Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-06
Account OF the Battle OF Rtvas by Par
uctpator In IL.

. from the Newark Advertise .Iay 2
The following letter was receiv1u by the last
steamer from Granada, from Henry Barstow,
I'd Sergeant Of company G, I'd rifles, Walkers
army, formerly of Newark, New Jersey, who
was in Walkers battles, and who, it win be
seen, speaks very highly of the country
GRANADA, April IA, 1856.
/ have now been absent from
home two months, and have been as busy as
one could possibly be. The company am at
tached to, as soon as we landed in this country
was Immediately ordered to march against
Costa RIGA. We accomplished the march in
seven days, and on the eigth day got defeated,
retreated, and came back to Virgin Bay, naked
and half starved, with loss of eighteen men.
/ never saw a more beautiful country in my
life. There are thousands of acres Of land that
require very little done to them to make a liv-
ing. If man works half Of his time, he
would in the States, he might sit down in rest
and plenty the other half if the country re-
manned in peace. However, the only enemy is
the Costa Ricans.
Intelligence was received on the 7th Of April
that the enemy was in Rivas, some 60 miles
distant. We Immediately marched our availa-
BILE forces which could be spared from post duty
against them, and met them on the morning of
the lth We had 400 Americans, or demo
Gratis, and natives. The enemy was well fortified
within the city, with 1000 strong, all told. We
fought for l6 hours and drove them out of the
place, they losing in the engagement 900 men,
besides wounded and missing. At IL o'clock
we retreatcd owing to our want of provisions
and ammunition, as we had few caps and
cartridges, and had been without food for a day
and night.
Gen. Walker commanded in person, and
showed good deal of bravery and GOODNESS,
and as to the result, / felt confident we should
come off victorious. We had 80 men killed
and wounded, and brought the wounded back
to Granada on horses and mules.
The country between Granada and Rivas is
beautiful and level, and as pretty orange and
banna or plantain grows, as ever the world
produced are found here. A man with any
enterprise could soon make himself comforia-
bic for life, as soon as peace is proclaimed
which time is not far distant, if Uncle Sam
puts stop to England, who is using all the
means in her power as nation to extermlnate
us. We know this is so, for we have taken
their spies with documents to that effect.
They have been stripped of their papers and
| hung or shot.
The Costa Ricans have killed all the Ameri-
can citizens in Virgin Bay and San Juan del
| Sur. The latter place is on the line OF the
| Transit Companys route over the lsthmus.
They have burned down their houses and con-
sumed their bodies. What Uncle Sam will
say to this is more than / can tell.
We expect to start there to protect those
who come on the next steamer, and then ! ex-
pect we shall have another brush with them.
How the Government Of the United States can
stand by and see her citizens coolly massacred
men who have no lot or part with Walker
or what is styled flibusters-is a strange mat
ter. do not consider myself fillibuster.
think the cause is just Any one who comes
to Nicaragua will be received with open arms.
As for the country, il may be said that It IS
unhealthy; but l think there IS not healthier
country in the world. Had been in Newark
and exposed myself as ! have here, sleeping
on the beach or in the woods | should have
been dead.
THE above is written by one Of Walkers
men. and corroborstes, in the main, the &C
counts already published from Walkers organ
Private letters received in New York are re
ported to give q somewhat different version a
to the numbers engaged and injured, reducing
the reports considerably, and indicate tina
neither party acknowledge delest.-ED.