The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-03-10
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Monday Mornins, March 10, 1856.
A vrRGINIAN IN NICARACU,
RICHES AND CHARMS OF aArAaAIpA.
GRaNAD. Ian 10,b 1896

The following extracts are from letter from a
Vrsinian. who now holds a high rank In the army
Nicaragua: ---afsE EQ5t-et
GRANADA, Jan. 10th 1856
The prospects of the new government here I
mink, are improving every day. We have now
an American force, amply sufficient to maintain
the government of this Republic: and there is
every reason to believe that in two or three months
We viii have an army sufficiently large. and well
appointed, to make certain the future of Cantral
America. That this movement win produce vast
results In the destiny of North America there can
now be no doubt. For few months men NAV at
tempt to throw odum and ridlcule upon us But
men OF iron nerve, have enlisted for life in the
great cause Of the regeneration of Spanish Amer.
ica; and nothing can make them waver from their
purpose, until the end is accomplished.
Gen. Walker is one of the ablest and purest men
of the age; man of untlemished morals; of
COOL determined courage; of unusual attainments
and wonderful steadiness of purpose. From want
OF experience he is somewhat deficient IN military
knowledge; but has all the great qualities of a
leader. All persons who see him now for the first
time, are surprised They expect to see ferce
military looking man; on the contrary, he is an
Indifferent looking little man but has large in
teligent grey eye. He talks very little, but al
ways to the point has quiet, deliberate manner
of saying everything, and never, under any cir
cumstances, mantests any excitement lie seems
to have mastered all the emotions which usually
control men, and to move coldly and sternly on to
wards the goal he has III view. Altogether, he is
the most remarkable man have ever known -
The people of this country are inferior to us ip
morals, in intelligence, and in enterprise But
as class, they have some good qualities and their
faults are to great extent owing to bad govern.
ment With proper management, and sufficient
infusion of American enterprise there il telling
how tar they may be improved IS
1t will be unnecessary for Inc 10 enter into any
description of the City of Granada as ---s print
Ell letter, with my own, contain all could say
the subject. ] am at present living with mess
LaII dozen officers. q tla fima.
hoLored houses, SO common here. My room is
large enough for all my purpoaes, about % by 80
feet. We have good AMcrica1 cook, aud some
three or IOur other servants, native boys, who
wait Oh the table, take care Of hcgses, &c This
will be the depot, where all the Iuw recruits for
the army will be received, aud prepared for other
points BY au order, published ills morning, the
rules and regulations OF tue L. 5. Army have been
adopted for the American force here and much more
strict discipline will be exacted tLan heretofore
This morning received an order 10 go down and
take charge Of the Transit line. Ny Headquarters
will be at Virgin Bay.
VIRGIN BAY, Jan. 18th.
Night. before last embarked on the steamer at
Granada, with thirty men, having sent off a detach
ment, with the horses, which expect tomorrow,
arrived here yesterday morning, rented house
to be used a barracks, and established head
quarters here for the present
The village here is quite thriving one; the
houses are mostly frame, and the population mix
ture of Americans and natives. 1t is the head
quarters of the Transit Company. They are
building extensive wharf, (aready extended
eight hundred feet into the lake,) on which there
3 number of workmen employed. This evil
dence Of progress is really refreshing after being
IN the towns up the country, which have been 60
ing to ruin, for the last century The command of
this lns is considered the most important post In
the service This place is considered the heal
thy, and agreeable, in the country. The distance
from here to San Juan del Sur, is twelve miles
the road q very fine one, made by the company.
think when the advantages of this country be-
come known, with the fact that there is good
government here, there will be very large i'm
migration from the Southern States. Sugar can
becultivated to 30 much greater advantage, than
ia Louisiana, that it will present great induce
ments to the planters there.
The country will fill up rapidly with Americans,
and will certainly, be of the most agreeable in
the world, to live in. l wish you could see this
splendid lake. The view from this place is one of
the finest know any where. About twelve
miles distant, is the Island of Ometepee, from the
middle of which, is a grand conical mountain,
rising to an elevation of several thousand feet
The Island is about twenty miles long, and ten or
twelve wide The soil is said TO be wonderfully
rich; and there you can have almost any climate
you wish, by ascending the sides of the mountain
1t is now inhabited almost entirely by Indians
MATAGALPA, December, 1855
Matagapa is situated about l30 miles northeast
of Granada, near the head of the Metapa river
This portion of the country is very mountainous,
but exceedingly rich and beautiful the climate
surpasses in excellence any 1 ever saw. 1t is
never too cold or too warm, and everything fresh
and green all the year. 1t is but little improved
but, in Time will be very delightful country to
live in. The mountains are full Of gold and silver;
and in the vaes, sugar, coffee, corn, cotton, and
indeed almost everyt thing grow in great perfection
Even the Indians, with their imperfect eonve-
niences, make considerable quantity of sugar
Fruit grows In great abundance. The village of
Matagalpa is almost surrounded by an orange
grove loaded with fruit.