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The Greqt Poroguqyqn Wor 1864-T 870 Portone

The Greqt Poroguqyqn Wor 1864-T 870 Portone

22 The Greqt Poroguqyqn Wor 1864-t 870 PortOne

by lohn Sharples

INTRODUCTION FranciscoSolano Lopez, President and of was to his o*n people an enlightened, brav€, dedicatedand fiercely patriotic man. Even today he is recognisedin his native land as a hero who gavehis life in a hopelessattempt 1oprotecr the rights, freedom and pdde of his country. To othen, especiallythe citizens of and , he is remem- bered as a blood-crazed megalomaniac,q/hose ambitions of empire plunged four natioDsinto prolonged and bloody ; who, when facedwirh total and inescapabledefeat, condemned to deaththousands ofhis own people and abandonedhis nation to the ravagesof war and dis€ase. The contradictionsin the reputation of this man are of the extremeand nobody studyingThe Great ParaguayanWar (also known as the War of the Triple Alliance) can fail to be unaffected by the man's character and motivation. One will either support and admire the man or find him truly r€pugDant. The truth, as always, is between these extremes. When compared to his contemporarieshis rule was not particularly excessivein its violence. ln fact features of his reim are positivelyenlighlened when measuredagainst the rigimes which precededhim. Most importantly he wasloved, fearedand admired by the majority of his people who saw in him the embodiment of his country. This was also rccognisedby the Allied leaders,*hose declaredintention wasthe destructionof the Lopez regime. It became clear that this could only be achievedby the total destruction of the Pamguayanpeople or the deathof Lopez. During the courseof the war they exercised both options. In the following article I hope to reveal somethingof the characterof the man Lopez and untangle the complex web o{ political intdgue, heroism, cowardice and slaughter which comprisedthe Great ParaguayanWar. I will provide detailsof battles,armies, weaponry and uniforms to enablethe dedicated wargamer to recreate the actions of this most fascinating of Msrshrl Fransisro SolatroInp€z waft. However, before recoding details of th€ vrar itself it is Frcn o lithogrcph bt H. Aitknd 1869. necessaryto review the history of the Brazilian Empire and the La Plata Republicsin to gain someundeNranding of the eventuallymilitary action led to the overthrow of the missions. causesand courseof the war. The colonistswho moved in to take over the church landswere slowly integrated into the native population as Paraguayslowly declined into a Hispanic backwater. PARAGUAY With the ove(hrow of the SpanishEmpire and the growing Th€ history of Paraguayhas beeo guided by its geographical power of Buenos Aircs the population of Paraguaybecane location. Bordered on the west and south by navigablerivers it fearful for their independenceas avariciousArgentines called was natural that the early Spanishexplorers would coloniseits for the expansionof th€ir rul€ over the 'province' of Palaguay. fertile land. But the temptation of riches in the Ades and The reaction to this fear of foreign domination led the dictator attacksby hostile indiars soon led to the abandonmentof most Dr JoseFrancia to enforceth€ isolation of the countrv. SoaDish of thesesettlements. The vacuumresulting ftom this recedingof famii ies were pop;hdon 'civilization' imprisooedor disitrhe rited. l-he narive was filled by Jesuit mhsionaries, who spr€adthe were actively courted by 'El Supremo' and they in their tum Gospel amongstth€ natumly docile Guaiani Indian tribes. If rctumed a deep loyalty. Whil€ the rest of was you have seenthe filln Tre ,l4rrsror then you wil have a good hungrily adopting European ways and influenc€ Paraguay mental picture of th€ t}?e of society that developed. Soon closed its borders and no welcome mat was laid down for however the SpanishC-olonial authorities and the plantation intrusive diplomats or traders. ownerswho wished to exploit the Indians as a sourceof staves, On the deathof Francia in l8zl0 power passedinto the hands began to undermine the authority of the Jesuits ar court and of Carlos Antonio Lop€z who, whilst retaining an isolationist 23 With a large and eager amy, a sizeable naval force, an overestimationof his own diplomatic abilities and ambitionsto matchhis ego, it wasonly a matter of time beforeIrpez clashed with his powertul neighbours.

BRAZIL Br^zil, at the tum ofthe nineteenthcentury, was the jewel in the Portuguese Imperial crcwn. The plantations of the north, a(ound Recife and ,produced much sought after sugar and were meeting the increasing demand for coffee. Hady pioneen venturing into the junglesof the Amazon basin and the foothills of the Andes supplied gold, emeralds,silver, dianonds and precious hardwoods. In the rolling hills of the south in Minas Gerais and , huge estancias produced beef to feed the growing population and for foreign

Natiotral nag of Pa$guay The international standing of the country was raised The ticolour (top to boiom rcd, , blue), adoptedas the inordnately with the arrival of the Portugueseroyal family, nationalflag 1842.Stmbol on obvercerepresents the'May Star' refugeesfrom 'soccupation of the lberian peninsula. of Liberution. Reve6eshoh,s Stak Trcasut) Seal (seeove eaf) becamethe centre of E[opean culaurein South on which a lion prctectsthe cap ofliberty. Thb fiaB is sn in use Am€rica.Theatres, opera houses, schools, military academies, today, the onlt nationalflag on which s differentpattern appears arsenalsand shipyads were foundedor expanded.Rio de on obveceand rcverce. Janeircand Sao Paulo became the powerhousesof theEmpire. With the €nd of the Napoleonic and the retum to policy and a deep disfiust of Argentina, beganto open up the nation to foreign influenceswhich he thought would benefit the nation. Diplomatic relationswere shakily openedwith westem poweN,especially Great Bitain. In retumdomestic industries developedand a basicmanufacturing infrastructure as created under the watchful eyesand helping handsof British advisors. El Ciudadano(The Citizen), as the elder l-opez prefered to be known,sent his son and heir on anextended European tour to better prepare him for power, but he also continued the totalitadan rule that had marked the regime of Francia. Favouring the native and mixed blood population, whose improving standards of living depended on his continued sponsorship,Lopez graduallydrove from Paraguaymany of the originalSpanish families, who settledin BuenosAires, there engagingin typicallyamateur emig.6 plots to overthrowthe I-opez regime. On the deathof his father in 1862the youngLopez inherited a backward country and a bulging treasury. Fired by the innovationshe had witnessedon hh Europeantour, and inspiredby the spiit of his hero NapoleonBonaparte, he embarkedonafull scalemodemisation of the nation.A railway wasbuilt linking Asuncion wilh the military training gounds of Cero Leon- The arsenalwas modemisedand new foundry facilities constructed.Telegraph lines were raised and military shipyardsfounded. In lessmartial fields attempts were made to found a native cotton industry.Theatr€s, new govemment buildingsand a presidentialpalace were raised and, helped by his lrish 'ladfiriend', Elisa Lynch, chanseswere made in the socialand cultural life ofthe rulingclasses, as Lopez attempted to re-educatehis subjects, Politically Lopez wasnaive. His father had claspedthe reins of power tightly and Franciscoinherited the same autosatic powersunder which Paraguay had been held for thewhole of his lifetime. The singleparty statecontained no unified opposition, and serviceto the stat€ and total loyalty to Lopez, the living embodirnentof that state,was enJorced by the policeand their almy of undercover informers. His relations with the major powerswere decidedly clurnsy as in a relativelysho( time he managedto annoy Britain, the USA and .It soon becameclear that lnpez would be taking a much more aggressivestance over foreign policy and it wasnot long before frontierdisoutes arose with both Arsentinaand Brazil. ment. Many of the leaders of the Rio Grandean revolt were destined to become the most effective of the officers of the Allied army in Paraguay, serving under Caxias, the man who suppressedtheir rebellion. It was the extent of Brazil's territorial expansion which was destined to bring the Empire into conflict with Paraguay. Border disputes over patches of jungle continuously arose, but Brazil's exploitation of the rich mineral resources of the region and its insistenceon free navigation rights of the Parana and Paraguay , in direct conflict to Lopez's own wishes were the main causesof the forthcoming war. The only practical way to supply Brazil's settlements in the Mato Grosso was by way of the rivers, and during the regimes of both Francia and the elder Lopez incidents had occurred as Paraguayrefused National of Imperial Brazil right of passageto both Brazilian and neutral steamers. To reinforce his control ofthe the elder Lopez had the fortress Adopted 1822; in use until 1889,when thefamiliar flag of today replacedit. Field is green with yellow central diamond. Crown is of Humatai constructed, with large, but mainly obsolescent gold with red trim and gems. Central shield of green with white batteries, near the of the Paraguay and Parana stars on a blue field, the centre being green with a red cross and rivers. The younger Lopez expanded and strengthened these white centre to its arms. (Originating in the coat of arms of the defences, creating a potential stranglehold on the river. The ). The astronomical globe interwoven with the Imperial response was to steadily increase their military crossis in gold. The surrounding wreath (of coffee and tobacco) presencein Mato Grosso, stockpiling munitions and supplies at constructing their own fortress, dominating the has green leaves,brown branches, red berries and white flowers Corumba and bound with a red ribbon. river, at Coraimba. Details of this flag were provided by T. Hooker of the South It was to this background that Lopez found himself contemplating the growing Brazilian influence in the Plata and Central American Military Historians Society, for which many thanks. region. He decided to support the Blanco faction in , although that regime was not exactly responsive to his offers. Whilst the Argentine government had viewed Lopez as a Europe of the Royal family, Brazil was ruled as a royal regency natural ally against Brazil they were also interfering in the under Pedro L But the political hub of the Empire had shifted violent politics of Uruguay by providing both financial and with the court and the Brazilian , who had become used military support to the Colorado rebels led by Venacio Flores, to influence at court, found themselvesincreasingly regarded as whose revolt would soon be swept to victory by armed backwater colonials. So, whilst elements in Lisbon worked intervention by Brazilian forces. actively to disenfranchise the Brazilian party, the pressure for independence grew. Liberal thinkers in Rio desired a clean break from the decrepit which attempted to rule a vast country at a distance of some thousands of miles. (A comparison with the movement toward inde- pendence draws a number of similarities with the Brazil of the 1820's.)Pedro himself was a Liberal and the growing clamour for independenceplaced him in an invidious position; his loyalty torn between his family and his adopted nation. The climax was soon to come. Whilst walking, musing his predicament in a wooded glen he reached a dramatic and final conclusion. Drawing his sword and holding it on high he declared Brazil 'Liberty independent of with the cry of or death'. The dramatic events of 1822 forced Portugal to take a pragmatic view of Brazilian independence, realising they were 'Fait faced with a accompli'. The new Empire was quickly recognisedby the major powers and the export markets, which were the lifeline of the emerging nation, remained open. Unusually for South America the liberal democratic regime of the Empire ensured that, apart from the occasional revolt, the progress.of Brazilian economic, political and territorial of Argentina expansion was steady and successful.King Pedro abdicated in The pale blue and white fiels were adopted in 1810during the favour of his Brazilian born son in 1831and in 1840,when of fight for independencefrom , the golden sun of liberation age, Dom Pedro L1 (Segundo)was declaredEmperor. was added in 1818. The seemsto have carried The most serious of the revolts to trouble the Empire was in regimental colours in addition to the National flag, but to date I Rio Grande do Sul, where the peoples were largely of Spanish have been unable to obtain definite details. or Indian origin, much like the peoples of Uruguay and Entre Rios. The (nobles) of Rio Grande, separated geographically from the capital by an extensive range of rolling ARGENTINA hills and river valleys, toyed with the thought of independence.I The collapse of Spanish imperial rule in the late Eighteenth use the word'toyed' advisedly,as although the revolt dragged century resulted in a violent political melting pot in the region of on for ten years it was a conflict of skirmish and guerrilla warfare the of the River Plate. which was controlled by a combination of, mostly benign, Amongst the infant nations to emerge from this anarchy were military action and liberal legislation by the Imperial govern- Argentina, Paraguayand Uruguay. By the 1860'sBuenos Aires 25 was a major seaport with a population of over 150,000,and the centre of commerce and European culture in the Plata region. XctJo From the bureaucratic offices of the Republican government an expanding, trade-based middle class imposed its will through the use of military force and economic restrictions over a huge, oR:o,gons sparsely populated country whose wealth was based on the rearing of livestock rather than trade. pR:oorlcxioDs The interior provinces of Argentina had remained largely unaffected by the collapse of the Colonial regime, but had been depopulated through the continual civil wars over whether the WARRIORS OF TIIE DARK AGES country should be governed on a Central or Confederated basis, and Indian attacks, which littered the history of the emergent COMINGSOON nation. Although the idea of a unified nation was beginning to take hold in the minds of the population the tradition of VIK COM 1. Anglo/Danish Command Pack, 4 figures independence and self determination was strong. So it was a and a huge raven headedbanner. confederated nation which was sought by the rural population. OUT NOW to odd to our, The obvious wealth of the ruling clique in the capital, compared with the hard pioneer life of the gaucho, tended to aggravatethe British Napoleonic,range desire for self determination amongst people whose major 8I26. 90th Foot (PerthshireVolunteers.) 1800-07 Ecypt Bl2T.DeRoll's SwissRegt. Flank Coy c1800-03 Eevpt towns were sleepy markets with dirt roads and few, if any, BI28. DeRoll's SwissRegt. BnCoy c7800-03 Egypt public amenities, and whose existence was a daily struggle for (the following are packs of b figs.) survival. (A picture emerges not unlike Texas immediately BA 5. Royol ArtilleryRegt. gun prior to the American .) crew 78OO-O8. BA 6. Royol Regt.gun cnew7808-72. In 1852 an allied army of Brazilians, and We've now establishedan outlet in provincials (under ,and ,so Argentine the command of General Justo any there can contact: Urquiza, of whom more later) overthrew the GammersParadise, Postfach 1171. government and declared a federal . Peaceproved D-6652 Bexbach,Germany. transient however and in 1859 Urquiza again led his gaucho MOLY-CRO Minitatrils, army to victory over a government force led by Bartolome Box 1370, Picton, Ontario. KOK 2T0. Canada. Mitre, at the . A compromise solution was If not write to us direct or phone: reached between the antagonists,thanks to the diplomatic skills TWO DNAGONS PNODUCrIONS of Fransisco Lopez of Paraguay, and the Buenos Aires regime 7O Luck Lane, Marr,h, Huddercfield was once again acceptedby the members of the Confederation. WestYorkshirc, HD74QX Again peaceproved only temporary as Buenos Aires refused Telephone: (M84) 426767 to accept domination by the provinces. At the inconclusive action of Pavon, September 1861, Urquiza's forces were forced to withdraw leaving Mitre master of the field. The gaucho forces By 1864the Blanco government of the Republic was rapidly 'Tigre drifted home and the de Montiel', disillusioned and losing control. Bands of armed , under the convenient bitter, withdrew to Entre Rios. By 1864the wars had drawn to a guiseof Colorado partisans, were raiding farms and towns along close, but the essential differences between Centralists and the sparsely populated northern border with Brazil. Brazilians still smouldered. The nation lay exhausted by years in Uruguay were mistreated, some being tortured or killed. The of internecine rivalry and the most powerful individual of the Empire demanded that the culprits be brought to book - and nation, Urquiza, kept his own counselsas Argentina was hauled when no response was received the steamers of the Imperial through circumstancesinto an unwanted and unnecessarywar. fleet were soon en route to . The Blanco regime however was powerless to prevent the abuseson the northern THE (URUGUAY) border as General . a gaucho and leader of the Colorado faction, supported The Republic of Uruguay came into existence, thanks to the by Argentine arms and money (Flores had led Colorado troops intervention of Great Britain, in 1828thus ending the series of to aid the Buenos Aires army of General Mitre in its defeat of wars between Brazil and Argentina in which each attempted to Urquiza in 1861), had raised the banner of rebellion and swiftlv dominate an area of land populated by a ferociously indepen- dent people to whom struggle was a way of life. The population depended on the breeding of cattle for their livelihood, and were of mixed Indian and Spanish stock (a particularly ffi explosive mixture) with a pure-blood Spanish ruling class. A continual state of civil war existed in Uruguay, as Blanco (mainly drawing support from the landed ) fought Colorado (roughly equivalent to the British , :t'.!.:, fighting for a democratic regime), with the radical Conserva- i i !': "..2.:!. :; i.'.i'i.ii ;:: ;r. l::i ; :.:i r:i i ri:iA does promoting anarchy by switching allegiances to secure temporary advantage for their own minority party. The political divisions of the nation did not reflect totally the social divisions. Gauchos, traditionally Blanco, fought fiercely on both sides; officers from land-owning families led units of Voluntarios del Patria against other such units. The truth is that National the murderous struggle had become almost the norm in the Adopted 1830, the golden sun of liberation rests on a white Republic, and the political arguments presented a convenient . Nine blue and white stripes representthe original nine excusefor banditry, pillage and murder for some Uruguayans. Provinces of the Republic. 26 formed an army which threatened the overthrow of the Blanco commencementof the war most units were above establishment government. with companies over L20 strong and up to nine companies to a Promised aid from Entre Rios (Urquiza commanded the . But diseaseand battlefield lossessoon reduced these loyalty of over 15,000gaucho cavalry) was eagerly awaited, but units, some to the size of over-strength companies. in vain. Paraguay, however, recognising the threat to the Three were equipped with Witton rifles, but these balance of power in the region, contacted the Blanco regime had been so misusedas to have been reduced almost to the state and offered diplomatic and military aid. This was no empty of smoothbores. Three or four battalions were issued with gesture, but Lopez underestimated the distrust felt by the Plata smoothbore percussion lock muskets, with a further ten or republics toward Paraguay. His offer was ignored. Lopez twelve using surplus flintlocks, including Brown Besses however was determined to make his stamp on South American obtained from Britain. The balance of the army were issued history and he saw the threat to Uruguay, sandwichedbetween with pikes, spears or . As the war progressed units the superpowers of Brazil and Argentina, as a direct challenge were able to re-equip with captured rifles, but the use of native to his plans for the development and eventual expansion of weapons continued throughout the war. Apart from the 6th Paraguayan influence. The Blanco regime would receive Battalion, which was issued with cutlassescaptured from the Lopez's aid whether it wanted it or not. Lopezwas not looking Argentinians in order to operate as marines, no side arms were for a war, but we would not attempt to avoid one. The Plata issued apart from the bayonet which was carried permanently region was a power keg waiting a spark and Uruguay was to fixed to the musket owing to a lack of scabbards! prove a flaming brand. As the war progressed units were able to re-equip with captured weapons such as Mini6 and Enfield rifles which were captured in large numbers from the enemy, but many new THE PARAGUAYAN FORCES recruits went to war carrying nothing more than pikes or At the outbreak of the war the Paraguayananny was about machetes. 50,000strong. The best recruits were chosento servein the The uniform of the Paraguayan and artillery cavalryor the artillery, which Lopez, as commanderin chief, consisted of a white shirt and trousers and a scarlet blouson sawas the premier arms. (called a camisetta) normally with black or blue facings. Equipment belts were white. Other ranks wore neither shoes The regimentsof cavalryconsisted of four squadrons,each "similar nominally of 100 men. All carried sabresor machetes.One nor boots. The headgearwas a cap, described as to the squadronwas armed with flintlock carbines,the other three French Imperial Guard undress cap with a peak". But a black with 9ft long lances.The GovernmentEscort, 250 strong, were leather soon became standard throughout the war. armed with Turner breech-loadingrifled carbines,and the Officers and naval units wore uniforms basedon those of the Dragoonsof the Escort with muzzle-loadingrifled carbines. French of the period, but when in undresswore black camisetas The Government Escort were nicknamed "Monkeyheads" with scarlet facings. As the war dragged on and the Brazilian (aca-carayal),as they wore a leatherhelmet faced with brass,on blockade cut off any new supplies all arms began to wear the edgeof which wassewn a black monkeytail, and from the whatever they could find, including captured Allied uniforms. combof whichhung a long white horsetailplume. They wore a Eventually even this gaveway to native dressof chiripiya (a sort scarlet tunic, blue breechesand, unusually, black dragoon of kilt), loincloth or even total nakedness. But officers wore boots.The Dragoonsof the Escortalso wore scarlettunic and their dress kepi and carried their swords at all times. bluebreeches, but worea tall, square-peakedleather cap edged Among the more unusual units to take part in the warwas the in polishedbrass, which gainedthem the nicknameof 'shining Canoe Corps, an elite volunteer unit who were used to raid heads'(aca-vera). The rest of the cavalrywore red blousons allied positions along the rivers. On a number of occasionsthey (camisetas)with black or blue facings and white or blue were also used in attempts to board and capture or destroy breeches,but no boots (the riders going barefoot) and an Brazilian ironclads. unadornedcap as for the Dragoonsof the Escort. The Colours carried by the Paraguayansseem to have been The horseswere of extremelypoor quality. It seemsthat solely the National flag, a red, white and blue horizontal Paraguay is particularly unhealthy for the creatures, as tricolour, bearing on the obverse the May star and on the thousandsof capturedhorses quickly died of poisonousfodder reverse the treasury seal adopted in 1842. The same colour and disease.Consequently many of the cavalry units were scheme was evident on the drums. which were also inscribed forced to fight on foot. Republico del Paraguay. Vencer o morir. Therewere three regimentsof horseartillery eachof twenty Lopez's navy consistedof seventeensmall steamers,only two four 6pdrguns divided into four batteries.Again the shortageof exceeding200 tons. T\e Anambaii and The Tacuarii were both horsesmeant that thesewere often ox or handdrawn. Lopez's built as gunboats, the rest were converted merchantmen. The armyalso include one battery of rifled 12pdrs,the balance of the Jejuimounted a 12 pounder rifled breech-loader, the balance of artillery,some 200 guns, varied in size fr om 2 to 32pdrsand were the naval guns being smoothbores, ranging from 4 to 32 of dubiousquality, many being relics of the colonial period pounders. Supplementing these vessels were a number of purchasedfrom many sources,including the city of Monte- oar-propelled, flat-bottomed galleys called chatas,each mount- video, where they had been usedas decorativestreet posts! ing a single 68 pounder 8" cannon. The vessels proved a The heavyartillery, positionedat suchfortresses as Humatia particular thorn in the side of the Allied flotilla asthey lay so low and Angosturaincluded twenty four 8inch, 65cwt guns, two in the water that they proved almost impossible to hit, 56pdrsand around a hundredmore, rangingfrom 24to 36pdrs, particularly in view of the Brazilians' abysmal gunnery! But supplementedby naval carronadesand lighter pieces.The when their heavy shot did make contact the damage was always crews were trained to fight as infantry or cavalry (horse at or below the waterline. The sailors were armed with Witton artillery) if requiredand performed extremely well throughout rifles and cutlasses, and were supported by the 6th Infantry the war, although Colonel Thompsoninforms us that such Battallion who acted as marines. technicalmatters as the Leon Palleja, Colonel in the Uruguayan army, consideredthe useof sightswere totally beyondtheir ". comprehension. Paraguayan . . a soldier of the first order . . . not effeminated Eachinfantry battalion was divided into six companies, by vices and comforts but strengthened by misery, nudity and each ". nominally of 100 rank and file. There was suffering". Richard Burton considered . two Paraguayans a company of "In grenadiersand one of chasseursin each battalion. At the quite a match for three Brazilians" however one notable 27 TI{E ARGENTINE FORCES Argentina was totally unpreparedfor war when it came.The total sizeof the army controlledby the BuenosAires regime amountedto between12,000 and 15,000men, with a potential 20,000to 25,000reserves in the provinces.However, many of thesewere hostile to Mitre and his government,and held no little sympathywith Lopez. Thus evenwhen theseProvincial forceswere raised they could not be dependedupon, often desertingor mutinying.Urquiza wasthe most powerfulof the caudillosand he actuallyraised a force of over L0,000cavalry from Entre Rios, howeverthey desertedon finding that they TIIE STATE ARMS THE TREASURY SEAL were expectedto fight alongsideand not againstthe Govern- ment troops, as both they and Lopez expected. point is the Paraguayan soldier deficient and that is in The social, traditional, cultural and racial bonds of the intelligence . . . the same may be seen in the Chilean and the peoplesof northern Argentina with the nativesof Paraguay Peruvian, good soldiers but lacking brains". Burton may have a madeit impossibleto raiseany enthusiasmfor the War in that point, as it is certain that the Paraguayan, with few exceptions, vitally importantregion. But by callingupon the servicesof the was brave to the point of foolishness,and when ordered to do so National Guard, and by forceful recruiting, conscriptionand would fight, literally, to the death. Even at the war's end when clearing the nation's gaols, a field army was raised. After the ranks were filled with old men, cripples and children they provisionwas made for internal policing,and to guardagainst would fight on after suffering fatal wounds and against the everpresent threat oflndian raidsin the Provinces,around overwhelming odds. Their devotion to Lopez was complete and 12,000troops were committed to the Allied causeand President although his personal cowardice drew comment, his orders and GeneralBartolome Mitre was electedoverall commanderof those of his officers, no matter how suicidal. were almost alwavs the Allied army. Argentine units containedlarge numbersof obeyed. Europeanimmigrants and were thought more reliablethan the

