and wounded have gathered
about him, and at last accounts he was organizing
them into new army thar mas little idea Of giving
np as had his first
proclamation has been issued by Lopez TO his
caunlrymen, setting forth that the patriotic forces
OF the country have been defeated but not destroyed
and he urges them nOt TO succumb under one single
defeat but eShors them "to fight with stil greater
decision against relentless enemy, who has oRly
remained master OF the field In order TO be more
completely exterminated.n AS Lopez talks so do
his people believe.
T6is proclamation was issued from Cerro Leon,
where Lopez halted on his escape on December ~,
ana whence he fed again IN few hours 10 retreat
IN the mountains. 1t Ii believed that prompt fol-
nira but now he has a ssiiful band Of desperate
men, already counting some thousands, and
his followers are constantly increasing in numbers.
The Brazlans have lost no time In going on TO re-
take Matto Crosse. province OF theirs which the
Paraguayan took carly In the war. Long ago Pa
raguay had to recall all the forces sent there at rst
The rayages OF war have been followed by those Of
pestilenee in Matto Crosse, and, other than the
ubernt soil and splendid timber, there Is little left
The brazilians occupy Asuncion. and though
the attempt Is made 10 deny the whole
ca., s R,age o,SIn@ sonauc,ed there yet T.
unless II was too heavy TO carry away. Houses Of
foreigners shared the same fate. Many houses were
partly torn down to seek for hidden gold and silver
outside the city there were medley stores Of goods
gathered and assorted for sale. Soon the supply
OF provisions gave out, wnen the hucksters would be
glad to exchange u brass bedstead for a piece OF
Aeef or splendid armchair for pound OF potatoes.
The ne grounds OF Lopez. rivaling in splendor some
oi the European residences of royalty, are now
ho.iing waste.
The green banner OF Brazil noats from the cubrido
Of Asuncon; The government house on the Plaza,
hGilt % the Jesuit Fathers is the headquarter OF
the Brazlllans wnile General Emilio Mitre Is with
the Argentnes at the former residence OF Venancio
Lopez. The railway out from Aslnclon has not been
much injured, and the station itself is unequalled
in South America But the streets are fearful ovens
Broad sheiteriess With scalding sand twelve inches
deep.
The present place OF retreat OF Lopez, the lair 0
the hon. Is among tue Cordlleras Mountains, Ia fer
pal families OF Paraguay. As early as one month
before the last battle Minister Caminos ordered
all Paragnayan families or to the mountains, and
young and Old and sick, all were swept away by an
ilexorable guard sent for the purpose, and now
many OF the best families living In bullock carts,
IN tents made OF stretched hides and nving on mau.
dlGca and roasted ClOtnlnv IN.
known. The women and children huddle together:
tae ,sr5Iens men anl are sick, or wounded or on
THIS Is meagre view of the desperate reduction Of
Lopez ana his followers, and yet the dissatisfied the
rebel among his ragged, starving country men Is
hardly one among thousand. All Paraguay IL q
wide ruin, the name bids lalr 10 be erased and the
nation may awinale now into the iDslgnihcance OF O
tribe of Indians. after having held three warlike
nations az bay for four years
Al last light has come on the pretended con-
spracS in Paraguay which cost so many lives. For
II the best men IN Paraguay were given 70 tortures
indescrioable and TO death; and IL only an accL
dent tnat prevented the same fate to the United
States Minister, Mr.. Washburn. The conspiracy was
~ fclows--
When The iron-clads forced the passage or Huma.
til. and went up 10 the capital, they caused great
CONSERVATION. For many Gays no news had arrived
from Lopez's army, and II was not even known
where Lopez was. The iron-clads demanded sur
render OF tue town. The principal men OF the city
met for informal consultation on the situation.
and among them were many OF the chief Officers OF
the government civil and military, and some foreign
gentlemen. The COMMANDER OF the fort was present.
Every man at that meeting was hunted, tortured
and killed. The commander refused 70 consult
on the subject. declaring he would not surrender,
but would fire on the iron-clads and also
on any boats going on 70 them, and then
and summary snot. Every one native or foreign,
who even sympathized with the counses Of that day
was marked and IN due time pershed, and the
number OF them is small who died with bodies un-
mutilated by whips or severe tortures.
One OF the saddest episodes OF those bloody times
is history OF young Manlove captain or colonel
late lOnfe1erafA
allies and was received among them with great
iayor aud after several attempts To cross the lines
he did 50, ana On this side his traces were all lost
TN passing over he was at once arrested as spy and
his business was asked. he replied that he could
Iel his business 70 no one but 70 Lopez; but an In
vealed TO a countrynan that his Object was to Obtain
lelieEs OF nlarque for American built privateers.
A!ter several months OF imprisonment he was given
sort Of liberty, sent 70 Aner.ca, and allowed q
small sam daily for his support After the con-
splracy was cunJured up he was rearrested con-
spirator, nOggei, tortured and at length shot. For
long l.ne nc was Kept cnaned down, obliged To
lie dat down, exposed 10 the weather. II he
attempted to SIT up he was cut al by the brutal
could give you similar rsctals OF the fate OF my
own personal trends there, as related BY persens
DO II.
The navigation Of the river Bernelo. 40 long pre.
vented by Lopez, Is now about 10 begin. The ma
Non Il government has set apart sum not 70 exceed
500 syer dollars per trip year up as far a. oran.
This viii open up new life IN that allow region.
Marshal Caxla5 has been superseded Ia command
" the Brazilian forces by Siarsha Gulllermo Xavier
de Sosa. The later has entered on Ils duties,
having arrived for the purpose; and the former has
arrived at MJntevideo, e,s rO,ae for home, with a
giittedny retin4e Of star officers.
Immigration % this Republic, chiefly from Italy,
amounted TO 5000 during the year 1865. Ex,en-
sive arrangements are made 10 increase ~ for 1869.
President sarmient0s administration has won.tb
confidence OF all parties as no one has ever done be-
i0rs Tue sum Of s5e0,00o silver, has just been pad
to Brazil as so much on the loan made from that
government 10 carry on the war.
The Paraguayans sunk all the steamers they had
on the upper Paraguay so as 10 impede navigation.
Exchange closed az 90 sd. TO the gold dollar.
Ilargests are reporting better than was feared ~
last mail II n estimated that there will be about
1900 bushels of wheat IN this province.