Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress
Mr. Asboth to Don Rufino de Elizalde
Sir: I have the honor to inform your excellency that having received with your friendly note of the 7th ultimo open orders to Marshal the Marquis de Caxias for securing the exchange of official despatches from the United States government and myself with the United States minister in Paraguay, Lieutenant Commander Kirkland, United States navy, sailed with the United States steamer Wasp under his command, on the 10th ultimo, from this port up the La Plata and Parana rivers, and having delivered on the Paraguayan lines the despatches received here, returned yesterday safely with Mr. Washburn’s official communications.
Lieutenant Commander Kirkland brought also the official letter from Marshal Marquis de Caxias, for your excellency, which I have the honor herewith to enclose.
It is my pleasing duty once more to beg your excellency will accept my best thanks for the good offices by which the intercourse between this legation and the United States legation in Paraguay has been effected.
With distinguished consideration, I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
His Excellency Señor Dr. Don Rufino de Elizalde, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Asboth to Admiral Godon
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that an officer of the United States steamer Shamokin handed to me yesterday afternoon a package of official despatches brought by the United States steamer Wasp, from our minister in Paraguay. The same officer informed me that the Wasp, without stopping here, proceeded at once to Montevideo. While thanking you, therefore, once more for the assistance lent by you in securing my exchange of despatches with the Hon. Charles A. Washburn, you will not be surprised if I cannot refrain from expressing my regret that Lieutenant Commander Kirkland, on returning from his mission to Paraguay, should have passed Buenos Ayres without even affording me the opportunity of having the honor of a personal interview with him, which would certainly have been the source of much pleasure and interest to me.
Among the papers received from Mr. Washburn is a copy of a document addressed to him by the Paraguayan government, commenting extensively upon the war between Paraguay and the allies, with special reference to its origin. It is very lengthy, but as soon as I can get a copy of it made out I will do myself the pleasure of sending it to you.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Rear-Admiral S. W. Godon, U. S. N., Commanding South Atlantic Squadron.
Memoranda of political events in the River Plata from March 27 to April 10, 1867.
March 27.—The news from the interior are, that at Tinogasta, a small town near the foot of the Andes, in the province of Catamarca. the national troops, under the command of a Colonel Cordoba, were surprised on the 4th instant by a rebel force, 1,000 strong. Colonel Cordoba, two of his officers, and several of his men, were killed, and the whole of his division [Page 163] had to surrender. The insurgents seized in the town a large quantity of arms and ammunition.
March 28.—Advices from Brazil say that on the 13th instant the government, by decree No. 3809, has called out 8,000 more national guards for active service in the army invading Paraguay. Of these 8,000 men the provinces of Bahia and Pernambuco, and the municipality of Rio de Janeiro have each to contribute 1,000 men; Minas Geraes, 800 men; Ceara, 600: and the province of Rio de Janeiro, 600 more. This decree has not been well received.
For the present it appears that no more troops need be expected from Brazil, owing to the quarantine regulations now existing in the river Plate. The last two transports from Rio de Janeiro had to land their men at Santa Catalina.
March 29.—The march of political events in the province of Cordoba is watched with the greatest anxiety, as from the action of its government depends in great measure the speedy re-establishment of constitutional order in the convulsed provinces of the interior. Governor Luque, while professing in public documents his adherence to the national cause, has at the same time given such unequivocal proofs of sympathy to the revolution and its agents as to make the press of Buenos Ayres unanimous in insisting upon the necessity that the national government should no longer hesitate to take military possession of the town of Cordoba, and be prepared to restrain, by force, its government from openly embracing the cause of the insurgents. Things are however advancing fast to a crisis, and to-day news has come that Governor Luque’s minister. Dr. Bonquet, afraid of the responsibility that was being incurred in by the government of which he formed part, has resigned. At the same time we hear that, contrary to the express orders of General Paunero, all the national guards of the province have been called out. General Paunero has marched from Rio Cuarto, in direction to the provinces of Cuyo, and was on the 24th instant half way between Rio Cuarto and San Luis, and had as yet met no rebel forces. Colonel Conesa, with his division consisting of four battalions, remained in Rio de Cuarto.
March 30.—Further news from the interior announces that the forces from the province of Tucuman, led by Minister del Campo, had entered the town of Rioja, and proceeded to the election of a provisional governor, which fell upon a person named San Roman. The insurgents had ail fled on the approach of del Campo with his forces, not before, however, having pillaged and destroyed everything within their reach, and leaving desolation and ruin behind them. Minister del Campo was preparing to march on the province of San Juan.
March 31.—It appears that the report of Marshal Osorio having crossed the Uruguay was not correct, since by the latest advices it appears that he was at Alegrette when last heard of, and was still recruiting men. a work in which he seems to meet with insuperable difficulties, being obliged to put his recruits in irons every night, as the only means of stopping the many desertions that occur daily. With regard to Osorio’s campaign, one of the daily papers publishes the following information, derived from a reliable source:
The distance from Asuncion to Humaita, is 67 leagues.
From Asuncion to Villa Rica, is 35 leagues.
From Asuncion to Itapua, is 80 leagues.
From Itapua to Villa Rica, is 50 leagues.
Osorio must take one of the two routes, Yuti or Caapucu. If Lopez has any flat-bottom steamers he will be able to meet Osorio at any point on the Tebicuari river, which Osorio must cross. It is improbable that Osorio will take the longest of the two routes, by Yuti, which leads to Villa Rica. The latter place is strongly fortified, and the outskirts that are well wooded afford an admirable defence against an attacking party; and should an invading army be in the neighborhood this stronghold would be a constant menace. Going by Capucu, Osorio will have no one to oppose him. so they say, provided he can cross the Tebicurari, in which case the road to Asuncion is open to him. If, however, he wishes to attack Humaita from the north, he must recross the Tebicuari first.
