Mr. Washburn to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Since the date of my last despatch nothing of importance has transpired between the belligerents, now fronting each other near Humayta. So severe was the loss experienced by both parties in the great battle of the 24th of May, that neither seems to have been in a condition to attack the other. The loss on both sides was not over-stated in my previous despatch. General Mitre in his official report gives the number of wounded in his army at 2,645, and the killed at 702. He gives the number of 4,200 killed, and 370 wounded, on the side of the Paraguayans. The proportion of killed to wounded of the allied army is as one to eleven and a third, whereas of the Paraguayans nearly four times as many are killed as are reported wounded. Probably some wounded Paraguayans escaped back to their lines, but not many, as on their return they were exposed to a most galling fire from the artillery of the whole allied army. Yet the great disproportion of killed to wounded among the Paraguayans has caused a good deal of comment; and it appears that the Brazilians, much to the disgust of their allies, are disinclined to take prisoners, but kill alike wounded and deserters to their side. This course, it is pretended, is forced upon them by the treachery of the Paraguayans, who had a trick of advancing with the butts of their muskets in the air, crying out that they were deserters, (passados,) until they got so near that each was sure of his man, when they would suddenly bring their weapons to the shoulder and fire, and retreat instantly in the surprise and confusion their treachery had caused. Such tricks cannot successfully be repeated more than once or twice, and hence it is that when any number of Paraguayans are found together, though they make signs of surrendering, they are shot down without trust or mercy. Hence the battles are becoming of a most savage and sanguinary character.
The two armies are now where they were at the close of the battle of the 24th of May, and it is said that the allies are intrenching there. This leads to the inference that no offensive movement is contemplated by them at present. They are very destitute of horses and are waiting for large re-enforcements of cavalry from the army of Baron Port Allegre, who has crossed over from Brazil and struck the Parana some one hundred and fifty miles above the Paso de la Patria. It is said he has under him from six to eight thousand well mounted cavalry, and that he is now on the way with his whole force to unite with General Mitre. It is not supposed an attack on the Paraguay lines will be made before the junction of these forces. Hence, unless President Lopez makes another charge on the allies, I do not look for much fighting for the next month.
The naval forces are lying idle and apparently impotent and useless at the Tres Bocas. Two more iron-clads will soon be added to the fleet. One of [Page 582] them is now in the river, and will soon be here if the water in the river is not too low to admit of her passage so high as this.
I have not yet had the pleasure of receiving an answer from President Mitre as to whether I am to be permitted to pass through the lines to Paraguay, or not. It is now two months since I visited him at his encampment at the Paso de la Patria, at which time he requested me to wait for an answer till he could consult his government at Buenos Ayres. As two weeks would be ample time for that, I consented, and though I have twice since requested a categorical reply, I have received none. His last communication to me was dated May 19th, in which he said he had not, up to that time, had an answer from his government, but having called its attention to the matter in question for a second time some ten days before, he had no doubt of an immediate decision, which he would communicate to me without delay. Three weeks have passed since then, and I hear nothing, and hence I conclude that I am to be detained here till my government shall give some instructions as to my going on, awaiting here the issue of the war, or recall me. It seems as if the allied authorities were conscious that they had no right to detain me here, and yet they do not want me to go through to Paraguay. So, instead of having the frankness to say no, they resort to the most contemptible quibbling and evasion. In the meanwhile I remain here, watching the events of the war, in a very disagreeable place, where the expenses are enormous, and where I feel that it is not my place to be.
With this I send you a copy of a letter which I addressed to the Brazilian special minister, Señor Octaviana, before I left Buenos Ayres. I should have sent a copy of it soon after it was written; bat receiving no reply to it, I concluded that from some error it had not been received. But not caring to make any direct inquiry, and not learning anything of it incidentally, I mentioned the matter to our minister, Mr. Kirk, requesting him to advise me should he learn whether it had ever been received or not. By the last mail, which arrived two days since, Mr. Kirk writes me that Señor Octaviana told Admiral Godon that he received my letter, but did not choose to answer it. As I wrote you when I was in Buenos Ayres, Señor Octaviana offered me, without any solicitation, a man-of-war to take me to Paraguay. This offer was several times repeated, and in the presence of Mr. Kirk I replied that on the arrival of our squadron doubtless one of our gunboats would go up the river, so that it would not be necessary to avail myself of his kind offer. He repeated that if I should want it, a vessel would be at my disposition at any time.
After the arrival of our admiral, however, and he found that he would not send up an American war steamer, it seems that Señor Octaviana changed his mind, for on my writing him a note intimating that I would accept a passage in a Brazilian vessel, he did not condescend to answer it. Such is the brief history of this matter.
I am, sir, very truly, your most obedient and humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.