Paraguayaninfantryman Argentine artillery oflicer As the war dragged on and unifurms became scarce the The uniforms is dark blue, with red seamstripes, cuff, collar and Paraguayan were reducedto wearing native costume. The 'chiripaya', forces coat trim. The buttons, , cuff chevrons and collar or kilt, would have been manufactured from local decorations are gold. The kepi is also dark blue with a black cloth and varied in pattern and colour. The leathershako bearsa leatherpeak. It bearsa thick red band with gold trim, decoration cockadein the national colours, and the weapon is an obsolescent and chin strap. musket. 28

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mixed blood and negro units of the . However, The above should not be treated as absolute;numerous personal Richard Burton's comments on witnessing a review of the differencesoccurred. For examplewhite trousersmight be replaced Argentinian contingent near Assuncion do not reflect a high by blue or red at the whim of an officer or becauseof supply standardof military conduct: shortages.All beltswere black and gaiters(when worn) werewhite. In summer a white campaign jacket often replaced the normal ". . gavethe impressionof being fine men, largeand strong; jacket. National Guard units wore a light blue-greyjacket and the rank and file howevershowed a jumble of nationalities:the trouserswith a white coveredkepi. The cavalry were describedas tall raw-boned yellow haired German, the Italian Cozinhero resemblingthe Frenchof the period, althoughthese regular units and the Frenchman, who under arms always affects the zouave, would be supplementedby volunteerswearing more exotic dress marched side by side with the . . . negro. Sizing and classing and irregular gauchoforces. The foot artillery again wore French were equally unknown; uniforms were of every description uniformsin dark blue with red facings.The horseartillery t includingeven the poncho and chiripya . . . underdrawers,pink t wore a greencoat with red trims, white trousersand red kepi. As + trousers,dark overalls,knickerbockers and gaiters,riding boots I usual on campaignthe official uniform was adapted to suit local and sandals. . . they have little commissariat,and foul hides i conditions,which, as Burton'sdescription shows, must have been take the placeof the neat Brazilian pal-tents.A changeof camp pretty severe. is periodically necessary,the ground soon becomingimpure in The Argentinenavy of the time is bestdescribed as pathetic. The the extreme . . . They are only kept in order by the drum-head old steamers25 de Mayo and Gualeguay were captured by the courts martial and by the platoon ready at a minute's notice. Paraguayansearly in the war, leaving only the river steamer The infantry battallionsnominally consistedof six companies Guardi4Nacional to hold the river line. All thesevessels were each of around seventy-fivemen. Although two of thesewere armedwith outdatedsmoothbore cannon. grenadier and chasseurunits there seems to have been no Although some units of the army are reportedto have fought operationaluse of thesesub-divisions. The line infantry wore a stubbornlyduring the war, themajority of theArgentinians showed uniform modelled on that of the French Chasseura Pied with no enthusiasmfor the fight andthe forcewas plagued by desertions colours as follows: and dissent.In 1868 it was reported to Burton that the total Argentine casualtiesamounted to less than 2,500 which. when Unit Kepi Coat Collar Cuffs Trousers comparedwith the Braziliancasualties estimated at 100,000,gives a 2nd,3rd, 4th, clearindication of the extent of Argentinecommitment. 5th Bns Blue Blue Red Red White During the courseof the war the nation was rent by numerous lst. Volunteer internal revolts and disturbances(estimated at Ll7 in a six year Legion Blue Red Black Black White period)which led to the withdrawalof moreand more troops from 2ndMilitary the front and in January 1868Mitre retired as Commander-in- Legion Red Blue Red Red Blue Chief, passingcontrol to the BrazilianMarshal Caxias. 29

