Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-06

Important from BuenOs Ayres-IuvnsiOu Of
kan Juan Battle and Horrible slRuGh'
ter ut PocitOs-1IurGer Of the Constitu-
tiOnal Demonstrating OF San Juan
City. .., -- -.. -
BUEHos AYREs, Feb. I0--At the date of
my last letter, we had received news that
the Commissioner Of the National Govern
ment Juan Saa, Governor of San Luis, had
met the troops of San Juan, headed by the
Governor of that province, at place called
Pccitos, on the San Juan River, about thirty
miles to the south Of the city of San Juan.
Previous to the bloody slaughter, letters had
passed between Ssa and the Governor of
San Juan (Aberastain,) which letters firmly
refused to acknowledge the rights of the
National Government to march an armed
force into a peaceful province for the pur-
pose Of arrestiDg the murderers of his pre-
decessor in Office (Virasoro.) AS a conse-
quence, the battle of Pocitos was the result,
which took place on the llth of January.
The Government Commissioner was
backed by fourteen hundred "Gauchos," 4" and
Aberastsin BY the San Juan forces, amount
ing TO about twelve hundred, among which
were a large number of the most intelligent
population of the province. The combat
lasted one half hour, the San Juan cavalry
Immediately passing over to the invaders.
Then commenced one of the most horrible
butcheries which has ever disgraced the
bloody annals of the Argentine Republic.
Three hours and half of bloody slaughter
followed during which time from four TO six
hundred men were lanced, 1t is said that
Colonel Saa and his brother killed until their
Isnces dropped from their hands from pure
exhaustion. But nine persons were killed
on the part Of the invaders, fact which goes
far to prove the previous accounts correct.
Governor Aberastain was taken prisoner,
and after marching five leagues on foot across
a desert, until he could march no longer,
was set upon mound of earth and shot, the
most horrible barbarities being offered to his
body. His head general was shot and be-
headed, his head being afterward stuck upon
a bayonet and carried toward the city of San
Juan, which city, upon the arrival of the in
vaders, was given up to the horrors of three
days sacking, murder, rapine, and blood
thirsty inventions of the invaders. San Juan
was completely desolated, and thrown back
at least quarter of century from the path
of progress which she was beginning to
tread.
These terrible events have stirred up every
drop of revengeful and civil war blood in the
veins of the Buenoes Ayreans, aud revenge
is now the sentiment of every heart.
The Governor Of this province has issued a
proclamation, protesting against the horrible
sacrifices made in San Juan; calling upon
the National Government to punish the in :
vaders, and upon the people of Buenos
Ayres to maintain their right and sustain
their principles, whatever events may occur.
The actions of the Commissioner, Saa,
have been fully approved by the President
of the Republic, and two thousand ounces of
gold have been sent to him by the Govern
ment as one appreciation of his noble con-
duct
War is threatening on all sides, and we
may expect before six months to see the old
Federal Party (the upper provinces), and the
Unitarians (the liberal factionG in open hos
tility against each other.