CHAPTER XX.

WAR IN THE INTERIOR-UNITED STATES MARSHAL IN A FIX-ARRIVAL OF GEN. WALKER-BATTLE OF VIRGIN BAY-DEFEAT OF GUARDIOLA-SUBSEQUENT BATTLES-WALKER'S TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO GRANADA-TREASON AND ITS PUNISHMENT-SCHLESSINGER SURPRISED AT GUANACASTE-CHARGED WITH TREACHERY-HIS TRIAL, CONDEMNATION, FLIGHT, AND SENTENCE OF DEATH-BATTLE OF RIVAS-WALKER AGAIN VICTORIOUS-INAUGURATION OF CHAMORRO A NINE MONTHS' SIEGE-HIS DEATH-ESTRADA HIS SUCCESSORPADRE VIGIL'S LETTER TO MR. MARCY-MY OPINION-HENNINGSEN'S GLORIOUS DEFENSE OF GRANADA-ATTACK ON SAN JORGE-GALLANT CONDUCT Of Capt. HIGBY-SAN JORGE AGAIN-THE CANNONADE-SHARP OPERATION OF THE COSTA RICANS-CAPTURE OF CASTILLO-ENGLISH AND AMERICAN OFFICERSWHAT WALKER HAD TO CONTEND WITH EVACUATION OF THE COUNTRYOFFICIAL REPORT OF WALKER'S FORCE-THE RESULTS OF THE INVASION.

WE must now turn to the interior, for since Col. Kinney and his lands have been receiving our attention, the revolution in Nicaragua proper has grown desperate and stirring. The Liberals invited foreigners to aid them in destroying the power of the Servile faction, and on the 4th of May, 1855, Gen

WALKER'S VICTORY AT VIRGIN BAY.

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Walker, with fifty-eight men, arrived at San Juan del Sur. The United States Marshal had interposed to prevent his vessel from sailing, when Walker finding that further delay would only be adding fuel to the flame, invited him into the cabin, feted him with wines, and during the tête-à-tête, the anchor was weighed, and the government officer awoke to the consciousness of being on his way to an unknown port. However, with a delicacy peculiar to the moment, the General advised the officer of his position, and after a few friendly exchanges, sent him back to San Francisco, while the vessel sought the coyal palm-groves of Nicaragua.

The Serviles learning of his arrival, immediately marched from Rivas, and attacked him with four hundred men. In vain the advancing columns of the enemy strove to break the serried and firm front of this invading, friendly force; in vain, Guardiola cheered his men to the attack; in vain, the loud shriek of the swarthy islander or the deep cry of the mountaineer; the deadly rifle, handled by willing hands and able men, swept death and devastation through the enemy. Walker's loss was one white man and four natives, while Guardiola lost fifty of rank and file. The enemy charged again, but Walker, at the head of his small battalion of reserve, rushed to the rescue, and swept the blue and white flag of Nicaragua from the field. The foe were routed, and the moon rose upon a battle-field far bloodier than those fought between the Serviles and Liberals

heretofore, while she lighted to the distant shelter a broken and dispirited band of harassed and wounded soldiers. Thus was fought the first regular battle, and from that field the banner of Liberty arose rebaptized and regenerated.

Shortly after the battle of Virgin Bay, Gen. Walker returned to San Juan del Sur. The Government, of which Don Jose Maria Estrada was the President, demanded the arms and ammunition in the possession of the Transit Company. These consisted of four cannon, forty-eight muskets, and a large supply of cartridges shipped from New York by this Company, and landed at the Castillo Rapids, for the use of the forty-eight soldiers, or, as they were termed, "Invincibles," who had been sent out to counteract an influence which was preponderating against them. The arms and ammunition were on board the steamer Virgin, at that time lying off Granada.

Battle succeeded battle-step by step the strangers advanced into the country. From a small detachment of eighty, the ranks were soon swollen to hundreds. The Liberals flocked round their new chief, upon whose banner victory satthe influence of Walker was at once felt. He summarily punished defections in his ranks, whether among the American or native troops, till every man felt there was nothing left but to obey and execute. The city of Granada, which had so long withstood the Liberal party, yielded to the new-comers, and the entrance of Walker, October 13th, 1855, was hailed with

GEN. CORRAL ACCUSED OF TREASON.

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enthusiasm. The church bells welcomed him, and everywhere banners and handkerchiefs waved in his honor. The Serviles, now grown desperate, called upon the adjoining States for assistance, but the knell of Monarchism had been sounded, and the former friends of this once powerful party heeded not the invitation.

A truce ensued, however, between the rival forces. Geu Corral, the most prominent officer of the so-styled legitimate Government, and chief of the hostile forces, had, prior to this, ratified Walker's triumph in the church, and had sworn friendship to the new Government, of which Don Patricio Rivas was, by virtue of said treaty chosen President, or Provisional Chief. He now dispatched a letter to General Guardiola, who had flown from Granada, representing that affairs under the management of Gen. Walker were not being properly conducted. He also appointed a certain time for Guardiola to invest the city with his entire force, when Walker, unprepared, might be taken by surprise, and his men put to the sword. This letter having been intercepted, and delivered to Gen. Walker, a civil and military tribunal was formed, and Gen. Corral was brought to trial on a charge of treason against the then existing Government.

It has been stated, that after his trial he confessed having written the letter. He was found guilty and condemned to death. He was brave and intelligent, a man of warm attach

ments and generous disposition. The Minister from Nicaragua, Padre Vigil, besought his pardon with all that eloquence which distinguishes that truly good and merciful-hearted man, but his doom was sealed. He was shot on the plaza, and died universally regretted, leaving three sisters, whom he had revered and loved, in indigent circumstances to mourn his untimely loss. The entire country was shocked upon learning of his condemnation and death, and even the friends and supporters of the Cause felt that the stroke had been too hasty and severe, and for a time it is said even Walker himself shared the same opinions. But to succeed, treachery must be summarily punished. This decisive blow was succeeded by battles, and the incoming of recruits soon erased the gloom of the late execution.

Costa Rica, in the interim, declared war against Nicaragua, and ere the news had fairly been flung to the breeze, Walker had a detachment on the march to the former State to meet the foe on their own soil. Col. Schlessinger commanded this arm of the force, and after marching to Guanacaste, allowed himself to be surprised while in fortification, and many of his men were butchered. Three thousand Costa Ricans, fresh in the field, swept after the broken ranks of the invaders, and straggling over hills and mountains, through morasses and swamps, the shattered remnant of Schlessinger's command, in a state of utter exhaustion, finally reached their Commander