PAEAGUAY. 



613 



side a very large exercise-ground, round winch 

 buildings were ranged, with barrack-room for 

 6,000 men. Furniture was found in all, and in 

 the officers' houses quantities of preserves, oil, 

 wines, and pickles, were left behind. As the 

 buildings were in comparatively good condi- 

 tion, all the hospitals and deposits were being 

 moved from Oorrientes to it, and it was made 

 the basis of future operations. The works 

 were immediately razed to the ground. 



On the 26th of August the vanguard of the 

 Brazilian army crossed the Jacar6, a stream 

 flowing into the Tebicuari, and routed a force 

 of 300 Paraguayan cavalry on the other side, 

 killing forty-five men and making some pris- 

 oners, together with 126 equipped horses. On 

 the 28th the same force attacked and carried 

 a redoubt on the bank of the Tebicuari, which 

 was defended by some 400 Paraguayans with 

 three small cannon. It was also protected by 

 abatis, secured to the ground by stakes. The as- 

 saulting force consisted of two brigades of infan- 

 try, a brigade and two half corps of cavalry, six 

 cannon, and a contingent of sappers. The strug- 

 gle, though short, was severe, and the official re- 

 port gives the Paraguayan loss at 170 killed and 

 81 prisoners, and that of the Brazilians at 21 killed 

 and 132 wounded. The three cannon were cap- 

 tured, together with arms, ammunition, horses, 

 and oxen. Four monitors were then ordered to 

 enter the Tebicuari, which were able to go up 

 two leagues without difficulty, and on the 1st 

 of September the crossing of the Tebicuari was 

 made, and it was found that the Paraguayans 

 had abandoned all the lines there, leaving a 

 dismounted cannon, large deposits of munitions, 

 and food, etc. The battery on the Paraguay 

 was also dismounted, the pieces being thrown 

 into the river. In the march of the Brazilian 

 army from Humaita to the Tebicuari no less 

 than 900 draught oxen were killed in the trans- 

 porting of the baggage and munitions, notwith- 

 standing that much was sent by water. 



After abandoning the position on the Tebi- 

 cuari, Lopez established his headquarters at 

 Villeta. His army, at this time, was reported to 

 number about 15,000 men. The new position 

 was of considerable strength, owing to the dense 

 woods, deep ravines, and the extensive marshes 

 that surround it. The natural position of 

 Villeta was in fact much stronger than it was 

 at first generally anticipated. The Paraguay- 

 ans were posted upon high hills, where they 

 mounted their artillery. The allies threw up 

 earthworks to fortify their positions. 



On September 23d, a fight took place for the 

 possession of the bridge on the stream Pici- 

 quires, which lasted several hours, and ended 

 in the defeat of the Paraguayans, the allied 

 forces taking full possession of the bridge, as 

 well as of a very important position beyond 

 it. The losses of the allies on this occasion 

 are announced by General Oaxias, in his order 

 of the day to the army, dated September 26, 

 1868, as follows: "Our losses are: 234 men 

 put kors de combat being, officers killed, 12 ; 



wounded seriously, 18; slightly, 8; soldiers 

 killed, 78; wounded seriously, 169 ; slightly, 

 9." The loss of the Paraguayan troops was 

 estimated to have been 400 killed, wounded, 

 and prisoners. 



Another engagement occurred on the 1st of 

 October. The allied army, under General 

 Viscount de Herval, was ordered to effect a 

 reconnoissance of the positions occupied by 

 the Paraguayan forces at Villeta. The vis- 

 count pushed forward, and engaged the enemy 

 at several points, took a redoubt at the point 

 of the bayonet and drove the Paraguayans be- 

 fore him. The object of the reconnoitring 

 expedition being successfully accomplished, 

 the allied forces returned to their encamp- 

 ment. 



On the 15th of November, the allied forces, 

 under the command of Marshal Oaxias, made a 

 desperate attack on Villeta, the stronghold of 

 President Lopez, but were repulsed with a loss 

 of 1,500 killed and wounded. After the failure 

 to carry Villeta, the Brazilian iron-clads at- 

 tacked, but with no better success, and were 

 obliged to retreat beyond range of Lopez's bat- 

 teries. 



The month of December \otnessed some of 

 the severest and most decisive fighting of the 

 whele war. On the 6th of December, the 

 Brazilians, under the command of Marshal 

 Oaxias, fell upon the rear-guard of the Para- 

 guayans, composed of about 4,000 men, and 

 commanded by General Oaballero. The attack 

 was very impetuous, and the defence very 

 brave. After several hours of severe fighting, 

 the Paraguayans were completely routed. 

 General Oaballero himself was killed. A Par- 

 aguayan colonel, taken on the llth, stated that 

 the Paraguayan forces consisted of four bri- 

 gades of infantry of about 900 men each, and 

 about 1,000 cavalry, making a total of about 

 4,600 men, with 12 cannon. Of these forces 

 he estimated the loss at 1,200 killed arid 

 wounded on the 6th. This force was in- 

 structed to withstand the Brazilian advance 

 wherever practicable, and received orders to 

 maintain the bridge of Itororo. Lopez ordered 

 them to retire on the night of the 10th to Lo- 

 mas Valentinas, but the commander, fearing 

 to be cut off by the numerous Brazilian caval- 

 ry, determined to hold the ground, on which 

 consequently another battle was fought on 

 the llth. The Paraguayans were again de- 

 feated, and Lopez was thus compelled to leave 

 his camp at Villeta and to withdraw to Cerro 

 Leon. 



The occupation of Villeta by the Brazilians 

 was on the 17th of December. On this occa- 

 sion another cavalry engagement took place, in 

 which the Paraguayans again lost about 100 men 

 killed, and 50 taken prisoners. The Marquis 

 de Caxias was delayed by the necessity of re- 

 ceiving supplies by the Ohaco. He united with 

 his other forces three battalions stationed in 

 the Ohaco, fearing no attack on that side of 

 the river. In a reconnoissance of the batteries 



