The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-21

tnc "a OI Aprll, W hiku pfoCocoeu 70 dD
embark them ct Castillo, deLertioss were No
numerous that be was forced to forego his
plan OF foray into the eBemy's territories,
that lay adjacent TO Castillo, and thus dis
tract them from their designs upon his Cap
ital, with bis principal magazines and mum.
tions OF war. While laying at Castillo, an
incident occurred that plainly demonstrated
the feelings entertained towards Walker BY
the British naval officers at Greytown. BE-
tween whom and the Costa Ricsns il Was sas-
pected WAS progressing correspondence, the
designs Of which were to secure 10 the latter
the assistance Of q corps OF marines, proper.
ly Offered and armed, TO be used against
the 6llibusters. Capt. Baldwin intercepted
a mail containing evidence Of this violation
Of the nonintervention policy which was TO
govern both England and the United States,
10 the disposal Of the Central American
question. and forwarded the dispatches TO
Gen. Walker. No sooner, however, was
Capt. Tarleton, Of II. B. NJ. frigats, Fury
dice, informed Of this fact, than hs lowered
his boats, filled them with armed marines
under the command Of bis First Lieutenant
and ordered them to overhaul Baldwin's
bungO, aud 10 demand the return Of the ins
tercepted mail, and to iorcibly wrest it from
him, If be dared 10 dispute their authority
Bearing in mind that a formal declaration
Of war existed between Costa Rica and
Nicaragua, and that this mail was inter
cepted in the territory Of the latter, by her
legal defenders, being at the time 10 charge
OF Costa Ricans and that the British was
neutral--at least nominslly So and had no
alliance with either Of the bellgerent Pow
ers, and this high-hsndedneSs can he proper.
ly appreciated. Baldwins messenger en-
capped his pursusrs. and succeeded 10 deliv.
ering his prize safely into the hands Of Gen.
Walker Later in the day the British boats
came up, and the Lieutenant, 10 very
courteous but firm manner, informed the
General Of his orders, relative to the recOv-
cry OF the captured mail, and requested that
1t be returned 10 him, a. it was an English,
not Costa Rican mail Taking this view
Of the matter, and not wishing to give the
British officers even shadow oil an excuse
for intermddling in the affairs Of the 18th.
mus, Walker complied with the request, and
returned to them, unviolated, the mail in
which they had been in quest. So little
Importance does the English attach to the
American Interpretation Of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty that this matter never 20
much ~ received an official investigation.
notwithstanding that the almsst unanimous
voice Of the press n this country denounced
1t In unmeasured terms, ~ an Infamous out.
rage, and Indignantly assaiIed an admins
tration which would, in this puerile manner,
INCREASINGLY allow our national honor to be
banded about at the will and pleasure Of q
superclious and arrogant officer Of the
British Navy.
On the 3D. Of April, Walker with nearly
his whole command returned 10 Granada,
leaving Capt. Baldwin with sixty men 10
garrison Fort Castillo. The Costa Ricans,
since the seizure OF their dispatches, con.
ccived the idea OF commanding tho San
Juan river. and with this intention detach.
ment Of 800 men, under Col. M0rllo. was
ordered TO erect battery at the contlux Of
the Serapizec and San Juan rivers. Mo
rilo arrived at the scene of bis future opera.
tons and began to throw up his defences
on the 9Th Of April. Discovering the prox
unity of the enemy and his designs, Bald
win, with extreme gallantry aud decision,
determined on surprising Morilo and cap
turing his guns.
With this bold resolution. on the night Of
the sixth, Baldwin embarked his little band
OF Spartans on the steamer Scott, and gently
dropped down the stream some fifteen miles
and until no was within three miles OF the
enemy, and thence amidst torrent OF rain
and night of pitchy darkness he took up
his line OF march through the clustering vines
and dense chapparal that lay between him
and his unsuspecting foe. SO stubborn were
the difficulties offered by these natural OBJ
stacles, that day had began to streak the
eastern horizon when he reached the tn
campment of the enemy. The sentry hailed
and was answered in Spanish. and supposing
It to be as be was told, reinforcement for
Morilla. he permitted Baldwins command
10 approach within half pistol range before
be discovered his mischievous error; when
upon endeavoring to give the alarm be was
shot dead and With yells OF rage as OF IT,
gress bereit Of her whelps. the ilibus,srs re.
membering the terrible day at Guiana Costa
threw their repeaters and bowie knives upon
the partially aroused foe, who awoke only TO
be hurried to that sleep that kuoweth no
waking, Offering nothing worthy Of being
called resistance, the enemy fed In oil direc-
tons, leaving to their intrepid assailan,s
their battery Of three twelve FOUNDERS and
nearly oil Of their small arms, besides
twenty slain, amongs, whom was Col.
Morilla. Baldwin in this brilliant victory
sustained the loss OF only one man killed and
two missing.
WHSS q. =. Fow er- 10 the story runs