Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-01-23
From The n Q. Deltal
AN INTERESTING LITTER PROM NICARAGUA


be commenced evacuating ard ordered TO be burnt.
That be had only succeeded in shipping the women
aud children, sick and wounded, ard portion OF
bis men and stores, when the enemy came down
on the place in great force, hemmed iour or i've
hundred of bis people in on the plaza, with all The
cannon, murdered those in charge Of the old fort
on the beach, set FIRE to the wharf and cariisd Of
and destroyed the baggage that was in the fort
And we also heard that the enemy Lad murdered
an the fsmi les SICK and wounded, who had been
sent over to Ometspec. This state Of things was
very different to what we expected to iad. l am
satisfied that some wished themselves back in the
States. So gloomy did the prospect appear, IL a.
IL was thought advisable to lave the families who
accompanied Us al Castillo. Some Of the females
however, would not be lefs. They declared their
intention to share tie fate of their hsgs lerds.--
At FIVE in the evening We left Castillo; amid the
speeches Of the officers and enthusiastic sLo1ts of
the mes, most of whom appeared anxious o resch
TIE scene Of their future action. l heard some
express fears lest the enemy had taken San Carlos
oze Of Gen. Walkers poets on tbs lake, and that
they would fire on the steamer when we reached
there. Others suggested that they might have ia
ken the lake steamer, and that would capture Us,
IS we had no means of defsnse When We ruus along
side About daylight we reached San Carlos, aud
cast snckOr, to await the steamer. The Ncars-
guam flag was still floating, and the sentry was
seen on bis walk, AMI The cannon and ball soud be
seen through the distance, which assured tho Doubt
ing that all was safe, so far As soon IS it was
light enough to see any dis ance, the San CaTlJs
hove in sight We we ghed anchor, run ont to
meet her, and by o o'clock We transferred Bag and
baggage to her deck. We thol learned that the
reports We had heard wo true, except in regard
to Omet0Dec. Those sent 10 that island had been
attacked by tive huadred OF the enemy, after night,
but Gen Fry having received intITnsuon Of the at.
tack was prepared for it. aud succeeded, with his
feeble force, in driving of the enemy, with
considerable loss while he only lest one man, kill
ed, wh1 lost his life by following tRc enemy too
far.
By 5 o'clock IN the afternoon we vera at Virgin
Bay, where we disem5srksd, 10 await the orders
of Gen. Walker, who was st San George about
nine miles distant where ho had been 70. several
days skirmishing with the enemy, who occupied
RiVas, two and half miles further inland. Tue eX-
press sent to headquarters returned about mid
night, with orders for our battalion to take the
steamer and repair Immediately to headquarters
Before we could do this our men had to carry
aboard the timber prepared for barEicads, with
which to raise steam.
Early next morning we anchored of San George,
three or four hundred yards from shore We had
to 90 out in "bongOs," (oig el1oes) there being
no wharf This vas 10 peassn. thing, the waer
being shoal and the wind blowing fresh ashore -
But as we had left all cur baggage except our
blankets, at Virgin Bsy, we had nothing to take
care of but ourselves a line was carried out and
made fast, by which the bongo wss to be pulled to
and from the steamer. As soon a5 tie bOngO
would strike, when all hands would hare to jump
out and take the waves, which were rolling nigh
enough TO give one pretty considerable voting,
and not few got completely immersed. All got
safely ashore, with the loss OF few pistols, knives
and hats One poor fellow, who took the precau-
ton to take of bis shoes 10 keep them dry, came
out bsrsfcoted. As soon as al were ashore the
companies were pnradsd and marched up to San
George, which is situated back from the lake halt
mile They were drawn up in front Of Gen.
| Walkers quarters for inspection. When be made
his appearance the boys gave him three hearty
cheers that made the welkin ring, and startled the
natives. But few Of US had ever seen the Gene
| RAJ, and l know that few would hB7s selected the
mid, little man, with the strange, gray eyes, as
| the renowned Filbustero who had Caussl such
! connection IA the civilized world.