Advices from Tuyuti state that sickness is making dreadful havoc among the allies, who have no fewer than 12,000 men in hospital, mostly laid up with small-pox. An officer who passed over on the 18th instant says that Lopez has only 10,000 foot and 5,000 horse, with 139 heavy pieces of artillery, not counting those on board his steamers and at Humaiti. The allies fire 800 shot and shell daily, but without any effect, and the Paraguayans reply from a single gun. Marquis de Caxias is making great preparations, as if he seriously meant an attack, and oxen are arriving at Paso de la Patria. All tends to confirm the very prevalent report that positive orders have gone from the Brazilian government for a last great effort, as the discontent in Rio was becoming very pronounced.
The United States steamer Wasp passed down to-day, on her return from; the seat of war. She sent ashore despatches for this legation from Mr. Washburn, and without anchoring proceeded at once to Montevideo.
April 1.—The transport steamer Alice, with 400 troops for the seat of war, arrived on the 30th ultimo at Montevideo, and was placed in quarantine.
Advices from Rio de Janeiro state that the total number of men which the Rio Grande generals have succeeded in getting together to form the third division of the Brazilian army, under the Baron de Herval, is only about 4,000 men, and desertions are numerous, while it is next to impossible to raise more troops. General Carabarro, who was expected to bring 2,000, only brought 200 men. If the 8,000 national guards lately called out should proceed to [Page 164] Paraguay, the total number of soldiers sent to the war by Brazil since its first breaking out will be very close upon 100,000 men; and of these perhaps not a third part will return after the struggle is over.
A correspondent of the Nacion Argentina says that Governor Luque, of Cordova, is every day more leaning to the cause of the revolution in the interior, and that he is only waiting for the first reverse of General Paunero to openly declare himself; it affirms, also, that General Urquiza is in direct communication with Governor Luque, and is urging him. to assist the revolution, and foment desertion in Paunero’s army.
April 2.—The news from Brazil is, that 8,000 national guards, lately called out, will not be forthcoming, for those which many provinces had to contribute to the last levy of 10,000 have not yet been presented by the commanders and never will be.
The following extract from the Journal de Brazil, published in the Standard of to-day, must be taken as a strong indication of the feeling in Brazil with regard to the Paraguay war:
[From the Journal de Brazil.]
“Peace with Paraguay.—Let us no longer deceive ourselves. The United States government persists in its intervention for peace with Paraguay. The conditions are hard for Brazil, but the state of our army and navy is disastrous. At headquarterrs we have plenty of ammunition, but the most part of our great army is in hospital, besides thousands of invalids sent home as incurable, and those remaining in the field are without pay or clothing.
“Marquis de Caxias is quite disgusted, and says he can do nothing unless he gets re-enforcements, which is impossible. In this emergency the Emperor lays hold of the negroslaves, as no more contingents can be had. Meantime the revolution in the Argentine Republic makes head against Mitre and General Urquiza, and the press makes us such opposition that we shall be perhaps forced to make a disastrous retreat. The expedition to Matto Grosso set out two years ago, but has not yet arrived, the soldiers dying by dozens on the road.
“Every honest man in the empire knows that this is the real state of affairs; even the foreign residents pity us for the wretched position into which the government has dragged us, but no one has the courage to rescue us from such degradation.”
April 3.—People who have come from the interior say that the rebels have no such formidable force as is represented, and the troubles exist more from the utter debility of the national party. The people of the province of Cordoba are averse to the Paraguayan war, nothing more.
April 4.—The Nacion Argentina, official organ, publishes in its number of to-day the diplomatic correspondence between this legation and the Argentine foreign minister relative to the United States offer of mediation for the termination of the Paraguayan war, omitting however to publish my note of 2d of February.
Rumors that cholera has broken out in Rosario and other points on the river are prevalent, also that some cases have occurred here, which has created great alarm, and in consequence thereof the municipality of Buenos Ayres has taken some stringent precautionary measures, prohibiting, among others, the sale altogether of fruits and vegetables.
April 5.—The Tribuna republishes the diplomatic correspondence on the American mediation, adding my note of February 2d, omitted by the Nacion Argentina, and also a lengthy despatch from the Paraguayan minister for foreign affairs to Mr. Washburn on the same subject.
April 6.—Several cases have been reported yesterday and to-day of a kind of cholera which may be called autumnal cholera, but not the Asiatic cholera morbus. Several of the cases, however, have proved fatal, causing death in less than six hours, and the alarm continues. The United States steamer Shamokin lost a cook and messenger boy of the same disease in a few hours.
April 7.—No steamers having arrived yesterday on account of bad weather, there is no news to report either from the seat of war or from the interior.
April 8.—The steamer that arrived yesterday has brought rumors of an encounter having taken place between the forces under General Paunero and the rebels, headed by the brothers Saa, in which the latter were defeated.
Some cases of the prevalent disease, misnamed cholera, are reported in Montevideo, and all vessels from this port are placed in quarantine there.
April 9.—The Brazilian steam transport Alice arrived from Corrientes yesterday in Montevideo with the same contingent of troops she had brought from Rio de Janeiro, and went in quarantine at the Isla de Flores. It appears that the Marquis de Caxias has ordered that no new contingent should be landed at the seat of war as long as there is any fear of cholera.
April 10.—By way of Sulta news has come that General Melgarejo, President of Bolivia, has been assassinated; also that a revolution has broken out in Peru by which the government of Prado has been upset.
News of an engagement between. General Paunero’s force, under the immediate command of Colonel Arredondo, and the insurgents, under Saa, is confirmed.