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THE BRAZILIAN FORCES the Dreyse needlegun camein. The Dreyseproved to be a very unpopular weapon with the troops due to its Blooded in the various revolts and border conflicts of the excessiveweight, high rate of misfires, and its poor breechseals which previous fifty years the Imperial army had a proud tradition allowed a flash-back into the face of the firer. Consequently the weapon and, it emerged, a largely unearned reputation! The Regular was withdrawn and replaced by the muzzle-loadingEnfield. army of 22 infantry battallions, each of around 800 men, was Although the artillery train of the Imperial army was poor recruited mainly from the negro and (mixed blood) in a stateof readiness,with old smoothborecannon being the norm population. They were however commanded by a well trained at the outbreak of war, large scale purchases of modern officer corps, graduates of the Imperial Military Academy. The weapons,including Le Hittes, Paixhansand Whitworths were supporting cavalry units were small in number, only four soon made, and these weapons, with ranges of up to 4,500 regiments, and recruited mainly from the Portuguese and yards, were swiftly brought into service. But even these new immigrant population. The Artillery consistedof one regiment gunsdid not much improve the accuracyof Brazilian gunnery! of horse and four battallions of foot. Also, for some reason, a very large percentageof the shells Following the ten year rebellion in Rio Grande do Sol the proved to be duds, or were improperly fused, and bulk of the army had settled into an easy-goinggarrison life in failed to explode, providing a valuable source of ammunition the Plata region. It was during this period that the vaunted for the Paraguayans! efficiency and quality of the army suffered. With little chanceof The line infantry uniform consistedof a dark blue kepi, promotion, officersfailed in their duties,and the soldieryforgot either piped in red or with a red band; dark blue, French style the harsh conditions of campaign. Consequently when the coatee with red trim on both collar and cuffs,worn over white trousers. morale and fighting ability of the army wastested by the soldiers The Summer campaignuniform of white or light brown jacket of Lopez both were found to be lacking. and trousers,the kepi coveredwith a white havelock, For the duration of the war the main source of Brazilian seemsto have been commonly worn. The Cagadores(light infantry) manpower was to be drawn from the 200,000members of the wore basically the same uniform with yellow trim and black National Guard, and various volunteer units. With little or no leather belts. (The line infantry belts were white with a black experienceof war the morale and fighting ability of thesetroops cartouchebox and bayonet scabbard.) wassadly lacking in the early part of the war, but asthey became The Bahian Zouaves were an all negro unit, regarded hardenedto conditions,and awareofthe brutal enforcementof by some sourcesas elite. They wore a red fez with discipline, their fighting quality vastly improved. a blue tassel; green vest; blue jacket piped red; light blue sash;red trousers The majority of the infantry were armed with either Mini6 or and white gaiters; all belts were black. Two further zouave the better quality Enfield rifles of either British or Belgian units, PernambuccoZouaves and the 11th Provisional Line manufacture.As the war progressedmore exotic weaponssuch Battalion seemto have worn a similar uniform, but with a blue as Roberts rifles, Spencerseven shot, repeatingcarbines, and vest piped red. Officers would wear regulation standard 30 uniform. Cavalryuniform consistedof a bluejacket with red collarand cuffflapspiped in white. The kepi wasalso blue, pipedred, but often worn with a white cover or replaced by a felt, broadbrimmedhat. Trouserswere white andworn with heavy, high black boots; belts were of black leather.Although some sourcesstate that lancepennons were red, they alsowere noted asred and white and asbearing motifs of a silveror gold star. Artillery crew wore uniforms similar to their parent arms, that is infantryuniforms for foot artillery. On campaignall arms and ranks 'went native' to varying degreesas replacement clothingbecame scarce. Felt or strawhats replaced , and ponchosor gauchopants were also popular. The Imperial naval units involvedin the conflict were both strongand modern, and it wasthe navalblockade which was to ensurethe eventualdoom of Lopez'sresistance. The Brazilian fleet wasby far the strongestsuch force in SouthAmerica, with 45vessels, 33 of whichwere steam powered, many having been built at the navalestablishment at Rio de Janeiro.However the majority of thesevessels formed a highseas fleet andit wasonly the smallervessels, gunboats and monitors, which were able to supportthe army on the ParanaRiver. The first ironclad appearedin the war zone in 1865(The Brasil), andLopez, having no vesselsto matchthem, devoteda lot of time andmen in trying to capturejust one,convinced that he would then be able to smashthe Allied blockade.But. althoughcoming close to successon occasions,it wasto be a prize which eludedhim. A massivebuilding programme of ironcladsslowly tightened the Allied grip on the river, but the erratic behaviour of Admiral JoaquimLisboa, at timesaggressive and impulsive, at othersindecisive and timid, linked with the pure panic which seemsto haveinfected the Braziliansailors when in closeaction meantthat the navy never achievedits full potential. During the war the Brazilianssuffered little from desertion. Harsh discipline,hostile alien environmentand a merciless enemyensured that soldiersstuck closeto their colours.But disease,logistical difficulties and the ferociousresistance of the Paraguayanstook their toll. The officialtotal of combatlosses is quoted as 24,000, but General Cerqueira estimated total Brazilianlosses at over 100.000from all causes. Rio Grandese (Brazil) or Uruguayan cavalry Regulation uniforms were soon replaced on campaign with TIIE ARMY OF URUGUAY native dress. The baggy gaucho pants, or'bambachas', could be Venacio Flores, Provisional President of Banda Oriental, of any colour, ahhough white was very popular. Theponcho also declaredhis intention of leadinga crusadeagainst Lopez and couldvary in colour or design, but red wasthe mostpopulqr. The 'Rise crossbeltcarries a carbine swivel, but in this casehe carries his that the fightingmen of the Bandawould asone man' to 'bolas ensurethe dictator'sdestruction. In reality the Gauchoswho readyfor action. The bolas would normally be carried tied had formed the backboneof his rebellion were much more around the waist. interested in cutting their own countrymen'sthroats than venturingoff to foreignwars. Also the brutal treatmentof the Howeverphotographs of the unit on campaignshow a white defendersand inhabitants of Paysandu,at the hands of jacket and trousersworn with a red kepi adornedwith a green Brazilian and Colorado troops, had made Flores unpopular band,NCO stripeswere also in green,belts were black. When with many of the fiercely patriotic Uruguayans. wearingthe white uniform the shoeswere of white kidskin. At Having no navy capableof navigatingthe Paranariver, few the start of the war the unit was 620 strong,but when Flores artillerypieces and rebuffed in hiscall for volunteers.Flores was retumedto Montevideowith the Floridaas escort only 200men only able to lead a token force againstParaguay. In the early were fit for duty. battlesalong the Uruguayriver they numberedaround 5,000; The Battalion24de Abril seemsagain to havebeen a regular and in the later actionsalong the Paranariver around 2,500. unit. uniformedas above. At the outbreakof war the unit was During the earlier actions the Banda forces included both 507strong and commandedby Major Gonzalez. artilleryand cavalry, but the later actionssaw only infantry units The two regularunits were supplemented by The Volunteers committed. of Liberty, 320 strong.Their uniform was all red, with black The BattalionFlorida, commanded by ColonelLeon Palleja, beltsand brown leatherleggings. The officerswore a jacket of an experiencedSphnish soldier of fortune, was a regularunit mid-blue/greywith red cuffsand pocket flaps over red trousers. mainlymanned by gauchosand men of mixedrace; the unit had The 16thCorps of Volunteersor BattalionGaribaldi, wore a a formidablefighting reputation,which wasonly enhancedby red blousewith cuffs, collar, pocket-flaps,and button fly of their behaviourduring the war. Their uniforms consistedof green with white piping; dark grey trousers,black belt and dark blue jacket, trousers and kepi, all trimmed in red. buttons,red kepi with greenband completed the uniforms.On WARGAMESSOUTH 24 CricketersClose, Ockley, Dorking, SurreyRHs 5BA Ken Trotman Ltd Tel: 030679 796 New & Antiquarianbooks on For the best figures in Tzootrrscale - now over 400 posesavailable NEW THIS MONTH MODERN British Infantry o Military History - \tVWll Figures [alian OP..teams & Engineers Germansin cammo smocks from Ancient times NAPOLEONIC- French gqns & cavalry, British Light ro the BoerWar infantry, Spanish & Portugeseinfantry (Napoleonicsa More 25mm & 1Smm Medievalbanners Also in stock,' full range of Battle Honours & Hovels, MLR, specialiry) S64rex TzootrAFVs. Sae for lists or telephone for details. Access & Visa accepted campaignsthe kepi wasoften replacedby a broadbrimmedhat. One or two unitsof cavalryare reported to havebeen raised for the campaign,but to date I have been unableto obtain any informationas to their compositionor uniform. Officers of all units could be expectedto wear standard o Frenchstyle uniform jacket, The World Wars of blue-grey red trousersand kepi, & 1945 althoughvolunteer units were a rule unto themselves. .i J'l Post- Although smallin comparisonwith the Brazilianelement of the Allied army,the Uruguayanforce was to coveritself in glory '' Vuitors by appointment during the courseof the war. Operating [r. as paft of the Allied k?' vanguardthe troops of the Banda Oriental were at all times foremost in the fighting, and tended to stand and fight tenaciously, whilst supportingunits ran away.This wasbound Unit ll, 135 Dinon lrVelk,Cembridge CB5 8QD to lead to heavy casualties,especially when faced by such a Tclcphone0223,211030 determinedand ferociousfoe as the Paraguayanarmy. By the time that RichardBurton visitedthe Allied armvin 1g6g.he was unableto find anytrace of the Uruguayancontingent, aithough he wasinformed that 40 or 50men still served,probably as sttff officers.The majority, sweptaway by disease,battle, desertion and disbandmenthad ceasedto exist. However the National flag, carriedthroughout the war by the Uruguayanunits, had STRATAGEM only gainedhonour by the actionsof the soldierswho fought beneathit. 18Lovers Lane, Newark, ADDENDA Notts.NG24 1HZ After completion of the above section on the forces of the Pengel& Hurtseries of bookletson theorqanisation, uniforms and Republic of Uruguay, I received some additional information flagsof thearmies of theSeven Years Wai All bookletsare 8x12, regarding the organisation of the force which took part in the stapledwith paper covers and blackbinding ship. Price indicates thicknessand amount of illustration,ranging-from 20 to 100pages early campaign on the River Uruguay. I must here thank Terry withup to 50%illustration. 'Eldorado', journal Hooker, compiler and Editor of of The PH 1 AustrianDraqoons and Cuirassiers €3.50 South and Central American Military Historians Society PH 2 Austro-HunqarianHussars & Artillerv e2.9s (details of which are given at the conclusion of this article) who, PH 3 Austro-HunlarianInfantry t5.9s PH 4 Bavaria,saionv&thePaiatinate €5.95 as a true enthusiast, is constantly able to provide gems of PH 5 FrenchCavalry-and Dragoons - €5.95 information. The Armee Orientale for the PH 6 FrenchMaisoi du Roi €3.50 PH 7 FrenchTroupesL6odres campaign is quoted as follows. €2.9s PH 8 FrenchInfaritrv Req-iments e5.95 PH10 PrussianDraqbons-and Cuirassiers €4.95 General Venancio Flores PH11Prussian Husiar Regiments €3.50 PH12Prussian Infantry Re-giments €5.95 Escort. Lt Col. Fortunato Flores: 265 men PH13Russian Cavalrv !3.75 PH14Russian Infantrv €3.2s Division of Gen Henriques Castro PH15The Reichsarm'ee €5.95 PH17Swedish Armyin Pomerania t3.50 lst,2nd, and4th Regimentsof National Guard Cavalry776men PH18Prussian (includes sword knots and drum bgrdersfor Prussian Army) €1.95 PH19Germanstates €5.9S Brigade of Col Palleja PH20SwedishandGermanStatesCavalry €3.50 Btns. Florida and 24th de Abril924 men PH21Swedish and German States Intanti & Artiltery e5.9S PH22French Foreign Regiments t3.9S Brigade of Marcelino Castro Post& Packing UI(BFPO:10% (minimum 35p) Btns. Libertad and Independencia Overseas:Surface 25% (minimum€1). Airmail 50% 564 men (minimum€2.) Cheques/POspayable to Stratagemplease. Overseascustomers please remit in sterling. futillery de Parque Personalcallers by appointmentonly. 249 men 3l The Greql Poroguqyqn Wqr 1854-1970 Pqrl Two

by John Sharples

(Po(o-Carreiro waslater arrestedfor this action asthere is little THE POWDERKEG IGNITES doubtthat the fort couldhave withstood a longsiege). Barios Lopez, no doubt seeinghinself in the role of peac€maker,thenled hissmall army to Corumba,which he founddese(ed. offeredto mediatebetween Btazil and Uruguay, an offer which Againlarge storesof munitions, includingtwenty threecannon, wasrudely rejected by both sides.The pro-Coloradopress in werefound. (Further evidence of Brazil's hostileintent roward Argentinamocked Lopez's attempts at ,telling him Parasuay.) to rctum to his nationof mud hutsand uncivilisedsavases. a Corumbawas pillaged and thoseinhabitants who couldbe personrlinsuh which infurialed rhe dictaror and goaded iim In foundwere ill-treated, many being tortured afld execured. The his future decisions. steamerypora, mountingfour smallguns and a contingentof On October 161h,1864 a Brazilianarmy of 25,000men infantry brought to action the Imperial steamer,4rambay, commencedils invasion,ostensibly to achieveredress for the cornrnandedby an Englishmancalled Baker, carrying sixguns, allegedatrocities against Brazilian citizens, in fact to suppo( includinga 32pdr. The Brazilianclew panickedand leapr the Coloradorebels led by Flores.After an initial period of overboard,leaving Baker to manthe 32pdrby himself!As the inactivitythe invasionforce made rapid progress. The climax of Paraguayansclosed Baker swamto shoreand managedio the campaigncame on 2nd January1865 when the town of concealhimself. unlike the restof his crewwho werehunted Paysandu,suffering a prolongedbombardment ftom bothland downand killed. Theirears were r€moved, strung on linesand forcesand Braziliangunboats, surrendered after a gallantand us€d to decoratethe shroudsof the ypo.a. All Brazilian hopelessresistance. Many of the garrisonwere massacred by oppositionin Mato Grossowas now crushed. the vengefulColorados including the garrisoncommander On 26thJanuary the BrazilianPlenipotentiary in the River kandro Gomez,who was handed to Floresby the Brazilians. Plateforwarded a diplomaticcircular to all foreignministers Montevideoitself wasinvested by a powerfulBrazilian naval and representativesstating: "The squadronard, under threat of bombardment,the Blanco lmperialGovemment will repelirs aggressorby force, govemmentof PresidentBeno surrendercdto the Brazilians, but, whilekeeping intact both the dignityofthe Ernpireand its leavingthe reinsof governmentin the handsofthe victorious legitimaterights, it will notconfusethe Paraguayan nation with Flores. the Governmentwhich thus exDosesit ro rhe hazardsof an l-opezdid not reactimmediately to theevents ar the mouth of unjustwar, andwill therefore,as a belligerent,maintain irself the River Plate,no doubt waitingfor signso{ the promised withinthe limitswhich its owncivilisation and its internarional supportfrom Urquizaof Enlre Rios who, true to form, had obligationsprescribe.' pledgedalliance to all the participantsin the conflict-It soon On sth February 1865 ceneral Mitre, presidenrof rhe becameclear that support would only be forthcomingif ,received messagesfrom Lopez Paraguaytook the lead and wasswiftly su€cessful-On 12th demandingright of passagefor Paraguayanforces through November 1864 the Bnzilian steamer Marques de Olinda, Argentineterritory. This was refused and Mitre demandedan carryingmilitary supplies(including 2,000 muskets), the pay explanationfor the concentrationof Lopez'sforces on the chestof the Mato Grossogarrison, and the ProvincialGovemor Argentineborder. The pressin BuenosAires hadby.his time wascaptured by the Paraguayangunboat lacuari. The seized ceased1o mock Lopez and, thoroughlyfrightened, were weaponswere carriedto the govemmenta$enal, whilst the demandingmilitary action ro overthrow his regine. This crewand passengenwere held prisoner. The riverwas closed to reacdonwas regarded by Lopezas a virtualdeclaration of war, non-Paraguayantraffic and it wastwelve days before news of anda formalratification of suchwas prepared on 26thMarch, this act of piracyreached the Braziliannaval Commander. ahhoughit wasnot to be receivedin BuenosAires unril 3rd On 14thDecember Colonel Barios, brotherin lawto l,opez, May, by whichtime Paraguayan troops were well ensconcedin leddfo'ceotS.000menesconedb) the rrc[rnand rwosimilarno(hern Argentina!ln responsethe Treatyof May the First gunboatsup.the Paraguay ver for Mato Crosso. On the concludedthe formationofthe TripleAlliance, a militarypact morningof 26thDecenber the smallsquadron anchored near underwhichthe govemments of Argentina,Imperial Brazit and the Imperialfortress ofCoimbra. This fort wasbuilt ofstone on the BandaOriental pledged to co-operatein the overthrowof a highspur overlooking the river; it wasdefended by 37 guns the govemmentof Paraguay. (mainlySpdls,but with some32pdrs) and a garrisonofover400 On Good Friday. 13thApril 1865,a force of Paraguayan men. steamersattacked, boarded and capturedtwo Argentine Preparationswere madeto attack the fort after its comman- warshipsat anchorat the city ofCorriefltes.The followingday der, Porto-Carreiro,rejected a formal call to sulrender,and GeneralRobles occupied the city with 3,m0 infantry.During bombardmentfrom land and river began.The Paraguayanstbe nextfew daysRobles' army was reinforced by unitswhich attemptedto stormthe walls,but weredriven back with over crossedthe ParandaRiver at PassoPatria and marched south. 200casualties - possibly because no provisionhad been made to With the city securedRobles led hisforce, now 20,000 strong, provideladders for the stormingparty. on a leisurely march along the high cliffs toward Goya. Duringthe nightthe garrisonevacuated the place,abandon, Allied reactionwas slow and it wasnot until25thMay that an ing two wounded and large stores of arms and munitions Allied navalforce, carrying 4,000 troops (mainly Argentinian) seisailfor .Somehow avoidingdetection by the army single68pdr guns and the landbased batteries, using plunging of Robl€s,General Paunero was able ro land2.000 men at the fire againstthe Braziliandecks, continued to causedamage ro city. which was garrisonedby 1.200infanrry and 3 guns the Allied squadron. commandedby Major Marlinez. Tbesurviving Paraguayan vesselsdrewoffup river. whilst the Althoughinitially repulsed, the Argentinianspressed home Brazilians.themselves badly mauled, dr€w back beyond rang€ their attack.The climaxof the actioncame at a stonebridse ofBruguez'sbattery. Losses on the Brazilianside included the qherethe Paragurtan. ma.sedro detendrhe ciry. Pressed haid Jequitinhonhawhich had run agroundclose to ihe land battery. bythe attackers and raked by indiscriminare shell and grape fire the Belrroraeholed at the waterlineby closerange fire from a tiom the navalsquadron, the Paraguayanswere driven oui of Chataand beached,plus a numberof orhervessek seriously the city and fell back about two niles. leavingaround 700 damaged. casualties- On the Paraguayanside the Jeiul wassunk, the Marqlesde The followingday. unawar€ ofthe positionof Robles'force, Olinda.Saltode Guinand Paragualiwereall disabledand sunk Paunerore-embarked his assaultforce and retired to*ard shortlyafterwards. The chaiasalso suffered heavity from rhe Coya. l-opez wasenraged by the raid and issuedorders for the Brazilianramming tactic. In all around 1.000Paraguayans, arrest of Robles. However the incident forced his realisation alongwith their foreignengineers and specialisrs.were lost in that Paraguayansuccess depended on the destructionof the the aclion,whikt the Brazilianslost berween 500 and 600 men_ Allied navalforce on the ParanaRiver. The withdrawalof the Brazilian fleet allowedthe Para- lf Lopezwas able to defeatthe Brazilianriverine squadron, guayanstosalvage a numberofgunsfronthe abandoned hulks. perhapseven capturing a numberoI the warships,the pathto CaptainMeza returned to Humataiseriously wounded by a rifl€ the River Plate would be open. Both Buenos Aires and shot.Lopez sent him a messagestating that if he survivedhe Montevideowould be opento blo€kadeand eventual capture. would be shoafor cowardice.Meza promptly died. Dominarionof lhenverwouldspll rhe Alliedzoneotconirol in Flyingcolurnns of Paraguayananillery shadowed the Brazi- halfandmake offensive military opentions almost impossible. lian fleet downstream,threat€ning to trap them. Throughty Also sucha resoundingvi€tory might end the armedneurrality frightenedthe Braziliansretired further and further away from ofsuchmen as General Urquizabringingthem into alliancewith Corrientes.Once and once onlv rhe Alliesrried to combatthe the Paraguayans. Paraguayanartillery; crammingthe ships de€ks and masts with Consequentlyon the nightof loth Junethe Paraguayanfleet dflemen.able to fir€ uponthe commanding €liffs and squadron set sail fron Humaitaplanning to engagethe Allied fleer ar bore down on the waitingguns. The hundredsof casualties anchorat Riachuelo.Realisiflg the sup€riorityofthe Brazilian inflictedon the Allies by cloudsof grapeand canisterwere vesselsin a firefightthe planwas to closewith the enemyand enoughtoconvincethem to battendown the hatchesandmake capturethem by boarding action. (Unfortunatelyno one full steamfor safety. thoughtto issuegrappling hooks to the Paraguayanvessels, a fataloversightl) Mechanicaldelays. and the fact that the oar-propelled clraaj THE PARAGUAYAN FLEET (gunbarges) were under tow, meantthat the artackingforce did Propulsion Guns Type not reach Riachuelountil mid morning. Surprisewas still Tacuari (flaq) Paddle 6 Warship gained,with the Brazilianships still at anchorraising sream. Pansuaii Fl"ag 4 Convertedmerchantman Supportedby a batteryof rifled l2pdr guns,commanded by Ygurei 5" Colonel Bruguez. based on the heights overlookingrhe Ybeft 1" anchorage,the smallfleet bore downon the Allies. Ypora It seemsrhat the Paraguayancommander, Captain Meza, Maques de Olinda panickedas the Brazilians commenced firing, as he is said not to 2" haveissued one orderafter Salto de Guira Screw the commencementofthe action. '\, Thereforethe Paraguayanforce losi all cohesionand each vesselopented independenrly. allowing the Braziliansto Chatasx 6 Oar I Galleys recoverwhen decisive action would probably have carried rhe oav. The attackersswept past the Braziliananchorage, inflicting THE BRAZILIAN FLEET some damagethrough rheir gunnery.bur by the time the Paraguayansturned ard crawledbaak upstream the Brazilians Name Propulsion Guns Tvp€ Screw 8 Wanhip were underwayand bringing their supeior, if inaccurare "8 gunneryinto play. The lacoan ran alongsidethe Br.zilian Belmonte "8 Pararrlba, but be€auseof the boardirgnets and the lack of "8 grapplingirons only about twentyParaguayans were able to Ypinnga "8 board.The Br^ziliancrew howeverran below deck and for "8 sometime the attackersranabou hedeck, tryingtogainentry "5 to the bowehof the vessel.Evenrually the Brazilianmarines Iguateni Beberibe "8 pluckedup the courageto stormon deck and, after friendly "8 vesselshad hosed the enemywith cannister,were able to drive Anguary off the boarders. Admiral Baroso, th€ Brazilian commander.issued the following{amiliar sounding signal: SHIPOF THELINE PAINTING SERVICE 'lBr zil expectsevery man to do his duty. Attack anddestroy Napoleonic1:1200 ships painled. rigged.& based the enemyat asclose a rangeas possible." Send SAE lor detailsto: Braziliangunnery proved so ina€curate,even at closerange, John Laing, that they found it a more effectivetactic to ram the lighter 70 Harcourt Street, ./t Paraguayanships, which, moving nore slowly,had no defence Newark, Notts. NG24 IRF agajnstthis tactic. Only the oar-propelledcharas with their or Teleohone0636 701439 33 With the defeal at RiachueloParaguay's war effort was doomed,bul lhe courageanddevotion of its peoplelinked with the hesitancyand inefficiency of the Allieswas to ensurea long and murderouscrawl to the eventualconclusioo. $uetSorp8 tE 1smm Metal Figu16s DISASTER IN THE EAST Brilain312-1100AD At the sametime asthe Paraguayannavy set sail for disaster. Romans& Gauls Lopez sent anotherarmy 12.000strong. to pushsouth east Moohuls Elkabethrskish Wsr throughArgentinian territory and invadethe Bradlian pro- ThirtyYearWar vince of Rio Grande. The commander.Colonel Antonio EnslishCivilWar Estigarribia.was ordered to operatein conjunctionwith the Sev.n YearsWar French& IndianW.B army of GeneralRobles and told to expectthe suppon of Clivein India Urquizaand his Entre Rioscavalry. This plan was doomed to AmericanWar of Ind€pend€nc€ Napoleonics fail from the stanas the two Paraguayanforces wer€ separaled SehinoleWar by two hundredmiles ofimpassable swamp called ihe Ybera. U.S.-MexicanWar with no recognisablelines of supply or support or any AmericanCivilWar lndianPlain Wars knowledgeof rhe strengthor dispositionof the Allied forces llaxamillianExpedition Estigarribbiawas sking a one way ticket to annihilation. TheGreat Palaouvan War U.SA.rscna, Ahhough Rio Grande was garrisonedby over 30.000 ItahanWa6 ol In-deiendence Austrc-PrussianWar uLgtER|IPORIS llD Braziliantroops the areathrough which the invadersmarched Franco-Prussianwar P.0.BOX 4, wassparsely populated and initially rhe Paraguayanswere able Spanish-AmericanW6r xa30n. to captureand sack towns along the route with impunity. JohnnYReb [, 61l44t Indeedit seemsthat the Allie! first learnedof the invasiot acw Rulese11 50 througha repon of Estigarr'bias progresswh'ch appeared in Auirrllr & Now Zsll.nd AsenL: the Paraguayannewspaper E/ Semararo. APM,P.O. Sox 12250 ffi-tF] The Allies beganto concentratetheir forcesat Concordia. CHRISTCHURCH,New Zea16nd l-r l:, andonJuly 18thGeneral Flores, commanderofihe Vanguard. Trade Enqui es lnvited narchedto confrontthe enemy.Leaving 2,600 men under the WORLDWIDEMAIL ORDER SERVICE commandof Major Duarteon the w€stbank of lhe Uruguay S.A.E.lot ILLUSTRATEDLISTS. River. Estigarribiaentered Uruguayania on the 6lh August, FFEIKOFPS 15, 25 PrincetownRo.d. Bangor, the town having been fortified by a Rio Grandeanforce, but Co. Oown BT20 3TA. Northernl.eland. abandonedai the Paraguyans'approa€h- Duarte occupiedthe townof Yatai with his commandand began to entrenchwhilst the remaining8,000 Paraguayans (the resthaving been lost to diseaseor skirmhh)settled down to feaslon Braziliansupplies. the lTth preparadonswere made to attempt to break out On August17th Flores approached Yatai wilh l3,000troops acrossthe river by raft and canoe.But this wasfoiled by the and the wholeUruguayan anillery Corps(four 6pdr smooth' patrollinggunboats and on the followingday the whiteflag was boresand four rifled L€ Hittes).He immediatelycalled on raisedabove Uruguayania. The remaining6,000 Paraguayans, Duarte to surrender.an offer which was refused.Flores all half-starved.dressed in ragsand armedwith old flintlocks. launchedhis infantrycolumns againsl the town, but lheywere marchedour of the town. Unusuallyfor South American haltedbyclose range musketry and driven back in confusionby warfarethe pdsonerswere well treated(the traditionalfate of a chargeof Duarte'ssmall cavalry force. However,renewed the capturedbeingslavery or a slit throat)and were eventually attacksoverwh€lmed the Pamguayandefences and fierce dividedbetw€en the Allied forces.Those prisonersin Brazilian hand-to-hand,house-to-house fighting ensued. The red-coated handswere dralted inro labourbaitalions, whilst those under Argentinecontrol w€re drafted into the amy. Paraguayansrefused to yield and all but 300of the defenders 'rhe werecut down.The alliedforce lost about2.000 casualties. newsof the destructionof Estiganibias army threw Wilh the westbank cleared and the remainingParaguayans Lopezinto a fury.The creamofthe Paraguyanforces had been totallycut offirwas expected that Estigarribia would surrender, destroyedduring the abortiveoperations in the south,and the but insteadhe strengthenedhis defences.On 25th August Di€tator realisedthat even the gains made in Conientes GeneralMitreapproached the townwith the reslofthe Allied Provincewouldhave tobe abandoned.Declaring Estigarribia a army,now totalling 30,000 rnen, with almost fifty rifledcannon, traitor, he gave orders for the immediateretreat of all cannon.supported by lbur steampowered gunboats_ Mitre Paraguyanforces to the homeland. andFlores sent a messageio Estiganibiainviring his capilula- Unhinderedby the Bnzilian fleetthe Corrientesarmy, now tion. His reply €ried defiance: commandedby CeneralResquin, recrossed the riverac€ompa- ''As niedby Arg€ntinians who had shown themselves too friendlyto Your Excellenciesshow so much zeal in giving the the Lopezregim€, piles ofloot andover 100,000 head ofcattle. Paraguayannation its liberty . . . why do you not beginby (Thousandsmore were slaughteredto deny suppliesto the freeingthe unhappynegroes of Brazil, who form the greater Allies.) By early Novemberthe whole army wasback at its part of ils populationand who groanunder the hardestand starting point. Battle, diseaseand starvationhad killed most reffible davery to enrich and keep in idlenessa few thousandsof Lopez's lroops, and with the Allied forces hundredGrandees of the Empire?. . . I am not of the same approachinglhe nation, aeonywas lu.r beginning. opinionwith Your Excellenciesthat a militaryman ofhonour, and a true patriot, shouldlimit himselfto fight only when he CONTINUESNEXT MONTH . . . has a probabilityof conquering. . ." The arrivalofDom PedroII on 5th Seplember,signalled th€ start of the bombardmentof tbe Paraguayanpositions. On September13th ru ningdesperately short of supplies,Esiigar' ribiaartempted to parleybut wasignored by the Allies.So, on 28 TheGreql PoroguqyqnWqr 1864-1870 Pqrl Three by John Sharples

