Steamer Wasp to the Marquis De Caxias, Commander-in-chief of all the Brazilian forces, and, in the interim, of the allied army in operations against the government of Paraguay, May 24, 1868

Lieutenant Commander KirMand to the Marquis de Caxias.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 23d instant, in which you state that you cannot satisfy the request made in my communication to you of the 22d instant, which was to the effect that the United States steamer Wasp should be permitted by you to pass through the allied fleet, and as far up the Paraguay river as a point called Tacuara, below the mouth of the Tebicuary river, for the purpose of receiving on board the United States minister resident at Asuncion, his excellency Charles A. Washburn, with his family, servants, and baggage.

Your excellency, as I understand it, proposes that the American minister, Mr. Washburn, should come to Pilar or to Tagy in a Paraguayan steamer, with a flag of truce, and that at one of these points to be agreed upon, your excellency will cause to be provided such transportation as under the circumstances may be fitting and necessary to bring himself, family, and baggage to Curupaiti by land. As the mission here of this vessel is to embark the American minister, your refusal to permit the United States steamer Wasp to pass through the allied fleet and up to Tacuara for that purpose, leave me only one course to pursue. I shall, therefore, inform his excellency Mr. Washburn of your answer and your courteous offer, and shall await his reply.

In conclusion I have to request that you will cause to be forwarded at an early moment the accompanying letter to his excellency Mr. Washburn at Asuncion.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,