The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-05-07
Walkers Position in Central
America.

America.
1t seems almost impossible to get a
the truth relative to affairs connected
with Walkers movements. The scene
of action now lies on the Pacific side O.
Lake Nicaragua. Although the fore,
Opposing Walker is spoken of as Costs
tRicans, the seat of Walkers late coutest
is in Nicaragua, which lies north of Cos
ia RIGA proper.
A correspondent of the New York TSi
6une gives an account of the late battle.
as follows:
On the 18th of April the Costa Ri.
cans army made an attack upon the eli.
ty Of Rivas with a force of from 1900
to 1000 men. It was supposed by them
that Walker had gone a long distance
into their territory, and supposed in his
absence the capital would fall an easy
prey to their force; but they had scarce
ly begun their operations, when Walk
ers army were seen approaching to the
number of about 700 men. With his
usual promptitude he lost no time in
commencing the attack. The conflict
was fierce and bloody. The Costa Ri
cans disputed every inch; but the Amer
leans broke through their barbados,
and with great slaughter drove them
from their defenses. The Costa Ricans
had with them a heavy piece of ord
nance, to obtain which the Americans
made a desperate attack, and succeeded.
The Costa Ricans made two or three
very courageous efforts to recover their
lost arm finding this impracticable, a
body of three hundred of them was OBJ
served to fall back. This was construed
by Walkers officers into a retreat, and
their efforts they were put
to a total route. Almost simultaneous
ly with this about two hundred and ff-
ty fresh Costo Ricans were observed to
approach the scene of conflict. They
were promptly met by the Americans,
now flushed with the prospects of a com
plete and brilliant victory, and after a
terrible struggle they were routed with
much loss.
Walker could not have had in the
field a force exceeding six or seven hun
dred men. He acted during the entire
action with the greatest coolness-ex-
hibiting no fears as to the result. The
events justified his anticipations. Six
hundred Costa Ricans were killed, while
the Americans had only thirty killed
and an equal number wounded.
Since the beginning of the war it
has been known that the Costa Ricans
have fought with Minnie Rifles, furnish
ed by the British Government, aid ma
nv English and Germans are said to be
Sighting on their side. A regiment of
native soldiers ur der Walker fought
obstinate bravery-thus again prov
their adherence TO his cause
In the States of San Salvador, Hon
duras and Guatemala, the troops which
were supposed to have been raised TO
Walker, are being disbanded, and
Costa RIGA is now the only State which
avows any hostile intention toward
Walkers Government.
The above makes it out that Walker
Won a great battle, and that he has vir-
tually conquered a peace.
A correspondent of the New York
represents that Walker with his
'orces left his head quarters, Rivas-
which is on the Pacific side of Lake Mic
Iragua-for the pretended purpose of
invading Costa RIGA, via San Juan Riv-
but after proceeding down said river
o Castillo, despatched a small force to
axe possession of Greytown at its mouth,
nd turned about with his main force
nd came back to RiVas just in time to
ee it indiscriminately fred upon by the
nemy. The latter says:
Thus easily have the Costa Ricas +
a basis of operation on the most ap- i
roVed military science, and a line off
communication, at the same time
uts off all hope of relief or retreat OH
be part of the foe.
In order to recover from the results of :
his great error, with the blindness of a
he falls into an error even great
When he Saw the burning of the new
Ter at Virgin Bay, and was informed of ;
be murder of the peaceable citizens, by $
ne who had m~iraculously escaped, he E
his course to Granada, a dis ]
# ifty-fve miles; and disembark- !
lg his men, commenced a march on Ri I
as with six hundred men. t
These ffty-ive miles we're accomplish c
d at 8 O'Clock on the morning of the /
18th, and, without even hating, the or
er to attack was given; while the enc :
~ were drawn up on the Plaza to re- !
Give them. It is true the Americans t
btavely for near twelve hours, I
ut, as might be expected under such t
circumstances, the highest glory they :
ould achieve was to prolong the fight :
II the darkness would cover their re- 5
and they once more returned to h
Iranada, leaving $50 of their comrades !
i their dying agonies. to be committed {
the earth by their enemies. l