Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-11-20

ndnOI6u dDQ b6Ncuty ydIues 70 upper clAdk OuG
the one which Gen. Walker now held in posses
sion--is about eight hundred yards There eight
blocks of buildings between it and the large plaza
The blocks are about one hundred yards square,
and are surrounded, for the most part, by thick
adobe walls
All the streets so far as could be ascertained at
their juncture with the large plaza strong ely
barricaded The principal one-that leading from
the church we so brayely won ia the mornipg-was
defended by at least one cannon. In the afternoon
when our men got so that they could see bebiHd
it, they said there were three. We have no
non, and had only in the shape Of heavy ordinance
two mountain howitzers
After the men had eaten breakfast, the sappers
and miners we're SET at work ncutting through the
walls, so as to allow approach Of our howitzers
towards the central plaza. Thus by cutting through
the middle Of block, the cannon of the enemy
were rendered entirely useless, whereas we were
enabled to throw our shells into their midst in pers
feet security.
While one portion of the sappers and miners
were cutting a road through the block-which was
in a straight line with and between the two church
es-for the howitzers, and the First Rife Battalion
which accompanied it, another detachment of them
were engaged in opening way through the build
ings and yards on the opposite side OF the street.
for the advance of the Infantry. When all things
were ready the Rifles advanced in the Way assigns
ed them, and the Second Light Infantry assumed
the offensive across the street Both worked their
way steadily forward, driving the enemy from house
to house, from block to block neither at any time
losing an inch OF ground they had gained. Col. E.
]. Sanders, and Lieut.. Col. Samuel Ashton, led on
and directed their men with the utmost GOODNESS
and judgment.
The voice Of Sanders could be heard sharper than
the whistle of Minnie, and ouder than the report
of its discharge The Second Light Infantry, unr
der the direction OF Lieut.. Col. Mcintosh and Major
Deusenbury, showed unexceed bravery. They
did not permit the Rifles to progress faster than
they did, and 10 one instance the company COM
manded by Capt. Dreux was one whole block in
advance. This Captain and his company fought so
fearlessly and SO bravely. that he was more than
once surrounded by the enemy, and would not a
bandon bis advanced position until the General
bad issued positive orders for him to withdraw.
The First Rifles, having the charge of the how,
itzers and travelling in the most direct route were
watched by the lockers on, with great interest
As the howitzer, commanded by Captain Swartz,
threw a shell into the enemy's ranks, they rushed
in and took possession. They thus fought all day.
The enemy were lying dead in all directions, but,
wonderful TO relate, we lost only two men, and one
of these we're killed by being so close to the
my that the bursting ofone of our own bombs took
effect upon him.
Capts McChesney and Stith, with their compa
MES, got at one time so far in advance that they
were in danger of being hit by shots from the
men OF their own battalion, while shooting at the
enemy.
There were only about 459 men advancing, as
already described, toward the enemy, the remain
der Of our force formed reserve under Brig. Gen.
Hornsby, and remained, for the most part during
the day, the position first gained in the morn.
ing to protect the rear. Gen Hornsby, from bis
GOODNESS aud promptness on the field, seems to US
a model officer.
The enemy had roads cut through the woods
and fields around Massaya, and tried several times
during the day to surround US, but they were in
variaby driven back with loss
Once during the afternoon large body of Ian
GERS attacked detachment ofour Rangers. They
defended themselves braVely until portion of the
Second Rifles under Major Caycee, came to their
aid, and repulsed the assailants with considerable
loss. This same Major Caycee, who possesses as
much bravery as there is any occasion for, has
from his long acquaintance with the habits of those
people, as good IDEA Of their mode of warfare as
any field officer in Central America.
About four o'clock in the afternoon the First
Rifles had reached the houses on the Plaza. Both
them and the Infantry were anxious to charge the
enemy in the large plaza, but this would not be
permitted by General Walker. They could do it
in the morning with much less loss.
Before night Gen. Walker had taken up quarters
about midway between the churches. His staff
were armed with Sharpes carbnes, and did good
execution during the day in picking off some of
the enemy. Among those who distinguished them
selves good shots were Col. Kewen and Lieut.
Col Frank Anderson.
Nearly all we fought against, except the Allies,
were men who had been forced into the fight. The
Rangers say their officers, several times during the
day, beat them from behind cactus fences with their
swords, and thus compelled them to fire upon the
Americans.
About four o'clock in the afternoon the enemy
rang bells and gave other demonstrations ofhaving
been reinforced. Night came The Americans
we're on the edge Of the large plaza. The firing
gradually essened, and at about ten o'clock it had
almost entirely ceased. At this time, in addition
to our killed, we had fifteen men disabled by
wounds. The enemy had killed on their side to
our knowledge about one hundred men.
As soon as night came, they began to desert in
large numbers. About midnight Gen Walker re-
ceived intelligence that large body of the enemy
were moving out Of Massaya toward Granada. At
o'clock on tie morning of the 18th, the American
soldiers started In pursuit. But they were not
overtaken until they had reached the Jalteba
Church in Granada.
Ii appears that as soon as Gen. Beloso a San
SalvadoFian, who is commander~in chief OF the Ais
lies, heard Of Gen. Walkers approach, he dispatch
ed by different road about six hundred men to
attack Granada. He must have been under the
impression that the capitol had been left VIII oily
unprotected, and that it would fall easily into his
hands.
They arrived about one o'clock, on the afternoon
of the 18th, and entered the city by two parts.
They attempted to get into tina plaza, but were re.
pulsed with considerable loss. They thea got into
houses and began to cut their way into the centre
Of the city.
There were only about one hundred and fifty
Americans in Granada, including the sick in the
hospital, and these, under Brig General Fry, held
the city and fought against this great odds for
tW enty-One hours
Many of the women and children were placed for
safety IN the large parochiAl church, and a few
sought the protection Of the house of the Amer
can Minister But the American flag was no pro
lection. Brave men and Mississippi rifles were all
that saved them The American Minister himself
at the time laborng under a serious illness; and
il not for the vaor Of his counirymen who
would not see the stripes and stars defled or dis
honOred, he like other American citizens, would
have been dragged from his bed and inhumAnly
butchered.
There were unfortunately, some merchants and
missionaries here who refused TO take up arms, sup
posing that the flag of their country would afford
them protection, but when the enemy found they
could not enter the plaza, they wentaround to the
houses Of those persons and murdered them 10 a
shocking manner
Among those who thus lost their lives was Mr..
Wheeler who had been sent here to distribute BIZ
bles by the Bible Society Of New York, the Rev.
Mr.. Ferguson and Mr.. Lawless, who had been
merchant here for some years.
They broke into the houses Of citizens who re-
sided beyond the protection OF the guns, killed
every person they saw who had a white face, aud
destroyed all the property they could. Twice they
attempted to Gre the houses, bat did not succeed.
About s in the morning OF the 18Th, the anniver.
sary OF the day on which be frat took Granada -
Gen. Walker and his force were within gunshot OF