Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-04-26
Important from Nicaragua.

3dAAS
BY an arrival in New Orleans on Tues
day last additional news has been received
from Nicaragua. We take the following
from the Crescent:
1t appears that the rout of Sehlessin-
gers scommand atSan Rosa was owing to
the gross negligence and unmitgated
co%wardice of that officer. His whole
conduct stamps him as a wretched pol
troon, for whom death would be too easy
a fate.
1t appears that the men under Schles-
singer were encamped upon an eminence,
surrounded by dense ~shrubbery; no suffi-
cient guards were stationed to provide
against surprise; parties from five to fif-
teen, were out foraging; and everything
in camp displayed the most ~culpable and
criminal car~elessness. 1t was under such
circumstances the onslaught of the Costa
Ricans was made. Confusion prevailed,
and the commander-in-chief showed the
white feather from the start. The at
lacking force was 1000, although, it is
supposed, not more than 500 were enga-
iged at first. The assailants were up
within fifty yards, SO says one account,
before they were discovered, armed with
Minnie and Mississippi rifles. Schlessin-
gers were about $50 men, but only about
IFS came into action; the French
and Dutch companies, under Legree and
Prange, not forming at all. Captains
Thorpe's and Creighton's companies
made a stand, but being deserted by the
others and by Schlessinger, were obliged
to retreat. From forty to sixty men are
supposed to be killed, and about eighty
are missing. The enemy pursued some
of the detached parties, but did not fol-
low the main body, which retired to Vir-
gin Bay.
The surprise cost the N~icaraguans a.
bout SO or 60 men out of the us that
remained at their post. Of those killed,
belonging to the New Orleans company,
Capt. Thorpe could only remember the
names Of Messrs. Grayson, Dunn and
Scobey. On the ~honeward march to
Virgin Bay, the dangers and f~atigues
were dreadful. With bleeding feet and
hungered stomachs, they plodded on their
weary way. Their sufferings paralleIed
the sufferings of our fo~refathers during
the Revolution. Their return trail was
closely followed by the enemy, and the
escape of the little band from capture
was almost miraculous.
Subsequent to this defeat, caused by bad
management and cowardice of Schles-
singer, another fight had taken place at
Aropoka between 200 of the enemy and
IA men under Captain Baldwin, in which
the enemy was defeated, with a loss of
80 killed. Captain Baldwin lost two
men in the engagement; Second Lieuten-
ant Rackstraw, and a private, name not
given.
Schlessinger, according to the latest
advices, was undergoing court martial
The probabilities are his shrift was a
short one. An abbreviated rope and the
nearest tree were all he deserved.
When the steamship left, Rivas was the
headquarters of the Government, and a
company was left in Granada to guard
the communication. Gen. Walker was
in command of about eight hundred men,
marching against Costa RIGA, and he
was supposed to be in Buena Casta
at the sailing Of the steamer. 1t is said he
in good spirits, and full of confidence
that he could triumph over the enemies of
Nicaragua.