Mr. Asboth to Mr. Seward
Sir : I beg leave to report, in relation to the war between Paraguay and the allies, that since the sanguinary repulse of the allied armies on the 22d of September ultimo, at Curupaiti, near Humaitá, on the left bank of the river Paraguay, no engagement of any importance has marked the course of events.
The loss in that battle was over six thousand (6,000) on the part of the allies, while the loss of Lopez was not more than two hundred, (200.)
Lopez holds his position at Paso-Pucü, three miles in advance of Curupaiti, while the allies, separated from him by the swamps of the Estero Bellaco, are intrenched east and west of them at Curuzú and Tuyuti, at a circuitous distance of about ten (10) miles from each other, but only two and a half (2½) miles from the enemy’s advanced position.
Enclosed, marked A, you will please find, relative to the seat of war, a topographical sketch published September 30th, in the Nacion Argentina.
The Paraguayans are as indefatigable as ever in fortifying their lines, and at the same time continually reduce the ranks of the allies by shelling and harassing them day and night. The allies suffer, also, a great deal from want of proper food and the insupportable heat, (120° Fahrenheit in the shade,) in their unhealthy marshy camps, and are losing large numbers in consequence of it from various diseases, especially from intermittent fever, (chucho or Paraguayan fever,) and from black small-pox.
Meanwhile active recruiting continues in all the countries concerned. The Argentine minister of war left in person for the interior provinces to raise a new contingent, but as the war is becoming daily more unpopular, it is a delusion to expect volunteers; neither will money induce the natives to join the decimated ranks of the army, and coercion seems to prove as inefficient, the papers reporting constantly armed resistance on the part of those apprehended by the recruiting parties.
Any impartial observer of the affairs here is forced to the conclusion that the Paraguayan war is ruinous in its effects, morally as well as materially, causing mourning in thousands of families: no wonder, then, that there is a growing impatience for its speedy termination all over the Argentine Republic.
A revolution of a formidable type concocted in the four provinces of Cuyo, viz: Rioja, San Luis, Mendoza, and San Juan, for a simultaneous rising on the 22d of October, ultimo, was stifled by the timely information of Lieutenant Colonel Don Marcelino Quiroga, of San Juan, to Governor Rojo; nevertheless in Mendoza a bold and triumphant uprising occurred on the 9th of last November, the existing government was overthrown, and the governor, Don Militon Arrojo, fled for his life, while the resisting officers and citizens had fallen victims to their loyalty.
General Paunero was ordered from here against the insurgents, and is organizing adequate forces in Santa Fé and San Juan to subdue the rebel “federals,” already three thousand (3,000) strong, under command of Colonel Videla, of veteran experience. He (General Paunero) succeeded in capturing a transport [Page 111] of arms (800 muskets, 600 sabres, and 600 lances) intended for Mendoza, while the rebels intercepted most of the despatches of the government and are making a general levy of cattle, horses, and stores.
According to latest advices, there is also in Cordova a very bad feeling against the national government; while General Urquiza, the renowned and wealthy governor of Entre Bios, has ordered his contingent home, as he says, for the security of his own province.
The few Uruguayans still in the field are urging General Flores to recall them also, and their term of service having expired, the dictator will hardly be able to keep them longer from their homes.
Here in Buenos Ayres, as well as at Montevideo, bounty brokers are enlisting foreigners, mostly sailors, under false pretences, which, however, does not prove very successful, and is a great annoyance to all the representatives of foreign powers.
In Brazil recruiting is conducted with more practical result. The presidents of all the provinces are actively engaged in it; the bishops are inflaming patriotism by pastoral letters; the money aristocrats are paying large sums to volunteers, and all those of the middle class, who are in danger of being called upon to serve in the army, and who can raise the needful, buy up native blacks and mulattoes and give them their freedom on condition of serving as a substitute for the purchaser. Although this is a somewhat limited freedom given to the poor slaves, under the obligation to risk their lives in Paraguay, nevertheless it is the first step towards the abolition of slavery in Brazil.
Thus recruits are continually pouring to the seat of war; and besides, General Osorio is busily organizing an army of reserve in the province of Rio Grande, with the view of crossing the river Parana at Candelaria and attacking the Paraguayans at Villa Rica. In enclosure B you will please find an extract from to-day’s standard, containing a very severe allusion of the Brazilian Con-stitucional of Ouro Preto to the draft of twelve hundred (1,200) more national guards from Minas.
A careful estimate of the losses in battle and in hospitals during this unfortunate war gives the following returns, viz :
| Paraguayans | 36,000 |
| Brazilians | 35,000 |
| Argentines | 10,000 |
| Uruguayans | 1,500 |
| Total loss | 82,500 |
Eighty-two thousand five hundred men, which is certainly an enormous loss for those thinly populated states, and will greatly retard their progress in civilization and industry for the development of their natural wealth, as well as their advance in agriculture and commerce, the life and soul of young countries. They are all losing men, money, and credit; and, besides, the Argentine and Uruguayan republics are daily becoming more and more indebted to Brazil, the gold of which Empire is flowing in streams.
