New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-04-24
The Lockridge Expedition.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.

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FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Under date of the 9th inst, correspondent Of the
New York Times writes from San Juan. We extract |
the following from his letter. only remarking that
there have been several contradictory statements re-
garding the conduct of Col. Titus at Castillo:
Just before the expiration of the twentyour hours
small body of Costa Ricans came through the woods
from up the river, and fred upon one of the pquet
guards, who running to Titus, saying that the
Costa Rcans were coming upon them. He was told
to go back to his company and give them fight.
"But says the guard there are more than five hun
dred of them" Col. Titus replied" The hi there
is Then we had better run save yourselves, boys"
and started upon the run, with one company with I
him, some of them before and some behind him. One |
of these reported afterwards that he never saw SO fat
so fast before Gen. Wheat had left before
him.
In the meantime the other two companies had not
heard the order to retreat but fought the Costa Rcans
we'll and after killing some of the enemy, and losing
themselves a few men, they succeeded in driving
them back. The Costa Ricans were in fact retreat
ing when asked, q" where is Col Titus ?'
another replied why, he left some threequarters
Of an hour ago. whereupon they all retreaed, and
followed the lead of Titus leaving their provisions
and ammunition in the rear.
They found Col. Titus about two miles down the
river When they all met Col Titus said: Now,
or die in the attempt Nota Costa Rcan essayed to
pursue them.
The whole strength of the Costa Rcans in the fort
when Titus went there and Of the reinforcements
who drove him away, was ascertained by an Ameri-
can, neutral as to party, who visited the fort few
days afterwards, to be just trentyone men. Sixty
came through the woods, and from these Col. Titus
fed. The steamer Scott, which had been taken from
the enemy during the first day, by some six or eight
men who swan to the boat and cut her from under
the guns of the fort then oated down the river
and padded ashore near where Titus and his men |
were stationed They all then went on board and
foated still further down, to Machuca Rapids, and
there remained till the arrival of the Rescue, on the
morning of the goth, with men and provisions
| Col. Lockridge, who had been down the river dur
ing this time, with the little boat went board the
Scott and inquired Of Titus what it all meant-why
he had left Castillo etc. He told him that he could
have taken it with so men, easily and that he (Col.
Titus) was coward. whereupon Col. Titus replied
| that he allowed no man to call him coward +; that
Lockridge played the coward at Serapiqua, and sez-
ing Lockrldge by the throat was about to throw him
overheard when some friends nterered and separated
them.
Col. Lockridge apologized to Titus, and for the
sake of keeping the men in subordinaton, the diff
ever Lockridge sent Col Titus as special messenger
and bearer OF dispatches to Gen. Walker via Aspin
wall.
Titus lost four men, killed at Castillo: James Pea
COCK B. c. Lang. Peter Mann and L. NJ. Washington.
A Mr.. Sites, who acted as Orderly in the expedition
and was severely wounded at serapiqu furnishes the
following statement to the Times of the disasters
which afterwards overlook the Lockridge party. It
has the appearance Of being mainly correct:
After the repuse of Col. Titus at Castillo, our in-
formant says, the works at Serapiqui were totally
destroyed and all the buildings burned. The troops
then at that point embarked on board the river
steamers on the 22d March and proceeded to Fort
Slater, place about twenty miles below Castillo,
and named after gentleman OF New Orleans who
had largely contributed to the flibuster cause. The
forces at this point joined those from below on board
g the two steamers Rescue and J. N. Scott making
+ about 800 able men, besides about 100 sick and
4 wounded. This included the $50 recruits who had
!. just previously arrived from New Orleans under com
# mand of Major Capers and number of whom were
taken sick soon after reaching San juan From Fort
l. Slater the steamers ran up to Kelys store, about
eight miles below Castillo where the greater portion
e were landed and marched around the rapids. About
n eighty men, under Capt Schlitcht were left at thu
store TO hold the position Above the rapids the mel
e were again taken on board, and the steamers pro
e ceeded to within view of Fort Castillo, when it wa
discovered that the enemy had more strongly forte
the place by the construction of water batteries
more particularly by throwing up works on Nelson
Hill, an elevation on the same side of the river,
d little below Castillo According to appearance, th
e Costa Ricans had concentrated all their available
r. forces at Nelson's Hill and Fort Castillo, and th
e general opinion that it would require not les
t than 2 900 men to dislodge them. The steamer
halted during the survey within two-thrds cannon
=, shot of Nelson's H where they could men pass
ing to and fro Oh the hill but no fire opened upor
II them.
IS After prolonged consultation it was decided tina
to make attack would be highly imprudent, prom
Using successful resnlt and that nothing remained
but to retire at The steamers then headed dow
stream, and stopped at keys store, where they tool
1t board the men left at that place. under Captain
Il Schtcht. On the 3lst of March, got up steam ant
headed for San JUAN with sort of scow-built Graf
in tow, carrying the cannon, arms, equipments, etc
T. When about mile above Serapiaui, the Scott OF
J. to sand bar, and stuck fast and it was here theex
II plosion occurred The Scott it will be recollected
i, stern wheel boat and the boiler and machiner,
e located towards the after part. At the time
,,a,ha n
u roasting crackers, and otherwise cooking Our in
fomant in the act of descending the cabin stairs
~ with the aid of cruches, when the explosion happen
n ed. He was thrown his back, but sustained
or rious injury About twenty men killed outright
~ missing included and eight or ten have died since
=; not far from thirty men were more or less scalded il
III addition The of the explosion was the SUI
posed defective condition of the steam apparatus an
N the careessness of the engineer From the blackene
8, condition of the faces of the scaded thought
y at first that powder had been maciousy placed
~ contact with the furnace. There large quar-
M tty of powder board but luckily it slowed fo
~ ward and was not ignited.
Immediately after the explosion the scalded wer
placed on board the launch, and the Rescue taking
N in tow started for Punta Arenas. A number of th
n men were left the Scott for the time that
r. being partly aground, did not entirely sink. On
in irving at Pnnta Arenas some eight or ten surgeon
on from the vessels composing the British fleet, came
oe board and rendered their services to dress the
" of the disabled. They contributed all the kind atte
y tions in their power and are entitled to much pra
NJ for the same.
- The Tennessee left San Juan on the 9Th inst, or
or cur informant went board of her in company wit
about fifty others, all Of whose passage had been pr
, vded for he supposes. by Lockridge. Just tt
sb Tennessee was leaving Greytown Col Lockridge a
rived from up the river, and, when within haili
et distance, with wave of his hand, exclaimed, g {
on now, that's all we are going to give you )" mpl
m ing that there sick to be sent home tht
FOR and no deserters. Col Lockridge had been busy
If to the time OF the departure of the Tennessee in pr
sn pairing to leave for Aspinwal with a view to jo
tv Gen. Walker. At Kelly's store he had appealed
& his men to know how many would accompany him
No. as the British fleet would permit no buster to lea
his under restraint. About $50 declared their readine
NY, to follow him, but a number of these were killed
ii, severely wounded by the explosion. twas though
via though by means certain, that he would take
il far from 100 men with him to join Walker. Lockrid
or- seemed to have means enough at his command, b
he slightly economical in disbursing In all prol
m bility he procured vessel and left San Juan within
n few days after the departure of the Tennessee VIII
"n informant left Col Anderson was on the sick Ii
va having been scalded at the time of the eXplosio
o Gen. Wheat was in prime condition and fat mac
'AN erel The general conviction was adverse to the
pacy of Col. Lockridge commander but it "
~, believed that difficulty would he removed when