Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-29
The Revolution in Peru.
TERRIBLE BATTLE AND DEFEAT OF THE REvo-
I%UTToNIsTs.

The latest intelligence from the Peruvian
revolution is that a grand battle had been
fought at Arequipa, between the government
forces of Gen. Castillo, the President, and the
troops OF the revolutionary leader. Vivanco. in
which four Thousand men were killed on both
sides For some time Peru, like Mexico and
many of the South American States, has been
the theatre of a series of small engagements
between the revolutionists Of one kind or an
other aud the government troops, in which a
few hundred have fallen. Revolution succeed
ed revolution, and the defeated Presidents have
in many instances been pensioned off. and dis
patched either to Europe or the United States
to amuse themselves for a while. This is but
an incentive TO fresh outbreaks on the part of
ambitious. covetous or restless men. But an
engagement so disastrous in its results as this
one at Arequipa. though it may be deplored in
one sense, in another it may be welcomed as a
good thing for the country. A few such terri.
Bile battles as that would disgust the people
with the petty q~uarrels of the leaders, and
probably put ar end to the revolution The
storming of Arequipa is represented as a fierce
and ~sanguinary encounter Of the six hun
dred men defending the city, only forty were
alive at the close of two days fighting; and it
is said that a stream of blood flowed down the
barbados for six hours after the battle was
over. This is a kind of action in which the
Peruvians have but little experience.
The revolutionary chief Vivanco had been
for months within the walls of Arequipa, and
President Castillo watching him outside. On
the 2lst-of February, made a diversion by sea,
sending a frigate down to africa and Smelling
the town ~furiously for some days, until, on the
26th, Tacna, the port at the entrance to africa,
surrendered, and the town was taken by storm.
Since then both armies remained face to face
face at Areqnipa without any important en-
gagement taking place until the It'll and Sth OF
March, when Castillo stormed and captured
the city. Vivanco has fled into Bolivia, and
it was reported that the victorious Castillo
would carry the war into that republic after
him, probably with a view to put one of his
partizans, Cordova or Belzu, at the head of the
government; for Castillo bears no good will to
the present ruler of Bolivia, l1r. Linares.-
The frigates at Arequipa surrendered at once
to the government on the flight of Vivanco.-
So far the end of the revolution seems near at
hand
All this trouble, which has been desolating
Peru, hinges mainly on the profits and dues Of
the guano trade-the spoils of that country
each leader aiming to give the agency for the
sale of this merchandise to his own ~favorite,
and pocket the q9id pro quo.
And it is chiefly in connection with the
trade in guano that this country and Europe
have any interest in the social condition Of
Peru. 1t is of some Importance that there
should be as few distractions as possible in
the way of trade in this valuable commodity
It is to be hoped that the late bloody affair at
Arequipa, which seems to have made President
Castillo complete master of the situation, will
bring peace to unfortunate Peru for a few years
at least-N. Y Herald.