I have seen published the statement of a Brazilian senator, Señor Paranhos, made before congress in session, on the 24th of July ultimo, in the following words :
The army costs seventy-nine thousand (79,000) patacons per day, [a patacon being equal to a United States gold dollar.] As regards the cost of the navy there is nothing known; but taking the estimates of 1864, 1865, and 1866, I believe our navy costs the fifth part of the above, which is, say, sixteen thousand (16,000) patacons per day; added to the 79,000 patacons, makes ninety-five thousand (95,000) per diem, or 4,000 patacons per hour.
[Page 112]Since then expenses in regard to army and navy have considerably increased, (new iron-clads, new armies, &c.,) and it is supposed the disbursement to-day of Brazil cannot be under 150,000 patacons per diem.
The exact amount of the Argentine disbursements I cannot say, since we have not men here in Congress who had the courage of the Brazilian senator; but it is believed $1,000,000 currency per day, equal more or less to 45,000 patacons, must be near the mark; and if we add all these sums to the enormous amount already disbursed, we can judge what the treasury of the allies may have suffered in the present war, and especially what financial compromises must have been made to Brazil by the Argentine and Uruguay republics, which no doubt one of these days they will have to repay with interest, or treaties humiliating and disgraceful.
The present strength of the allied army is estimated as follows :
| Brazilians | 30,000 |
| Argentines, including Paraguayan prisoners compelled to take up arms against their brothers | 7,000 |
| Uruguayans, or more correctly Paraguayan prisoners under command of Uruguayan officers | 500 |
| Total strength | 37,500 |
Thirty-seven thousand five hundred men, of which 25,000 are at Tuyuti.
The Paraguayan strength is estimated from 30,000 to 50,000 men, and taking into consideration that Lopez is on his own ground, with veteran volunteers, fresh from successes, and that he holds the most advantageous positions, strong by nature and well-fortified by art, while the allies, with soldiers merely by compulsion, and discouraged by recent defeats, have to fight far from their resources in the enemy’s country, under a burning sun, it becomes evident that nothing will and can be attempted by the allies till largely re-enforced. However, the Emperor is firm in his determination, and his new commanders of army and navy being eager for glory, will no doubt be soon again ready to press forward.
The Marquis of Caxias is the new commander in-chief of the Brazilian forces, and General Argollo has been ordered to Curuzú to take command of the army of the famous Baron Porto Alegre, who is on his way to Rio.
The steam transport Isabella, with the Brazilian Admiral Joaquin José Ignacio and 600 marines on board, has just arrived at this port. She brings also a great balloon to reconnoitre Lopez’s quarters.
The new admiral will relieve the much abused Viscount Tamardaré, and is expected to immediately attack Curupaiti and Humaita, without regard to additional losses of men, saying, as reported, “that if the honor of Brazil demands that they should perish, then down they shall all go.”
Another Brazilian iron-clad, the Silvado, has also arrived at Montevideo, where the reserve naval squadron is being formed.
There are now in the Montevideo harbor two Brazilian iron-clads, two frigates, and several smaller men of war, seemingly with a view to protect, but at the same time to control Dictator Flores, who has postponed, by decree of November ultimo, the constitutional elections of the legislature, for one year to come.
It is suspected that the Brazilian squadron off Montevideo is meanwhile watching for an opportunity to occupy, under some pretext, the Argentine island Martin Garcia, which is the key to the navigation of the Plata and Uruguay rivers.
The Spanish squadron has also arrived at the river Plata, to look up the Chilian cruisers, which are now expected on these coasts.
President Mitre is expected to return to Buenos Ayres on account of ill health; neither can his position with the army at present be satisfactory to himself, the Marquis de Caxias being de facto the commander-in-chief.
[Page 113]Brazil having during the last two years organized a standing army, and having in the Paraguayan waters a powerful fleet of over 30 war steamers, including eight ironclads, she seems now to be anxious to free herself of the Argentine alliance, feeling, as she does, strong enough to continue alone the war, and in case of success keep Paraguay and Uruguay, with a further desire for Entre Rios and Corrientes, in order to have the boundaries of Brazil in the south brought to the La Plata and Parana rivers, and at all events to become the controlling power in those waters, the mighty arteries of South American commerce, neither of the La Plata republics having any marine to oppose.
In anticipation of such possibilities the pacific republics of Chili, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, after having protested in vain against the “triple alliance” and its secret treaty, as reported by Consul Helper under date of the 24th August ultimo, had also offered their mediation to the Argentine government; but after long delay they received last October only the reply “that the Argentine Confederation could neither decline nor accept the offer, she being allied to Brazil and Uruguay.”
Thus the international affairs of the whole continent of South America are becoming daily more complicated, and especially in the La Plata republics a convulsive crisis is imminent.
Rumor says that England and France have determined lately to put an end to the Spanish as well as the Paraguayan war. European mediation, however, would hardly secure the true interests of the South American republics, and the only hope of their distressed people at large rests with the United States.
By next mail I expect to be able to forward a more detailed sketch of the present political troubles here, especially with reference to the overwhelming influence of Brazil and its intended bearing in future.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.