Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-06
AFFAIRS In NICARAGUA.

The correspondent Of the New York Herald
furnishes the following interesting letter, under
date Of
| GRANADA, April II, 1856.
Since my last this State is again engaged in
war, not revolution and civil war, but in Q
contest with Costa Rica, with the enemy within
our territory, and at this time within sixty
miles of the capital. Granada is under martha
| law and the strict discipline of the garrisonec
town again prevail. Col Piper, with the frs
| light infantry battalion, Capts Raymond anG
Farnham, is in command the army being now
at Rivas engaged in a desperate conflict with
| numerical force double its number, and al
though at the moment | write, no reliable news
| Of its result has been received ] am momenta
| rily expecting to hear the laundering tones OF
| a six pounder i'll the plaza, announcing vic
tory. God grant it may be soon heard, for q
defeat at this particular time would imperil the
| head of every American in the country, and
lead to a rising of the Chamorro, or servie
party, that would plunge this State into civil
war, the result of which, supported by victo
rious army of Costa Ricans, who shoot prison.
ers in cold blood, and murder women and chill
dren, would be a massacre, of every American
in the country.
The native inhabitants of this city are in a
terrible state of ALARM and were they not pre-
vented by the commandant of the garrison,
would long since have left the city en- nasse,
and by so doing reduce the Americans who re-
main to short allowance, if not to actual want
of provisions. So long as the native residents
remain in the city we are sure of tolerable
supply, and they will remain while we have
force enough to keep them.
All business operations have been suspended
since the invasion Of the State, and no one will
be able to sell merchandise until the result ot
the fight is known, nor then, should the fortune
of war be against US. Still there is no fear as
to the ultimate result. Granada is tenable
against any force which Costa Rica can march
against it, and Leon is not only true to the
democratic party, but is ready and willing, when
the emergency requires, to furnish 5000 troops
for the war.
We have this day received important news
from San Salvador The commissioner sent
by this government to that State has been well
vreceived, and that State desiring friendly re-
lations with Nicaragua, has just refused coop
Grafton with Guatemala in the league with
Honduras and Costa Rica against this State,
countermanded a supply of arms and men Of
ferred to Honduras, and disbanded its army.
So breaks the alliance of the Northern States,
which we have feared would aid Costa Rica,
and place the democratic government Of Nj
caragua in perilous position. We have now
to deal with Costa Rica alone, and will soon, |
trust, bring her to terms and receive ample in
demnity for the loss of property and expense
of the war.
On the first of April the headquarters, which
had for a week been established at Rivas, nine
miles above Virgin Bay, were suddenly ordered
to break up, and leaving the bulk Of the bag
gage at that place under orders allowing but
fifteen pounds to each individual, the line OF
march was taken to Virgin Bay Here we ex-
perienced camp life for four days, and on the
5th all were ordered on board the steamer San
Carlos, bound as was quite generally supposed,
for the Serapiqui river, branch of the San
Juan; running from Costa, and navigable to
within forty miles Of San Jose-its capital.
The 9th and 7th instant were spent on the voy-
age down the river; aud, on arriving at the
Toro rapids, on the San Juan, General Walker,
with one company of men, and few passen-
gers bound for New York and New Orleans,
went down the river on q small steamer, as all
supposed, to reeonnoitre. Being one of the
party, soon found that there was no move
ment to Costa Rica intended, and at Castillo
took leave Of several New York friends bound
nOHlty anu IeluIhtu W tue sAtdllcE Ddl NdTlOS,
which soon after got up steam, and, to the sur
prise Of all, headed across the lake for Grenada,
at which place we arrived and disembarked on
Tuesday last. The army was mystifed; moth.
ing could be learned as to the object of our
voyage, and it was quite generally set down by
the troops and officers as an excursion party to
see the country, and give all hands an opportu-
nifty to see the soil on which they might ere
long locate land warrants. Tuesday night
news arrived that the army Of Costa Rica had
entered Virgin Bay, burnt down the splendid
wharf of the Transit Company, and we're on
their march to Rivas. Early Wednesday morn
ing General Walker was on the march, at the
head of about 600 Americans, TO meet the enc
my at Rivas. On Friday we received intelli-
gence that he was joined by 800 native volun-
teers from Masaya, and the native garrison
from Rivas. 1t was now discovered that the
trip down the San Juan was o r1tSe dc gltere on
the part of General Walker to draw the army
Of Costa Rica into this territory. Its success
was admirable. We have this day rumors Of
terrible battle, and are anxiously awaiting the
arrival Of couriers with dispatches. Win it be
a victory or a reverse? If reverse, who will
escape? What course shall we here pursue I?
How long can we maintain the town? How
soon can we get reinforcements from Leon
Thsse and kindred questions, pass from mouth
to mouth at every cross path. What a jubilee
the piazza will present when the booming cad.
non announce a victory What determine
ton Of spirit will every American manifest If
the courier announce defeatl | have not
heard the first American in this city speak of
leaving-the unanimous determination is to
defend the city and fight to the death, if
Walker is defeated and the enemy approach
and attack us. How much there is now depend
ing upon the life Of one man Walker cut off,
the army is without leader and the Ameri-
cans here without head. Confusion and dis
may would everywhere prevail, and panic
seize every one, that would end in rout and
massacre. 1t is now eleven p. NJ, and leave
my rooms to visit headquarters TO relieve my
companionship some Of the burden Of anxiety
that Expresses and weighs me down. There
may be bad news; if so the quicker we know
it the better we can prepare-good news may
arrive; if so, the JOY and relief come the more
speedily. If friends in New York can gather
raustol If tbpuvIf that