Daily American organ., 1856-05-01
From II kicarsguense Of April IL
The Rattle Of Rivas.

parture OF the American hlvuDb iOrcc
Of 800 or 1000 Costa Ricans entered and took
possession of the city There was no time 70 be
lost on the part Of General Walker in making
ready to repulse the enemy. BY daylight on the
8th instant q force Of 500 men, including 100 ma
tive troops, were on the march from Granada, to
engage the presumptu0us invaders. General Walk
err, in person, Was 1t the head OF the army. The
force under his command encamped the night OF
the 10th instant within nine miles OF Rvas, and in
the meantime II had been ascertained beyond
doubt that the city held and fortified by 600
Costa Ricans and Chamoristas.
Early on the morning of the llth the march was
resumed. Evidently TO the surprise Of the enemy,
the democratic force instead of entering the city
by the usual route from Granada, came in by the
road leading from San Jorge or Virgin Bay.
From some misapprehension of the Instructions,
COL Machado, with the native force, instead Of en-
tering the city at the point designated for his COM
mand, kept with the command of Lieut.. Col. Sand
ers but proved, however, of essential service In
the desperate conflict which followed. His gal
lantry attested by his death, and in his fall the
native army has suffered an irreparable loss The
immediate officers under him behaved with great
courage, and too much credit cannot attach TO the
conduct Of the troops they oficered.
On both sides of the plaza brisk and incessant
firing was kept up by the enemy but the fearless
and undaunted forces of the Democracy charged
them with 80 much rapidity that in less than five
minntes the Americans were in entire possession
of the plaza The Costa Ricans stunning an open
fight precpitately betook themselves to the barri
cades and fortressed houses, and from those places
of protection and conceament, continued an unre-
hitting fire. Their cannon, too with laundering
voices, gave testimony of the efficiency OF their
preparations for defence.
To prevent the destruction that must inevitably
ensue from 90 fatal An engine Of war, the determ-
nation was instantly formed and carried into execu
AZ 81 k.lvs
possession Of the enemy. The order to charge was
given, and the gallant Lieutenant Colonel followed
by his intrepid soldiers, rushed, needless of peril,
into the face of the menacing danger, and with
the loss of four men only succeeded in capturing
that essential weapon of war. 1t was Immediately
brought and stationed at the southeast corner OF
the plaza, and placed under the control of Capt
McCardle, most excellent and intrepid artillerist
The ammunition belonging to it was also seized,
and few minutes only elapsed before the weapon
that was destined for the destruction of the Demo
cratic forces, pouring fatal fire upon the dis
comHted Costa Ricans.
Chagrined and enraged at the loss of their gun,
they made several bold attempts to repossess it,
but its laundering tone, rapidly followed by the
deadly discharges Of the Mississippi rife, ntimi-
dated their endeavors and drove them tack to
their places of concealment. The conflict became
too fierce for the Costa Rican invaders, and 800
of them in body were discovered making their
rapid retreat in the direction of San Juan del Sur
Following the retreat of the 800, about IL o'clock
in the day, the enemy received reinforcement Of
$50 men from Virgin Bay.
Captain Waters, of the rangers, who held pos
session of the tower surmountng the unfinished
cathedral on the north side Of the plaza, immedi
ately communicated to General Walker informa-
ton Of their approach, and body of men was
| sent to protect that portion of the town.
The northwest corner was held by Colonel Don
Bruno Natxmer and Major O'Neil, with their COM
mand, and over hundred dead bodies Of the ene-
my gave signal proof of the gallantry Of those
officers, and the intrepidity Of their men. The
southwest corner was in charge of Captains Rudler
and Mason, with their companies, and that, with
the exception of the position held by Lieutenant
Colonel Sanders was the one from which the great
est danger was to be apprehended. Those brave
officers and their trusty men maintained their
ground against concealed foe, with frmness
and courage deserving Of the highest commenda-
ton. Some of our noblest spirits in the exhibi-
ton at this point Of fearless and undaunted cour
age, fell martyrs in the cause of Democracy
Among those It should not be deemed invidious to
mention Lieutenant Morgan, of General Walkers
staff, and Lieutenant Doyle of the army, men Of
Is sterling heroism and true hearts az ever be-
longed to humanity.
From three corners Of the plaza constant fire
was maintained from o'clock in the morning un-
til noon. Four hours of unremitting service in the
field, following tedious march of more than two
days had necessarily the effect of burdening the
energies of the soldiers with irresistible fatigue.
The enemy, too, seemed to have become wearied
of the fight and little firing for an hour was done
on either side, except by sharp-shooters adventur
ing chances at q long distance. The temporary
cessation of violent hostilities by the enemy was
discovered however, to be a ruse, for the purpose
of secretly possessing themselves of the building
on the northeast corner of the plaza, whence un-
harmed they could pour q destructive fire upon
the American troops stationed in every direction
upon the plaza. This stratagem was discovered by
Lieut.. Gay, whose timely and vigilant service
doubtless saved the lives Of many of the Nicara-
guam soldiers and terminated more speedily the
sanguinary conflict
CONDITION OF THE WoUsDKD.--We are grati6ed
to announce the good condition Of the wounded.
Major Markham, Captain Cook, Captain McCardle,
Capt Geo. Leonard, Lieut.. Doan, Lieut. Ayres,
Lieut.. Jamison, Lieut. Latimer, Lieutenant Potter,
Sergeant Hodgins Sergeant Dunnegan, Sergeant
Retter, Sergeant Pittman, farm amputated,) Ser
geant Evelyn, Sergeant Sarsfield and Corporal
Henry Whiting, are all recovering. The medical
staff is busy night and day with the wounded, and
the superintendence of DR.. Moses is spoken ofvery
highly Mr. Langsdale, private in the Voltgeurs,
whose gallant performance the day of the battle
became matter of notoriety, is also recovering
from the wounds he received in the fight.
FL Nicaraguense adds:
The brutality of the Costa Rcans after the fight
has never been surpassed in modern warfare. Gen.
Walker on his departure from Rivas, was CON-
PEELED 70 leave portion of his wounded (they had
been declared mortally wounded) in one of the
churches These men were butchered by the Costa
Rcans In the most cold blooded manner. The
Costa Ricans admit 450 killed and $50 wounded
in battle. On the 18th instant courier reached
Granada from Rivas, who stated that the enemy
-rxl- l. \ 4 IL
but were not able to dispose OF one-thrd killed in
tha hsfflo and that the atmosnhprA had become