With thewithdrawal of Lopezs forces into Paraguayan territory botharmi€s prepared themselves forthe inevitables.rugglesto come.The Paraguayansbusied themselves strengthening their extensive,but poorly constructed.fortificalions under the guidanceo{ Lr. ColonelThompson. New draftsof conscripts and volunteers,mainly youngsters and old men, were being trained as quickly as possible(although many remain€d u.armed)to replacethe 15,000-20.000lost in the campaiensin the South,and the further 10,000lostto diseaseand hunger. Wilh the Brazilianblockade in pla€eno supplieswere reaching Paraguay,and an attemptto blazea supplytrail acrossthe desolateChaco to friendlyBolivia proved fruitless. Thousands ofcattlelooted from Argentinadied ofdisease, poisonous herbs or lack of grazing.leaving the Paraguayansalways hungry or evenstarving. Even when meatwas available it producedan unforeseenproblem: the staplesofthe peasant dietwere maize, supplementedby {ruit andvegetables. The changeto a mainly r€d neat diet, oftenpoorly cooked or preserved.led to a high incidenceof diarrhoeaand dysentry. The Altiesmeanwhile prepared Conientes as a nain supply basefor thecomingcampaign, building hospitals, supply depots and semipermanentcamps, whilst awaitingfresh drafts of Imperial troops. The navy, thoroughly frightenedby its This map shoh]i,sthe nain theatrcof opentiotlt duing the wat. The riwn weregenenlly botuercd bj' cla! clilfs up to 30 experiencesat Richealou.took no offensiveaction against 'carizalsfeel Paraguayanvessels operating on the Parana.Indeed Admiral high. The various tiver and lagoot8, or , Tamandarehad not evenleft BuenosAires, where he regaled werethen as now edgedwith extensiw mud flats and marshes. all who would listenwith exaggeratedtales of Bnzilian naval Wherethere ||as solid ground densestands of palm treesmade the movementof lorye unirs of trcops very difficuL. The lanrl to the West of the Parcgua, River was nainry g ss and scrub, Lopezwasable byvigorous recruitment to increasehis army's 'Chaco strengthto around 30,000.Every horsein the nation was known as . The iverc Parunaand Parcgua! were requisitionedfor militaryservice, but largenumbers ofcavalry navigabtethroughout the year and the other waterA,aysand werestilllransfered loinfantry batlalions. Gen€ral Robles, the lagoons pltssdble to shallow draught vesselsduting the wet unfortunatecommander of the Corrientesinvasion force and ColonelMartinez, who had failedto repulsethe Allied raid, wereshot in front of the whole army, as an exampleto the On March21,1866 the Allied fleet(18 steam gunboats and4 others.fhir sa, theslart of a reignol terror.Loper $a5 cerlain ironcladscarrying a totalof 125guns)sailed to thernouthofthe t that the Allies had orderedhis assassinationand thal he was Paragoayriver, anchoring below the batteries, boom and mines surroundedby conspirators.The Argentinianswho had fled in line of battle and commencedbombardment of ihe i from Corrientes,along with UruguayanBlancos and Allied Paraguayanbattery at Itapiru-Each day the steamer GralepaJ deserters.were imprisoned and eventually tortured and salliedfodh engaginglhewhote Allied fleelwith herantiquated executed.Two desertenfrom the Allied camp inlroduced 'questioning' l2pdrs. During tw€nty one daysof this unequalaction the smallpoxto the arny and under were madelo Brazilianswere only ableto hit the Paraguayanvessel once, admitthat this wasa deliberat€ploy by GeneralMitre. damagingthe funnel. The oar propelledChatas were also Numerouscanoe borne raidswere launchedby the Para- engagingthe Allied ironclads.and causingsome damage guayansfrom their bas€at Pasola Patria,uninterrupted by the althoughtheir shotwas unable to piercethe protectiveplates. vauntedAllied navy.On 31 January.4B{ men commanded by TheBrazilianslound that the only way to d€alwiththese vessels Lt. Viverosattacked almost 8000 Argentine troops, who had wastosailto close range and engage the enemywith €anister, it onlybeenissuedwiththreeroundsof ammunitionpermanl The provingnearimpossible to hit suchlow lyingtargetswith shell. cost of this raid to the Allies was almost 108{ killed and On 16thApdl, using150 canoes and 30'floatingpierJ the wounded,the Paraguayanslost 170.On Februaryl9th 1000 Allies commencedto cross into Paraguay.The Brazilian men,carried on threesteamers,surprised th€ Uruguayancamp GeneralOsario led some 10,000men halfa mile north along the andforced the 5000troops commanded by GeneralSuarez to Paraguayriver and constructedtrenches. These were soon retne,abandoning all suppliesand the campto be looted.The reinforcedby 10,000Argentines including 700 Paraguayans Paraguayansieamer 6!ld/€guay, sailing in sightofthe blockad who had surrenderedai Uruguayana.On 23rd April, ing squadronopened fire on a partyofArgentine staff officers threatenedby over 50,000troops and 100 warships.tnpez bathingin the river but wasable to retum unmolested. withdrew.under heaw fire. from his entrenchmentsnorth of 29 the EsteroBellaco. Thompson h highlycritical oftl s decision andof thecontinual raidingpaniesrvhich had aheady led to the destructionofthe 20thRegiment ofcavalry andthe 7th Infantry Battalionin piecemealactions: 8ryi$Jr,f..gtE "If, insteadof sendinghis men to fight on the banksof the Seeus tt Claynorc! river,exposed to thefire of thefleet . . - withouta possibilityof Bitain 312{1004D doingthe Allies any materialharrn, Lopez had defendedthe Romans& Gauls trench€sofPasola Patria, he would have cut upperhaps eight or ten thousandsofthe Allies,with hardlya lossto his own side, Elizabe-th-snish War Thidy YearWar and probablythey would neverhave beenable to take the EnslishCivilWar trenches.It hasb€en his mistakethroughout the war, to send SevenY€ars War parties properly Frcnch& IndianWa6 small ofhisrroops,who were not even drilled, Clivein lndia to fighrin the openfield against infinitely superior numbers of AmericanWar of Independ€nce well drilled soldiers,officered by men with a propermilitary Napoleonics education.His men alwayscame out with glory, but wereof SeminoleWsr ' U.S.-lvle)(icanWar coursegenerally completely cut up. AmericanCivilWar hdian PlainWals On May 23rd,Lt- ColonelDiaz led a forceof 4000infantry M.ximillianExpedition The GrealParaguyan War ULSTERIMPdBTS LTD andlmo cavalrythrough the dense palm {orest surroundingihe ItalianWa6 ol l.dependence P.O-Box4, lvlason Estero Bellacoand surprisedthe Allied vanguardat Paso Austro'PrussianWar |.62443 The Paraguayanscaptured the Allied camp,including Franco-PrussianWa. Carr€ta. Spanish-Amecan War three Braziliancolou^ and four Le Hitte guns.Although a Nsw ZealandAqents JohnnvBeb APM.P.o. Bor i2250 nunber of Brazilian units panicked and ran, the 38th Voluntar_ ACw Rul;s€11 50 Chistchurch,NewZealand ios de Patria and the 1st ArgentineCavalry nllied on the ". Uruguayancontingent who stood and . . fought bravely MIRLITONS.G. undertheir commandersFlores, Palleja, and Castrowho all ffi-tFl 50029Tavamuze, Fnen2e behavedlike lions". The Allies lost over 1600 men in the action, t-l l:, andif the attackershad withdrawnthey could have claimed a Trade Enquiies lnvited victory.However, Diaz continuedhis advanceand challenged WORLDWIDEMAIL ORDER SERVICE the nain bodyof theAllied armyand was driven back with 2000 S.A.E.fot ILLUS|RAIEDUSrS. casualties.Flores wrote to his wife: FREIKOnPS 15, 25 P'incetownRoad, Bangor, "The OnentalDivision being almost completely lost . . . it Co. Down BT20 3TA. Northernlreland. wasimpossible to resistforces triple the numberofourc.but the OdentalDivision succumbed doing honour to its country'sflag flank,eventually linkingwith Banios behind the Alliedcentre. . . . Thiswas to bethe lastaction of thewar in whichBnzilian It wasplanned that the attack would be launched simultaneous- forcescarried their colours. ly at all pointsat9an, the signalbeing the firingofa Congeve Followingtheaction of2nd May the Allied armycamped on ro€ket,However the te[ain wasso dense that it wasnot until the heavilywooded island formed by the northand south flows nearnoon rhat the signal rockel $as fired. Fven so surprise wa! of the EsteroBellaco, prote€ting their threemile frontageby achievedand as the red-shirtedParaguayans bu$t from the theconstruction of two redoubtsand a shallowtr€nch. This was forestmanyofthe defendersran-On thelefl theBrazilianswere held by General Flores commandingthe remainsof th€ forcedback to the river; on the right Resquin'scavalry routed UruguayanDivision, two BrazilianDivisions, a r€gimentof the Argentine forces and overwhelmedthe artillery supports. Argentinecavalry and thirty four guns.The balanceof the Victory seemedassured. But fate wasagain to play cruel tricks invadingarrny, some 50,000men and 120 guns encamped on Lopez. After a period of inactivityMitre had ordereda beyondthis defensiv€ screen n€arthe southern Estero Bellaco. reconnaissancein force and the mainAllied armywas stood to LoDezhfor€es meanwhile had withdrawn bevond the nonhem armswher the Paraguayanassault was launched.Resquin's ann of the river into strong afld extensiveentrenchments, cavalrysoon Iound themselvescut off deepin Allied linesby leavingonly a smallholding force on the island,supported by advancinginfantry and were annihilated.Barrios, with no fifty snipersfromthe Presidential Guard, with orders topick off artillery support, was dowly and bloodily forced back by Allied field officen. overwhelrningnumbers of Allied units. The whole action Again Lt. Colonel Thompsondesigned and oversawthe hingedon the attackon the centre. constructionof theParaguayan defences, which, restingbeyond Diazt columnsfound themselves facing Flores and the units a river at leastfive feetdeep at its shallowestpa.ts, could only whichhad beenso badlycut up on the 2nd May. Thirstingfor havebeen captured through a massiveand €ostly effort by the revengeand under the Uruguayan'sinspired leaderchip the Allies.Thornpson also had concealedtrenches and strongpoints tioopsof the vanguardheld on. The Braziliananilery alsoheld built in the forestssurrounding the Allied approachroutes, and for oncein the war proved .heir worth, firirg so swiftly that planningto occupythem only aft er theAllies were committed to they were comparedto huge revolvers,cutting down th€ an assaulton the main defencesand so enfiladeand deny attacken in swathes.A marsh spread acrossthe fronl of the rcsupply to the attacking Allies. However Lopez again Ailied positionand the Paraguayanswere unableto move abandonedthis plan to hold on the defensive(following the quicklyacross the opengjound. The mud reducedtheir charge maximsofhis heroBonaparte) and resolved to overwhelmthe to an agonisinglydow crawl, incessandyswept by rifle and Allied campin a surpdseattack. canisterfire. The shallowtrcnch soonfilled with red-shi.ted On the 24th Lopez committedalmost his entir€ force of deadand wounded,but the survivorsused the bodiesas a bridge 25,000men to the attack.General Barios wasto assaultthe to surmountthe parapetand closeto hand-to-handfighting. Allied left flank with 8000infantry and 1000cavalry, Colonel Ferociously the attackers tore at the defenders' ranks with Diaz was to lead 5U)0 infantry supported by four howitzen bayonet,knife and spearand Floreswas in dangerof being againstthe centralredoubt and trench whilst General Resquin oveNhelned.At thispointGeneral Osario,leading a Br^zilian was to lead 7000 cavalry and 2000 infantry and turn the right Division supportedby numerousand varied detachedurits 30

