A RUN TO NICARAGUA. 365 



there, but the Government refused to recognise him. 

 He has been followed by Don Firmin Ferrer, who is 

 still waiting for recognition. Shortly after, in October 

 last, followed the battles of Massaya and Grenada, 

 the details of which are too fresh in the public mind 

 to render any fuller description necessary. Though 

 Walker was victorious, he perceived that it was 

 essential to his safety to destroy the old capital 

 Grenada, because it was too unhealthy to garrison 

 with his own troops ; and he no sooner evacuated 

 it than it became a stronghold of the enemy, from 

 which the transit route, so important to his position 

 both in a military and financial point of view, could 

 at any moment be threatened. This magnificent old 

 Spanish city, which in its palmy days had contained 

 a population of about 30,000 inhabitants, was con- 

 sequently burnt to the ground. An old church, how- 

 ever, situated about a mile and a half from the lake's 

 side, was spared ; and here General Henningsen took 

 refuge, with 400 men, some guiis, and a large supply 

 of ammunition, when he was surrounded by about 

 3000 Central Americans. The Costa Eicans were 

 now allied with San Salvador, Guatemala, and Hon- 

 duras, and the united force succeeded in effecting this 

 operation about the 22d of last November. 



The gallant little band, hemmed in by an over- 

 whelming force on all sides, unable to escape by the 

 lake, in the absence of means of communication, took 

 refuge in the church, with the determination of pro- 



