The Placer herald., 1856-12-27
Naval engagement between Nicaraguan
and Costa Rican Vessel

Herald, writing from San Juan del Sur, Dec
9th, gives detailed account of an engage
ment from which we make the following ex-
tracts:
1t is the most brilliant little affair that has
come off since the days of John Paul
Jones.
On the seventh day of November, the
army of Costa Rica were encamped outside
of the town, and sent in demand for the
town to surrender, and also for the surren-
der of the schooner Granada; the Lieuten
ant in command, (now Captain Passoux,)
declined to surrender the schooner, but the
town was surrendered without firing shot,"
as this was the condition upon which the
lives and property of the citizens were to be
respected.
The refusal to surrender the schooner
drew from the Commander of the Costa Ri
cans, the expression, that che was sorry for
them, brig Of war was coming which
would take them and cut all their MrOdts."
On the evening of the 23d, the brig was seen
off the harbor, the Costa Ricans having been
in the meantime driven out,) when immedi-
ate preparations were made on the schooner
to attack her. Now came the hour of ex-
citement, the schooner being named by
twenty-three men, the brig as was by one
hundred and thirteen. A gentle breeze was
blowing off the land, just sprung up, as if
heaven were favorable to our cause a slight
cloud had waited round in front of her bow,
out of which slight rain, almost as gentle
as night dew, distilled itself, across which
a Acknowledgement promise-was thrown
one end of whose arch rested upon the Mic
aragua, and the other upon her representative
on the SEAS for by this time the schooner
had made some miles from shore, and as the
tear of excitement stood in the eyes of those
who had the pleasure Of witnessing this phe-
-a@amenon, every one exclaimed 1--WE surely
have guarantee from higher power, and
one that rules mans destinies, that the just
cause should prosper"
The schooner now but line on the water
but the brig, being four times as large, could
be seen looming up quite visible, and as she
approached the brig, a nervous sensation was
visible in the crowd. Friend thought Of
friend and hoped that the grasp Of the hand
now just parted should not be the last grasp
and uttered silent prayer that Providence
would favor the right. The brig now had
her sails clewed up and lay like huge ele-
plant preparing for the spring of tie tiger.
The schooner slowly approached waited by
soft breezes, as if she was entering the safest
harbor, until she approached within four
hundred yards of the brig, when two brass
nine-pounders belched forth their contents as
if to annihlatc their foe, but the thing had
been overdone, and the messengers of death
had passed over the schooner to fall some
distance Oh the other side, there to wait in
the bosom of the deep the coming of all
that then t1oated on that illtated and no
doubt, God accursed vessel. This was the
moment OF intense interest; those who had
never seen a battle naturl y shrunk into the
smallest space; some even lowered their
heads while the missiles sung a death note
over them; but the GOODNESS of the comman-
der brought them to sense of honor, and
they eagerly awaited the word fire. After
some seconds, in which the schooner ap-
preached nearer about one hundred Yards,
the word was given. and the brig received
one six pounderin her water line and anottl-
er through her rigging, doing considerable
execution. Both vessels stood firm, but
who can imagine, or what pen can give you
an idea of the feelings of those who witnessed
the scene some eight miles distant; but hope
sprung immortal in the breast, and every one
sought the highest to get the best view, for
now nj ght was throwing haze over the
scene and the combatants were fast sinking
into darkness, while a constant fire was kept
up from both, the brig having the advantage
in the first hour, in the number of shots fired
while volleys of Minnie muskets were dis
charged from the bulwaks and round-tops
of the brig.
At this moment hope was given by the
fact that the schooner still held her position
to windward of the brig, and as night set
in this was their position when they were
lost to view for some time The wind or
tide had changed, and again they were drawn
in front of the harbor, and still the firing
continued, but the small guns now seemed
to have the advantage Of numbers Of shots, of
say three to two Their position had chang
ed as the wind changed, as the schooner had
gone round the brig several times, shifting
her position to advantage.
They fought this way for perhaps one hour
until o'clock, when great flash was seen,
which threw reflection on the dark clouds
that in the afternoon had held up the divine
promise in so promising a position. All
sunk into darkness save one streak of fire
which run up the mast of the ill-fated vessel
\ X X 4
The hours now were such as we wish nev-
er to pass again, for there were croakers even
there, and the expressions showed the feelings
of each heart. Some said, 'the Captain has
had to leave her, (the schooner,) and has
blown her up" Nov the troops will land
and we are gone" "What will we do now?"
81 am going to get out of this" etc, etc,
while trusty few scanned the horizon to
see ifany boat approached. No boat came.
Thank God no boat came! They did not
have to abandon her, and our spirits again
revived as the hours passed while we watch