Mariposa Democrat., 1857-06-25


mander-in-chicf and President Of Niear-
aqua;
Sm-In conformity with your instructions
on the night of the Sd of April, / proceeded
with Colonel Waters to the enemy's camp at
Cuatro Esquinas, to confer on your behalf with
Capt. Davis, of the U. S. sloop-of-war St Mary's.
Captain Davis, said he knew your position was
untenable; that he had opened negotiations
with the allies for the evacuation Of that place,
if you would consent. Firstly, that Colonel
Lockridge had retired from the river; 2dly,
that no more steamers would come out from
the U. s., and 3dly, that your ranks were
being thinned by desertion; and therefore pro-
posed that you should surrender Rivas and
you and your staff should accompany him to
San Juan, and thence per U. SIS. st. Mary's to
Panama, the rest to be transported via Tor
tugas and Punta Arenas to Panama, after sur
rendering their arms, and the officers retain
ing their side arms.
] replied that your entertaining such pro-
positions would depend on your being satisfied
with regard to the evacuation of the river that
your principal motive for holding Rivas was,
that Lockridge might arrive and find it oc-
cupied by the enemy; that it was probable
you could not hold out much longer, but you
could break the enemy's ranks, and march in
any direction you pleased; that if you were
further enfeebled you could cut your way to
the Pacific and embark at San Juan or some
other point on the coast on your schooner Gra-
NADIA, with two six Founders, stores arms,
cartridges, canister, ammunition, powder and
lead.
On this Captain Davis remarked, that he
a. tI.t Il,
atterdble determination not to allow the schoon-
er Granada to leave the port and to take pos
session of her previous to her sailing, which
must take place In few days lie was acting
on instructions from his superior officer, from
the Commander in chief; that since the last
administration, instructions have been received
which contained nothing to alter the course he
intended to pursue, but he preferred | should
consider this as unsaid-and that you would
regard him as acting on his own and sole. re-
sponsibility. | remarked that his resolution
was a most important one and would probably
prove a determining fact, and therefore asked
him to repeat deliberately whether it was his
fixed determination to seize the Granada; he
replied that it was his unalterable resolution not
to allow the schooner to leave the harbor and
to take possession Of her before he sailed.
With regard to the evacuation of the San Juan
river by Col Lockridge and his forces, he said
that he had entirely satisfied himself Of the
fact, both by the investigations of his Lieut..
McCorkle and by perusing the copy of a con
tract for passage to the U. 5. of said force,
signed by Scott, and officers of the British
Squadron, beside other corresponding evidence.
observed that he might have been i'm
posed on by forgery, and asked whether his
conviction was shared by Mr.. Mcdonald, agent
Of the Transit Co., whose position rendered his
opinion valuable. Capt Davis replied that Mr..
Mcdonald had been satisfied Of the fact by
Lieut. McCorkle's representations but that
he { Capt. Davis was fully aware Of the re-
sponsibility he was assuming, and pledged him
self for the authenticity of his statement. ]
thereupon agreed to submit the following offer
from Capt. Davis, as the only proposition like
ly to be admissible, viz that, under the guar
antee of the American flag you should, with
sixteen Of your officers selected by yourself
with their arms, horses and effects leave Riyas
to embark at San Juan for Panama-that
Rivas, with its garrison, should be surrendered
to Capt. Davis-that the privates should de-
liver up to him their arms and together with
their officers, employees and citizens be trans
ported by another route to Panama, accom-
panied by U. S. officer, and under guarantees
of the U. S. flag
At2A.M. May l, returned to Rivas, pro-
missing your answer at 10 A. NJ, and per-
sonally to come back, if the negotiation was
not broken off Accordingly, at 10, | return
ed to the quarters of Capt. Davis, at the Qua
tro Esquinas accompanied again by Col
Waters, when Capt Davis signed the draft of
the agreement which had made out in your
presence and TO which you acceded, in view Of
the determining fact--that Capt. Davis de-
clared that he had embargoed and intended to
seize the Granada (Which was therefore Ger.
tain), and pledged himself as to the evacuation
of the San Juan river by Col. Lockridge (Which
was therefore more than probable.)
In conformity with your Instructions, the
agreement in question was drawn out without
any reference to the allied rebel leaders, eX-
cept when once mentioned as the enemy.
With Gen. Zavala, interchanged courtesies in
the quarters of Captain Davis, Jerez met in
the same place, after signature of the agree
ment But no allusion was made to it by
either, while being still negotiated or after its
conclusion.
only observed, in reply to remark which
had been made, that shots were fired from
both lines during the armistice that from the
other side they were fired on wantonly-from
ours, only when the enemy profited, by the
suspension of arms, to induce desertion or to
erect barricades, which we considered, and
would continue to consider an act of hostility;
and that on the 1lth ultimo, when we re-
turned the wounded and prisoners to the en-
emy, by your directions, | myself saw them,
under cover of the white flag, attempt to raise
a barrier on the San Jorge road. TO this Gen.
Zavala replied, that very different orders had
been given, and that the matter should be bet
ter looked into in future, but gave me to un-
derstand that the commander in one Of the
enemy's entrenched camps had very little con-
troll over the other Having brought back
this agreement for your signature, Col. Waters
returned with it to the Cuatro Esquinas, and
was to bring back Capt Davis as soon as word
was sent that you were ready to eyacuate
next ordered cannon, foundry and ammuni-
ton to be destroyed, by breaking the trunions
and saving through the carriages of the former
by breaking up the steam engine fam and Gu
poa of the foundry, and throwing the amihuni
ton and powder into the arsenal-yard wells.
This order was duly executed by Lieut..
Colonels Swingle and Patterson respectively,