The weekly Butte record., 1861-07-06
The Sacking of Old Panama.

Captain Henry Morgan and force of l 200
Buccaneers, is thus described by writer, oil
thirty years ago Having recounted the tolls
and starvation of nine days march, on foot
across the Isthmus, be says:
In the evening the steeple of Panama was
beheld at distace, and forgetting all their
sutferings, the Buccaneers gave way to the
most rapturous exutation, tossing their caps
in the air, leaping, shouting, beating their
drums and sounding their trumpets, at the
sight of so glorious plunder, and as if vic
tory were already consumated. They encamp-
ed for the night near the city, intending to
make the assault early in the morning The
same night party of fifty Spanish horsemen
came out, as if to econnoitre-advanced with
in musket shot of the pirates chal-
lenged " the dogs to come on, and then
retired, leaving six or eight of their number to
watch the enemys motions.
Upon this, the great guns of the town began
to play upon the enemys camp, but were too
far distant or ill directed, to do any execution,
and instead of betraying alarm, the Buccaneers
having placed sentinels around their camp,
made another voracious meal preparatory to
the next days business threw themselves upon
the grass, and, lulled by the Spanish artillery,
slept soundly till the dawn.
The camp was astir betimes, and the men
being mustered and arrayed, with drums and
trumpets sounding, they advanced towards the
city; but instead of taking the ordinary route,
which the Spaniards were prepared to defend,
by the advice Of one Of the Indian guides, they
struck through the woods, by difficult path,
in which, however, immediate distractions
could be apprehended. Before the Spaniards
could counteract this unexpected movement,
the Buccaneers had advanced some way. The
Governor of Panama, who led the forces COM
manded 200 cavaly and four regiments of in
fantry. and a number of Indian auxiliaries
conducted an immense herd of wild bulls to be
driven among the Buccaneers, and which were
This extraordinary arm of war was viewed
by the hunters of Hispanolia and Campeachy
with indifference but they were somewhat
alarmed at the regular and imposing array of
troops drawn up to receive them. 1t was how
ever, too late to retreat. They divided into
three detachments,- hundred dexterous
marksmen leading the advance They now
stood on the top Of a little eminence, whence
the whole Spanish force, the city and the fiat
open country around were distinctly seen. As
they moved downward, the Spanish cavalry,
shouting " Viva ell Rey," Immediately advan-
ced to receive them, but the ground being soft
ard rlarshy, greatly obsrueted the manpuvres
of the Eorsemen. The advance of the Bucca-
neers, all picked marksmen, knelt and received
them with volley, and the conflict instantly
became close and hot The Buccaneers, throw
ing themselves between the Spanish horse and
infantry, succeeded in separating them, and the
wild bulls, taking fright from the tumult and
the noise of the guns, ran away, or were shot
by the Buccaneers before they could effect any
mischief
After contest Of two hours, the Spanish
cavalry gave way. Many were killed, and the
rest fed, which the foot soldiers perceiving,
fred their last charge threw down their mus
kets and followed the example of the cavalry
Some of them took refuge in the thickets
though the Buccaneers did not continue the
pursuit, they took savage pleasure in shoot
ing without mercy all who accidentally fell in
to their hands. In this way several priests
and friars who were made prisoners, were pis-
tolled by tho orders Of Morgan. A Spanish
officer who was made prisoner, gave the Buc-
cancers minute intelligence of the force of the
enemy and the plan of the defense, which ena-
bled them to approach the town from the
safest point: but the advance was still attend
ed with difficulty.
After the rout in the open field had taken
place, und the slaughter which followed, the
Buccaneers rested for a short time, and during
this pause soemnly pledged their honor, by
oath, never to yield while single man remain
ed alive. This done, carrying their prisoners
with them, they advanced upon the great guns
planted in the streets, and the hasty defenses
thrown up to repel them. In this renewed as
sault the Buccaneers suffered severely before
they could make good those quarters in which
they ever maintained decided superioriority
in fighting.
Still they resoutely advanced to the final
grapple, the Spanards keeping up an inces-
SAINT fire. The town was gained after des-
perate conflict of three hours, maintained in
the open streets.
In this assault the Buccaneers neither gave
nor accepted quarter, and the carnage on both
sides was great. Six hundred Spaniards fell
on that day, nor was the number of Bucca-
neers who perished much less but to those
who survived double share of plunder was at
all times ample consolation for the loss of
companion whose services were no longer re-
quired in its acquisition. The city was no
sooner gained than Morgan, who saw the tenn
per of the inhabitants in the obstinate nature
of the resistance they had offered and who
well knew the besetting sins of his followers,