Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-04-29


Of che itrle band, the master mod that plans and
the s,sIwOrth arm that executes Before him OBJ
ssces recede. His motto j. "Nulla vestigia retrorr
SUM- aid ~ long a. his banner haunts in the
breeze, disease may waste his ranks and treason
thin bis liues, but never will his cause be wholly
lost
The following is the account above aI!aded to:
IN account Of the expedition 10 Costa Rica, By
one Of the Officers aOho took part in the En-
terprise.
On the 9th day of February last, one hundred
and seventy emigrants left New Orleans under the
supervision Of Captain Thorpe, with a view of try
ing their fortunes ia Central America" They ar
rived in Granada without death accident. After
being in that city about three DAYS the between
Nicaragua and Costa Rica declared, and
p-di'ion ordered against Costa Rica under command
Of Col"' 81 Sc lessi ger This expedition was COM
posed Of The 10 from New Orleans, one company
from New York, and escort Of one of the old
companies, making in all about two hu4dred and
eighty troops.
The expedition proceeded on their march in good
hope OF SUCCESS but il was generally conceded in
lev days that the Colonel in command was not skin
ei IN hi undertaking The marches were badly
conducted-our movements being cost frequently
IN the heat of the day and our encampments someS
lessness observable at almost nv halt as well
upon the march, apparently inviting attack
from the enemy and a massacre Of the Americans
before sufficient alarm could be given. In proof of
the fact, when but few days march from where
the enemy was met upon the occasion of one Of the
few night marches, IL was found that the ordnance
train, consisting Of fifteen to twenty animals, was
lost from the main body of the troop Again upon
another occasion Of an evening march, when we had
IL -. I'LL 81. II
enemy, with view of surprising them by a night
attack when we had arrived at our destinaton-an
alarm was given by the Piquets, and the enemy was
said 10 ~ in strong numbers within a few wards Of
us. ia ambush. Oar battalion was drawn up in re-
gular line Of battle but soon we learned the alarm
false at about which time il recollected that
the ordnance train bad been left behind mile or
morr, entirely unprotected. This condition of things
continued throughout the march, until our arrival
at the ranch OF Santa Rosa, where everything wore
the appearance Of careessness too inviting 10 an ar
nv 10 toe passed by unimproved for about 3 o'clock
the day after our battalion arrived at this point our
csmD was surprised by attack in open dav, of
the enemv, who had 80 well improved their chances
from want of proper piauets as 70 approach on
81 h. to within fifty yards Of the Coloners head.
quarters ard The ordnance department On this side
the enrmy was protected by an ambush When the
alarm given, Captain Thorpe's and Creighton's
where the ordnance was stationed and the worthy
Colonel bad his quarters Upon their arrival IN the
yard, aud while forming their companies, the enc
my opened their fire from ambush. In the midst
of the confusion, the two companies above mention
ed formed. and for some time nobly contended with
the anemy The fight had not progressed however
longer than from seven to ten minutes, when the
If light Colonel ordered bis favorite company by
his side and in another moment was.seen with them,
the French and German commands haot;py a bagtv
retreat. Every efortwas made on the part of Mai.
ONeil, Capt Thorpe, and Adjutant johnson and
others 10 arrest the cowardV and shameful retreat
but all it in vain. Terror had got hold of the
psnic stricken Colonel, and with unsheathed sword
be bore onward, when the retreat became general
The New Orleans company, under command Of
Captain Thorpe, did their du'y well and braveIv as
g rumber ofthe killed, wounded and missing will
prve. The New York company, commanded by
Captain Creighton, and the Nicaraguans, command.
ed by Captain Ruddler, also acquitted Themselves
wrn But the French and Dutch we're the first to
follow the Colonel, who began the retreat.
Amongst those who fell during the action was one
Of New Orleans noblest sons-Peter Grayson-who
was found in the performance Of his duty, and
whose loss excited an immense sorrow which will
continue with his brother ia arms who have surviv-
ed
The march in retreat was for upwards of seven
DAYS through trackless woods, over rugged noun.
tRins across rivers, and with but a single meal for
six days. The return Of the troops 10 Virgin Bay,
presented sight seldom seen--of men with bleed
ing feet half-naked forms AMI halfstaryed stlm-
achs. None could view them without their utmost
sysmpsthies being aroused.
Schlessnger Oh trial before a court martial
under charge Of cowardice, negligence, &c, and so
far as the evidence had progressed il sufficient
10 convict him. Up 10 last accounts the trial was
still progressing and was believed by many that he
would be shot for cowardce
General Walker afterwards assumed comm md IN
person, aud had started to the department Of uana
Casts in Costa Rica with 100 men, with the deter
minatiOn TO attack the enemy on sight
General Walker was not discouraged, and the
health OF the army remained remarkably good Ora
NADIA and Leon were still garr oaed by troops, and
the passage up and down the river and lake remau-
ed uninterrupted.