, 1857-05-29
From the Panama Star and Herald.

From the Panama Star and Herald.
We are enabled to-day to lay before our
/, readers detailed account of the events
that have lately transpired on the San Juan
river, for which we are Indicated to Mr.
A. G. Hill, of Gonzales, Texas, who held
the rank Of Adjutant in the expedition, and
came down to Aspinwall in II. b. Ms ship
CosSack.
Mr. Hill furnished us with the facts,
his note book at the time of the occur
rences and we have every reason TO be-
ieve that the following statements are
strictly correct:
On the 25th Of March the expedition,
commanded by Col Lockridge, consisting
of 400 and odd men, arrived at the Machu-
ca rapids in the steamers j. n. Scott and
Rescue. Here the men were landed and
marched round the rapids, whilst next day
the Rescue was forced owe them, and the
Scott anchored below, as a reserve. By
the 2Sth they had advanced within three
miles of the Castillo rapids, and spent the
night on the banks of the river, opposite
an island, and in view Of the fort. On
Sunday, (29th, further advance of q
mile and half was made, and early on
Monday morning the'whole force was again
in march, the Texan company, under the
command of Col Lockridge, in advance, the
intention being to occupy position called
Nelson Hill, and to attack the fort at Cas-
tllo. About two o'clock in the afternoon,
they had advanced to within pistol shot of
the Costa Rican outposts, where they could
distinctly ii ic GU sce the men cutting down the
trees for the purpose Of erecting barrcades,
and clearing away the underwood. The
enemy did not appear to- be aware Of their
presence, the men laughing and shouting
! as they worked, and the sentries not mani
Testing any particular vigilance at their
posts About an hour before sundowA o
council of war was held, consisting Of Col.
Lockridge, Gen. Wheat, Col. Anderson,
Major Monday, Captain Walker, and 9th
ers, at which it was discussed whether the
fort should be attacked. This council las
ted for some time, but our informant was
not able to furnish the particulars, further
than the fact that many of the members
insisted on Colonel Lockridge giving the
first vote; whether this was done or not,
he could not state, but shortly afterwards
he was dispatched with orders to Col.
Doubleday, who commanded the rear guard,
to take up the line Of retreat back to camp.
On the morning Of the 3lst, the main
body Of the army started back, and at the
Machuca rapids, Lockridge made an appeal
to the men, asking for volunteers TO join
him in an attempt to force his way by land
to Walker, or to make diversion in his
favor by ascending the Seripique, and car
rying the war into Costa Rica. About one
hundred men responded 10 his call, and
they embarked on board the Scott, (togeth-
er with the sick and wounded, and one la
dy,) intending to land at Seripique point,
and then send on Scott to Greytown
On the I'd of April, about nine o'clock
in the morning, when about two miles
above Seripique, and whilst the Scott was
heading up the stream to land the men for
breakfast on a small island, just as her bow
touched the shore, and before more than a
few men had jumped on shore, the steamers
boiler burst with terrific explosion, shat
tering the boat to pieces, and blowing
many of the men for considerable distance
into the water. The following is list Of
the killed:
Major W. Morris, Captains Slate and
Cocklin, Lieut.. Volger, N N. Beidleman,
J. Burlington, G. York, J. l.. Fewell, Joe
Murray, W. Edmondson, c. S. Thomas, j.
Wilson, r. Higgins.
Besides whom the following we're
Severely Wounded-Col. +. Anderson,
Lieut.. Col Doubleday, Captains NJ French
and Darlington, Liept's. J. A. Sistere and
Mulholland; c. Kennedy, F. Crawford, A.
Bailey, E. Baker, j. Rooney, and eighteen
Others slightly injured
The wounded and sick, who were in the
stern of the boat, escaped uninjured, as
did also the lady passenger
:. At court of inquiry, subsequently held
to examine into the cause of the accident
it was proved that some days previously,
one of the crOwn-plates of the boiler had
cracked, owing to the water having been
allowed to get too low, and it had been
temporarily repaired by the Engineer.
All idea of Lockridge's expedition being
now abandoned, the Rescue conveyed all
the men to Seripique in two trips, from
whence they made their way in launches,
canoes and RATS, to Greytown, which was
reached by the main body on the 9th, ten
of the wounded and sick having died on
the passage down.
I On arrival at Greytown, Col Lockridge
mustered the men and disbanded them
stating that their services we're no longer
required, and making them give up theiI