Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1856-11-20
battles in Nicaragua.

NuINs llibiii va y ~ AVN |
Orleans on the Pennsylvania, furnishes
the following account Of the battles of
Masaya and Granada, in the latter of
which he took part:-"Gen. Walker was
well advised of the movements of the enc
my, but with his usual caution he kept his
information and plans from the public.
About the LIST of October, the order was
given for the out garrisons nj San Carlos,
Rivas, Tipitapa and Managua, TO concen-
trate on Granada. Shortly afterward the
advanced guard at Massaya was ordered
to fall back upon the capital. 1t at once
became evident that Gen. Walker had de-
termined to draw the enemy on, and
choose his w ground for the battle.
On the evening of the 18th he left
Granada with LOO men for Massaya.
This is a town situated some fifteen miles
from Granada, containing about 5000 in
habitants. Nature has endowed it with
many advantages. 1t has two plazas; in
the centre of the principal one stands a
large church, on either side a few shops.
The houses are principally built of adobe.
1t was here that Gen. Walker had deter
mined to meet the forces of the Allies.
The troops marched nearly all night over
\ a very muddy and slippery road, and be-
. fore the morning of the 18th were before
q the town which was in possession of the
- enemy, who were said to be about 1000
6 strong.
Being advised of the approach of Gen.
4 Walker, they had advanced on the road
from the town with a strong body of
o troops. Either side of the road was lined
:, with high bushes and cactus. At day.
= break, Gen. Walker formed his men in
column, and ordered a charge at once,
- The rush was made, and the enemy broke
and fed before the head of the column
: could reach them. The Americans KEEP
- on and followed the enemy into the town
Of where they were strongly posted in thu
o plazas and streets. After a gallant fight
:, which had lasted all through the day al,
=, evening, Gen. Walker was in position a
;; IL p. NJ, with his howitzers before tn,
main plaza, ready to open upon the enc
my in the morning. The artillery haI
been brought up through the walls of tn
houses, which were cut through for thi
purpose. The troops were ordered 9
this hour to sleep on their arms. The
ea had fought hard, and they slept well.
About half-past -, A. NJ, an expires
gh train from Granada arrived, advisin
Gen. Walker that that city had been a
tackled at noon of the day previous, by
l"' force of nearly l,i00 men. These wer
~ from the hacienda of San Jacinto, an
Try had been joined by bodies of troops frol
D" San Salvador and Guatemala, with a fs
icy Chamorristas. They had advanced upo
Of Granada by a different road from thu
Or leading to Massaya, and had surrounde
u the city, attacking it on all sides. Thel
Id were very few troops, which, with Ii
American citizens left in the city, did n
The amount to over $50 men. These toe
of possession of the ordnance department
ess guard-house, hospital and principal churcl
all on the main plaza, and the ladies toe
of refuge in the house of the America
ne. Minister and some of the foreign Consl
| a lates. This handful of men defended II
The plaza successfully for twenty-five hour
The enemy ransacked every house
lis, search of Americans and money. NJ
~, Lawless, the Rev. Mr.. Wheeler, al
EN- Mr.. Ferguson and son were dragged in
-ge the streets and murdered. Gener
ten Walkers residence was pillaged, and h
of papers scattered over the floor in the wi
last hunt for plumber. About 10, A. NJ, of Il
the 18th, the gallant band in the plaza hi
T; a the first intimation that succor was
la hand in the booming of the howitzers al
the rattle of the musketry, in the attaC
en- of General Walker on the enemy at ia
mr.. teba Church, about ~three-quarters of
of mile Immediately behind the Ordnan,
Department.