Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-04-02
Colonel Titus.

venture.
Feb. 4.-The Texas arrived with 2o5
men from New Orleans, under command OF
Il. Titus Che Of Kan-ss) and encamped
on the river bank, orpo- - f'4e>A nders n.
Feb. 6-Left For snders early, TO
storm Fort Sarspiqui. Went up the river
by stesmb at about four miles, when the
army under Col. Titus landed on the North
side. under point, and leaving the artillery
company on the boat to attack the fort IN
front from the river. we struck bsck into
the woods, intended to make the river
mile below the fort; but we lost our way,
and struck the river further up than we in
'ended, coming out right opposite Fort
Sarapiqu. Our advance guard fell INTO an
smbuscade; Liet. Holmon was sho. dead.
The Costa Ricans or the opposite side oil
the river then saw and fired into US. killing
five men and wounding seven others. So
far as we could learn the names OF the killed
were:
Lieut.. Holman of Texas.
L. R. Smith of Mississippi.
-R0se OF Onl0-
Williams, Irish and two others.
TITUS SHOWS The WHITE FEATHER.
We fred several rounds when Col. Titus
ordered retreat, leaving Col. Anderson To
do the fighting. We had three doctors. on y
one Of whom. Charleton. remember by
name These brave fellows, instead of sta nd
ing to their dut es end helping the wounded,
ran into marsI, & hiding behind log buried
their bodies in the mud to escape from the bull
lets of the enemy. We retreated three miles
down the river and rested until morning
Before leaving the battle field our officers
appropriated to their own use the contents
OF the pockets of our dead comrades. Here
the dairy of our informant gave out, and we
are only able 10 give the events as he re-
membered them. The sick and wounded
were sent from this place to Fort Anderson
on the steamboat. When she returned, we
embarked and went mile further up, where
we landed and built fort, which we called
Fort Titus, after our commander. Sent
recnnnnitering parties to find the position
OF the enemy, while number Of our men
were at work bu lding breastworks.
THE CAPTURE OF sARAPIQuI.
On Tuesday, the 18th, at night, we drew
our three cannon (ene six and two four poun-
ders) opposite Sar ,piqui. On the follow
ing night we mounted them. and the next
morning opened brisk FIRE on the fort, in
the midst of very heavy rain. The fir ing
continued all day. During the day party
of our men crossed the river, and opened a
cross fire on the fort with small arms. The
enemy retired in small parties during the
day, and in the night entirely deserted the
fort. Next morning ou- officers marched
into the fort, none under the grade of lieu
tenants being allowed to enter, and helped
themselved to what they could find. When
we entered we found only bushel and q
half of beans, few bushels of rice, and
some old rusty muskets. Three pieces o'
cannon were fred ont of the river, one o
them an iron rine-pornaer. supposed TO have
been urri-hed by the English. We also
found " unded Costa Rican in the fort
who told rs that the enemy had lost IA killed
and 80 wounded He said that Mora com-
PEELED the natives TO fight or suffer the gar.
rott. We followed the trail of the enemy
| for five IN iles up the river, and came upoI
two other dead bodies. On the liih we re.
| turned TO Sarapaqui, and Col Titus went W
the river with his battalion TO surround For
| CASTLE The natives, at his approach, Sc
| fire 20 the small steamboat ]. L. Scott
Titus offered $500 to amy body who wou!t
extinguish the fire. .Privates Debousse
and Kentuck swan out to her and succeed
ed putting the fire out. They have ye
to ge, the $500, however. The fort wal
manned by about sixty natives, under com
mand af an Englshman. A fire was kep'
up all day upon The place, aud next day
Titus held long parley with the commaL
der
WHY TITUS DID NOT TAKE Castillo.
What passed betu EN- them il not known
| except that the Eng lIshm n was willing t,
reiingui-h the place without further blood
shed; but b.. said that his authority did no
extend So far without special permission
from Gen. Mora. Much to the chagrin o
his men, nhe gave vent to their dissaticfac
tion in very audible language. he granted
the Englishman an armstice of "a hours
and allowed him to send a messenge
through his lines to Gen. Mora "to asl
whether he should give up the fort or not.
Of course, thus apprised, Gen. Moro dis
| patched reinforcement of 400 men to thei
assistance, and Titus, at their approach
sounded retreat. All retired with the ex
ception of two companies, c and B. who di
not get the order, being around hill, out O
sight, and in consequence lost 80 men be
fore they escaped.
This affair created great cesl of com
menr Some attributed Titms's conduct /
sheer cuwardlce, viii others affirmed tha
he sold The battle. AT ali events, it wa
generally conceded that he was nearly mas
ter of the place " hen he granted the armis
tice and allowed the messenger TO G
through his lines to The head quer.ers of th
!, enemy Col. Titus retreated down ibe
river about twenty miles, and encampe upDI
an island. Here his officers swore they
would serve no longer under such a pal
|
shoot him for his cowardice. At this b,
, left the encampment, ostensibiy to 60 II
r Walker, via. Panama. At Greytown ht
, was arrested for insulting an Ell g lish officer
but was released. Then he insulted IN
American Consul, and was taken prisone
r by tie officers of the American man OLIVIA
t Saratoga, and was again released. Hethel
+ took passage in the Tennessee to Aspln
wall. On the same day that he arrives
! there tn enty- -four of his men, vino hal as
CAPPED wn the r,v r on :a'ls aud in cinors
arrived l.. The British stsain-.r Ciy"e. swear
5 ins veng nee on him. III, Vaiianl Fiiu
= went about AspInwa IN ii 10 'ded revol
n Yer III MS ii 81, * ,ectnS iHa' his outraged
( men woGid really lrkr his life. Capt
Brapt!ey. Lieut.. Vo~eis and other officers
p also deserted and wenl to asPinwall 1T tn
e expense OF the hpGiist ana every arriva
brought large numbers Of tbs discdniitte'
Whom pur informant lot fnp RS