Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-05-01
PROTEST OF MINIS FER WHEELER.

acuense of the llih inst Another battle lad
! been fought at Riyas. between $50 Amer leans
under Col. Walker and 1000 Costa Rcans I'll
Nicaraguense says;
By daylight ON the 5th inst. force of 500
men. including 100 native troops, were on the
march from Grenada Ia engage the presunptn
! Gus inv lder. Gen. riker, IN person. was al
/ the head II the army. The force under his com
mand eneamped the night OF the 10Th, within
nine miles of Rvas, and in the meantime 1T had
/ been ascertained beyond doubt that the city was
! held and fortified by 1000 Costa Ricans and
! Chanorictas Early on the morning OF the llth
| the march was resumed. with the prospect ahead
! of a lively engagement. Evidently to the sur
! prise o the enemy, the Democratic force instead
of entering the city by the usual route from era
NADIA. came in by the road leading from San ia
! 60 Virgin Bay
The troops, without hating, were assigned
| their respective positions. aud instructed es To
| appropriate points of attack. The battalion
! der command Of Col. Sanders WAS ordered to
| enter by the road leading along the West side
of the Plaza, and the East side to be charg
ed by the force under command of Col Fry
With whnop and yell, nrush was made for the
| Plaza, and IA the troops were discovered by the
enemy ascending the eninence which concealed
the approach to the city they saluted with
a volley of musketry, which gave indication of
| an obstinate resistance On both sides of the
! Plaza a brisk and ncessant firing was kept up by
| the enemy. but the fearless and undaunted for
ces of the Democracy charged them with SO much
rapidity. that in less than tive minutes the Amer
leans were in entire possession of the Plaza.
The Costa Ricrns stunning open attack,
precpitotely betook themselves TO the barbados
and iortressed houses, and from their places of
protection and concealmcnt, continued an unre'
hitting fire. Their cannon, too, with laundering
voice, gave testimony of the efficiency OF the
preparations for defence. To prevent the de
struction that must inevitably ensne from SO IA
tai an engine Of war, the determination was in
stanty formed and carried into execution 10y
Lieut.. Col Sanders, Of taking it from the pas
session of the enemy.
The order to charge was given and the gallant
Colonel, followed by his intrepid soldiers rushed
needless ofper into the face of danger. and,
with the loss of fonr men only. succeeded III cap.
turing that essential weapon of war. IL was I'M
mcdiatey brought and stationed at the northeast
corner of the plaza, and placed under the control
| If Capt. McCardle, must excellent and intrepid
artilleIi>t. The ammunition btlonglng TO was
also seized, and few minutes only elapsed be-
fore the weapon that was dcstinedto the destrnc-
ton OF the Democratic forces. WAS pouring n ia
tai five upon the Costa Ricans. Enraged at tho
loss of their gun they made several bold attempt
to repossess it: but, its laundering tone, rapidly
! followed by the deadly discharges OF the MlssS
sippi rifle, iBtmidated their endcayors, and drove
them back 10 their place of conccament. In the
meantime ID or 30 rilemen stationed themselves
on the ROOF of building, from which they could
| plainly discern n large body OF The enamy On
the back street. \ continuous fire was kept up
10y these gallant fellows, md at least II hundred
! If the enemy fell from their destructive aim.
From three corners Of the Plaza constant
| fire was maintained from eight O'Clock in the
| morning until neon. -Four hours of unfcmittng
service in the field, following tedious match OF
| more than two DAYS. had necessarily the effect
u. If
roSstiblo tatiguc.-lhc enemy, too, seemed to
| have b, come weary # the fight. and little firing
! for an hour WIS done on either, side except ny
! sharp shooters, adventurrg chances at long dis
! tuncr.
The temporary cessation of hostlties by the
enemy, was discovered TO be ruse for tie pur
pose of secretly possessing themselves "f The
building on tire northeast corner Of the Plaza,
where, unharmc.. they could pour destructive
/ fire upon the American troops stationed IN every
direction upon the Plaza. This strategem of the
enemy was discovered by Lieut. Gay, and com
municated by him TO General Walker Ten true
aud fearless, men armed with rifles and Colts
rcvol,crs were all that were required to dlspos-
se+s the enemy of their position. They were com
posed IF Capt. Ilueston and Suffer- OF aikers
| staff: Col. Kewen. Major Rodges, Maj. Weber,
Cnpf. Beekerbridge and Mah"n. Lieuts. Winter
Sth aud Gay. A few prvates joined making
the number thirteen.
/
in earnest the crack of the rifle became the death
knel, of the foe The enemy sought 20 retain
their ground, and returned the fire with great
zeal and earerness. In this engagement Capt.
! Uneston fell MORALLY wounded. With his part
ing spirit escaped the pulsation OF true and va
| lient heart. a. atonement Tor the dehth OF
| Capt H., not less than thirty of the enemy were
m 4de to bite the dirt. The tire OF the remaining
twelve became too disastrous Tor the Costa ~
cans to brave and they were compelled again
to relnquish their position aud seek shelter elsr~
where They began Il recipitatc retreat, BUT
were hotly pursued In the retreat Lieut. Ga. ?
was MORALLY wounded, aud "Frcnch Louis kili
ed. The enemy made good Their retreat. h"
fight on the plaza had almost ceased. ana dnrinS
the day and night there was little irng' except
bv a few of the enemy around, with MINNIE rlHrs
firing from concealed places. The possessors OF
these weapons were Englishmen an Germans" hs
| had long experience in Their use -,
! The Costa Rirans lost six hundred men III 0
enrly retreat of three hundred and the snbaequeE
almost entire abandonment of iivas,are sufilciel
Indications Of their defeat / he American 10 E
does not exceed thirty and the wounded Is
same.
Pre- idrnt Mora had issued proclama'ion.n =
linn d,n,h the fate of all fbnsters ceptur d
Inv The Costa Ricans. Appended TO this was t e
following list OF persons taken prisoners al +.
Ross and subsequently shot on the Zo'h ot ~
March:
lame. 8 ,lenon Ireland; John oeNln,itai{i A.
drew rourtaniiu: s Amos Manuel OrFg", onu y
Theodore Iidikeu, American; Henry Joh,i" Il
caymanv. perrr pymc, Ireland, Phillip Snhnt +,
Germany. Peter Connor, Ireland; James ii"'li'
Ireland. Antoine pornu. France. David MOCK
Germany; VIM West Prussia; francia Nar''z'
Panama; and Tho, Ieining. Prussia
Ib. Costa Ricans showed no mercy ana pay
>ncttcd the unrcsistng men as lh'y '"y "oun ,