gatheredftom the camp,perconallyled abayonet charge whi€h Uruguayansturned to face this new threarand Aquino fe forcedthe Paraguayansout of the defencesand backinto the motally wounded.General Flores reinforced his pressurhed countrymenwithan Argentine Divhion and anintense artilterv By 4pmthe fightingwasoverand 6000 Paraguayans lay dead bombdrdmenl.\\rrh grcargallanrry Palleja ted the a'lackrng on the field (only 350prisoners were taken,all wounded),a columnsinto a hailofsmall arms and cannisterfire. and desDire turther7B{0 wounded were treated al aid stationsnorth ofthe heavyca'udhies pushed on lo lake rhe enemytrenche\. EsteroBellaco, the lightly woundedbeing treatedby rheir Ho$ever.on rheedge of v'cro').lhe Atties$ere charged by comrades.The 40th(Asuncion) Batralion. recruited from rhe over 200dismounted cavalry who, slashingand stabbingwith merchantclasses of thenation's capital was all but wipedoul,as sabreand lance. drove the exhaus&dAllies from the position. werethe 6th and7th Batralions.The Alties€aptured the four The total lossesover the three days of fighringwcre 2500 howrtzers.five slanddrdsand over 5000muskar\. Ihe A ied Paraguayansand 5000Allies, including Colonel Palteja and two lossesincluded ceneral Sampayo killed (shot thr€e timeswhilst other field officerskilled- leadinga counter-attack)with GeneralsOsario and Paunero Whilethe armyfought and died in the Paraguayantrenches, woundedand a turther7 8000troops killed or wounded.The the fleet remainedinactive, except to steamdownstream in Allies buried thei own dead,but piled up the Paraguayanpanic at the approa€hof any flotsam, terrified of the corpseson funeral pyres. It ismacabre to notehowever that the Paraguayanmines which could carry up to 1500lbsofpowder. fireswould not bum asthe bodies piled upon them contained no The BrazilianAdmiral, Tamandare, had been able tonegotiare fat. a lreatywith the GuaycuruIndians, traditional enemies ofrhe Followingthe battle ofTuyutythe Allies were presentedwith Paraguayans,and providedthem with armsand anmunirion- agoldenopportunitytoendthe war. A rapidmarch to theNorth Howeverthe Indiansrcgarded all foreignersas enemies and a Westwould haveflanked the Paraguayanpositions and allowed numberof smallAllied parties began to disappear!Consequent- an uncontestedmarch on Humaitaand Ascuncion, enveloping ly additionalpatrols had to be madeto combaaIndian raids. anddestroying Lopez's shattered army. Instead they remained Tamandarewas ordered to bombardthe batteryat Curupayty, in camp, strengtheningtheir defenceworks and awaiting butat thefirst sight ofthe 25guns awaitingthem the fleet turned reinforcements.This repeated failure of theAllies to administer tail withoutfiing a shot. a final blowto aheenemy on the numerousoccasions that such MeanwhileLopez withdrew the 10thBa(alion ftom Corum- an opportunitywas presented l€d someobservers to conclude bain Matto Crosso,leaving only a smallgardson. At rhesame that this was a deliberateplan to exterminatethe male timethe whole Brazilian population of thetownwere carried to population ofParguay.However, as the traditionalmethods of Ascuncionand throwninto prison.where most were to srarve warfarein theregion included the executionoI all prisoners,do and die. not givemuch credenceto this viewl Rememberingthat the The Allies determinedto take the rown and batreriesof individualnations of theTriple Alliance were traditional rivals, Curupayty, which would place them in the rear of rhe drawnlogether by circumstance,and distrustful of eachother's Paraguayanarmy. with supply lines securedby the fleer. motivesand objectives,I prefer to believethar the gross Howeverthis would require a navallandingandthe onlyviable inefficiencyofthe Allied strategicplanningwasthe result of this disembarkationpoint wasdominated by a strongbattery and rivalry- redoubt. These were in tum protected by a concealed Lopez spenthis energieson freshrecruitmenr (which this entrenchmentwhich coverednot only the potentiallanding time includedover 6000slaves) and reorganisationof the army. beach,but alsothe oniy possibleland approach. a narrowdirt Fr€shtrenches were dug andthe fortificarionsofHumaita and track. The rest of the area was impassableowing to the Ascuncion strengthened.To hinder the Auied flotilla, numerousand extensive lagoons and swamps, inrerspersed with blockshipswere sunk in the Paraguayriver and new batteries densepalm stands. which bordered the river.The Paraguayan raisedin dominantpositions. An Americanengineer named garrisonconsisted of2500men and 25 guns ofwhich 13 covered Kruger, aided by a Pole namedMichkowsky, construcredthe beachand track, cornmandedby GeneralDiaz. mines and lorpedoes which were either anchored in staric On 1st September,1866 the Allied fleet a. rasrcam€ rnto positionsor floateddownsfeam. action.For two daysthey bombardedrhe rrenchat Curuzu, In midJuneLop€z commenced a bombardment of the Alli€d stayingout of rangeof the main Paraguayanbatteries. Under campand in reply the Allies raisedtheir own batteriesand coverof the cannonadeBaron Porto Allegre advanced 1,1,000 openedan ineffective lire on the Paraguayandefences, which men of the Brazilian2nd Corpsto posiaionson the opposite now includedwatchtowers 50ft high and morse telegraph bankof the lagoonfrom the enemyposition. On sailingtoo stations.The constantraids, counter,raids,artilery duels, closeto Curupaytya numberofAlliedvessels were damaged by diseaseand inactivity drained the spirit ofthe Allied almywhich Paraguayanarlill€ry. and the suddenloss ofthe iron€ladRio de was now reducedto 30-35,000strong. (Thoughsoon to be "fdlreiroto aminesignalledarapid withdrawalofthe naval units. reinforcedby 14,000Brazilians and 50 guns). At dawn on the 3rd the Brazilianattackers. with sreat By July Lopezhad increasedhis strengthto alrnosr20,000 ronirude.bra\ ed lhe flanl,ing tire ot Diazs fo'cesand stoimed (overhalfbeingboys, old menand invalids) and on the 10thand th€ concealedtrench. suffering some 2000 casualties. At the llth assaulteda portion of the Allied line al YataityCora. The point of crisisthe Paraguayan10th Battalion broke and ran, resultwas inconclusive. but servedtoencourage Lopez to order enablingthe Braziliansro turn the flank of the positionand fu(her aggressiveaction. Ovemight, under the supervisionof driveourrhe re't of rhedefende|5. With the enemt in confu,ed Lt. ColonelThompson,the Paraguayans constructed concealed retreatthere was nothing ro stopthe Braziliansfrom marching trencheswithin rifle rangeof the Allied lines.Afrer two days intothe vital positionofCurupayty and cutring offLopezt main hardhghling and nea' l) 2000casualties anArgentine Dirision. force.Bur Porto Allegre orderedhis rired troopsto hold the supportedby the Uruguayans,was able to distodgethe capturedpositions and to dig in. MeanwhiieDiaz wasable to Paraguayansand drivethem backto the PotreroSauce. rallyhis forceand throw up fr€shearrhworks along the Allied The following day a combinedforce of Braziliansand Uruguayans,€ommanded by Colonel Palleja,assaulted the Thedisgraced 10th Battalion wasdecimaled byLopez's direcr Panguayanoutworks. Enfiladed by entrenchedartillery the order.Every tenth man was shot. A numberof officersshared assaultwas driven back with considerableloss. Colonel Aquino the fateoftheir men,whilst the restwere broken to the ranks personallyled th€ Paraguayansin a spirited counter-attack_ The and the whole Battalion broken up and disrributedas 31 replacementsto otherunits.Diaz's force wasincreased to 5000 SIMON'S SOLDIERS menand the hastilyconstructed defences strengthened. A prof€ssional painting s€Nice lor warganG by a wdgmer On llth SeptemberLopez requested a truceand a meeting Al scales catered for (up 10 110r@) but 15!m a speciality, wfi,h a with granted GeneralMitre, whichwere for the followingday. nmb4 of slandards available to suil you iaste dd l1u poclet. Mitre insistedthat no peacecould be negotiatedwhich did nor For a l5lm sdpl€ 6d €1.50 to 14 Cle FfFnoo, Bac*Ia. fulfill all theterms o{the Treaty ofthe Tripl€Alliance. This was Bitdg6d, Mld. Gtm. CF31 2EG d onla.t unacceptableto Lopez. who pledgedto €ontinuethe war. Sloon Chal6wonh on 0656 768556 for d€tatls. Duringthe trucea numberofAllied officerswho attempted to enterthe Paraguayanlines were kidnapped and later executed or died of mistreatment.This action led to an immediale recommencementof the Allied bombardmenlbv directorder of GeneralFlores. In a black mood l-opez ordered thar any HEROES Paraguayanswho had servedin the Allied army and subse- quentlydeseted to rejoinLopezshould be anested and flogged MINIATURES to death.an order whichwas carried out at once.The Allies 7 WAVERLEYPI"ACE meanwhiler€inforced Porto Allegre with two Argentin€Corps WORKSOP,NOTIS and preparedfor the assaulton Curupa}1y. s802sY The defencesofthe townwere based on a ditch,€onstructed MAIL ORDER SPECIALISTS by Thompson,6ft deep and llfi wide, with a high parape. ELITE FORCES(20mm MODERN) behindand an abatiscovering the approaches.The ditchhad been constructedin sucha way thar infantry could man a 20rnd MODDBN FIG{,RES 25p esch whilstthe supporting guns could fire canisteroverhead, firestep ARAB FORCES UNTTID STATES creatinga solidcurtain of fire. The defenceswere manned by s000men, 49 guns(including eight 8'68 pdrsand six 32pdrs) EAI ollier *itL A(47 EY1 O6ce. Yith istol and awostands of Congreverockets. The right flank of the EY2 Glmd wit! M60 EA3 Man advscing vith AX4? EY3 Ri[€m with M60 trenchrested on the riverandtheleft on adeeplagoon,making EA4 Md ailtuci.A Yith AI(4? EYa Guder sith D.lson A1\lW any attemptto outflank the positionimpossible. The only EY5 GE adie. with M203 open1o the Allies wasa bloodyfrontal assault. EY5 Canadier advdcine M203 option EA? Me @uchi.g witi AK4? EY? NCOwith M16+M72 On 22nd Septemberthe Allied fleet, including eight EA3 Md {ith AKM advdcing EY8 &ineDe muching M16 ironclads,sailed clos€ to the Paraguayanposition, anchored EAg Me advdciba vitL AKrl? EYg Gre.ailie. ihmwing and openedfire. As usualtheir shootingwas very inaccurate DAIo Me crcuching with M203 EY10 RifleM adYdci.g M16 and owing to the dominatingposition of the Paraguayan barteri€s,perched high on theclay cliffs, inflicted litde damage. PIB w ols. ekEh d fLll Mae ol Effii.s d d RB dnmlr ba42d up br n@demod v UI mnaa of whi.bt onn iafaai!. At noonthe Allied army advancedin four densecolumns, A i m3e of Sdlia Micn Mod€15. oneadvancing on eachflank and two attackingthecentre of the Oth.r 20m Modeh 68ues include Bftish, So;€t, Isreli, C€mar trench.As soonas the columnsleft the Allied positionthey dd rFrch. wereflayed by a stormof artilleryfire, whichthrew them into PLo& eenl d jtttup.d *lf add4ed etukpe for a mtalsu contusion.Bravelythey rushed on until, at arangeof300 yards PGtal charye, 30p mininm on all drdeE np to 13.00 the I' guns of the defendersswitched to cannisler.The Above €3.00 10* df toirl @i df orier. Braziliansattacking the left flankfahered, stopped and staned to withdraw.On the right flankthe Argentineassault column, followinga firm pathway,struggled forward, led by mounted officers,braving fire fromboth front andflank.In thecentre the Paraguayancasualties were light with only 54 killed and altackingcolunns, broken into desperategroups ofmaddened wounded(mainly by Argentinesnipers who had been sent into nen by the marshyground, crawled on, burdeneddown by the Chaco flanking the trench system).AJter the enemy bundlesof fascinesand longscaling ladders. withdrawalLopez orderedthe 12th Battalionto sweepthe Astheycamewithin range the raised their rifles in bafilefieldfor weaponsand supplies.They also massacred the a tutile attempt to suppressthe murderousfire from the wounded,taking only sixprisonen including two Paraguayans defenders.The Paraguayaninfantry meantim€ sat down below fightingfor theArgentinians. General Diaz ordered them hung. the trenchparapet and waited.Against all oddsthe attacking Paraguayanunils werecornpletely re-equipped in Argentine columnsreached the abatisand desperateindividuals pressed uniformsand n€arly4000 Liage rifles were cap.ured,but no fo ardto throwtheir fascines into the ditch.At thispoint the colourswere taken. Paraguayaninfantry rose and opened fire withtheir obsolescent During the battle the Brazilianfleet fired over 5000shells flintlockmuskets. At suchclose range this new horror proved (includinglarge numbeF of whitworth rifled shellswhich too muchfor.the attackerswho, within minutes, were streaming Thompsondescdbes as'. . . soprettythatit wouldbealmosta backpast theirdead and wounded comrades. Mitre, s€€ingthe consolationto be killedby one"). The Paraguayansfired over attackhad failed.ordered an immediatewithdrawal. 7000rounds of artillery. The Allied losseswere enormous and althoughthe official WhilstLopez and General Diaz celebrated the vi€torywith a casualtylht quotes4000 (equally split betweenBrazilian and champagnesupper, the Allies planned their withdrawal. Argentine)Thompson estimates the true figureto be closerto LeavingPorto Allegre's command, now reduced to 8000men, 9000.Over 5000 d€ad and wounded were counted on the field to dig in at Curuzu the survivon of the Allied force were by theParaguayans, and just one Altied field hospital handled a withdrawnto thecampatTuyuti. No majormilitary action was turther 1200 wounded. The fleet suffered less than 100 to followfor fourteenmonths as the Allies lickedtheir wounds casualties,but a numberof vesselswere severely damaged, a andattempted to buildup an armyofover'whelming strength. nurnberof shot havingentered through the portholes.The Lopezrealised that he musthusband his dwindlingresources. ArgentineColonel Rivas was created a Generalin the field in recognitionof his greatgallantry during the assault. Continuesnext month . . . 38 TheGreql PoroguqyqnWqr 1854-1970 PqrfFour by lohn Sharples

