New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-05-03
WOMEN AND CHILDREN SLAUGHTERED.

AMERICANS MURDERED.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN SLAUGHTERED.
MINISTER TVHEELER,s PROTEST.
british AcI1YE IN1,ERFERENCE
The United States Mail steamer Isabel, arrived at
Charleston from Havana and Key West, on the 23th.
We gave a brief telegaphic account of the: news
brought by her on Thursday morning. Since then,
Charleston papers Of the 2Sth have been received
giving full details Of the news, The Standard OBJ
tanned copy of Ell Nicayag Of the 10Th, which
presents full accounts Of the recent battles in Central
America, which we copy in condensed form: s
Rout of Santa Rosa.
On the Goth of March, $50 Americans, or men pro-
Tossing that nationality, under command of Col Louis
Schessinger at the hacienda Of Santa Rosa eighteen
miles from Guanacoste, in this republic, met body
of Costa Ricans variously estimated at from 600 to
900 men, and in the course of fifteen minutes re-
ceved terrible defeat All the advantages of time
and place were in our favor but none Of these
saved us from disastrous and disgracefuI rout.-
Every soldier on the ground, Or away, feels as we
have written
We have no official report of the action but from
whawe gather Of those who were there, the rout is
wholly attributable to the commanding officer. ~
Our troops had stopped at the hacienda of Santa
Rosa for dinner, and at the time of the attack were
all engaged in eating. No picket guard was detailed,
nor any other precauon adopted to avoid attack.
Suddenly an alarm was given, and before the confu-
sion in our camp subsided, the enemy poured in a
destructive yolley The troops were thrown into a
mementaly panic, when Col. Schlessinger gave
order. to the German and French companies to fall
back to obtain better position. This command was
misconceived order to retreat and accordingly
arapid flight commenced by these companies. The
Colonel followed as he says to rally the fugitives,
but his movement was continued into a flight, and
soon the rout became general Our troops fed in
every direction, scattering themselves widely over
barren and mountainous country, with the topogra-
ply OF which they were wholly unacquainted Fear
u OF passing along the road, lest they might be cap
tred by scouting parties OF the enemy, they broke
up in small parties, and after fearful journey over
mountains, through thick chapparal without food or
water, the poor fellows arrived at Virgin Bay, III
Struggling parties. worn down with fatigue ragged,
bare foot and almost starved. The dignation Of the
army at the loss of the fight was divided in its SYM
pathy for the unfortunate sufferers loud and ing
nant expression was uttered against the commander
by no other person stronger than by the and Off
GERS who had failed under him. ,
1t is almost impossible to mention the names of
those deserving credit in any battle and more parc-
ulary in to which little credit is due as to the
affair at Santa Rosa But the general voice Of the
army has been so unanimous in honoring one conpa-
ny and certain officers, that we should be shutting
our eyes to the fact if did not designate them.
The old Voili9ers, now commanded by Capt. Rudler,
was the last company to leave the field, and not then
until the day utterly lost The loss by this COM
pany terrible, and the enemy will long have occa-
sion to remember the Volligers. Major O'Neil who
is Justly esteemed the Murat of the army won unan-
nous praise from all the soldiers, not only for his
bravery on the field but for his sympathy to the sf-
ferers afterwards Adigtant Johnson ayorite Off
in garrison is highly spoken of for his endeavors
to restore order and stop the fight Corporal Kelly
OF Company A, was so highly spoken of to the Gen.
eral, that he was promoted to a Captaincy on his
1 return
Battle of 12Avas-Si1 Hundred Costa Rfcans
kuled-American Loss Thirty--TotaI Feout
of the Enemy.
Riyas has again been the field of bloody conflict
On the morning of the 7th, intelligence reached
Grenada that Immediately after the departure of the
American troops from RiTas, force of 1900 or 1000
Costa Rcans entered and took possession of the city
As the information was authentic, there was no time
to be lost on the part of Gen. Walker in making
| ready to repuse the enemy By daylight on the sth
inst, force OF five hundred men, including one hun
dred native troops were on the march from Grenada
to engage the presumptuous invader. Gen. Walker,
IN person. was at the head of the army. The force
under his command encamped the night of the 10th.
within nine miles of Rvas, and in the meantime it
had been ascefaned beyond doubt that the CITY was
held and fortified by 1000 Costa Ricans and Chanorie
| tas. Early on the morning of the l1th the march
was resumed, with the prospect ahead of lively
engagement. Evidently to the surprise of the enemy
the Democratic force, instead of entering the city by
the usual route from Grenada, come in by the road
W.
The troops, without hating, were assigned their
respective POSITIONS and instructed as to appropriate
points of attack. The battalion under command of
Col Sanders was ordered to enter by the street lead
ing along the western side of the Plaza and the east
side was to be charged by the force under command
OF Col. Fry. With a whoop and yell rush was
made for tue Plaza and as the troops were discovered
by the enemy ascending the eminence which concealed
the approach to the city, they were saluted with
volley of musketry, which gave indication of firm
and obstinate resistance On both sides of the
Plaza brisk and incessant firing was kept up BY the
enemy, but the fearless and undaunted forces of the
Democracy charged them with so much rapidity that
in less than five minutes the Americans were in entire
possession OF the Plaza. The Costa Ricans stunning
an open attack precipitately betook themselves to
the barrcades and fotlessed houses and from their
places OF protection and concealment, continued an
unremitting fire. Their cannon, too, with laundering
voice. gave testimony Of the efficiency of the prepara
tions or defence. 10 prevent the destruction that
must inevitably ensue from so fatal an engine of war;
the determination was instantly formed and carried
into execution by Lieut. Col. Sanders, of taking it
from the possession Of the enemy.
The order to charge was given, and the gallant
Colonel, followed by the intrepid soldiers, rushed
needless of peril, into the face Of danger and with
the loss of four men only, succeeded in capturing
that essential point of war. 1t was Immediately
brought and stationed at the northeast corner of the
plaza and placed under the control Of Capt. McCar
die, most excellent and intrepid artilerist The
| ammunition belonging to it was also seized, and
few minutes only elapsed before the weapon was
pouring fatal FIRE upon the Costa Ficans. Enraged
at the loss OF their gun they made several bold at
tempts to reposses it, but its laundering tone rapidly
followed by the deadly discharges of the Mississippi
rifles, intimated their endeavors, and drove them
back to their place Of Concealment In the meantime
fifteen or twenty remen stationed themselves on the
roof of a building, from which they could plainly
discern large body the enemy the back street.
continuous fire was kept up by these gallant fel-
lows and at least q hundred of the enemy fell from
their destructive aim The conflict became too fierce
for the enemy, and 800 of them were discerned max
ing their rapid retreat in the direction of San Juan
del Sur Following the retreat of these, about IL
o'clock, the enemy received reinforcement OF $50
men from Virgin Bay. Capt Waters, of the Rangers,
who held possession Of the tower surmounting the
unfinished cathedral the north side of the Plaza,
| Immediately communicated to Gen. Walker intorlna-
ton of their approach, and body Of men was sent
to protect that portion of the town. In the mean
time, Capt Waters, and his Rangers, from their
venent position opened upon them with their rides,
and did most signal execution.
The temporary cessation ofhostties by the enemy
was discovered to be ruse for the purpose Of Sc
cretly possessing themselves of the building the
northeast corner of the Plaza where, unharmed they
could pour destructive fire upon the American
troops stationed in every direction upon the Plaza.
This strtagem of the enemy was discovered by Lieut..
Gray, and communicated by him to Gen. Walker
| Ten true and fearless men, armed with rifles and
Colts revolVers, were all that required to dis
| -