Washington sentinel., 1856-06-05

y
who doubt come and see for themselves, re
membering that they are the products OF a
tropical cline, so luxuriant that people forge
the necessity Of either labor or economy, and
become too indolent to attend to either the one
or the other. Labor pays best where it meets
with the most speedy and liberal return, and
here is that locality. Cotton appears to be
perennial and enduring, at least the variety OF
that staple Of the United States which appears
here; but l am requested, as q favor, to in
tercede with you for samples of the best seeds,
for the purpose Of testing them in this soil and
climate. and you will obfge many friends by
forwarding the same to me.
The Urapiqui river is still commanded by
Capt. j. M. Baldwin, the enemy being driven
back to San Jose by the force under his COM
mand.
Major A. f. Rudler, commanding the river
San Juan, is stopping here. He is an exceed
ingly fine specimen Of the man, gentleman and
soldier, and was promoted from captaincy
subsequent to the saDguinary battle OF Rvas,
where his cool bravery, manifested SO conspicu.
ously throughout that trying day, proclaimed
him most worthy of the high position of Major
in the line. 1t was him who led the Voltiguers
at Santa Rosa, in Guanacoste, and did all the
fighting fthat day oftreachery and cowardice-
his little band stood up and coolly fought the
fearful odds, when Schlessinger, with all the rest
Of the command were in full flight A Georgian
by birth and education, he reflects honor upon
his native State, and gives promise of still
greater laurels and higher promotion.
Capt Men Namara with his company, garrisons
this place. He is brave and good officer, and
it was him, (called corporal Kelly" at Santa
Rosa, who collared Schlessinger, and attempted
to form his men; he has accompanied Gen.
Walker from the first; First Lieut. Bemsh and
Second Lieut.. ]. M. Griffin, both of whom are
from New York, are attached to his command.
The rainy season is slow in setting in, and
the water is low in the river. The Transit is
free from obstruction, the general health is good
and no raiemigos in the country. Large quanti-
ties of freight, military stores and provisions
are passing up the river, bound for head
quarters.
The steamer Orizaba has arrived from New
York, with small reinforcement. News is
brought from Aspinwall and Panama of the
in an attack by the natives, killing thirty to
forty, and second, by the fearful leap Of the rail
road train through a bridge
Times become more and more stirring in this
direction. Will it not be necessary for Gen.
Walker to go down to Panama and afford
protection to that route also? or will Mr.. Secre-
tary Marcy wake up to . sense OF public duty?
THE LATEST.
CAsTILLA, May %, 1856.
The steamship Sierra Nevada has just poured
upon US an avalanche Of FIVE hundred passen-
gers from California. The news from head
quarters is gratifying; all is quiet except in
the armory department, where the manufacture
of the Minnie rifle ball is employing all hands.
| am informed that machinery is being pre-
pared, at General Walkers directions, to rifle
the United States muskets so as to adapt them
to the MIME ball-make Mimic muskets of
them; but to furnish the MIME ball to the Mis-
sissippi rifle is the great point of interest.
From experiments recently made at Granada
with this arm, charged with the Mimic ball, it
is clearly shown to be the most destructive, and
in every way effective, arm known. 1t carries
further ~ miles, with greater precision and
force than any other, tearing an enormous hole,
at FIVE hundred yards, in two thicknesses Of
boiler iron. The Costa Ricans, with their Eng
lish MIME muskets, have hitherto had the ad.
vantage in reach, of the Mississippi, bot now
our soldiers feel disposition to retaliate and
give them show.
The health Of the army is generally good.
AS predicted, Major Rudier is promoted to
the position of lieutenant colonel, than whom
no man is more deserving. He adorns his
laurels, not they him.
Colonel Wheeler, Minister Plenipotentiary of
the United States, passed down to Greytown q
few days since, TO dismiss his family-they
wishing to visit home--when he took opportu
nifty to see Captain Tarleton, of the British
frigate there on station, and informed him that
the American government would not tolerate
his conduct in boarding our mail or passenger
steamers for the purpose OF either question or
search. and that he must desist Capt Tarle-
ton apoogisingly said, "he did not icish 10 do
Il, haping no Instructions from has government,
but that the people Of GreytoiOn had asked his
protection from passengers and tilibusters, as
they had nothing for them to eat"
Judge Randolph has just arrived here, and
is suffering temporary illness. The rainy sea-
son has just set in earnestly, and we hope to
soon have water in abundance.
Mrs. G.. F. Alden is here, en- route to New
York; widow, having lost her husband in
Granada by fever. He was clerk in one OF your
courts.
Headquarters are at Virgin Bay.
David Cristalar, lad, and son of A. M.
Cristalar, % Bowery, New York, land who was
sent mere 10 nave MS eyes mcuiShlcu win thc
aid Of this climate,) was mercilessly shot by
the Costa Ricans while standing upon the
wharf at Virgin Bay, upon the occasion Of
their entry in that place, April 8.
VIM. Irving Langsdale, Of Kentucky, who
was in the battle Of Rivas, and who made forty.
eight shots at the enemy with Kentucky rife,
killed forty-eight Costa Ricansl He occupied
a place of security, took rest in shooting-saw
twenty-six Of them fall himself the balance
others Witnessing. He is one of those few
sharp shooters who will, off hand, at the dis
tance Of 100 yards, knock out the middle spot
of the tray of hearts" nine times out Of ten.
But they finally wounded him with buckshot,
shooting away the stock Of his rife, wounding
his hands, and putting out his left eye. ] hope
he will soon be able TO return from the States,
whittier be is going with his right tshooting)
eye. all safe and sound, to "give them another
turn He is a brave fellow and good soldier.
Mr.. Moritz Schwartz, formerly clerk Of the
Liquor Dealers Society, New York, has opened
the Cottage Hotel, in Virgin Bay, and is the
bearer of my special dispatches to the New
York Herald He returns per next steamer,
with his family, to make his abode Mt Virgin