Although no major military actionsfollowed the battle of lines.Lopez feared aerial bombardment andthe use of airbome Curupa)ayfor some time, there were constantsmall scale poisonsby the Allies and orderedhis gunnersto concentrate clashes.Paraguayan raids on the Allied camps,patrols and their fire on the balloons,whilst his infantrydaily built huge supplytrains were countered by the coflstantbombardment of fir€sin front of the linesin an attemptto maskthei positions the Paraguayanpositions from both land and water by the with smoke. Allies. The military arsenalin Ascuncionwas also a hive of activity. Life in bothcamps followed a similarroutineofimprovement AJter gathering together the nation's €hurch bells and copper on the defensiveworks, intenupted by intermittentsniping by pans for smeltinga large number of new guns were cast, both armies.Supplies, as always, were short in the Paraguayanincludinga twelveton, 10" cannonwhi€h was narned"The camp and the soldierssupplemented theh diet by colle€ting Chistian", and a ten ton rifled piecenamed "The Creole", 'rnexDlodedshells and the sDlintersof those which had whichfired a t50lbshot. Large numbers of existingpieces were exploded,fo. whichthey received a rewardofacupofcornmeal converted ftom smoothbore to rifled and even more from or maizeporridge. Supplies in lhe Allied campwe.e. in cannonto morta$ and . €ontrast,plentiful and the boring army mtions were easily lntemationally,representatives of Great Brilain, France, supplementedfrom the luxuriesavailable from the largesutler and the United Statesof Amenca eachin their tum encampmentwhich had grownup at Pasola Patria.Here the enteredPamguay to arrangesafe passage through ihe line for troopswho had the money,were able to attendshows, play their nationals.Lopez however, although allowing the with- billiards,get drunkand avail themselves of the pleasuresofthe drawalof a few non'combatantdependents, refused to release flesh. thoseengineers and technicians whom he considered viial to his The rnajorshadow lying overboth camps was the scourg€of war effort.There is little doubtin my mind that he hopedfor cholerawhich had broken out in the Allied campearly in 1867 Great Powerintervention to end hostilities.and that those andquickly spread to the Paraguayanlines- The diseasewas to foreignerswbich he held mightencourage such action. eventuallykill rhousandsof militaryand civilian personnel on CeneralFlores withdrew to Montevideo,takiflg the majority bothsides. At the heightoftheepidemic over fifty Paraguayanofthe suflivingUruguayan troops in ordertodeal with growing soldie$perdaysuccumbed in the militaryhospital. The Allied Blancoagitation, and to renewenthusiasm for a war whichwas losseswerc alsoheavy, but unlikethe Paraguayansthei losses gowing daily more unpopular.The increasingnumbers of werereplaced by freshdrafts ofBrazilian conscdpts, including Braziliantroops and wanhipsin the regionwere fanning the increasingnumbers of da!esrelea

supportinginfan.ry, who had attempted to ambushCaballero\ The Allied Iossesamounted to some 1800casualties, with commardas they grazed theirmounts. On the 21stolthe same Porto-Alleglehimself being wounded, having had two horses month 5000Brazilian cavalry were sentagain to the grazing killedbeneath him. Vastamounts of supplieswerecapturedor areasin ordertosurprise the Paraguayan cavalry. One regiment bumt, includingthe personalbelongings of GeneralMitre. advancedon Caballero'scommand, retiring when the Para Further losses were to be incurred when the caDtured guayan'srode 1o meet them, thus leading Caballero deeperinto Whitwodh.tiringunexploded Altied rounds. opened 6re on the the ambush.Suddenly, Brazilian lan€ersattacked the dis- Allied fleet,inflicting thirty foul hi.s in just one afternoon! orderedParaguayan force, emerging from foldsin the ground In DecemberLopez abandonedhis forward entrenchments andfrom behindthe stands ofpalm trees whichdotted the plain. andfell backtowardHumaita where further trenches had been Surounded,Caballero iumed hisforce and chargedthe enemy prepared.Military actionwas limited to raid andcounter-raid, blockinghis line of retreat A runningfight developed,with supplementedby artilleryduels, with Lopeztaking a particular fiercehand{o-hand fighting continuing for over three miles, delightin overseeingthe operationof the capturedwlitworth. untilthe Brazilianswere forced to retirein the faceof fire from On January14th, 1868 General Mitre wasforced by restlessness the Humaitabatteries. The Paraguayanslost 400 dead and 130 at hone to relinquish conmand of the Allied army to Caxias prisonerslall wounded],having inflicted some 160 casualties on andretum to BuenosAires. It wouldseem that he was not sorry their attackers. to leave as the Brazilianshad continuoudyfiustrated his On the 2nd November a small force of Paraguayansstrategyby refusingto allowtheir troops,the majorpart of a despatchedto constructan earthworkat Tayiwas wiped out by total force of over 50,000, to be used to crush the remaining a largescale Brazilian attack, which in its tum cameunder fire 15,000Paraguayans. It is obviousthat Caxiaswished that any from threeParaguayan steamefs. The Alliesbrought up a large benefitsof victoryshould be reapedby the Empire alone. number of field gunswhich sar* the Olimpo a 25 de Mayo. On Februarv13th. 1868 three monitors. constructed at the Their crews were €ut down by rifle fire as they attempted to Imperialnilitary dockyards,ardved at Curuzuand ran the swirn for safety. batteriesat Curupaytyat night. These were twin sqewed The followingday GeneralBarrios, commanding 8000 men, vessels,their hulls coveredwith 4" armoured plate, the dividedinto four brigadesof infantry(each of four battalions) revolvingrurrets whh 6'plare. and armed wirh a single64pdr andtwo cavalry brigades (each ofthree regiments) and stormed Whitwo h gun.At 3.30anon 18thFebruary the Allied flotilla the Allied campat Tuyuty. The main aim wasto cap1urca openeda furiousbombardment at all pointsolthe river,and a numberof 32pdrwlitworth rifled cannonwhich were causing numberofinfantry units engaged the iverside batteries. Under someproblems for the Paraguayans.Tragically, Lopez also cover of these divercionsthe monitors ,4/dgodr Pdfa, and Rio orderedhis half-starvedtroops to loot the enemycamp and G/afld€,each lashed to a largeiron€lad were towedpast the bring away what they could. At dawn the attackersswept balteries at Humaita, cutting the dver supply line and forwardin doublequick stepand werein the Allied forward threateningAscuncion. trenchesbefore the alarm was sounded. Panic overwhelmed the The foltowingday, 19thFebruary, in MontevideoGeneral Allied camp and four Brazilian battalionsabandoned the Flores waisriding unescortedin his cariage. In a narrow street secondline oftrenches and fled toward the river.Beyond these hewas ambushed by a bandof BlancoconspiratoN, the cariage defencesthe Pamguayansburst into the Comelcio,or sutlers wasovertumed and Flores, whilsttrying to freehimselfandhis township,and all disciplinedissolved as each man engaged in swordarm,was hackedand shot to death. The murderous looting and burning. Porto-Allegre,the camp commander, politicsof Uruguayclaimed yet anothervictim,a sadend for a exhibitedgreat bravery.He gatheredtogether a numberof courageousand talented soldier- scatteredand leaderless ffoops, fel backto the centralredoubt On 22nd February thre€ ironclads hove to near Ascuncion and poureda hail of shot into the now totally disorganisedandcommencedtobombardthe city, whilstothervesselsraided attackers.Eventually Argentinian reinforcementsfought their the rivenide to*ns and destroyedsmall commercial vessels. way to Poto-Allegre, who led a counter-attackwhich sweptthe l-opezdetermined to isolatethese ships and to capturethem for attackersfrom the sackedand bumingcamp, butchedng the his own use. He was cetain that suchvessels, manned by wounded and stragglerc. Paraguayans,would break the riverblockadeand allow him to Meanwhilethe Paraguayancavalry, commanded by Colonel take the offensive,raising support amongst the Argentinian Caballero,had charged down onto the Braziliangun emplace- rebehand defeating th€ Alliance. During the night of March1st ments,where they dismountedand clearedthe positionswith twenty four canoes,each canying twelve men, slipped fron the sabreand lance. As Caballerotried to carryaway the captured riverbank in order to captve the ionclads Heftal ar]d Cabnl. guns he was attackedby two divisionsof Allied cavalry, Armed with cutlasses,handgrenades, and Congreverockets supported by two Argentinian infantry regiments and the (for pushingthrough portholes), the boardingparties silently ParaguayanLegion, who had rushedto reinforcethe camp. sliddownstream. The canoeswere tied in pairswith ropesabout Heroicallythe Paraguayancavalry repeatedly charged these twenty yardsin length, the idea being that passingon either side {reshforces, engaging in hand-to-handcombat for overan hour of the ironcladsbows the canoeswould be anchoredin place. againstoveiwhelming odds, coveringthe retreat of their The attacke$werc not spotteduntil they werealongside rhe infantrywho wouldotheruise have been slaughtered. Brazilianvessels. Although somecanoes were sweptdown- The assaultforce captured three colours (two Brazilianand streamby the strong curent, Captain Xenes immediately one Argentine)along with fifteen gunsof variouscalibres, orderedhis mento board.Most ofthe terdfiedBrazilians fled includingoneof theprizedWhitworths.Vast amountsof useless below deck and locked the hatches.Those few who attempted articles,including parasols and dresses were carried back to the to do their duty werecut down, includingthe Caprainof the Paraguayanlines, alongwith tons offood, coffee,tea and sugar, flotilla division. The Paraguayanstried to for€e open rhe andlarge amounts ofgold. silver andjewellery. The cost hatchwaysand to climb up to the bridge.The Cabrul\\as in had beenheavy with over 1200men lost and a tu(her 1500 imminentdanger of capturewhen two furtherironclads sailed wounded.The 40thand 3rd Battalionsmustered only 100men alongsideand sweptthe deckswith grapeand c-anister.The the foilowing day, whilst the 20th Battalion, whi€h had attacke^were ddven into the river, losingover 200 killed and commencedthe action460 strong, retumed to campwith only ihe restwounded, including Xenes, who lostan eye.Brazilian 76 soundmen. casualtiesnumbered lessthan 50, with onlyminimaldamage to 40

l) Bmzil - Zouave of the Bahian Regiment- an elite unit of lighr inlanttj. whirh abo setved a' narines duting rhe early staScs oI the wt. (Adap@dtom an otiginal sketchby a Del Pino Menck). 2) Bruzil - First Seryeant of light infaniy in

3) Ary ina - Otfi.et ol th? ravaby rcsimenl 'uenerul'an Marln . 4) Argentina- Trcoper of the Escortsquadron of Generul Miie. (Nos 3 and 4 fron oriqkal sketchesb, J Balaguer). 47

5) Utuguat - Infantryman of the Battalion 6) Lt Colonel Thonpson in the uniform of the Floida h field uniform. Note the Frcnch sryle PatuguayanEnginee$. fofige capan.l whik moccasins.(Frcm a contem- pot@ryphotograph) .

7) Patuguayaninfantryman. 8) Paraguarat cavahy tooper of an'Elite mit', possiblethe' Acavetu' or'Shining heads',adapted ftom a conrcmporarywoodcu. lNos 5, 6 and 7 by kitd pennission of El Doruda Magazine). 42 With the positionoutflanked, Curupayty, scene of the Allies WARRIOR MINII{TURES bloody frontal assaultrvas abandoned on 22nd March. The 14 Tlverton 4r,., Glasgow G32 9NX Scodand. artillery and garrison withdrew to Humaita. On the sameday New catalogue- f1.25 + S.AE. Please state int€resti for sample. the steamersy8&rei and fdcrari were lost, the former through T-t O4l-7aa 3426 enemyaction, the latterbeing scuttled to preventirs capture by 15@ AAUIESo' y !9.95 + 1.30p6r 25m ARl,llES the Allies. With the Allied fleet at lastflexing its considerable Bntr4l,Fb.h Nap.l6nrc, Nap.ledi.ImpiG !1695 Roh.n 1srC. AD, ECWBo!,alid + f2.50 DGr nilitary muscleit wasclear that the Paraguayanpositiononthe ECWPdrndMlaina ACW(Jnion. ACW Bndsh,Frn.lr, Pr6ian, R6ian, lower stretchesof the River Paraguaywould soon become C.niedftt€, r8d C, FdEr Go.4 46r.6, SD.nnh. Fanbr Evil,Zulu Wd - Zius, Briiish. SuDsl00Ani6 fr8.50 untenable. Leaving a garrison of 3000 invalids, under the F€rloaddtoab@-tuld€r.il,horalos@ + 12.50p.6r commandof ColonelPaulino Alen, andreplacing many of the NEW:zfim l,tetm Sdn@i, NorDnsmn, L.ndsknehE Ful tug€ oI fgs. Ir add lo aboue- heaq gunswith woodenQuaker batteries, Lopez ordered a '@r v'lu'l withdrawal from Humaita nofhward to a newsedes of defence Ju4 e@ at ou woduct tu@ works constructed 25t|m Mfllukd. ACW. Mtuedonian + Puni. Wm. Ws ol rhp R(g. near the confluenceof the rivers Paraeuav Lb.lsk ahls, RelEMme, Gaul5,Dd,t tua, Nomdre, Sammi Romans. and Tebicuary. Md.ots, AW, M|-X-AM Wd 6|.;bq Jdobi6, 4, r5'm Mo5l paiods Isnrir equipndl ECw, Acw Whenthe Allied fleetnext att€mpted ro sailnorth along the Vi.a/A.:'j6d@Fed. Td.hdquM6L,utd. river they 'rame under fire from concealedbatteries, con- structedunder the supervisionof the inexhaustibleCotonel Thompson,at a rangeofonly twentyyards. The solid shot fired fiom the Paraguayanguns shatteredon impact with the SIMON'S SOLDIERS armouredplates protecting the Brazilianvessels, but large A pbfessional painting seNic€ lor wtugdd by a walgder numbersofcasualties and some damage wascaused by splinters AI scale caiered for (qp to 1 10m) bur 15l]m a specialiiy. with a yo6 pocker. ftom the woodenlining, and the flotillawithdrew to the south. n6bq oi stdddds avanabb to slil taste ad tou With the fleet repulsed,the Allied armysettled themselves For a l5!m s4ple hd €r.so to 14 Cae FfFnon. BFc&la, down to a steadybombardment of the entrenchmentsat Bttdg6d, llld. Glam. CF31 2HG d codtact sidon Humaita.already known as'The South American Sevastapol . Charlryonir on O65ti 768556 tdr details Thegarrison ofthe fortresswas completely cut offand alrhough somestocksoffood and livestock had been left bytheretreating fire into the packedranks of the surprisedattackels. Osorio Lopez(along with promises of earlyrelie0, it wasclear rhat the requestedimmediate reinforcements to presshome his assault, meagre rations availablewould soon reduce the fighting but Caxiasrefused the request and Osorio courageously capabilityofthe sickand wounded lefr to holdHumaila. Secure directedan orderlywithdrawal, du ngwhich his holse was shot in this knowledge,Caxias ordered only limited operations fromunderhim and three ofhis aideswere killed- Althoush the againstthedefende^, but eventhese were to meetwith failure- B'aTilianarmy ofren displayed rank cosardice in the t;ceof On 30th April General tuvas led 1200 Argentinians, attackitmust be said that rhe individual bravery and devotion to supportedby 2500Brazilians, to completethe isolationof duty of manyof.he Allied officerscannot be challenged.The Humaitaby marchingnorth and constructinga fortifiedcamp assauhforce lost over 2000casualties inflicting only 47 on the betweenLopez andthe besieged garison. They were ambushed defenders. Caxias resolved to settle do*n to a Drolonsed twice,first by ColonelCaballero, who inflicted300 casualti€s, bombardmenrand alloq starvationand disease16 cono-uer and then by 200 infantry from Humaita, who annihilated the Vafliner'scommand. ArgentineVolunteer Legion, whosesurviving officers were With all food gone Martinez decided to evacuaiethe chargedwith cowardiceand returned, under arrest, to Buenos remaininggarrison. During the nightof23rd Julyahe sick and gth seriouslywounded were ferried over the river by canoe, On July Lopezordere d blsCueryo de Bogantes (Corps of unchallengedby ihe patolling ironclads.During the following Paddlers,volunteeis skilled in swimmingand the useof canoes eveningthe majority of the garrisor followed, whilst the to boardAlliedvessels) to againattempt two Bnzilian ironclads rearsuardand regimentalbands built bonfires,danced and andso break the blockade.The attackon the Rio Grandeand generallyseemed to make merry in celebrationof Lopez's the Baroso wasa failure,being almost a carboncopy of the birthday.deceiving the Allied picquets.Once away from the previousaltempt. The attackersinitially gainedsurprise, but river Martinezs command,carrying their canoes,trekked wereunable to gainaccess to the bowelsof the ironcladsand throughthe Chacoto the LagunaVera which they hopedto eventuallywere swept from the decksby supportinganillery crossand join the force of the newly promoted General fire. Caballero.Pressed by pursuingland forcesthe Dunkirklike With thefailweofthis attempt tobreakth€ blockade Colonel opeiationbegan, the canoesrunning Ihe gauntletof Allied Alen. commanderof Humaita- fell into a black mood of ironcladsand entrenchedbatteries as well as the fire of despair,and, with starvationfacing his command,attempted entrenchedriflemen. On 28thJuly the Brazitiansattempted to suicide.The attemptfailed, but Alen wasimmobilised by a assaultthe Paraguayansstill waiting evacuationbut were bullet woundto the headand so commanddevolved on his bloodilyrepulsed. However, on 2nd AugustMartinez. having deputyColonel Martinez. He orderedthe evacuationof all successfullyevacuated over 1000 men. with his canoes sunk and noncombatantsto conservethe dwindlingsupplies, and during his remainingtroops dying of hungeragreed to meetGeneral the nightsof July 13thand 14threports were received in the Rivas, and on 5th August surenderedhis commandwith Allied campthat the garrisonwas abandoning Hunaita. honoursof war being granred.His reward for this shining Caxiasordered an assaulton the seeminglydesened fortress exampleof militarycourage and loyalty to both his nationand on the momingofJuly16th, after a preliminarybombardment soldienwasto bedectared a traitorby Lopez, and for hiswife to which lastedthroughout the night. GeneralOsorio, riding be arrestedand suffertorture and humiliationprior to her befor€th€ front rankof 12,000assault troops, advanced on the eventualexecurion. The Allied spoilsfrom their threemonths silentdefenceworks. Cavalry regiments galloped forward and of costlysiege were 1300 starving prisoners, 150 a illerypieces beganto dismantlethe protectiveoutworks and abatis- As the of all calibfesand 1500obsolele muskets. infantrycolumns mounted the scarpedface ofthe defencesthe silentwalls erupted in a stormof fire, smokeand leadas the TO BE CONTINIJED. . . concealedgarrison poured close mnge musketry and canister 26 TheGreat ParaguayanWar 1864-1870 PartFfue byJohnSharpks

