The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-08
THE BATTLE OF SANTA ROSA wALKEns
DOINGs AND PROSPECTS.

months, the Republic of Gen. Walker appes,rs
in bad way. To obtain empire in Cent sal
America is easy, to preserve it is quite anot er
thing, If we may judge by the reports wb CHI
reached US by the last steamer First we b. I've
the confirmation of Schlessinger's defeat at the
hacienda of Santa Rosa This redoubts BILE
Hungarian adventurer, on the 18th of Ma, CHI,
left Virgin Bay, at the head of 2O7 men, G, I'M
posed of French, Germans, and Americans, to
invade Costa Rica, hoping soon to enjoy the
spois of its rich capital, San Jose The irst
days march was twelve miles, bringing IL EN-
to San Juan del Sur, the principal Pacific 1 ort
of Nicaragua. From San Juan the march vas
continued, by short but by no means easy
stages of about fourteen miles day, through
a rough and billy country of tropical forests,
the troops trailing through the narrow foot
paths in Indian file, and suffering much from
the rocky nature of the ground, which soon
wore away their shoes.
A tedious tramp under the burning sun, be-
tween the hours of ten and four, was not cal
culated to lessen the jeaousies naturally arising
among ill-assorted, raw recruits of such diverse
nationalities. This want of harmony was fully
developed when, on the 10th, the company
reached the scene of the disastrous encounter,
the hacienda of Santa Rosa, in Costa Rica where
they encamped. 1t was a spacious, strongly
built, old Spanish house, situated on a rise,
about ten feet from the road, surrounded on
three sides by stone wall of solid mason work,
four or five feet high, and, in the rear, protect
ed by a tangled mountain side, rendering at
tack from that quarter impossible. The whole
| building, we are told, was strong enough to
withstand for some time the assaults of the
small artillery of the country.
The company, however, were poorly supplied
with arms, and, such as they had, were hardly
worth using. Most of them had been loaded a
week, and none had been discharged except to
kill a few beef cattle needed on the way for
food, a fact which does small credit to flibus+
ter discipline. Accordingly, when on the after
noon. Of the 10th, one of the men on guard
saw body of Costa Rican troops, of twice their
number, approaching, his musket would not
60 of, and no alarm could be given till the en-
envy were fairly upon them. Then was the time
for Schlessnger to exhibit those prodigies of
valor which have immortalized his compatriots
on the plains of Hungary. Twas then this
Marlborough mighty soul was proved"
What did he do? Let it be recorded for all
time in the annals of flibustering herosm !:
His cheeks turned pale, his knees smote to
gether, it seemed impossible for him to com.
pose himself sufficiently to give the simplest
order, so that the subordinates were compelled
to act for themselves. (
Meantime, the enemy were below, with three
small feld-pieces, deploying with the GOODNESS
and precision of veterans while their preliml
nary voley of bullets whistled melancholy
story in the ears of the invaders. Schlessinger
here rose to the greatness of the occasion.
Peeping apprehensively round the corner Of
the house, he exclaimed, "There they are
poys, there they are!" and then falling back,
and shouting COmpagnie Francaise!" ran
off into the mountains as fast as his legs coula
carry him. The Dutch legion, whose courage
is so prOverbial, throwing away their guns
followed and, after a few Intellectual shots, the
New York and New Orleans companies also
| took to their heels. Driven from their position,
| they fled in all directions, and, after undergo
ing sufferings from hunger, thirst, weary jour
| neys through swamps and almost impossible
| forests, the heroes, in small detachments
reached Nicaragua, with a loss of forty three,
nineteen of whom had been captured and sum
marily executed by the Government of Costa
Rica.
Such was the celebrated engagement Of
Santa Rosa. AS an invader, Walker Appeals
to have decidedly damaged his prestige. The
next battle will indicate his ability to withstand
invasion by others. We need not dilate upon
this achievement, as lengthy recital of it hes
been copied into our journals from Et Nicarts-
guense, General Walkers organ, which dwells
with something of Homeric spirit and exaggs
ration on the exploits of Walker and his men
during the seventeen successive hours which
are stated as the period of the bloody contest,
| 1t seems that the Costa Ricans wished 10
take their turn at invasion, and on the 7th 5f
April took possession of Rivas, one of Walkers
strongholds, with 1000 men. On the lIth,
Walker tried in vain to regain it, and ret:se1
after killing, we are told by his organ, 600
Costa Ricans, his own loss being about aun-
| dred. The Costa Ricans also occupied, at the
last accounts, the Nicaraguan town of ViSgin
Bay, on Lake Nicaragua, thereby blocking up
the route of our California travel, and inte>fer
ing with the arrival of Walkers supplies from
the United States. This battle of Rivss is
claimed by Walker as victory, but if it be SO,
we can only say we never heard it called py
that name before.
| The great flibuster is clearly in dismal
straits. A powerful enemy holds portioa of
his territory; he is menaced by the hostility of
| France and England, none the less effe$tual
because manifested in an underhand way, aid
his life and safety are rendered insecure by the
discomfort of his own unpaid soldiers, who
chafe under the most CALLING of military des-
potisms. He has set himself up as a small
Napoleon-a man of destiny, whose will must
override everything; but such character esn.
not be played successfully with men who have
enjoyed the liberty Of the United States.
1t is, doubtless, consciousness of his pre
carious condition that has induced his recent
| appeal to this Government, through letter to
his friend, Senator Weller, dated April 18th,
just after, be it observed, his repulse from Rivas
He there manifests, as plainly as words can
manifest distrust of his ability to sustain him
sell, by invoking our aid in behalf of American
citizens who were executed by Costa RIGA for
invading her territories. On Thursday, May
LIST, this letter was read to the Senate by Mr.
oil L. l.