New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-27
IMPORTANT FROM COSTA RIGA.
TIE TRUE HISTORY OF THE WAR.

TIE TRUE HISTORY OF THE WAR.
Correspondence Of Tho N. Y. Tribune.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica) April +, 1856
You will have heard ere this letter reaches you
that the forces Of Walker have been beaten by the
militia of Costa Rica, and do not doubt that this
will have caused you and every one in the United
States great surprise. ! should be at loss to &C
count for such al event had not been an eye.wit
n..s of what has occurred here in the last few
months; occurrences which have partially over
thrown my former opinion of this people. 1t is
trte saying that there exists no holder man than
timd one, and We have here an instance Of it on
large scale. l certainly felt great approximations
and no small doubts whether the Costa Ricans
would fight, until | one day drought Of inquring
OF the people themselves and found that quite
martial spirit was fast rising among them. Ii 10
common aying here that one Jew is shrewder
than seven Christians and that Costa Rlcsn Is
match for seven Jews This was called to my.mind
as | listened to their reasoning. as they poured
forth their words with violent geslculatiOn aud an
uncomfortable excitement, the subtratum OF which
Was evidently fear rising rapidly into an entnusi-
ssm of despair. They saw clearly that W alker
had Exhausted the means of Nicaragua, and that
his intent was to recruit his forces and his e1che-
aIer in Costa Rica, to follow up his plans in regard
| to Central America, and that they would be the
| victims if once he obtained footing within their
| natural ramparts-the mountains which surround
their valleys. An event also occurred at the time
| that Walker declared war upon Costa Rica. which
| confirmed them in their fears. A letter was in
| tercepted addressed to merchant of unenvable
fame "a Germany in San Jose, advising him IN pre-
pare for Walker, and limiting that when the estates
seized BY the invaders should be sold at auction
be- would have a splendid chance Of buying them at
very low figure.
The coffee crop had been got in--the men were
disposable-the country w.s in danger of invasion,
for Walker had declared war-thelr homes, their
wives and children and their property were threat.
ened-the Government resolved 10 act vigorously
and meet the enemy at al advantage In the noun
tans and forests OF the Guanacaste. This heroic
resolution vas strongly opposed by the Minister OF
War. Carazo, who, among his numerous good
quslities (alas for human mperfectlonsD cannot
boast Of courage, but the Moras (the President
and bis brother the Commander inc hlef were
resolute and the of all the towns and villages
throughOu the country were convened 70 meet one
Sunday morning on the great square oil san JOSE
TWAS beautiful day, such as you can see only
under this latitude during the dry season. |,OOO
men. from all parts of the Republic, were present.
The men of Heredia and Alaj uela, with very few
executions however were absent. They had been
dsarmed in former times, and moved by their re-
sentiment and their old hatred OF San Jose, they
now refused 10 come. From among these ,OOO
men whO were present, the Commander-lnChie
chose 3 600, much to the regret oil the REMAINDER
who we're anxious ~ marcn; but be represented
10 them that they must remain IN order 10 tll Tue
gronpd lest famine should ensue. The Presl-
dent sben addressed those who had been selected,
and. in short but vigorously worded speech, told
them that they going TO hght TOT tDer MONIES
for al that was most desr 10 them-that II was
a mission of life or death-that they would have no
-.
reserve 10 fsll back upOn-fhat they must conquer
ar die The enthusiasm was tremendous. feit'
nevertheless, some apprehension as 70 taeif ui'i
mate success as | took my station on emlnence
10 gee them march out of the city. From their
utter want VI discipline the army resembled more
an armed enthusiastic moo than aught else.
But must not forget % mention avery extra
ordinary circumstance IN connection Win 1.-THE
more extraordinary from the well-fognded aua
welLknown covetOusness Of the Costa hlcih cns-
racter. The army actually refused 70 DC PAM
As 10 the forced loan of 500, 900, u YVES cneer
fnlly paid up one whole fortnight before the exPi
ration of the allotted time.
Now. a. 10 the news from the seat Of var AS
soon as H. B. Ms shlp Of war Presidehl east
anchor in the roadstead of Pun!a Arenas (she
was ordered there by the British GoVerhIhens
| FOR TIE protection OF Bntnn subjects an d
| heir property.) the FIVE hundred men VINO were
in garrison at that point joined the army then III
| fulI march toward the frOaser OF Nicaragua
r,ising its numbers TO three thousand I'VE huhdIea
mon The vanguard met the Wslkerites under
scLe.nger at place named santa E0.a, aaa s tSs
latter were completely routed WIN go n the
Sss sds Of Precedent Nora, which have I'VE
.e.p Of from forty to dity Oet"eea ..,sa a.a
| ~.5eI Nov I have 20 relate az a-lV1'e
:e,-r'"s,snce a b;sh mist 1--WE Character CI sa''
| so.pe.s IN the war yh.eh sAou.d Aa'e Oce" " pOr
aE 's' sv 70 But before res'e /. ! must
r.s, that a: salinas. small fiO0teF post not
g1 S.ts ant from the bay Of that name there 10
slwsys pose Of militia men--'.A men ana cor
al /, would sppear that these unfortunate
nen rad been completely forgotten By the Costa
Rican Marc flee and it wss generally supposed
lat they had, on seeing the enemy Led 70 the
uouutail. The pr-.oners made al Santa Rosa
however, being questioned With reference 70 these
six soldiers AID cop 9ri. related that they aif
o. tie Advance Of >c-.-s.--e.s cOrps, lHsieAd g
| e..s.ag. AZ. a.! 49, II, Q: Wa.As;s asa