The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-04 00:00:00

The Bombardment of Callao.

The American mail has brought detailed intel-
ligence concerning the bombardment of Callao by
the Spanish fleet on May 2. The following infor-
mation is gleaned from the New York papers.
On April 14 the Spanish fleet raised the blockade
of Valparaiso, and sailed from that port. The Ame-
rican squadron, under Commodore Rogers, followed.
On April 25 the ships anchored off Callao. On the
morning of that day the English mail steamer from
Valparaiso reached the port, and bore news that
the hostile fleet was approaching, a few hours only
before the Spanish vessels came to anchor. This
was the first intelligence received in Callao of the
movement. Great alarm was manfested by the
inhabitants until it became plain that the attack
was not to be an immediate one. On the morning
of the 26th of April, Admiral Nunez gave formal
notice to the authorities of Callao of his intention
to attack the city, and that four days would be
allowed for the removal of non-combatants and
foreigners. Great activity was , shown by the
Peruvians in removing private property dur-
ing this interval ; ibut equally strenuous efforts
were made to raise new and to perfect existing for-
tifications, in order that the place, which is fortified,
might be defended to the utmost. Earthworks were
rapidly thrown up, and torpedo boats were prepared
for use if they might be available. The Ist of May
being foggy, the attack was postponed, but on the
2d the shore batteries commenced firing. The
fire was returned by the Spaniards from the
Berenguela, Villa de Madrid, and Blanca, lying
on the northern side of the port ; and the Nu-
maucia, Resolucion, and Alinanza on the south.
The Villa de Madrid and Berenzuela were so badly
damaged early in the fight that they were obliged
to withdraw to San Lorenzo. They were after-
wards followed by the Numancia, and the rest of
the fleet more or less damaged. The fight lasted
till 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Nothing reliable is
known of the exact number of killed and wounded
on either side. Battery No. 3 was blown up. The
Peruvian Secretary of War, Senor Galvez, was in
it at the time, and was thus killed. The wounded
on shore, as fast as they fell, were carried to the
rear, and sent to the hospital at Bellavista. Those
whose friends resided at Lima were sent to them in
the city. It was reported that the Peruvians had
lost 60 killed and about 170 wounded. Nothing is
known as to the loss on board the Spanish fleet, but
injured as their ships were the number of casualties
are probably very heavy. Admiral Nunez is reported
to have received eight wounds and contusions

one on the head is pronounced to be severe. The
American surgeons, who offered theirservices to both
parties alike, were not allowed to see the Spanish
Admiral. One shot that disabled the steam-pipe of
the Villa de Madrid killed 18 men, and wounded 21.
Dr. Peck, of the United States steamer Vanderbilt,
when he went alongside the Villa de Madrid,
counted eight shot holes in her sides. The Blanca
was struck over forty times, and the Almanza and
Berenzuera suffered almost as much. The Resolu-
cion was hit often—possibly as many times as the
others. The ironclad Numancia came off very
well ; but one eight-inch rifled projectile from
battery No. 5 pierced her five-and-a-half inch
iron plating, and went partly through the
wooden backing. She was brought so as to re-
ceive the fire at an angle, hence her plating
caused the shot to glance. The Vencedora
was uninjured. At the conclusion of the engage-
ment the ships: resumed] their old position, and
commenced repairing. The future movements of
the Spanish fleet are not known, but it is presumed
it will return to Spain if possible, The Peruvian
war vessels Huascar and Independencia were ex-
pected at Callao,