Mr. Washburn to Mr. Seward.
Sir: A great Battle has been fought—great for any country or any armies, and great in its results. As usual since the Paraguayans retired to their own territory, they have suffered a terrible defeat. I have very few details of the action, but, from all I can learn, it was the intention of General Mitre to make a general attack upon the Paraguay lines to-day, this being the anniversary of the Argentine independence. The Paraguayans, however, did not wait for him to complete his arrangements for an assault, but at 11 o’clock yesterday they made a furious attack, some ten thousand cavalry advancing with desperate impetuosity upon the allies, whose cavalry force is small and badly mounted. They were supported by about the same number of infantry, and the battle raged with great fury for some four or five hours, when the Paraguayans were repulsed, and the repulse became a rout. It is said that they entered into the battle in a half intoxicated state, and that they fought with ferocious courage. But the great numerical superiority of the allies, with their effective and well-posted artillery, rendered all their valor vain, and it is said that some five or six thousand were left dead or wounded on the field. The allies are believed to have lost three thousand in killed and wounded. It is thought here that this will prove the last battle of the war. Humayta cannot hold out many days, and I shall not be surprised to hear at any moment that it has been taken and that Lopez has fled. It is more likely, however, that he will try and rally his forces at some point in the interior; but as these questions will all be decided within a few days, I will not speculate upon them. I suppose now that the allied squadron will go up the river Paraguay, and that it will be open to free navigation as far as Asuncion within a short time. In that event I suppose I shall be allowed by General Mitre to go up as a citizen, though he has denied me that privilege, or right, as a minister of the United States. I hope to be in Asuncion in one capacity or the other within a few days, and, should the power of Lopez be destroyed, I suppose no further obstacles will be placed in the way of the performance of my official duties.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.