Continuedfrom WI47 foreign nationalswere imprisonedor had already been executed.)The Americanshad somesuccess in obtainingthe As the military siluation crumbledso l-opez'sdeep,seat€d releaseof their own citizenswhen diplomaticmoves were psychosisemerged. He becameconvincedrhar many ofhismost supportedby the threatof uss warp's11"guns. arustedand faithful followerswere involvedin a Brazilian The Allied military road throughthe desolateChaco \ras agitatedplottooverthrow him. Thompson, whodid nothimself progressing. Although reports of its construction reached witnessthe executionswhich were to follow. obtained a l-opez'sheadquarters he refused to believethat such a roadwas personaldiary fron Lopez'sbelongings which listed individual possibleand continuedto preparefor a frontal assaulton his lyall theexecutions betweenJune and Decemberas follows: position.He wasrudely disillusioned in late Novemberwhen Foreignersexecuted (including diplomats) 107 32,000Brazilians emerged behind the easternflank of his Diedin prison(tortured) 113 fortificationsat SanAntonio. Paraguayansexecuted 176 GeneralCaballero was ordered to stopthe Allied advanceat Diedinprison 88 the Passof Ytororo, andhe entrenchedhis forceof 5000men guns Execut€ 22nd August (no nationality given) 85 and 12 in standsof densewoodland which overlooked a Diedduring the retreat to Pikysyry(bayonetted) n narrowbridge, the only crossingof a deepfast river. On 6th Total: 596 DecemberGeneral Argollo assaultedthe Paraguayanline. He expectedhis attackingcolumns to be supportedby a flanking Thesewere listed as havingbeen involved in rhe alleged moveby GeneralOsodo, leading the 3rd Division,but these conspiracy,but the list doesnot includea largenunber of 'named' reinforcemeniswere delayedby rough terain and confused ordinary soldien and their familieswho were by guides.Argollo personallyled the 2nd Division,in a dense informersand simplydisappeared- Amongst those exi:cuted column,over the bidge, the attackerssuffering heavy casual- werea numberof Englishmerchants and engineers,ceneral ties ftom the canisterfire of the concealedartillery. Whilst Barrios,the Bishopof Asuncion,Colonel Alen, the wife of attemptingto reformand redeploy the Brazilianswere hit by a Colonel Martinez,two of Lopez'sbrorhers and lwo of his ferociouscountercharge as, hackingand slashing,Caballero\ brolhers-inlaw. The personal wealth of the victims was menforced back the attackersinch by inch.Argollo ralliedhis confiscatedby Lopez and disappeared.Although there is menand charged again. The bridgewas to changehands three eviden€ethat a plot did existto savethe nationby deposing timesbefore Argollo fell to the groundbadlywounded and his Lopez,it h ce(ain that manyof the victimsof the purgewere troopsbegan to slowly retire. At this point of crisisCaxias innocentand that Lopez and his cronies used rhe opportdnity ro arrivedon thefield, leadingthe lstDivision.Riding forward he linetheirpockets and settle old scores. ralliedArgollo's command and renewed the assault with the cry Retreatingfrom the linesat the Tebicuary,which were now of "Followme, you who areBrazilians!" This fresh attack was outflankedand bpassed by the parrolling ironclads,the too muchfor the exhaustedParaguayans who wereforced to Paraguayanarmy again entrenched near the rownso{Pikysyry, retr€at,abandoningsix guns and 1200casualties. The Brazilians astrongpositionwhich could not beoutflankedwithout a major wereleft holdingthe field,but at a highcostr nearly 3000 men strategicmanoeuvre, and Angostura,close to Ascuncion, includingtwo generals. wherethe River Paraguaytakes a largeconcave curve. To Afterrecoveringand regrouping on rhebattlefield the Allies strengthenthe defences at Pikysyrystreamswere dammed and a pursuedCaballero, whohad been reinforced andlaywaitingthe moatnearly 6ft deepformed in front of thelines. To manthese Allied atta€kat Avay. His 4000Paraguayans, supported by worksLopez €ommanded around 10,000 soldiers, now almost twelveguns, fought all day againstoverwhelming odds, often wholly boys and invalids,and 100 anillery pieces,but with fightinghand to hand, neithergiving nor acceptingquarter. arnmunitionof all kindsin desperatelyshort supply. GeneralOsorio was wounded in the jaw, but refusedto leave MarshalCaxias decided that the Pikysyry position was far roo thefield, preferring to becarried round in a cartuntil the endof strongfor ftontalassault and so General Argolo was ordered to the action,after whicb he wasevacuated to Brazil.During the constructa roadthrough twelve miles of rhornscrub and for€sr long day'sfighting the Brazilianswere againbadly mauled, in orderto lurn theflank of the trenches.Meanwhile the Allied suffering over 3000 kilted and wounded, but evenrually warships€onrinued to cruisethe river,exchanging fire withthe Caballero$as rolall) surrounded and being slowly crushed by Paraguayanbatteries and interceptingsupplies. During late the weight of the Allied assault.As the Brazilian cavalry Septembera numberofforeignwarships Che American Warp, charge(infor the kill Caballerowas able to cut hisway out of British ai4n?r, and Fren€hand Iralian vessels)arrived in the trap with 200men, but the resrof the forcer{as lost, with Paraguayto evacuateforeign nationals. These ships were in 1200men beingtaken prisoner, the majoritywounded. greatdanger as Lopez regarded their governmentsas hostile. Threatenedfrom the rear Lopez orderedftesh entrench- Theywere further inperilled by the actionsof Allied wanhips, mentsto be built, but no matterbow strongthe defenceswere whichanchoredinthe leeof thevisitingvesselsandused them as madehe no longerhadsufficient ttoops to manrhem. Less than cover whilst continuingtheir bombardmentl(They did not 2000invalidsand children heldthe mainline atPikvsvrvandsoa altempt this ta€tic with the British vessel.)Neqotiations seriesoi smellredans sere buil in placeof theconiinuous line regdrdingtoreign narionals conLrnued through No\e-mbe' and of trenches.They were constructedin sucha way that the December.(It mustbe remembered that numbers of thesesame artillerypieces could be placedcentrally whilst the supporting )1 infantrysheltered in front of the parapet,safe from defending canisterfire. But thesescatt€red strongpoints could noi stopthe Allied advance,and on December17th Brazilian cavalry the linesand wiped out the 45thCavalry in camp.On tE entered lines at 8rqi$.gy,f,.9 2lsl D€cemberGeneral Mena Bafi€to stormedthe Pikysyryin a surpriseattack.and, after a dayofsmall, scattered, Now stocklno EnDlns Eaal€t & Llon. desperateskirmishes, cleared the trenches.isolating and fhe b.t Na,trl3€rnicnasalne rvt abis t2.50 post lrc€ neutralisingthe strongpointsone by one astheir ammunition ran out. The retreatingParaguayans rallied at Lopez\ head- Brirain312-110040 quarters,which was attacked at 3pm. Again the fightingwas Bomans& Gauls mercilessand atclose quarters. The Paraguayan40th Battalion Elizaberhs lrishWar waswiped out, as wasthe EscortBattalion. Artillery pieces ThirrvYear War Enoriahcivil war whosecarriages were wrecked by the Brazilianbombardment seien Yea6 War werepropped against mounds ofearth or tiedto cartsto bolster French& lndianwaB Whilstmenfromfournationsfoughtanddiedina cLiv€in India thedefences. AmericanWar ol Independence welter of steel and lead, Lopez coweredin his bomb'proof Napoleonics shelterdecrying the cowardiceand treachery of his followers. SeminoleWa. U.S.-lvlo(icanwar The fightingdied out at around6pm. The Allies hadlost over AmedcanCivilWar 4000rnen,sonebattalionshavingsuffered50%casualties. lndianPlain wa6 Lopez now commandedless than 2000 men, with many lvlaximlllianExpedition Paraquyanwai wounded.He sentmessages to the army traininggrounds al The Great Nsw 26.bndAsents lralianWsrs of Independence APlvl,P.O. Box 12250 Cerro Leon and orderedhis final draft of recruits,and the Austro-PrussianWar Ch.islchurch, walkingwounded,tojoin him. He alsoordered the ganisonat Franco-PrussianWar Sp.nish-Amsricanwar Angostura,commanded by Thompson, to cuttheirwaythrough JohnnyReb t\,4t8LtTONS.G. the linesto join him, thoughthis waslater rescinded.On ihe Acw Rules€l1,50 25thrhe Allied commanderscalled on Lopezto capitulate,he replied: Trade Enqu i ries Invited We are Mi itoi S.G.s ". . . Your Excellencieshave not the right to impeachme beforethe Republicof Paraguay,my Fatherland,for I have WORLOWIDEMAIL OROER SERVICE defendedit.I defendit, andwill yet defendit. S.A.E.fot ILLUSTRATEDLlSfS. My counky imposedlhat duty on me and I take glory in FnEIKORPS 15, 25 PrincolownRoad, Bangor, fulfillingitto thelast;asfortherest lleave my deedstohistory, Co. Down 8T2O3TA, Northein lreland. andI owean accounl ofthem onlyto God." But hisbravewords were not supportedby braveactionsand wirhdrawingtotheir defences in fearofa nightattack, Captain when the Allied army, reinforcedby 15,000Argentinians, Ortiz leading450 men, somemounted on mules,raided the renewedthe artackon December2TthLopez fled, abandoning Allied cattleherd. and for the lossoftwo menwas able to carry hisarmytodie in a futilebloody struggle. Although finding tnne off250beasts and l,l horses. to orderthe execudonof the remainingpolitical prisoners, he Ansosturawas surroundedon 281hDecember and was left hismistress and family to themercy of the Allied onslaught. subj;ted to heavy,and effecrive, bombardmentfrom both land (The redoubtableMrs Lynch,escorted by a few staffofficers, andriver. Thompsonrefused to receivea messagesent to hrm wasabletosaveherfamilyandrejoinherloveratCerroLeon) under a flag of truce,requesting that il be passedto Lopezas The Paraguayanarmy wasshattered- Only the garrisonat Comnander-in-Chief.That eveninga monitor,flying a white Angostura remained capable of presentingany form of flag,approached the batteries.Although ordered to ancbor,it organisedresistance. Caxias had total victoryin his grasp,but continuedto approachthe Paraguayanguns. A blankwaming yet againhe did nothingbut withdrawto camp.Thompson is shorwas fired. but still the warshipcame on. At this point highlyc ticalofCaxias action, or lackofit: Thompsonordered the gunnersto openfire and, after a few ". . . having8000 magnificendy mounted cavalry 'vith no- roundshad dented her plates, the monitorturnedtail andfled. thingto do (excepopursue Lopez, whom he mighthave taken The Englishmansent a sternly worded nole to Caxias, withoutthe lossof anotherman . . . Wasit from imbecilityor complainingabout this abuse oflhe uniyersalflag of truce,and from a wishto havemore moneyout of armycontracts? Was it in return waspromised that lhe commanderof $e warshiP 1o havean excusefor srill maintaininga Brazilianarmy in would be reprimanded.During tbis exchangeof letlers Paraguayor wasthere an understandingbelween Caxias and Tbompsondiscovered the true exlentofthe disasterwbich had Lopez?Or was it done with the view of allowingLopez 1o overcomeLoDez and his armv. With sufficientamnunition for reassemblethe Paraguayansin order to exlerminatethem in only two to llree hoursof {ightingand totallysurrounded by 'civilised'warfare? ' over20,000 Allied rroopshe called a councilofwar lo whichhe At AngosturaThompson commanded a garrisonof 684 admittedall the men of his command.A nunber of iunior soldiersand 53 officers.Following the rout of Lopez'sarmy officersargued that il wastheir duty to fight and die at rbeir iargenumbers of Iugitivesjoined the garrison.carry'ngrumours posts,that iheir sacnficemight prove the salvationof the ofdisasterbut no solidinformation. Thompson had three days nation.when all who wishedto had pur forwardtheir views food supplyfor 700nen. but with the Allies advancingon his Thompsonrose and addressedhis men. He arguedthat their positionAngostura was the refugeof over 2500people, many sacrificewould not stopthe Allied advance,and that ifthey died unarmedor woundedand includingnearly 500 women. In an who would defendthe futureof Paraguay?He did not doubt atremptto gain informationand oblain weaponsor supplies, their courageor willingnessto die, but poinledout that the patrolsweresentlowardPikysyry-Theyreturnedwithnofood,re€onstruclionofthe nationunderAllied occupation would aho a few musketsand the newsthat the Allies were encamped demandcourage. The decisionwas in their handsand he aroundthe siteof Lopez\ headquarters.During the night of pledgedto standand fight with themifthat wastheir decision- 26thDecember Thompson ordered 100 in{antry and three light On 30thDecember Thompson led hisragged troops out of the gunsto skirmishwilh the Altied picquets.With the Brazilians defences,having been granted fullhonours ofwar bythe Allies 28

