New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-03-13
Battles Of serapiqui and Castillo.

The Aspinwall Courier publishes letter from e. "
H. Mcdonald, Lieut.. Col. I'd Rifles, dated Punta
Arenas, February 49, from which we extract some in
erestng particulars Of the capture Of the important
posts, Serapiqui and Castillo After giving an ac-
count Of the taking Of Codys Point, he says:
The next morning we ran up TO point 500 yards
below Serapiqui and landed all the forces and artillery
except one company, which we left at Fort Ander-
SON. Then we erected basrcades, bushhouses for the
men, provisions and artillery. Next day we began
cutIng 9 road and bridging the creeks up to Cedys
point. On Wednesday evening we started up this
work yas m9an. ~ srsr on Cods point which
thus posted was under the command OF Col. Titus
the artillery being under Gen. Bob Wheat the left
resting on the artillery the ranging up the river
oot neing protected BY the shfubbery along the banks
On Friday morning at the break Of day Gen. Wheat
opened his fire on the fort occupied BY The Costa Ri
can forces. Atthe same M time Col. Frank Anderson
crossed the river with l30 men and took the potion
on the point called sAIvarado Point his riQht rest
ing near the the mouth of the Sarapiqni hs line az
tending up the same about two hundred yards. They
arrived there at y o'clock at noon, and took their
position without being perceived by the enemy.
Meanwhile the action had been going on warmly
between Gen. Wheats artillery and Col Titus rifle
one side, and the Costa Ricans in the Serapi-
qui fort. One Of their pieces was dismouuted, and
another, their heaviest, not fired during the day
Capt. Brantleys company Of Rifemen keeping up
such destructive fire that they did not dare to ap
proach and load it. e
Capt. Anderson's men having been posted, opened
vigorous fire on the right flank Of the enemy, driy-
ing them from their barricades to the main building
up the San Juan river. From that time until dark
constant and severe fire was kept up from Cody's
Point and Alvarado's Point, which was responded to
by scattering shots from the Costa Rcans. and
the enemy running away into the woods leaving their
blankets and throwing away their guns. The COM
mander Of the fort at Serapequi, Col Ran0o, uas
among the first that left, at q P. NJ.
he Cn1 udn fore fvro iIIad
and two wounded the latter being now able to do
duty. Col. Titus command, TWO wounded and none
kied-and the artillery none.
The next morning Com. DeBrissot and q volunteer
called Kentuckh went over in canoe, pulled down
the Costa Rica flag and hoisted the Lone star Of
Nicaragua" all the enemy having abandoned the
point in the night Upwards Of 400 stands Of English
Minnie mnskets were LETT scattered on the ground
Col. Frank Andersons command crossed In the
steamer and took possession of the enemys works,
chattes, ETC., finding 13 dead bodies in the principal
fort-probeebly all killed BY the artillery Of Gen;
for burying the dead Of the enemy, which amounted
to thirfythree. Prisoners taken said they had been
badly treated and worse fed, living on beans and
plantains alone Five pieces of artilleryfour brass
Glib pieces and one iron 9b piece, with corresponding
ammunition, were found: also fifty thousand rounds
Of Minnie rifle cartridges, in good condition, and
large quantity of damaged ammunition $50 pairs of
pantaoons, 40 bushels OF beans and barrels Of salt
| but enough kettles and pans for 200 men.
The same night the steamer Rescue" or Filibus.
ter as some of the boys call it, took up the forces of
| Col. Titus and the four pound gun to the island
San Carlos, which taken without any resistance
the boat returned to Serapiqui and took up all the
stores needed at the above post then proceeded up
the river in pursuit of the steamer Charles Morgan
| which had gone on with the news of the Costa
Ricans having left Serapiqui the latter boat had
four hours start and the Rescue in sight of her
just as she went over Castillo Rapids. The Costa
Ricans had tar and rosin on the steamers Scott and
Pachuca, and all the buildings of the town. At the
moment they saw the Rescue they set fire to the
boats and buildings, and at the same time they
opened heavy fire of round shot and grape from the
fort on the hill. The lower fort on the river wa
taken by storm by Capt Vests company OF Col
Titus command. -Four men jumped from the steamer
swan against six mile current cut loose and savet
the steamer Scott although the machinery was yer,
much injured. all the furniture and bedding of tht
National Hotel was saved. ALI other houses witt
their contents were destroyed.
In taking this fort the enemy lost forty five, Will
we only lost one killed.
The Costa Ricans were still fifty strong the higl
fort of Castillo cut off from water and provisions am
surrounded by our forces. On the 18th the fort wa
to have been taken by storm. By this time that il
done, and communication has been established t
Walker.