Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-03-27

New Orleans. under the commsnd of Col. Titus
(be of Ksnsas), and encamped on the river bank,
opposite Fort Anderson.
Feb. 6-Le't Fort Anderson early, to storm
Sarapiqui. Went up the river by steamboat about
4 miles when the army under Col. Titus landed on
the north side, under point, and leaving the ar
tilIerV company on the boat to attack the fort in
front from the river, we struck back into the
woods. intending to make the river a mile below
the fort: but we lost our way and struck the river
further up than we intended coming cut right Op
posite Fort Ssrapiqui. Our advance guard fell
into an ambuseade Lieut.. Holman was shot dead
The Costa Rcars on the opposite side Of the river
then saw and fred into US, killing FIVE men and
vvounding seven others So far as we could learn
the names Of the killed were:
Lieut.. Holman, OF Texas.
L. R. Smith, of Mississippi.
- Ross of OHIO.
- Williams Irish, and two others.
TITUS SHOWS TIE WHITE TEATHER.
We fred several rounds, when Col Titus order
ed retreat, leaving Col Anderson to DO the fight
ing. We had three doctors, Only one Of whom,
Charleton, l remember by name. Tsese brave fe-
lows, instead Of attending 10 their duties and help
ing the wounded, ran into q marsh, and, hiding
behind log buried their bodies in the mud to es-
cape fom the bullets of the enemy. We retreated
three miles down the river and rested until morn
ing Before leaving the battlefield our officers
spDropristed to their Own use the contents of the
pockets of our dead comrades Here the diary
OF our informant gave cut, and we are only able
to give the events as he remembered them The
sick and wounded were sent from this place to
Fort Anderson on the steamboat. When she re-
turned, We embarked and went nils further up,
where we landed and built fort which we called
Fort Titus, after our commander. Sent reconnoi-
tering pGrues to find the position OF the enemy,
while uumb=r OF our men were at work building
breastWoTks.
THE CAPTURE CT sARAPIQUL
On Thursday, the 18th, at night we drew our
three cannon Zone six and two tour pounders) op
posite SarspiqIi. On the following night we
mounted them, ana the next morning Cpsn9d B
brisk fire CD tue tort 10 the midst of very heavy
rain TIE firing continued 3 day. Daring the
day a party of our men crossed the river ami
opened cross fire on the fort with small arms
The enemy retired in small parties during the dsy,
and in the night entirely deserted the f TT Next
morning cur officers marched into he fort, nOae
under the grade q lieute0ant5 being allowed 10
enter and helped themselves to what they could
find. When we entered we found only bushel
and half Of beans, few bushels OF rice, and s)ms
old rusty mUskets. Tnree pieces OF c .nnCn were
fshed cut of the river one Of them an iron niue
pouuder. suprosed to have been furnished by tie
English. We also found wounded Costa Rlcau
il the fort, VINO told Us that tho enemy had lost
IA killed and 30 wounded. He SAID that Mora
compelled the natives to fgdt or suffer the gar.
roe. WefJlloWed the trail Of the enemy for five
miles up the river, and came upon two oJuer dead
bodies. On the I4.h We returned to Fort Ssrap,'
oui and Col. Titus went up tie river with hI5 bat
talon TO surround Fort CssuliO. The native, 81
bis spDEosch set FIRE to thu small steamboat J. L.
Scott. Titus offered $500 to ybedy WHO would
extiuguish the FIRE Pr7utes De Bgusset and Ken
tuck swan out to her and succeeded 10 putting the
FIRE out. They have yet to ge- the $500, however.
The fort was manned By about sixty natives, uu-
der command OF an Z gii5hman. A fire was kept
Up oil day upon the place, and next day Titus Ted
long psrey with the commander.
Why TITUS DID bot TAKE CASTILLO.
What passed between them is not known, ex-
cept that the Enghshmsn was willing to relIrouIsh
the place without further OlOOdshed; but lie said
that his authority did not ex,e8d so far without
special permission from Gen. Mora. Much to the
cbagrin of his men, who gave vent to their dissst
siacton il very audible sugnags, he granted the
EngllshmEn "a armsiICe OF "A hours, and allowed
him TO send q messenger through bis lines to Gen.
Mora ito ask whether he should give Up the fort
or rot" Of course, thus appraised G n. Mora dis
patched reinforcement Of 400 meu to their as
sisisuce, and Iitus, at their approach, sounded q
retreat All retired with the exception Of two
companies, G and B VITO did not get the order,
being around hIl out Of sight, aud in cOnse-
quence lest 30 men before they escaped.
This bffsir created great deal OF comment
Scne attributed FIJuss conduct to sheer coward
ice while others affirm that he sold Tie battle. At
ali events, it generally conc, d-d that he was
nearly master Of the place wDen be granted the
srmistice and allowed q messenger to go through
bis lines to the head quarters Of the enemy. Col
Titus reusstei down the river s6Out twenty miles,
and eucsmpgd upon an island. Here his officers
swOre they would serve GO longer under such 8
poltrOou, AID bis men vowed that they would
shoot him for his COwa.dlce. At this be left the
enCsmpment, os.ensIbiy to 60 to Walker, via Pan
anna At GreytOwn be was arrested f ? insulting
an EugIsh DficgT, but was released. Then be in
suled tie American COLsul aud vas taken prison.
or BY the CticeFs OF tue Am-r.c.n msn-ot-WRr
Saratoga, and was aga released He then took
passage IN the Tennessee to Aspnwal On the
same day that he arrived there twenty four of his
mea VINO bad escaped dOHn the river 90 rats and
in canoes, arrived 10 tie British steamer CLYDE
swearing Vengeance upon him. The valiant Titus
went about Aspnwsll WITH a loaded revolver in
his FIST, expecting that bis outraged me1 would
really take his lie. Capt BrBDtey, Lieut. Vowels
and ether officers also deserted and went 10 As.
pnwsl at the expense Of the Engijsl; and every
arrival brought large numbers OF tue discounted
fllibustsrs. When our in.Ormsnts left there were
nearly 100 # these msu at Aspuwsll, unable TO
an PASS &c to the States They themselves es-
capped from PuaIa Arenas T. AspInwsI on the
British steamer, and only got home By working
taeir passage on the Tenles>es. 1t vas reported
IL AspnwalI tbst the f glish aad determined to
prevent the landing Of any more hIlbusIeTs at
GreytowD.
COMFORT FOR WALKER -TromfsC Sryker, son
Of Mr. SAMUEL D oryk 0! Lan9ertsville, N J
who has been IN the service OF Walker, came Dss-
8 suger in the TenLesses On his way home He lett
B vas on the Sd OF March, and considered that |
Walker would be a0e TO maintain his position |
there in SPITE Of any force which the allies can |
bring sga nst him; Bui if he could only obtain re-
nforc- ments to the number Of about l 500 he /
would be able to walk triumphsnrly through the .
Whole country; but without rtinforcsmCnt5 be
must remsin wnere be is Il appeared evident
hat crisis was near ct hand, which wcu!d seal |