Prior to the final withdrawalfrom Angosturathe Paraguayan ComteD'Eu wasconvinced that swift decisiveaction was Nationalflag waslowered, weighted with a cannonball and necessaryto ensureLopez wasunable to regainhis fighting thrown into the river, the men who had servedbeneath it strength.In June1869, after obraining a hugesupply ofstores denyingthe enemy the satisfactionofits capture. andmunitions, the Allied arny advancedalong the railway lirc A Braziliannaval landing party ar ved at Asuncionduring tothe foot of thefodfied plateau€alled the'Azcurra Heights', the night of Januarylst to find the city largelydeserted, rhe the baseofoperations for Lopezand his army.On August1st population having been evacuatedon the order of the Comted'Eu andOsodo ledastrongforce in aconcealedmarch President.The main army enteredthe city on the sah, the to attackthe flank of the Paraguayanpositions, having left Argentiniansmarching to the northembounda.ies and making ordersfor the remainingunits to make threateningmoves camp, whilstthe Braziliancontingents dispersed to loot the towardsthe Paraguayantrenches to pin the defende^. The caplal. flanking force surprisedthe town of Piribebuy,the site of Caxiasbelieved the war wasover, seemingly fo4etting that Lopez\ headquaners,on the momingof the 12th,overwhelm- the mainobjective ofthe war, Lopezhirnself, was still at large. ing the smallgarrison of poorly armedold men,children and Neverthelessa victory Te Deum was anangedin the city women, after a short, intenseadllery bombardmenr.In cathedral.Dudng the serviceCaxias fainted, raising concem Paraguayanaccounts it isclaimed that a massacrefollowed, and abouthishealth,andon 12th Decemberhe askedto be relieved there seemslittle doubt that numbersof civilianswere shot of hiscommand,handingovertoFi€ld Xavierde Souza down,including some sheltering in the church,and rhat some astemporary commander on the 18th.On his returnto Brazil woundedwere bayoneted.However many of these same Caxiaswas initially showered with honours,but allegalionsof civilianshad attemptedto stemthe Allied attackwith stones, profiteeringand genocide led to him havingto facean enquiry clubsand knives,so it is hardlysurprising thar the hardened into hishandling ofthe warand his declaration that the warwas Blazilianveteransdidnotflinchatshootingthemdown. over whilst l-opez was still active. Although cleared of With the eneny to hisrear lrpez beata hastyretreat to the misconductthe gilt on his glory was more than dightly north'east,abandoning some 1300sick andwounded aswell as tamished. his heavyequipment and luxudes.The strain of the Allied Warwearinesswas setting in, bothin Braziland in theAllied pursuitproved too muchfor the convalescentGeneral Osorio, army.The majorfinancial burden ofthe war hadfallen on the who was forced to withdraw from his command. Soon Empire, and it was only the personaldetermination of the afterwardsD'Eu\ armyovertook the Paraguayanrearguard, Emperorand his court that hadensured the continuation ofthe consistingof youngboys commanded by Caballero,at Campo war effon. But even Dom Pedro now wished for a rapid Grande.After a heavybombardment the Brazilianinfantry conclusionto the war. The Allied army itself was bored, chargedfoward, suffering few casuallies from the poorlyaimed homesickand disheartened.Desertions became endemic. musketryof Caballerot inexperiencedboys. After a short disciplinewas crunbling, and looting common. It wasclearrhat period of desperatehand ro hand fightingthe Paraguayans inactivitywas more dangerous than the continuingParaguayan attemptedto withdraw,only to be idden down by waiting resistance.The arrival of the new Brazilian SuDremoin ADril lancers.Even the veteransofthe Bnzilian armywere shocked l8oc signalledan end to rhe apparenrdisinlagration of ihe at ihe sightofso manydead and maimedchildren litrering the Alliedforce. battlefields.Some of them were found to be wearinsfalse The 26 year old Louis Phitlipe(Luiz Felipe),grandson of beard.and mouslache"in orderto deceiverhe Allies aito the LouisPhillipe of Franceand CornteD'Eu had little canpaign true staleofthe Paraguayanarmy! experience,but had continuallypestered his fatheFinlawfor Unlike his predec€ssorLouis Phillipedid not rest on the an appointmentin the war zone.His choicewas to provemost laurelsof hisvictory. but pushedhis army in closepursuit of the provident.A handsome,inspidngyoungman, he wastoprove a tugitiveLopez and his remaining 2000 men. Upon reachingrhe breathof freshair in the Allied headquarters.He immediately townof Caraguataythe pursuersresled, awaiting fresh supplies took stepsto stiffendiscipline and stop the looting,and his andreinforcements. From this secure base of opemtionsAllied obviousdetermination to forceth€ war to a raDidconclusion. flying columnsof cavalryand mountedinfantry continually wrththe promire of anearly return home. served lo bol,terthe sweptthe surroundingcountryside, hunting down scattered arny's flaggingmorale. The army, now almostwholly com- bandsofenemy soldiers, intercepting supplies and hunting for posedof Brazilians.was reorganised into two Corps,one of newsof Lopezhirnself. whi€hwas to be commandedby GeneralOsorio, hero of the In Asunciona provisioflalgovernment, made up of anti army, woundedat the Battle of Avay. His unhealedfacial Lopezexiles, had declaredLopez an outlawand orderedthe woundwas covered by a bla€ksilk scarfand he bore the popular anest of many of his 'The supporters.It was expectedthar a nickname Legend'. bloodbathwould soon follow as old scoreswere settled by the Lopezhad fledtoalange ofhills, known as The Cordillera,50 newruling clique. However. Louis Phillipe, mindful of theneed mileseast of Asuncion.He had escapedthe destructionof his to swiftly pacify the occupiedareas, managed to curb the armywithonly afewtroopersof hisescort, hisstaff officers, and excessesofthe Republic'snew rulers. In addirionto limitingthe their families.By gatheringtogether survivors of the main powerofthegovernment, he kept a tightrein onhis arrny,with army,wounded ftom the nilitary hospitals,and final draftsof harsh sentencesbeing awarded for looting or abuse of recruits(includingboys as youngas nine) Lopez recrurted a new Paraguayancitizens. The remaining six steamersof the army some 13,000strong with rhirteen light guns cast at Paraguayannavy were trackeddown and destroyedby th€ir makeshiftarsenals. By April he was able to launchhis first crews(l am told thatthe hulkscan still beseen today), andrhe attacks,aimed more at obtainingweapons for his army than remainingmilitias were disarmed. Louis Phillipegnnted rhe seriouslydamaging the Allied army. Mountinga numberof ProvisionalCovemmentthe right to recruitasmall armywhich field gunson flatbedrailway wagons Lopez was able to send wasto marchunder the Republic'stricolour, and numbersof SouthAme ca'sfirst armouredtrain into action-The Allies prisonerswere pressedinro service.Louis Phillipet biggest wereable to endthese novel incursions by tearingup thetracks. problemproved 1o be providing food for hisarmy, as his supply Guerdllaunits attacked Allied supplycolumns and destroyed lineswere extremely stretched. It seemsthat someirate words roadand rail bridgesbehind enemy lines, but the Paraguayanwere exchangedwhen it was found that mhsing Brazilian attackswere no morethan an annoyance,serving onlyro delay cavalrymountswere findingtheirway intoArgentinian cooking rheAllied nilitarybuild up. porsl 30 TheGreat ParaguayanWar 1864-1870 PartShr by lohn Sharples

In February 1870 a strong force of Brazilian cavalry, frontiers.The braveryof theseblack soldiersled to subtle suppo(edby threebattalions of infantry,were sent to finally changesof attitudetoward the largen€gro population and the track down and destroyl-opez and his army. Scoutsbrought emancipationmovementgained fresh impetus, delayed only by ba€krumoun of Lopez'snew camp!and a numberof mule the economicnecessity of havingslaves on the sugarandcoffee trainsheading for Cerro Cora wereintercepted. At dawnon plantations.More subtle was the effectof nationalhtand liberal March 1st Braziliantroops under the commandof General thiflking,to whi€hthe armyhad been exposed during the war. Camarasurprised a Paraguayanoutpost close to lrpez'scamp. Questionswere being asked as to the relevanceof the As news of the enemy advancewas being handedto the Emperor'srole in the nation'saffairs, and it wasto be officers PresidentBrazilian cavalry swarmed down the hillsdnging the who sened in the ParaguayanWar who led the Republican camp-site.Charging into the campthe lancersslaughtered any movementwhich toppled the Empire. of the remaining400 Paraguayansoldiers who showedany Paraguaywas devastated by the war, with at leasthalf the resistan€e.(The rest of Lopez'sarmy was out foragingunder the populationdyingthroughstarvation, disease. ormilitary action. command of Caballero.) Lopez himself stood firm, the The malepopulation in parti€ularcameclose to extermination. cowardicehe had shownthroughout the war forgottenin this The rolls of 1867reflect the effect of the war on lastdefiantstand. Withsabre drawn. he fired his revolver at the Paraguayansociety,listing all malesofnilitary age: triumphantBrazilians. A sabr€cut to the headknocked him to Thetown ofYuti the groundand as he struggledto riseCorporal Jose Lacerado Totalmale population 371 ran his lance through the Presidenfsstomach. Mortally 94Aged around twelve woundedLopezwas helped from the campby a few remaining 120Aged60-69 aides.Crossing a shallow,fast flowingstream they were unable 38In their70s or 80s to climbthe oppositebank and, with their pursuersclosing in, l-opezwas abandoned by hiscompanions. Clutchingapalm tree Manyo{those enlisted were dheased, having been passed over for supponl-opez refused to surrender,throwing his sabre at his for previousmilitary service because ofsmallpox, TB, goutor assailantswith a cry of "Muero con mi Patda" (I die for my Country)-Acavalryman threw Lopez face down into lhe mud, shootingthe dyingman at point blankrange with a repeating The largetown of Villa Rica carbine.Souvenirhunters rnutilated the bodyas it wasdragged Totalpopulation ofmilitary age 561 backinto campto bedisplayed amongst the other corpses. Most 238Aged 12-14 of lnpez's closestcompanions were killed at Cerro Cora, TBoysin a churchband includinghis 15year old son,byMff Lynch,Juan who.like his 5 Slaves father.was shot downwhen he re{usedto surrender.On the 8 Libertos(freed slaves) wholethe survivorswere well treatedand the majoritywere 260Militia aged50 or over soonreleased.With the deathofLopez the warwastrulyover, 6Insane but ev€nin the euphoriaof victorysome observers noted the 4 Blind teals and looks of despairon the faces of ihe crippled, 3Deafanddumb half-starvedveterans of the Paraguayanarmy. 1 Aged90 and senile The retum home of Allied nilitary formationsbegan 29wounded soldiers immediately.The Brazilianswere welcomed and feted by their TheSan Joaque Militia Emperor.The Argentiniansreceived $200 back pay (to the Sentto reinforcethe defensive lines on theTebicuary astonishmentof all!). What had the Allies gainedin this hard wonvictory? Argentina had gained free rightofpassage along 7 Aged 70-90 th€ Paraguayand Paranarivers, as well astbe settlementof a 12 Ased60 69 numberof borderdhputes. More importanilythe menwho had 8 Aged50-59 servedin the armyhad gained a senseof nationalidentity and 4 Aged40 49 pride whichwas to proveinvaluable in unifyingthe country. 2 Aged30-39 0 Aged 20-29 Uruguay,also unified during the courseof the war, with the '7 Coloradoparty taking the reinsof powerand holding them to Aged 12-19 the presentday, gainedguaranteed independence as a buffer Thoseex-soldierswho survived the death ofLopezincluded a statebetweenits erstwhile allies. highproportion of cripplesand men brokenin body, if not in Brazil sufferedthe heaviesthuman. financial and nateial spirit.A Brazilianarmy ofoc€upation remained in Paraguayfor lossof all the Allied powers.It hasbeen estimated that over fouryean, a constantreminder of thenation\ defeat. 100,000Brazilia. soldiersdied during the campaignsagainst Ironicallythe opening ofthe riversto freenavigation, a major Paraguay.In retLrmthe Ernpirehad gainedfuee navigation of cause of the conflict, helped in the recovery and slow the Paraguayriver, allowingthe developmentand exploitation rcconstructionof the nation. The unbowedspirit of the of Mato Grosso.Areas ofdisputed territory were alsoceded to Paraguayanpeople ensured their independenceunder the new the Empire.Economically the heavytaxation of the war years constitution.The massivelossoflife suffered by thepeople was had beenused to developthe industnalinfrastructures of the not entirelywasted; their sacrificehas proved an inspirationto Empire,with the expansionofexisting. and construction of new Paraguayanstothis day. The tragedyis that the spirit,courage foundries,pons, shipyardsand railways.thus laying the and sacrificeof the peopleshould today be embodiedin the foundationfor futureprosperity. The freeingofslaves to serve reveredmemory of the most undeservingof the nation's in the armyled to negroessettling in largenumbers around the citizens:National Hero President Francisco Solano Lopez. major cities,or purchasingstrips of land on the expanding 31 WARGAMINGTIIE TRIPLE ALLIANCE WARCAMESRESEARCH SouthAmerica has been larg€ly ignored by the wargamerand consequentlyby figure manufa€lurers.However, enthusiasts GROUP suchas Terry Hooker of The Southand CentralAmeri€an The keep, Le MarchanlEa ac&s, Military HistoriansSociety (details frorn 27 Hallgate,Cotting- London Road,Devizes, ham, North Humberside.HU16 4DN, pleaseinclude SAE), Wih!hne 5Nl02ER. and innovarors\uch a\ DaveMrllward. are encouraginga Tel. & Fax:(0380) 724558 growthofinterest in the region. R The onlyrules with which I amfamiliar thatspe€ifically cater A Selectionof our RulesandBooks: for the €onflictin Paraguayare EnglishComputer Wargames Blood And lron II, which I have usedon many occasionsand Ru16 t8. H.8. lound Lobe excellenl(The drawbaclwiLh tha,e rulesis rhal DeBel i5 AnliquihtislPub 1990) f2.00 you will requireaccess to an Atari or Amigaconputer. Ifyou haveoneI recommendthat you buythe program,whichcoven 'Hod€!oi lheThings (Pub l99l) f4.75 all the Worldt conflictsfrom 1820ro 1900.)Other ruleswill (FaiPay Fantaly R0ler bred 0n DeEelis Anliquitalis) require adaption to reflect the especialqualities of the EooL! Panguayantroops, burl suggestthe Colonial and Amie5of lheAncienl Near tast (Pub 1984) 111.50f14.50 volumesproduced by NewburyRules could be adaptedwith a Amie{of lh€l\lacedonian & Punic War 2ndEd. little work. (Pub1982) Ill.50 f14.50 Luckilysome figures are available , but onlyin 15mnscale. A Arn€, & tneme.0flmpera Rome 4lh id. lPubl98l) f8.95 !12.50 smallbut detailedrange is availablefrom rhecatalogue of Frei Am€5of theDark A8e5 2nd td. lPubi980) f895 t12.50 tunleJof feudalturope 2id td. 19891 fll.50 fl4s0 Korps.Basic troop types are available for borharmies, as well 0ub 'Shining Amiesollhe Middle Ages Vol I {Pub19821 Ill.50 114.50 asmore specialised types such as tbe Heads'.If these Amiesoithe Middle ASes Vol 2 (Pub19841 Ill.50 114.50 figuresare supplemented with othersfrom the AmericanCivil Poslage War. Italian Independenceand MaximillianMexico ranges, UnitedKingdom -Add 10%.Minimum 50p; Maximum€3.00 mostunits €anbe reproduced.However, rhere are no really AirmailEurope-Add 20% Minimum f1.00 goodGaucho or irregularcavalry modeh currently available. Renof World Add 20%Surfacej 50%Airmail. (Manufacturersplease take nore.) Minimumfl.00 Thereare curently no 25mmfigures available specifically for V|SA& ACCESS(Mastercard. turccard) ACCTPTED The ParaguayanWar. However,a hunt amongstthe various Forfurtherinformarion and our fulllisls sendan s.a.e.or2 AmericanCivil War and Franco-Prussian War ranges will allow IRC'sto lhe aboveaddress. youto reproducemanyofthe AIlied army unir5. Thosewho wish to becomeinvolved in the feelof the period may be interestedto know that Dave Millward is cunently runningacanpaignbased onSouth Americaftom the 1850sand new playersare alwaysrequired. If you are interestedin the campaign,or have any new informationregarding the war KEEPWARGAMING which you would like ro share pleasecontacr me a1 47 PaulandTeresaBailey PetersburgRoad, Edgeley Park, StockportSK3 gQY. (Please TheKeep enclosean SAE ifyou requirecarnpaign informarion.) LeMa rcha nt Barracks, Lo ndon Road, Devizes,Wiltshire, SN10 2ER. UK Tel&Fax (0380)724558 SOURCES weshallbeatthetollowin9 shos inthe.eartut(re: Themajor problem in siudyingthe WaroftheTriple Alliance is the scarcityof the sourcesand the fact that manyof themare availableonly in Spanishor Portuguese.To obtainthe books listedbelow I suggestthe useof the inter-libraryloan service Scod Hall, G.ove Steet (but be preparedfor a longwaitl). Translaringthen is oftena matterof st king a dealwirh bilingualfriends, or investingin STAB, Southbome, Boumemoulh goodphrase books and dictionariesl Be6ufod Communhy Cem€ Primary Sources Lettersftom the BattlefieldsatPala8xa), Richard Burton. The War in Paruguay, GeorgeThompson. SerenEventfnl Yais in Paragla', Ceorge F. Masterman. Dia a de la Campanade lai fuerzasAliadas conta el Paraguaj, Leonde Palleja. SecondarySources ]:he Riseand Fa of theParugualan Rep blic 1eA0-1870,Iohn Hoyt Williams. TheBritish in Palaguay,P. Iosephine. The Canbidge His rry of Latin Anerba. (Vol:umell). Independenceot Death - The Story of The ParuguayanWar, Charl€sKolinsky. Guefta de Paraguay,Ramon J. Carcano. AGue a da TripliceAliance, L. S€hneider.

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