Mr. Kirk to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The Paraguayan war does not appear to progress very fast. About this time it is supposed something of a decided nature must take place; from advices received yesterday, the allies were to make the attempt to cross the river at the Paso la Patria on the 7th instant; whether they succeed or not remains to be seen. If they do not it will almost paralyze their army. In the latter part of last month the Brazilian squadron went up the river to near the pass, and met with considerable loss among their men. The Paraguayans attacked the ironclads with two boats, which they call chutas; they are, from what I can learn, something like our common flat-boats, from forty to sixty feet long, with one 68-pounder midships, and are managed with oars, kept close to shore in shallow water, then, in connection with a small fort, made the attack, and, strange as it may appear, caused much disaster. One shell entered the square tower of the iron-clad Tamandure, killing and wounding mortally twenty-seven men, officers, the commander being among the killed. From the information received the squadron suffered severely, and gained no reputation.
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The capitol question will come before the coming congress, which convenes this May, and many think it will be removed from Buenos Ayres.
I fear ugly complications with Brazil will grow out of the present war.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.