The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-22
THE BATTLE At cALLAo.

/ Ell BiFely Through the =" HeFomRuolho-
The villa de Madrid TOwed Out Of
Danger Disabled-PeruVian Battery
BlCwn Up aud the secretary OF War
Killed-ihO City of C.IIaO Not Dam
agtd, Etc.
PANAMA, May 49, Before going further 10 will be
as well 10 describe the number batteries and the
weight of metal in them that the Peruvians had to
meet the attack tue six Spanish frigates. For a
long time past, as we all know, the PeruvlRns have
been lortiiEipg to the northward and westward OF
| the city. The works they have constructed have
been planned and carried TO their present condition
by competent engineers and they have imported tue
most approved and heav est ordnance that England,
with all her experience, has pronounced the best
vI7;-the Armstrong and b akely. The number aud
strength OF the batteries are as TO lows;-
| BATTERIES TO THE WESTWARD.
No. Eight 82-pounders facing The Bay of Bella.
VISTA. ..~| ..' o - = .
NO 2-six S2.Dounders smooth bore. -
no. 1.-Two 300pounders, Arms. rong rifles,
NO. SIX S2-pOunders, smooth bore.
No. 6m 1S %o 400 pounders akely rifles; one s-inch
No 6-Flve 82-pounders, smooth bore.
BATTERIES TO THE NoRTHwARD
No. lone 450 FOUNDER, Blakey rifle.
No S-lwo 460-pOunders, Blakely rifle
No'S-lwo oOO-pounders, Armstrong rifle.
. FORCES AFLoAT.
Steamer Lod iron. .clao 1.-Two s.Inch guns
Monitor IictOfiu iron clad -One inch gun.
three w0oden gun6oats, mounting five guns IN
Thus 1t will be seen that, although the number of
guns was sma in comparison with the broadsldes
acter to render the fight uncertain, should they be
efhclently served, which WAS the point we feared the
teIuyans woulo be ouno deficient in, as all reports
stated they Lad had but little experience in their
management. he Peruuans evidently nad not very
much confidence IN themselves befUle the fight came
on Tney did not think hey were able to stand the
heavy fire they expected from the Spanish
ships and looked forward to the issue OF the conflict
doubtful.
Sull they determined to see what they could do:
and well have they proved their abIhty to stand up
to the WORK and meet the Spanlards at close range
n NO ha,Y,,
ol the sport; and now. having proved to themselves
What they can do they have added tenfold streng 9Th
TO their really tine Notifications.
THE FIGHT.
The morning of The second of May, 1866, will be
long remembered az a most glorious one in the
annals OF Peru; Vt will be handed uown from gene.
ration TO generation as the day upon which one of
the best appointed squadrons naughty Spain had
ever set afoat was slgnaliy uefeated and compelled
10 retire in disgrace from before much inferior
mum Der OF guns, manned by men who mad had but
little experience as artllerls1s
1t was grand renewal OF the past days of Peru
when fighting Tor her independence; 1t was an evil
dence that she would not suomIt TO demands that
had no ju. thcation, and 1T proved her abnty 10
maintain the stand she had takeu-that OF not sub
mnting or succumDIng in any way to the mandates
OF the power which, while PROCESSING to be only re.
dressing wrong had in view the repossession of a
territory thar at one time formed part and parcel of
that portion OF the globe over which the banner OF
SPAN was wont to wave. .'
The day broke with every promise of a favorable
opportunity Tor the Spaniard; the tog of the day
p evIous had cleared away, and although the horizon
there was nothing prevent an engagement on the
part of the weather. AT eleven A. 81. signal was
made from tie hunldncid, flagship to get under
weigh. Soon after the six frigates with steam up
and tOpmasts and lower Yards do Vn, tripped their
anchors and formed line fba tie IN two co,umus of
attack The column to engage the northern forGs
consisted of the Piud de Madrid Atnanza and Be.
TengueL6, the after leading.
nose destined TO play their part on the western
forts were the NumdRcia, Blanca, and ReSoiucioR.
The sight was one 4Ong to be remembered by those
who enjOyed the view from a safe distance The
northern column moved into action heading To thR
southwark and westward, while the southern column
heaoed to the eastward and north ward the gunbOat
Ve CedoTd taking position between the two columns
in order to render assistance the event of any
ship being disabled in either line.
AT ten minutes past twelve the first shot was fired
from battery No 2, at the NumdRcd, aud was re- |
piled to at once by that ship. Not than five
with both DIVISIONS OF the fleet that to the north
ward timing 20 as to be behind the western colum |
The Mlng nom The ship was very rapid, too much |
so, indeed, for it was wild, and gave evident proc
that the captains OF the not deliberate
in their aim as they might be.
The fire from he arteries was at first slow and |
lnaccura G, but they began to get the range,
and their heavy shot was seen TO tell than
one ship. In less than half an hour after the action
commenced, the ViHd de Madrid made SIGNAL
evidently asking assistance: the little YeRcedorG
went IN ana towed her out of the fire, and she
came in PLAIN view 1t was evident that her motive
UOwtr had been deranged, Tor the steam was seen |
issuing in clouds rom very part OF the vessel.
The next ship to retire was the BereRgGeLd. She !
move0 out slowly about twenty minutes after the !
Viild de Madrid. This ship had been RECEIVING |
Ts dm 9 6seF% and ~ and
United States ships 1t noticed that she had re-
ceived heavy rted shot the port side near the
water line, which had passed completely through |
her, coming out at or under the water line on the |
starboard side rendering 1t necessary to her
10 prevent sinking.
AS It was, she had taken in a vast quantity of
vater, 40 that when out oil range and anchored not
only were the PumDs necessary to keep her free but
the crew were employed in ballng with buckets she
dld not go into action again.
The action continued with great spirit bv both the
batteries and remaining ships. at halt-past the
Blanca and ReSOtuci0n retired to repair some in |
iuries but soon returned to their positions, where
remained until the fight was over except the two
first mentioned.
PERUVIAN BATTERY BLOWN UP.
Soon after the commencement Of the fight battery
No, 3, con aiming two 30OpOunder Armstrong rifles
was blown up, dismountng the guns and killing and
woundlng every one IN the vicinity In battery No.
tirst fire. but bes des these casualties there was
nothing TO diminish in any way, or slacken IN the
slightest degree, the heavy and weldirected fire OF
fatal and destructive everv moment,
lhe Spaniards soon began to lind out that the
game was not their own; that they had caught
Tartar not b0rRaned for. and it manifest all
that they must soon back out badly defeated. At
fifteen minutes past the spanIards ceased firing
and stood out OF range, the batteries pepperIng
away until the Dons were out OF reach fhe last
gun was fired a few minu before clock by the |
me nitor Pretoria, thus ending action entPihng
disgrace upon SPAN greater, IL possible, than her
deieat ut San Domingo
THE EAvY GUNS DO THE WORK
Those who cOnversed with them tell me that the |
Spaniards of opinion thai the heavy fire of the
ships would cOmpel the Peruvans to run tor it, and
such the opinion generally maintained, untll il
was discovered that the Spanish ships, instead of
going in az close range remained where their COM /
heavy shot of their enemy went not only into but
THROUGH them
for thev used mostly round shot; they had probably
expended nearly all the former at Valparaiso, where