The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-04-26
~ ccntra, American News.

eVfiS tuiueI tuGA Eouiiiloiiu " w"
furnished US by asne Of the officers who, in noble
contrast with p%oltroon commander, took an
pafy in engagement. 1t is q lucid and
candid expose opthe facts such as they fellDun-
der his observation, and as such We commend
it to the careful attention of our readers.
Now that Walker has taken the field in per-
son and haAA sworn to wipe out the disgrace
entailed upon his army by the .cowardice and
perhaps the treachery Of schlessingcr, we may
shortly expect news Of quite o different charac-
ter. There is a prestige, a halo Of glory around
his nane which incites the soldier to deeds d,
proves. lie is the idol of lii little band, the,
master mind that plans and TIE stalworth arm
that ezeeutes. Before him l2tacles recede.
His mofss is q Nulla vestis retrosum,' and
as long as hiss banner ff hts in the breeze,
disease may waste his rays and treason thin
his lines, but never WI his cause be wholly.
lost. 81
The following is thq Account above alladed
to: delta.
On the 9th day Of February last, one hun
bred and seventy migrants left Newt orleans
under the supervision Of Captain Thorpe, with
q view of trying their fortunes in " Central
America" They arrived in Granada without
death or accident. After being in that city
about three days, the war between Nicaragua
and Costa Rica was declared, and an expedition
ordered against Costa Rica under command Of
Colonel Schlessinger. This expedition was
composed of the ITO from Neworleans, one
company from New York, and an escort OF one
Of the old companies, making in all, about two
hundred and eighty troops.
The expedition proceeded on their march IN
hope of success, but it was generally conceded
in q few days that the Colonel IN command
was not skilled in his undertaking. The
marches were badly conducted-our move
ments being most frequently IN the heat OF the
day and our encampments sometimes made at
a distance from water. Gross carelessness was
observable at almost every malt, as Wen as upon
the march, apparently inviting an attack from
the enemy and a massacre 1.-the Americans,
before sufficient alarm could be given. IN
proof OF the 1act, when but o lew Gays march
from where the enemy was met, upon the occa-
sion OF one OF the few night marches, 1t was
found that the ordance train, consisting OF Ill
teen to twenty animals, was lost from the main
BODY OF the troop. Again, upon another ,oc,
caslon OF an evening march, when we had LAID
by as we supposed within three miles OF the
enemy, with q view Of surprising them by a
night attack, when we haa arrived at our des-
tihation-ah alarm was given ny tne plquets,
ana the enemy was saia 10 oe IN strong num-
peis wltllh a lew yatas Oh US, IN anaousn: ohr
uat.a'ioh was drawn up III regaiar. litle Oh
patIe' put SOON we icart'g tae arm was 'aise'
al apoul Whlch tlhe ~ W. 3siat the
ordnance tram mad .1mlle or
more, entlreiy uff -dltlon OF
'nllSs thfonghout ts our arrival
az inc fanch Oh santa Rosa, where everything
wore the appearance Oh careiessness 100 lhVi-
eilg 10 an army 10 De passed py uhillpfoved
lor ABOUT . O'Clock the day alter ouS battalion
arrived at this point, our camp was surprised
py an at'aeh' IN open gay OF .he enemy, VINO
iaa SO wen improved ehelr ~chahees' from our
waht Oh proper piNqIaets, as 10 approach on one
sac 10 Wlthih hity YARDS OF the Colonels
ieaoqlariefs ana Inc ordnance department. On
,his sac me enemy was protected by an am
nMsh. "heh the alarm was given, Captains
ihorpes and Crelgtons companies were or
derea mto the yard OF the house where the
orata.ce was STATIONED ana the worthy ColoneI
haa MS quarters. upon thelr arrival IN the
yafa, ana Wh,ie forming iheir companies, the
enemy opened their nre from the ambush. LIZ
'ne must OF the eoalosioni the Two companieS
aoove 1nentioned formed and for some time
ho9ly COMMENDED Wlth the enemy. The tight
haa MOI progressed however, longer than from
seven 70 Ten minutes, when the alfrlghted Colo
mel ordered MS iaVorite company by his side
ana IN alother moment was seen with them
.he ffehch ana German companies beating {
nasty retreat. Every effort was a upol
inc part OF Major oNeil, Capt. Thorpe, Ad
ju1ait Johnson and others, tos arrest TIN
cowafaiy ana shaihelal retreat, butsall was il
yam. terror had got hold OF the par c-stricker
Colonel and, with unsheathed swo' bor'
onward, When the retreat became 81.
Inc NeWOrleahs company smmant
OF captain Thorpe, did tbF well ant
pfaVeiy, as the plumber o5t5sie Killed, wounded
ana missing VIII prove. The NewI ork com
pIany, commanded by captain Creighton, ant
lhe N 1caragaans commanded by Captain Rud
q,er' aIso Acquired themselves well. But tn
nlehch ana liitch were the hrst to follow tn
ooionei, VINO began ne retreat
Among taose VINO ieii during the action, wa
son-who was ever found in the performanc
uor niS oU vshic I'u u Tlpse toss eS ,cim, az 40 a
;n.orma uLn Loro s,nn;r.a1 ~ NN' Dl0'n0is