Mariposa Democrat., 1857-05-20
From the Sacramento Age
An Incident during the Battle of Rivas.

An Incident during the Battle of Rivas.
The whole of General Walkers army was in
the city of Granada on the 9th of April, 1856,
where it had been stationed for some time with
out being called to act, except to repel the ma
rauding expedition of the Chamoristas, who
were opposed to Walker, and who occasionally
made attacks on the army, more for the pur-
pose Of harassing it than for the expectation of
gain. On this day Gen. Walker received infor-
nation that the allied army had occupied Rivas,
5000 men. As Rivas was one of the most i'm
portant points, it behooved Walker to COM
pei his enemy to evacuate 1t. For this pur-
pose, he Immediately, on receipt of the news,
ordered his whole army, with the exception of
two companies commanded by Captains Ryder
and Raymond, who were left to defend Grana-
da, to march directly on Rivas. In the army
so ordered were 4S6 men, and they left Grana
da at the dawn of the 10th. The road was re-
markably bad, and during the march, which
was a forced one the men were allowed only
three rests of about 20 minutes each. Provi-
sions they had none, and the only subsistence
they could obtain was an occasional green plan
tain, which they roasted. The last halt took
place when Walkers army had arrived within
three miles of the Costa Rican picket, on the
11th at three o'clock in the morning. Here
they remained until about four o'clock, when
the order to move forward was given.
In half an hour the picket Of the enemy was
reached, who, after dischargiDg their guns, re-
treated into the city. Walker followed with
his men, charging into the city from three diff
ferent points, directly to the Plaza, where the
main army of the Costa Rcans were stationed
with a cannon Of about "a pounds calibre.-
Before they had an opportunity to discharge
the cannon, the 1st Rifles captured it, and as
the enemy were retreating into the adjoining
houses, they wheeled it about and discharged
it after them, doing considerable execution
Among the first Of Walkers army who fell at
this charge was Mr.. A. N. Gates, formerly of
Lee & Marshall's Circus, young man respect
ed by the whole army. He fell at the head of
his regiment. The enemy having ensconced
themselves in some of the houses, Walker fol-
lowed suit and his men took possession Of such
similar places Of shelter as they could find oc
cupied. AT this time commenced desultory
fire from one house to another, that lasted du-
ring the night following. Walker during the
night took possession of the large unfinished
church on the plaza, which he occupied with
Id o,I ~ 70 lie
headquarters.
About eight o'clock on the morning of the
18th, the Costa Ricans, having by some means
learned that Walker was stationed there, made
The 1st and I'd Rifles, who were placed in a
cross street in the rear of the church. seeing
the charge made, opened a fire Of 300 guns,
with most disastrous effect and caused the
enemy to retreat precipitously. AT nine o'clock
three companies were ordered to charge on the
headquarters of President Mora, commander
in-chief Of the allied army. His quarters were
large adobe building, situated at the east end
Of the plaza. They got within block of the
house, when they were met by force of / 900
Costa Ricans, who, overpowering them with
numbers, caused them to retreat into build
ing nearly opposite to Mora's quarters.
Attached to one of the companies was man
named George Silva, from Missouri, who was
more generally known as the Arkansaw ira
veler." He was left handed, but one of the
finest shots in the whole army. He so sta
toned himself that he had fair range of the
enemy, yet so sheltered that no portion of his
body was exposed, and in this position he fired
successfully twenty-nine shots, each one of
which brought down a greaser. He was the
only one who could obtain a position of this
kind, from the fact of his not being right-hand
ed; if he had been so, he would have been
shot before he had discharged his first gun
The firing thus continued until the morning of
the 18th. After taking hasty breakfast of
what could be found in the stores, five Of Cap
tain Ingraham's company erected a barricade
of adobes, breast high, at the southeast corner
of the plaza, where they engaged themselves
by firing at such of the enemy who exposed
themselves within the range of their rifles
Among these five was San Franciscan, called
Miller. During their stay behind the barricade
the most horrible and astonishing incident of
the whole war took place, and one that was
more wonderful, as it was directly contrary to
the expressed opinions of the greatest anato-
mists and surgeons. 1t was this: The man
Miller, mentioned above, while in the act of
firing his gun was hit in the forehead by
MIME ball, which as soon as it struck exploded,
carrying away the top of his skull, and leaving
his brain exposed. On being struck he stag
gered back and fell in sitting posture ON the
ground, when lifting up his right hand he drew
out from his skull portion Of the brain, COW
cred with blood, and bringing it down before
his eyes, he looked at it a second and then
dashed it to the ground. He very shortly
died. The four remaining still kept themselves
in the barrcade all that day, and when the lst
Infantry (about dusk) under Capt. Markham,
made charge on the corner opposite, they
joined and after the charge returned 10