The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-08-02
Central America-Battle Of Rivas-Defeat Of Col
Walker and lis Party

Tie San Francisco Chronicle of June 30th
publishes the following letter, giving a more
detailed account than we have heretofore seen
of the defeat of Col. VIM. WALKER and his
party at Rivas:
Colonel Walker aud his party, (ifty-six in all
arrived at Ralejo the l4th of June, started from
there TO Chinandega, and we're sent by the demo
cratic President, Francixo Castillon, residing and
governing in Leon, TO take this department, and q
force Of about 100 Central American troops were
given TO them as assistance, under the command
of Colonel Mendez and Felix Ramirez, both noto-
rious characters OF the revolutionary army. They
arrived on the 2sth at small port on the Pacific,
about leagues from this place. and about ten
leagues north of San Juan del Sur.
The government had received news of their
movements through their spies, and preparations
were made to receive them at San Juan del Sur
The two vessels that landed fllibuster and demo-
cratic troops passed San Juan del Sur sailing to-
wards Sailing Bay, aud so directed the attention OF
the government officers 60 the south.
Meanwhile, they (Walkers partly had landed,
and marched the same afternoon against Rivas. A
small outpost was taken by surprise, but some
of the government soldiers there escaped, they
hurried up 10 Rivas, and every thing was prepared
10 receive them. A courier was despatched imme-
diately to San Juan del Sur, ordering the troops
stationed there TO concentrate their force at Rivas
From all the small villages people ran into Rivas,
presenting themselves to take up arms against the
Yankees and flibusters," as many Of them called
them. ,..
1t was a sad mistake to believe that the people
there would join the fllibusters On the con-
trary, men of the democratic party fought against
the representatives OF their own party, and in fact,
the hibusters have done more harm 10 the Provis-
ionsry Government than good
There is no doubt Walker and bis party were de-
ceived IN the grossest manner They we're told
that 1000 men would Immediately join them, and
instead OF resistance that they would find rejoicing
at their arrival Ii was not So
They arrived at Rivas, altogether in number,
about 500 men, at o'clock, where they met some
OF the avant guard of the government and the fight
ing began, the government troops drawing back to-
wards the Plaza. Chances seemed TO bear rather
equal, when the reinforcement from San Juan del
Sur arrived, attacking Walkers party in the rear
The democrats showed very little, or no Eight. and
ran away, headed by their officers, in groups of
twenty and thirty, abandoning Walkers party, who
had meanwhile taken possession of a house belong
ing to the pioneer OF the party, rich planter, Don
Maxine Epinosa, where they sustained themselves
pretty well, firing with their rifles through holes
made in the adobe walls, and entirely safe them
selves from the musket balls, behind them.
After the Nicaragua revolutionary troops had
abandoned them, the house was surrounded by all
the government troops, about three hundred in
number, aud the firing continued for about two
hours doing little harm TO the hllibusters while al
most every rife ball hit its man.
At last party of young men, principally Of the
first families and all volunteers, stormed the front
door, when others from the other side set Ere to
the house aud took il, loOsieg Of course, compare
lively to their number, many. 49,.
Col Walkeris Marty had n hreak thrOnph them
and fed into neighboring cacao estate, Wherelrom
they took their route toward the Transit.
Being night and only limited number Of troops
TO follow them, they. had chance 20 sleep that
night, and leave next afternoon for San Juan del
Sur, where they took a schooner by force. burned
the cartel OF the government down, and left for
atTTas iRcogRitia
This e the end Of the great annexation project
OF Vol. walker, ex.President OF Sonora. It was
uhoeeoi great toOlshnees-more eraziness than
any th'ng else-to believe that force OF fty.six
men could take country. as vesk a. !, rrigb, hs
and is, and keep il. Those men must either have
been the most desperate characters, or they have
been oeceived-inost probably both
The government party lost about thirty men
dead, aDd about the same number wounded Thir.
teen Americans were killed, and Their bodies
burued.
il sas fret believed that Col. Walker was Killed.
a. many papers Of great interest were found on
The body Of one Of them; the original consrac.
between Byron Cole and the prorisi0nAAy govern.
ment, With all the necessary stamps and seals for
s., 900 acres Of land; the power Of attorney given
by Cole 20 Col. Walker 70 execute said grsnts;
various letters written by Cole 20 Col. Walker,
speaking about the most eligible lands. public aud
private property; the certificates Of shares In the
company, of which Walker was the agent
The expedition must have been fitted out rather