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Letters about Reconstruction

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Reynolds to March 21, 1875 . Great efforts have been made to save the lower portion of the palace building from complete destruction by fire, which has been burning all night. It is stated that there are three and one half tons of powder in the basement, which cannot be taken out now, but it is thought that the fire is within control. The casualties of yesterday are stated as follows: Government total loss 7 killed, and 24 wounded, of whom several will die. Revolutionists, 57 killed and many wounded, but the number not known, as they are concealed by their friends, fearing death if found. You will pardon me for so long a dispatch, which you may well say is fitted for the Department of War rather than that of State, yet I deem this important, as marking a new era in the history of Bolivia. The republic seems to be entering upon a new era, the era of “the commune.” Her idle and dissolute population now seem to be determined to provide for themselves by conflagration and plunder, with the cry “Down with the government!” “Down with all property-holders!” “We must live!” I inclose two copies of “La Reforma,” in which will be found a more full account of the battle of yesterday, and also an account of affairs in Cochabamba, in which city revolution is rampant, and where property is destroyed without measure or reason. Passages have been cut through, connecting all the houses on the plaza, while trains of magazines, filled with powder, close up all avenues of ingress into the city. The inhabitants have been driven to the country, abandoning their homes to the mercy of the revolutionists, who control everything. News has just arrived that the rebels in the Youngar district have been defeated with a loss of 38 killed; which is generally believed as true. This legation has not been disturbed except in receiving three random shots) two shots from muskets through the windows and one shot through the flag flying from the flag-staff. All is quiet to-day, yet this calm may but precede a more terrible and desolating storm, for the “end is not yet.” The government troops with the President are now doubtless before Cochabamba. Of them we shall hear in a few days. Yours, March 20, 1875

From Reynolds
To March 21, 1875 . Great efforts have been made to save the lower portion of the palace building from complete destruction by fire, which has been burning all night. It is stated that there are three and one half tons of powder in the basement, which cannot be taken out now, but it is thought that the fire is within control. The casualties of yesterday are stated as follows: Government total loss 7 killed, and 24 wounded, of whom several will die. Revolutionists, 57 killed and many wounded, but the number not known, as they are concealed by their friends, fearing death if found. You will pardon me for so long a dispatch, which you may well say is fitted for the Department of War rather than that of State, yet I deem this important, as marking a new era in the history of Bolivia. The republic seems to be entering upon a new era, the era of “the commune.” Her idle and dissolute population now seem to be determined to provide for themselves by conflagration and plunder, with the cry “Down with the government!” “Down with all property-holders!” “We must live!” I inclose two copies of “La Reforma,” in which will be found a more full account of the battle of yesterday, and also an account of affairs in Cochabamba, in which city revolution is rampant, and where property is destroyed without measure or reason. Passages have been cut through, connecting all the houses on the plaza, while trains of magazines, filled with powder, close up all avenues of ingress into the city. The inhabitants have been driven to the country, abandoning their homes to the mercy of the revolutionists, who control everything. News has just arrived that the rebels in the Youngar district have been defeated with a loss of 38 killed; which is generally believed as true. This legation has not been disturbed except in receiving three random shots) two shots from muskets through the windows and one shot through the flag flying from the flag-staff. All is quiet to-day, yet this calm may but precede a more terrible and desolating storm, for the “end is not yet.” The government troops with the President are now doubtless before Cochabamba. Of them we shall hear in a few days. Yours
March 20, 1875

No. 51. Mr. Reynolds to Mr. Fish. Legation of the United States, La Paz, Bolivia, March 20, 1875. (Received April 27.) No. 56.] Sir: This will long remain a memorable…

19th CenturyDiplomacyReconstruction