New-York daily tribune., 1856-05-01
SECOND BATTLE OF RIVAS.
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on the morning of the 9Th inst, intelligence reached
Gr eneda that Immediately after the departure of the
Amer An troops from Riyas, force of 800 or 1000
Costa Kieans entered and took Possession OF the city
A. the information auth. ntic there was no time
to be ost the part of Gen. Walker in making ready
to repuse the enemy. BY daylight on the -th inst,
force of 800 men, including 100 native troops, were on
the march from Granada, 10 engage the presumptous
invaders. Gen. Walker in person was at the head 0t
tie army. The force under his command encamped
tie night of the 10th inst. within nine miles of Rvas,
and in the meantime il had been ascertalned beyond
doubt that the city was held and iorned by 2OOO
Costa Ricans and Chamorietas Early on The inornlng
of the lth toe march wa- resumed, with the prospect
ahead Of lively engagement. Evidently to the sur.
Prise of the enemy, the Democratic force, instead OF
tnterir the city by the usual route from Granada,
came in by the road leading from San Jorge or Virgin
Bay.
The troops without hating, were assigned their re-
z ,ctive positions, and instructed as to appropriate
points OF attack. The battalion under command OF
Lieut. COL Sanders ordered TO enter by the street
leading along the west side of tue plaza and the east
side was to be charged by the force under command
of Col. Fry. With whoOp and yell, rush was
made for the plaza and the troops were discovered
by the enemy ascending the eminence which con
cealed the approach the city, they saluted with
a voley of musketry, which gave indication OF nrIn
aud obstiI resistance. On both sides OF the plaza
brisk and Dce-sant firing was kept up by the enemy
but the fearless and undaunted forces OF the
d, mocracy charged them with such rapdity,
that in less than five minutes the Americans were
in the entire possession of the plaza Ihe CoSta
Rcans, ebunDing an open fight precpitately betook
themselves to the baTcades and fotressed houses ana
fro those places of protection and concealment, con
tnued an unrtmttiDg fire. Their cannonl too, WITH
laundering poise gave testimony OF the eihciency Oh
their pre- paratons for defense To prevent the desruc
ton that must inevitably from 80 fatal an engine
of yar the determination was instantly formed ana
carried into execution by Lieutenant Colonel Sanders,
of taking il from the possession OF the enemy Inc
order 10 charge was given, and The gaan'
10 she'd
es. of peril into the face of the menaciog danger ana
with the lors OF four only succeeded In capturing
that essential weapon oi war. III was lmmedlateiy
brought aud stationed at the southeast of
the plaza and placed under the control OF captain
McCardle, most excellent and intrepid artiuerst
be ammunition belonging to was also SEIZED and
few minutes only elaEse before the weapon that was
rtned for the destruction of the Democratic forces,
was pouring fatal fire upon the discounted Costa
Ricans. Chagrined and enraged at the loss OF their
gun they made several bold attempts TO reposses II,
but itr laundering tone rapidly followed by the deadly
discharges Of the Mississippi Rte, intmldated their
ondeayor, and drove them back 10 their
places of cOnce ealmeDt. In the meantime fifteen or
twenty iifienen had stationed themselves on the
roof Of building iom which they could plainly DIS
cover q large body of the enemy on the back streets
continuous fire was kept up by those gallant lei
lows, and at least hundred of the enemy fell from
their destructive aim The conflict became too herce
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 $780, about ~ o'clock in the day the enemy re-
ceiv.d reinforcement Of $50 men from Virgin Bay.
Capt sters Of the Rangers, who held possession OF
the tower surmoubing the unfinished Cathedral on the
north side of the plaza, Immediately communicated 70
Gen. Walker information of their approach and BODY
of men WAS rent TO protect that portion OF the town.
In the meantime Capt. Waters and his Rangers, from
their convenient postion, opened upon them with their
Iifes and did most signal execution. The intention OF
the enemy of completely surrounding the city and
hemuing the Democratic forces IN the plaza was
thwarted with most giat ing II was not ac
compisbed however without long and herce nrirg
at the enemy from all four Of the corners of the plaza
The northwest corner was held by Col. Don bruno
Nstzmer and Mai. O'Nei with their command, and
over hundred dead bodies of the enemy gave signal
pJoof Of the gaantry Of those officers ana The IN
trepidty Of their men. The southwest corner was
in charge of Captains Rudler ana Mason WIN thelr
ccmrsnies and that with the exception OF the position
held by Lieut.. Col. Sanders was the one from which
the greatest danger to be apprehended. Ihose
brave officers and their trusty men maintained theif
ground against a concealed Zoe WIN nllhhess auu
Courage DE- serving cf the highest commentator.
Some of our nob,st spirits, in the eXmolil0n al TINS
point If fearless and undaunted courage leu martyrs
in the cause of Democracy Among these II shoull
not b. deemed nvidicus to mention Lieut.. Morgan ot
Gen. Walkers staff, and Lieut.. Doyle of the army,
men of sterling heroisa and as true hearts as ever
belonged 10 humanity
From three corners Of the plaza constant ire was
maintained from o'clock in the morning until noon
-Four hours OF unremttng service IN the held, follow
ing t,d douS march Of than two days, had neces
saly the effect of burdenng the energies OF the SOL
der with irresistible fatigue. The enemy, too, seemed
TO have become wearied Of the tight, and httle hrng
for an hour was done either ride, except BY sharp
shooters adyenturing chances at long distance. Inc
ten porary cessation Of violent hostes by the enc
my was discovered, however, to be ruse, for the
purpose Of secretly po.sesSI Themselves Of the bud-
il on the norheast corner of the plaza, whence I'M
banned they could pour destructive fire upon the
American troops stationed in every direction upon the
plaza. This stIatsgem of the enemy was discov-
cred by Lieutenant Cay, whose timely aad
yigiant service doubtless saved the lives OF
many Of the Nicaraguan soldiers and terminated more
speedily the sanguinary conflict Information OF the
NOV emeut of the enemy was communicated by him,
and volunteers sollted TO make desperate charge TO
rout the enemy from their c.oee approximation to the
position they coveted. Ten true ard fearless men,
armed with rifles and Colts revolvers, were all that
required, and instantly the requisite number,
fully equipped for the perilous expedition were ready
TO engage the foe. This number composed Of
Suiter of Gen. Walkers staff Col. Kewen, volunteer
aid 80 Gen. Walker; Major Roger of the Comnis-
.sry Department; Major Weber Captains Brecken-
bridge and Mahon, Lie eutenants Winters, stith and
Gay. lew privates also volunteered, increasing the
nun Der to thirteen. Crossing the street under the fire
Of tie enemy, they pressed through the corner
building that sought To be possessed by the
foe TO the far eDd Of the corridor, which vas partially
banicad,d by an adobe wall hreastwork. From
that position they cautiously surveyed the approx
natiGg enemy and hastily det, mining the plan Of
operation, the order TO charge given, and with
yil and bound they rushed in the direction Of the
picket fence be hind which the enemy cautiously
aklng prNeress The veil was ely responded