Context: Tripple Alliance War
At least half those women would've been taken as slaves or trophies by the winning armies
"Fun" fact: Francisco Solano Lopez, who was ruling Paraguay back then, was a narcissistic psychopath and the biggest danger to the population. His secret police would often arrest "disloyal" people and many would end up executed. Churches had to effectively put him up with, if not above, Jesus. Any military officer that dared to tell him his combat plans were shit, or dared not follow his plans, was also at significant risk of being executed.