The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-07-02

were done in violation Of an order by me
that the soldier of marines was not to re.
peat in Rivas any of the reports circulated
by the enemy in San Juan del Sur. The
effect of Lieut.. Iouston's visit was appa-
rent, from the desertions which immediate
ly followed it.
Another circumstance occurred during
Lieut.. Houston's stay in Rivas, to which
afterwards learned to attach Importance
That officer informed me lie was ordered
by Commander Davis to tell me that any
communication l desired to mako to Mr..
j. G. Macdonald, agent of Messrs. Garri-
son, Morgan tS Son, might be made under
enclosure to Capt. Davis himself. Although
l felt such an offer was departure from
duty on tho part of a United States officer,
did not hesitate to take advantage of the
offer. Informed Lieut.. Houston that
did not desire to write to Mr. Macdonald:
but that he might say to Commander D.s
Wis from me-and with the understanding
that it was to be communicated to Mr..
Macdonald-that l considered my position
at Rivas impregnable to the force at the
disposal of the enemy, rs long as my pro-
visions lasted; that if Col. Lockridge did
not join me in Rivas by the time my COM
missary stores were exhausted, | would
abandon the place and join the force on the
San Juan river; and that considered N.Y.
self entirely able and competent to carry
out such movement. When learned
afterwards that this message was never de-
livcred to Mr. Macdonald, was forced to
consider Commander Davis's offer an effort
to draw from me a declaration which lie
might afterwards turn to my disadvantage
After the visit of Lieut.. Houston, I heard
no more from Commander Davis, until the
30th of April, when two aids de-camp from
the enemy, came under flag of truce with
a letter from that officer to myself. The
letter proposed that I should abandon Ri
vas, and go aboard the st. Mary's to Pana-
ma, Commander Davis undertaking to guar
anty my personal safety. Although this
proposition was extremely otfensive-insin-
uating, as it did, that my personal safety.
instead Of the honor and dignity of the
Government of which I was Executive,
might prove determining circumstance in
military Convention-I replied that the
proposition was vague, and suggested his
coming into Rivas, and personal confer
ence between us. I only submitted to the
modification Of answering such letter OH
the surposition that Commander Davis
might have information did not possess.
WHICH might justify the substance, though,
not the manner Of his offer. lie answered
by saying that he was sorry found his
proposition vague; that he proposed al
should abandon the enterprise, and leave
the country )" that might rely on the fact
of Col. Lockridge having left the San Juan
River; and, finally, that he had maturely
considered the invitation to visit Rivas, and
had decided, unreservedly, not to take such
a step.
The tone of this note was, if possible,
more offensive than that Of the first; and
the use of the word enterprise" in connec-
ting with government which Commander
Davis had studiously acknowledged by ad
dressing me rs " President" but few weeks
previously, sounded strangely discordant.-
AS, however, the letter stated the evacua-
tion of the San Juan Riycr-the first news
l had of this event-1 stopped to answer
the offensive note by proposing to send two
Henningsen and Col. Waters
to meet Commander Davis, provided
they had safe conduct from the allied Cen
eral. An answer soon came, enclosing the
required safe conduct; and the answer was
in effect, that Gen. Henningsen and Col.
Waters should proceed at once to the head
quarters of the allies, as Commander Davis
instructions required his speedy return to
San Juan del Sur. / was surprised to re-
cognize the body Of the note as the hand
writing of General Zavala-one of the Gen.
erals Of the allied forces who spoke and
wrote English-and to find that such a note
was signed by a professed neutral.
For what passed between Gen. Hennipg-
sen and Colonel Waters and Commander
Davis, / refer you to the report of the for
mer officer, herewith enclosed, and to the
terms of the convention of Rivas. Allow
mo to suggest, that the convention itseIf ;s
the best evidence that that the army in Ri
vas was not on the eve of destruction or
dissolution. If the peril to my command
was as great as has en;pubIicly represeu-
the allies would never have permitted us to
evacuate the place, not only in safety, but
with honor
In his interview with Gen. Henningsen,
Commander Davis had expressed his Gun