Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-04-24
From Nicaragua.

From the following account of Col.
Lockbridge's movements which is pub
isbed in the Journal of Commerce, it
appears that he gave up his attempt to
ascend the San Juan without striking a
blow:
"The Tennessee brought on twenty
five men recently connected with Walk
er's army. They are in state OF pitt
able destitution, poorly clad, gaunt with
hunger and privation, and penniless.--
They are all rejoiced, however, to have
escaped from the perils of Nicaragua on
any terms. We have had a conversa-
ton with number of them, intelligent
young Americans, who agree on the fol-
lowing particulars of news since the last
arrival, bringing an account of the attack
on Costello March so.
Col. Lockbridge advanced on the town
with some 200 men, but seeing that it
was in possession of far superior force,
prudently retreated to Kellys, where he
was joined by Col. Titus's battalion
The whole force, including about so sick
and wounded, numbered some go men ;
of these, 100 were newly arrived Tex
ans. The soldiers were nearly destitute
of provisions, and were put on an allow
auce of one cracker day, no meat, and
a cup of very weak tea, without sugar.
The disabled were slowed away in a
temporary hospital, made out of an old
shed 40 feet long and 20 wide, devoid Of
all accommodations. They had nothing
softer to lie on than the rough bamboo
floor peculiar to houses in that country
Medicines were scarce, and the small
stock on hand was almost worthless; and
there was only one army surgeon to at
tend to the wants of all the patients.
In this desperate condition of affairs
Col. Lockbridge concluded to make one
more attempt to join Gen. Walker now
at Rivas, by the way of the San Juan
River, Panama, Aspinwall, up to Sar
Juan del Sur, and thence 10 Rivas abou
Is miles from the latter place. On the
LIST of April he accordingly called all o
his men together who were able to stanC
in the ranks and addressed them.
He complimented the soldiers on tn
bravery and patience which they had ex
hibited under the severe trials to whicl
they had been so long subjected. H
regarded the taking of the forts up tn
, river as practically impossible and di
not ask the men to volunteer on any sue
service.
e He asked those to step forward in iron
n who were willing TO make the effort
: join Gen. Walker. About 100 men re
sponded by advancing from the ranks an
t cheering. Some of the men who rt
manned behind expressed their disapprc
baton by groaning.
: The whole force, those who still stuc
= to Walkers fortunes, the mal-content
b the sick and wounded, then went on boar
}, the steamers ]. n. Scott and the Rescu
n which were lying at the beach to tax
e them down the river. On the afternoo
: of the second day the Scott stopped
:. the beach, about 30 miles from Kelly
= and a mile and half above Serapiqu
for the purpose of making a reconnoitl
of that place, as it was expected that tt
: Costa Ricans were entrenched thel
ready TO give the steamers a warm r
d ception as they went by. Shortly ate
is as the ]. N. Scott touched the beach IL
L boiler head blew out with terrible e.
= plosion, killing three men outright al
g wounding and scalding about forty othe
in the most shocking manner"
The Rescue soon came up, and rem
cred an essential service in picking o
y the sufferers from the river and TAXI
them off the boat.
The Rescue proceed with the woun
ed to Serapiqui, where six or eight
them soon died. The remainder we
then taken to Punta Arenas, several d
~ ing on the way or soon after their arr9iv
there. The whole number of deaths I
- sulting from the disaster is believed
be about twenty-five, and the woand
alive at last accounts, eighteen. Amo
y the dead are Major Morrey, Capita
" Haight of New Orleans, and Lieutena
. Conklin of New York. On reachi
Punta Arenas the proposed expedite
:, to join Gen. Walker was abandoned
m impracticable. The men who had c
&c pressed their willingness to aceompa
no Col. Lockbridge, refused to go ON. t
IS sick and wounded were placed in an
nd roofess shed. The provisions were ne
10 ly all consumed, and the stock of me
he cines quite exhausted, and it is not p