! The same evening, the Z h, Capt Higley's cJm-
! psnv was ordered on board the steamer San Car
los, under command Of Gen. Sanoer7, for the pu--
| pose Of running up 20 Grenada, and seeing how
matters stood there. Tuesday evening thsy
turned and reported that the besiegel mad fought
! their way down to a church about nRlt mile from
! the lake, and which commanded 3 street leading
! to it, and that half way between the church and
| tie lake they had dug bitches thrOWn up embark.
msnts, and erected barbados, to which Trey Goa.
vsyed most of the cannon.
On the evening Of the l0ih orders were given
for killing and drying tea beeves. This looked as
though an expedition was on foot. On tie eve.
ming of the 18th learned that Capt. Leslies COM
psny Of old Rangers, Captains FareI and VIII
sons California Rangers, Capt CrRwlorIs Texas
Rangers, and Capt. Ii gleys company Of infantry,
| in al numbering one hundred sad sixty msn-0e-
! sides several volunteers had bseu ordered to re-
! pair on board the steamer Virgin uni5r c)n
! mand of Colonel Waters and Lieur Col LOckrIdys
By midnight all were abroad snd the next NOR
| ming we anchored of Granada, cut OF resCl Ofthe
euemvs gun, in the old fort on the beach. D1
ring the day Gen. Walker, who was on board,
watched the movements Of the enemy on shore.
By aid of the glass, we could see that they had
| erected strong DsrriCades above the Tor. on the
beach and below, from the beach back 10 a for. in
the rear of the barbados Of our ireLds. We could
also see that they had cannon no lntei on a tow
er at a church. IL the rear of the one occupied by
| the besieged. During the day the enemy kept up
an irregular fire with cannon and small arms.
We lsV ct anchor until after dark, 50 81 10 as
! certain from the enemys camp fires where their
pickets were posted. Having done this, we weigh
| ed anchor sud run up above Granada. be weea
two and three miles, TO where previous landing
! had been effected, and where We COuli 90 ashore
! without getting more than our feet wet The line
that was to be carried as ore was Placed 10 large
bungo we had in tow, 50 that Ia Cas5 the enemy
were in too great force on the sh re, those ia It
could pull back to the steamer Capt. Fsrrel's
company of Rangers were ord red mo the bungo,
under command of Col. Lookridgs Z l. McD u
aid accompanied them as a vOuntse-. Toe buDgo
was towed ashore by the small boat belonging to
the steamer When Thin forty or fifty yarIs Of
shore, the enemy, who were CO. cssed in tue uu-
dergrowtb, opened hssvy fire upon tie hungo.
Some proposed putting hack, 10. tbs Cyl Lock-
rdg, prevented. Oae m6n lmPsd ", rOoard but
kept bus gun dry and wsdsd ss-o-e. When those
in the buDgO returned tie fire, the enemy f d
From the number o. shots, l should Judge their
numberto have b en- twenty-five or thirty.
By II o'clock all were ian led and in marching
order, Capt, Lsss's company of o d r myers ia
advance, Capt. FerrelIs oJmpsny came next then
Capt CrawtOrd's and Capt Hjgl Us; Capt Wi 'u's
company in the rear Col. Waters commanded the
advance, while Col. Lockridge brought 40 the rear
Oar march was slong a narrow psawar. CIT
throughs dense underground, with .ke NIcara
qua GU our left, and sguns or lake on our riyhr.
10 ID order we had prOcesedi qIlsta6our three
quarters of 8 mile, when the suIllsss Of the night
was broken by heavy discharge OF mIsks'ry ~
on our advance, from behind bsrrcsue &c Cd
Boross our psth, at point who the two lakes
come within thirty yards Of each Other. OR sd-
vance returned the fire. and sOG the fri - becsms
general on both sides Oar men fought brsvdy,
but without effect, as the enemy Icy conget.eI aud
protected. There was no chance ID E AK, and We
had either to charge, be shot down, CT retreat.