The war in the north.–Important letter from Sinbad.–Advance movement of the allies., July 26, 1867
The war in the north.–Important letter from Sinbad.–Advance movement of the allies.
Gentlemen: On the morning of the 22d the long-looked for move was made at Tuyuti. Caxias, at the head of 20,000 men of all arms, left the encampment, following an easterly course, leaving the fens of Estero Bellaco wide upon his left. In the afternoon a junction was made with the vanguard that marched hence from this point yesterday, under the command of Osorio. The aggressive allied forces passed the night at a distance of three leagues from the starting place. The balloon was seen during the day a little above the horizon, accompanying the march. At sunset it had a very different bearing from the previous ascent. Up to a late hour of the day not a single Paraguayan had been seen by the invaders. Porto Alegre, with 8,000 men strongly entrenched at Tuyuti, remained in defence of the lines established there. A short half league hence is encamped a reserve force of 2,000 Brazilian cavalry. The earthworks that are being raised here are nearly finished. The extraordinary fineness of the weather favors the onward movement; the mornings and nights are cool; the days are calm and cloudless; the noonday sun, however, is a warning that summer is impending, when the thermometer will indicate 100° and upwards of heat; when fatal fevers, or perhaps the cholera, will be rampant; when every nook and corner will be swarming with millions of flies and gnats which give no rest by day, while myriads of mosquitos, with their detestable hum, and still worse painful bites, give no peace at night. At present we are free from these Egyptian plagues, but in their absence we have a dangerous insect to cope with, the “pique,” known in tropical climes as the “jigger.” At the present moment in the Argentine hospital there are several cases deserving pity; the sufferers are unable to move, owing to their heels and toes being lacerated in a shocking manner while extracting the hurtful vermin; in more than one instance lockjaw has supervened the operation.
August 3.—A decree of the national government published to-day grants to each of the provinces of San Luis, Mendoza, San Juan, and Rioja, on account of what they have suffered during the late revolution, an extraordinary subsidy of 20,000 hard dollars, to be paid in monthly instalments of 5,000 dollars.
In yesterday’s Kitting of the National House of Deputies the question of the future capital of the republic was decided. Dr. Quintaua’s bill removing it to Rosario was carried by a large majority. The debate was very animated.
The Standard says that the debate in the Senate on the triple alliance treaty has been kept a great secret, but it would appear that the Senate approves the vote of the lower house, and that the articles of the protocol will be cancelled.
The news from Rioja is of a most melancholy nature. The full detail of the plunder and rapine published by the newspapers are scarcely to be credited. Taboada is, however, in possession of the province, and there is now some law and order maintained. The Tribuna calls upon the deputies of Rioja to appeal to congress for a subscription in favor of the many families reduced to beggary in this unfortunate province, certain that it will be generously supported by the people and the government.
August 5.—The English steamer Georgia Belle brings dates from Paraguay to 31st ultimo. President Mitre had arrived at Tuyuti. The allied army was on the march, but was not supposed to have gone more than eight leagues from Tuyuti. The fleet had not moved yet to attack and pass Humaita. It is said the Marquis de Caxias has stated the Paraguayans have 40,000 men, and that he was deceived as to their numbers, having hitherto believed them only 20,000 strong.
The Tribuna publishes a long article to prove that the legislative assembly of the province of Santa Féhas violated its provincial constitution by passing the law offering Rosario as the future capital of the republic.
The same paper reproduces the note of the Brazilian minister in Paris, dated 12th June last, answering SeñorBerges’s note to the Hon. Chas. A. Washburn, of 24th March of this year, relative to the causes of the present war in Paraguay.
August 6.—The Cisne, arrived late yesterday afternoon from the seat of war in Paraguay, has brought dates from Itapiru of the 2d instant. On the 1st the main army had reached the village of Tuyuleue, distant only one league from Humaita. The vanguard, under Osorio, had had a brush with the enemy’s cavalry, who attempted to dispute the pass called Tio Domingo. The Paraguayans are said to have fought valiantly, but were overpowered by numbers, and left more than 100 dead on the field. General Mitre joined the headquarters of the army on the afternoon of the 31st. He made a march across the country through very dangerous ground, having almost to cross through the enemy’s advanced lines, at one of which they tried to impede his passage but were driven back. On his arrival the Marquis de Caxias surrendered the chief command, and the whole army was placed under President Mitre’s orders.
In Entre Rios, Deputy Ocampo, who was lately expelled from congress, has been unanimously re-elected.
August 7.—Further details from the seat of war, published from private correspondence and other sources, do not tend to throw much light on the operations and present position of the allies. It would even appear, according to some, that the army had advanced too far, and that it is in the most critical position, unless the fleet pass Humaita. But, by last dates, the iron-clads were at the same anchorage in the river Paraguay, abreast of the abandoned works at Curuzu.
August 8.—Reports that the government of Entre Rios had invested largely in the purchase of fire-arms gave rise, some short time ago, to an article in the Nacion Argentina, calling upon the national government to ask explanations from that provincial government about such apparently hostile measures. The Uruguay, a newspaper which passes for being the official organ of the Entre Rios government, has published a violent article in reply to the Nacion Argentina, in which it openly avows that the armament purchased by the government of Entre Rios is destined to combat and resist the intentions of the national government, which it goes so far as to style a “black tyrant” The Tribuna, in reproducing this article of the Uruguay, comments severely upon its undignified and irritating tone, and maintains that, if General Urquiza be driven by those who surround him to raise once more the banner of revolt against the national authorities, he can have no chance of success against the rest of the republic, and that his real enemies are those who may force him into hostilities, since no one, more than General Urquiza himself, feels the necessity of peace.
The Tribuna says that all the theatres are preparing to give patriotic demonstrations on the night of the day in which the news of the battle, expected to take place every moment in Paraguay, arrives, in case it should be favorable to the allied arms.
August 9.—The Susan Bearne, which was anxiously looked for with news from Paraguay, arrived here yesterday, bringing dates to the 4th. No fight whatever had taken place, and the fleet had not even attempted to pass Humaita. The army rests in the same place as by last accounts, and the Paraguayans continue to harass the line of communication. They had succeeded in carrying off a troop of 800 to 1,000 head of cattle, and General Hemos, at the head of a flying column, had been detached to protect the connecting army road.
August 10.—The following are extracts from a correspondence, dated Itapiree, August 4, published in to-day’s Standard: “Although the Paraguayans never appeared in such force as to threaten our flank, still the extreme length and irregular nature of the road, occasionally traversed by streams and marshes, and covered here and there on either side by dense woods, offered shelter to the numerous small squads who prowled about to cut off stragglers.” “I am inclined to believe that the campaign is far from being concluded. Lopez has shut himself up within a series of ditches and parapets, extending from Curupaity to Humaita and thence to his extreme left in Tuyuti.” “The loss of the 800 head of cattle produced a fearful sensation in Tuyu Cue’; and, although there was no lack of provisions, the troops were immediately put on half rations”
The national government has received a chasque (special messenger) from the governor of the province of Salta, announcing that Juan Saa, who was already known to have disem barked in Cobija, had put himself in march at the head of a considerable number of followers and reached a place called Calama, in Bolivia, 30 leagues inland from Cobija, where, after refreshing his horses, he intended to invade the Argentine territory by the province of Salta. The government of Salta, as well as General Paunero, seem to have taken all the necessary measures to give the invaders a proper reception.