Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-11-05
THE TWO BATTLES IN CENTRAL
EAMEKICA.
HIGHLY INTERESTING DETAILS


The New Orleans Picayune brings us some de-
tails of the two engagements in Nicaragua, which
resulted in victories to the forces under General
WALKER over the combined troops of Lis enemies.
Capt. WILLIAMS. of Kentucky, who was in one of
the battlesthas of Granada--furnishes the Piea.al
yune with the following: f-ee,sxr
About the lst of October the order was given
for thu ont garrisons at San Osrlos, Riyas, Tipl-
tapa, and Managua, to concentrate on Granada. |
Shortly sfterward the advanced guard at Mssaya |
was ordered to fall back also upon the capital. It
at once became evident that Gen. Walker had de- |
termned 10 draw the enemy on, and choose bis |
own ground for the battle.
/ On the evening of the 18th he left Granada |
/, l00men for Massaya. Tbs is town situated |
some fifteen miles from Granada containing about
eight thousand inhabitants. Nature has endowed
it with many advantages. 1t has two plazas in
the centre of the principal one stands q large
church, on either side few shops. The houses
are principally built OF adobe. 1t was here that
General Walker had determined to meet the forces
of the allies. The troops msr3hed nearly all night
over very muddy and slippery road, and before
the morning of the 18th were before the town,
which was in possession of the enemy who were
said to be about 4 900 strong.
Being advsed of the approach CT Gen. Walker
they had advanced on the road from the town
with strong body of troops. Either eide of the
road was lined with high bushes and cactus. At
daybreak Gen. Walker formed his men in column
| and ordered charge at once. The rush was made
and the enemy broke and fed 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 pazas and
streets. After gallant fight, which had lasted all
through the day and evening, Gen. Walker was in
position, at eleven P. NJ, with his howitze
before the main plaza, ready to open upon the ene-
my. in the morning The artillery had been brought
up through the walls Of the houses, which were
cut through for that purpose. Tne troops were
ordered at this hour, to sleep on their arms. They
had fought hard, and they slept well.
About half.psst II, AN, an express from Ora
nada arrived, advising Gen. Walker that that city
had been attacked at noon Of the day before by q
force of nearly 400 men. These were from the
hacienda of San Jscinto, and had been joined by
bodies of troops from Salvador and Guatemala,
with few Chamorristas. They had advanced
upon Granada by different road from that lead
ing to Masssya, and had surrounded the city at
lacking it on all sides. There were very few
troops, which with the American citizens left in
the city, did not amount to over $50 men. These
took possession of the ordnance 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 ransscked every house in search Of
Americans and money. Mr.. Lawless, the Rev.
Mr. Wheeler, and Mr.. Ferguson and son were
dragged into tie streets and murdered. General
Walkers re;idence was pilaged, and his papers
were scattered over the floor, IN the wild hunt for
plunder About 10, A. M of the 18th, the gallant
bard in the plaza had the first intimation that
cess was at hand in the booming of the howitzers
and the rattle of the muskstry in the attack of
Gen. Walker on the enemy at Jalteba Church,
about three. quarters OF mile immediately behind
the Ordnance Department
| Immediately upon receiving the news brought
to Masssya by the express, Gen. Walker evacu.
ated that town WITH all his troops, and commenced
forced march for Granada. At 10 A. NJ. he at
tackled the enemy, who were posted in force on the
height of the Jsteba Church, and charging at
once, captured two field pieces and drovs them, at
the point of the bayonet, into and through the
city. The route commenced almost without q
struggle. and the enemy dispersed in every direc
ton. But on all sides they were met by parties
that Gen. Walker had ordered to made detour
round the city, and the dispersion was complete.
1t was estimated that about 400 of the allies
were killed at Masaya and any equal number at Grs
NADIA. Nearly every house, on the evening OF the
18th, when our informant left, was filled with their
wounded. The loss Of the Americans in both en-
gsgements was only l6 killed and % wounded.
We ave not been able to learn the names Of any
killed. Among the wounded Capt. Del DR.. Scott,
Capt Hudy, Mr., Tabor, editor of the Nicara-
guense, Cap. Green, harbormaster, Captain Pick
ersg gilt AMI Mtjor Giles.
The ny were reported to be retreatIng from
Masaya, and Gen. Walker would advance north
ward as soon as his troops lad had some little
rest.
Capt. Williams also states that his baggage was
packet ready to start when the attack took . ace
He was rrled of everything by the enemy in the
ass, ult Gu Granada Ia his trunk were Il, srly
two hundred letters for persons in the United
States, but he was able to gather up only few Of
them, and many Of thess without their envelopes,
a.,er tbs route of the enemy.
a company of Gen. Walkers troops sta.
toned on the San Juan river, at the mouth OF the
Serapiqui and about 100 recruits arrived at Grey
town on the Tennessee. They would proceed to
Granada at once. ...