Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-02-13
The seizure of walkers steamers.

A bIief aCCC unit OF the SEIZURE OF w alkers steam
ers and the capture of his military posts Serapqui
and Fort St. Carlos, has been briefly mentioned
The expedition. t appears cok lis departure on the
10th of December, by the San Carlos, tributary of
the San Juan which enters that river about half way
| betw cen the Lake and San Juan del Norte. The
! Panama Star ant Herald says:
As this route is very little if used, the Costa
Ricans experienced great difficulties in advancing,
having to cut their way through the forest along
track where mules could not be used and along which
all the provisions and munitions of war had to be
borne on mems shoulders. Six days spent on
the march, during which the rain fell amos; inc es-
sanity at last the embarcadero'' reached,
and few canoes hastily constructed. and RATS
made of trunks of trees rudely dashed together with
vines and twigs.
Thus these enterprlsing men, most of whom had
never before beheld boat navgatle river, bold
" embarked on the 10th of December, to float down
an unknown stream. to IFS confluence with the river
San JUAN and thence to Greytown itself. 1t was in
deed perllous Undertaking. Had these frai RATS,
upon which $50 men had ventured, met oil
! Walkers steamers coming up or going down the NV
er, the slightest contact would have been fatal to
! them.
The seizure of the forts and the steamers the visit
TO Greytown and the unsuccessful attempt to obtain
British interference for the protection of the proper
ty OF the Trarsit Company, are then narrated essen
italy heretofore 81 ven The account in the paper
above quoted then proceeds
On ascending the river, when off the mouth of the
river San Carlos one of the steamers was despatch.
ed to ascertain if Gen. Jose Joaquin Mora (brother
of The President Of Costa RICa) had arrived a The
embarcadero with The main body of the expedition
aly army and if so, to report the success of the
petition 10 Greytown, that measures mi ght imme-
datey be taken for carrying promptly into effect The
second part of the plan of operations.
On proceeding up the San Carlos five men, placed
on raft as videttes became frightened by the noise
and appearance of the approaching steamer, (never
having before seen imagined the lke,) plunged
into the river, and were drowned IN the attempt to
reach the bank. The steamer then landed two men
to cut their way thrl the forest to the embarca
dero, 10 order that Gen, Mora might receive timely
notice that the steamer no longer an enemy, SO
that the probability of his firing upon her might be
removed General Mora was found at his post, with
800 men followed by rear guard Of 300, who have
since also arrived In addition to these, Two trans
port corps of 600 men are alternately employed in
carrying provisions, ammunition, &c., from the in
terror TO the embarcadero.
The plan of future operations is thus sketcht d -
> General Mora having now 140O men, exclusive o.
the land transport corps expected 500 more at th'
embarcadero OF San Carlos, who doubtless, have ar
rived long since The river was to be occupied BY
; 800 of these, backed by artillery and breaSt-Works
and supported by the steamers, whilst General Mora
was 10 move up TO La Vrg in with 100 men and oc
cupy thansit route
Meanwhile, General Cansas. having retired from
Rivas upon Massaya where the allied Generals have
been misspending both time and opportunity in dis
sensions, Rvas was occupied by Walker. HIS force
are estipated by his friends at 12Oo-by his enemie
at 800. In either case it is well known that abou
300 are on the sick list. By last offoal accounts
Gen. Canas was nominated commander in chief o
the allied forces. He was on his march back 10 Ri
vas with 1000 men, where he would arrive just abou
: the same time when Gen. Mora would reach Ii
) Virgin near Rivas, with 100 men and the steamers
If Gen. Canas can only succeed in harmoniElng thu
dscordant elements he has to deal with. and restore
unanimity among the Central American Generals, thu
fate of Walker may be considered sealed If, how
ever, party ealouses and intrgues allow The allie
TO divide their force. Walker has still chance o
making good his retreat to San Juan del Sur, and es
= Gaping the country.