Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-06-26

and on the morning of the 23d they made general
assault, which was repulsed with great loss on the
part OF the enemy. Afterwards they attempted to
invest the town. but never fully succeeded, on ae-
count OF the vast force required for such an under.
taking On the 1lth of April they again assaulted
RiVas but were driven back with even more loss than
on the 23d of March. In order to show how the
enemy were reduced after the 11th of April | need
only st te that on the evening of that day single
officer, accompanied by native servant, passed out
OF Rlvas and went down to San Juan del Sur He
there received the letters sent TO me from New York
Dy the steamer of the goth Of March, and brought
them to Rivas on the morning of the 18th of April
This fact, let me saw was known tn Commandor
Davis
From the 23d of March until the 23d of April. !
knew that Com. Davis was in correspondence with
the allies concerning The state force in Rvas-
knew that he was receiving information from them
calculated to mlseaa him in relation to nv position
and prospects. But Com. Davis was in the mean
while making such professions of friendship for his
countrymen III Nicaragua that was disposed to at.
llDue MS conduct to an anxiety for the garri
son OF Rivas On the 23d of April, however circum-
stances occurred which led me to doubt the sincerity
of MS pro,estatons.
On that day the second lieutenant of the St. Mary's
Lieut. Houston, accompanied bI non commissioned
oIlcer OF the maHes came into Rvas for the purpose
OF conducting the women-hoth American and native
IRON that place to San Juan del Sur. While in
the Town Lieut. Houston expressed his great surprise
cheerful confidence which pervaded the officers and
men. but during his presence he and the soldier of
marines with him gave information 10 the garrison
calculated to diminish the courage of the command
lhese acts, derogatlng from their neutrality, were
done IN violation of an order by me that the soldier
marines was rot to repeat in Rivas any of the
reports circulated by the enemy in San Juan del Sur
The effect of Lieut.. Houston's visit was apparent
hom the GeseriOns which Immediately followed it.
Another circumstance occurred during Lieut.. Hous-
ons stay IN RlVas TO which afterwards learned to
attach Importance That officer informed me he was
ordered by Commander Davis to tell me- that any
communication desired to make to Mr.. G. J. Mac
donald agent of Messrs. Carlson Morgan & Sons
might be made under enclosure to Capt Davis him
self. Although felt such an offer was departure
from duty on the part of United States officer,
did nos hesitate to take advantage Of the offer. in
formed Lieut.. Houston that did not desire to write
to Mr.. Macdonald but that he might say to Com.
mandT DAVIS from me--and with the understanding
Mat it was to be communicated 10 Mr.. Macdonald
that considered my position at Rlvas impregnable
TO the force at the disposal of the enemy as long
my provisions lasted that if Col. Lockridge did not
Join me in Rivas by the time my commssary stores
were exhausted, would abandon the place and join
the force on the San Juan river and that consider
ed myself entirely able and competent to carry out
such movement. When learned afterwards that
This message was never delivered to Mr.. Macdonald
was forced to consider Commander Davis offer an
effort to draw from me declaration which he light
afterwards turn to my disadvantage.
After the visit of Lieut. Houston, heard no more
from Commander Davis until the 30th of pri when
truce with letter from that officer to myself
The letter proposed that should abandon Rivas and
90 aboard of the ST. Mary's to Panama. Commander
DAVIS undertaking TO suarnty my personal safety
AIthoughsthis proposition was extremely offensive
insinuang, as it did, that my personal safety, in
stead of the honor and dignity of the government of
~nlcn was The executive, might prove a determln-
ing circumstance in military conventon-I replied
that the proposition was vague, and suggested his
commlng into Rvas, and personal conference be-
tween US. onl y submitted 10 the modification of
answering such letter on the supposition that Com
mander Davis mi ght have information did not pos
sess, and which might justify the substance, though
not the manner, of his offer. He answered by say
ing that he was sorry found his proposition vague
that he proposed {" should abandon the enterprise
and leave the country - that might rely en- the fact
OF Col. Lockridge having left the San Juan river !;
and, finally, that he had maturey considered the in
vltatlon to enter Ryas and had decided unreserved-
lY, not 10 take such step.
The tone OF this note was, if possible more often
slVe than that OF the first and the of the word
" enterprise in connection with a government which
Commander Davis had studiously acknowledged by
addressing me as "president' but few weeks pre-
vously, sounded rather discordant AS, however,
the letter stated the evacuation OF the San Juan river
the hrst news had of this event. stopped 10
olo"SA viz OAOus1Fe uOIS Dy proposing 10 s0Du lWO
othcers-Genera Henningsen and Col. Waters-to
meet Commander Davis, provided they had safe con-
duct from the allied general. An answer soon ca ne.
lhclosng the required Sale conduct, and the answer
was IN effect that Gen Henningsen and Col Waters
should proceed at once to the headquarters Of the
allies, as Commander Davis, instructions required his
speedy return to San Juan de Sur. | Was surpfs Il
to recognize the body of the note as the haudwrung
OF General LaVala-one OF the genera Of the all ed
forces who spoke and wrote English-and 10 flu
that such 2ote signed by profrssed neutral.
For what passed between Gen. HenniugSen and
Colonel y aters and Commander Davis, [ refer you
TO the report of The former officer, herewith enclosed,
and to the terms Of the convention of Rvas Allow
me 10 suggest that the convention itself Is the best
evidence the army in RiVas was not Oh the eve OF
destruction or dissolution. II the peril 20 any com
maid was great has been publicly represented,
the allies won never have permitted Us to evacuate
the place, not only in safety but with honor.
In his interview with Gen. Henningsen, Command
Davis had expressed his 80 una,erable detemina-
ton - to seize the schooner Granada and this had
been determining circumstance with E1e in signing
the convention. | was, therefore, surprised the
morning after | went aboard the ST. Marys 10 hear
Commander Davis propose that should deliver the
vessel to him without the necessity for The use of
force. This rejected He then proposed | should
deliver the vessel on coalition he gave me the arms
and ammunition on board of ner. | replied not rag
nor SPLINTER should be given up, except TO an over
whelming force; for the honor of the little vessel
was in her hull and rigging and in The flag she bore,
and in comparison with this, The value OF The prop
erty aboard her was mere dross. Need | express
surprise that United States naval officer should make
SO dishonorable proposition?
Finding that Commander Davis appeared 10 hesitate
in the execution of what he had declared his g unal
terabIe determination, endeavored 10 convince him
of the gross wrong and in Jury he would commit by
the seizure of the Granada. | endeavored to satisfy
him he had right to question the flag Of the schoon-
er while she lay IN the port Of San Juan that while
there she was in the territory of Nicaragua, and
subject only to the sovereignty of that republic that