Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-11-06
From the New Orleans Picayunc.


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From the New Orleans Picayune.
LATER FROM NICARAGUA.
Battles Of Massaya and Granada-Gen.
Waller Victorious, &C., dc.
We have been favored by Capt. R. L..
Williams, of Kentucky, who returned on
the Tennessee from Nicaragua, with the fol-
lowing details of the operations and battles
of Massaya and Granada, in the latter of
which he was participator. Gen. Walker
was we'll advised of the movements of the
enemy, but with his usual caution he kept
his information and plans from the public.
About the lst of October, the order was CIV
en- for the out garrisons at San Carlos, Ri
vas, Tipitapa, and Managua, to concentrate
on Granada. Shortly afterward the advan-
ced guard at NIassaya was ordered to fall
back also upon the capital. 1t at once be-
came evident that General Walker had de-
termined to draw the enemy on, and choose
his own ground for the battle.
On the evening of the 18th he left Gra-
NADIA, with 100 men for Massaya. This is
a town situated some fifteen miles from
Granada, containing about 5000 inhabitants.
Nature has endowed it with many advanta-
ges. It has two plazas, in the centre of the
principal one stands a large church, on either
side few shops. The houses are principal
ly built of adobe. 1t was here that General
Walker had determined to meet the forces
of the Allies. The troops marched nearly
all night over a very muddy and slippery
road, and before the morning of the 18th
were before the town which was in posses
sion of the enemy who were said to be about
1000 strong.
Being advised of the approach of Gen.
Walker, they had advanced on the road from
the town with strong body of troops. Ell
ther side of the road was lined with high
bushes and cactus. At daybreak, Gen.
Walker formed his men in column, and Or
dered charge at once. The rush was made,
and the enemy broke and fled before the
head of the column could reach them. The
Americans kept on and followed the enemy
into the town, where they were strongly
posted in the plazas and streets. After a
gallant fight, which had lasted all through
the day and evening, Gen. Walker was in
position at II P. NJ, with his howitzers be-
fore the main plaza, ready to open upon the
enemy in the morning. The artillery had
been brought up through the walls of the
houses, which were cut through for that
purpose. The troops were ordered at this
hour to sleep on their arms. They had
fought hard, and they slep well.
About half-past y, A. NJ, an express
from Granada, arrived, advising Gen. Wal
ker that that city had been attacked at noon
of the day before, by a force of nearly ], 400
men. These we're from the hacienda Of San
Jacinto, and had been joined by bodies of
troops from San Salvador and Guatemala,
with few Chamorristas. They had advan-
ced upon Granada by different road from
that leading to Massaya, and had surroun-
ded the city, attacking it on all sides. There
we're very few troops, which, with the Amer
lean citizens left in the city, did not amount
to over $50 men. These took possession of
the ordinance department, guard house,
hospital and principal church, all on the
main plaza, and the ladies took refuge in the
house of the American Minister and some Of
the foreign Consulates. This handful of
men defended the plaza successfully for
twenty-five hours.
The enemy ransacked every house in
search of Americans and money. Mr.. Law
less, the Rev. Mr.. Wheeler, and Mr.. Fer
gusson and son were dragged into the streets
and murdered. Gen. Walkers residence
was pillaged and his papers scattered over
the floor in the wild hunt for plunder. A
bout 10 A. NJ, of the 18th, the gallant band
in the plaza had the first intimation that
succor was at hand in the booming of the
howitzers and the rattle of the musketry in
the attack of Gen. Walker on the enemy at
Jalteba Church, about three quarters of a
mile Immediately behind the Ordinance
Department.
Immediately on receiving the news broug ght
to Massaya by the express, Gen. Walker
evacuated that town with all his troops and
commenced forced march for Granada
At TO- A. NJ. he attacked the enemy, who
were posted in force on the height of the
Jalteba Church, and charging at once, cap
tured two field pieces and drove them, at the
point of the bayonet, into and through the
CITY, The rout commenced almost without
seconds struggle, and the enemy disper-
sed in every direction. But on all sides
they were met by parties that Gen. Walker
had ordered to make detour round the city,
and their dispersion was complete.
1t was estimated that about 400 of the
allies were killed at Massaya, and an equal
number at Granada. Nearly every house on
the evening of the 18th, when our informant
left, was filed with their wounded The