Page:Letters from the Battle-fields of Paraguay (1870).djvu/389

This page needs to be proofread.

rilateral." 359

as Pasos Benitez, Yasi (of the moon), Tanimbu (of ashes), and Espinillo, so called from a thorny tree. At this latter place the second line sets off to the west with southing, along a lorn a fronted with marshes, which communicate with the Laguna Chichi. The third or outermost line runs south by Paso Mora to the Angulo Redan ; thence, sweeping after a sharp angle to the south-west, it passes almost parallel with the second line by the Estero Rojas, a branch of the northern Bellaco, by the Madame Lynch redoubt, and by the Paso Gomez to the Sauce redoubt, and the Linha Negra, upon which it abuts. Here the anti-fosse was provided with a Tajamar or dam that raised the water one metre, and thus succeeded in destroying some of the Allied ammunition.

To the north-west of Paso Pucu, and apparently six to seven miles distant, we see the monte and orange groves of Tuyu-cue — ^' mud that was.^^^ This position was long occupied by the Brazilians. Further north on the high road to Asuncion, and also buried in monte and orange grove, lies San Solano, an estancia belonging to the state. The extreme left of the Allied camp during the earlier attacks, it lies nearly due east of Humaita, five leagues from Paso Pucii, and seven leagues from El Pilar. Looking towards the south, and about two hours' ride, we descry the Loma and palm forest of Tuyu-ti — a point so long held by the second division of the Brazilians.

From our vantage-ground, which commands a fine view of swamp, grassy plain and tree-mottes, we can easily master the excellent plan of attack proposed by Col. Chodasiewicz. He would have carried with 20,000 men Paso Pucu, the key of the position. At the same time 10,000 were to have marched up from Tuyu-ti after a few hours of bombard-


  • Cue is translated " fue" or " ha sido," " was" or " has been." It enters

into several bastard names of places, as Canipamento-cue.