Some time in the last half of the night following, I was detailed, along with a considerable detachment from two mounted companies, to ride on a scout toward Obraja.  On the outward ride I was but half-awake, and my recollection of our course is confused:  however, I think it was somewhere between Potosi and Obraja that we came to a halt, and I was aroused by some excitement in the party.  Pickets were hastily posted in several directions, whilst the officers gathered about some natives awakened from a neighboring hut, and seemed to question them earnestly.  We soon heard that the enemy were on the road moving from Obraja, and that a large force had a little while before passed this place going eastward.  The natives, prone to exaggeration, declared that this force had been an hour in passing,—­with baggage, eight pieces of cannon mounted on ox-carts, several hundred pressed native Nicaraguans, tied and guarded to prevent their running away, and a long train of women to nurse the wounded.  The Chamorristas, it seemed, had been around pressing all the native men they could find into service against the Americans; and whilst we were here, two, who had been hiding all day in the bushes to avoid the conscription, came out and asked us to take them with us to Rivas,—­they preferring, if forced to take sides, to join el valiente Walker.

This is the stripe of most Central American soldiers.  The lower classes are lazy and cowardly, little concerned about politics, and must generally be impressed, let the cause of war be what it may.  And I am persuaded, that, since General Walker never harnessed them into his service, as their own chiefs were doing perpetually, but let them swing in their hammocks and eat their plantains, (provided they lived beyond his forage-ground,) un-called-for, they were so far well satisfied with his government.  However, their sympathy, supposing he had it, were worth little to him; since it takes a stronger impulsion than this to put them in motion to do anything,—­a strong pulling by the nose, indeed,—­such as their native rulers know how to apply.—­But this is speculative, and neither here nor there.

After getting all the information concerning the enemy that was to be had from these people, the detachment returned to Rivas at a fast trot, with the two friendly natives mounted behind, on such stronger animals as were able to carry double burden.  We all supposed, that, now the enemy were again out of cover and on the open road, or, leastwise, in the confusion of a new camp, there would be an immediate attack on them.  But General Walker followed his own head; and, after making our report, we saw no stir, and heard nothing until morning,—­when it was known that the enemy were all moved into San Jorge, with only some two miles’ space between us.  This place, being on the lake, was more convenient for provisions, which were easily brought by the steamers from the island of Ometepec and the towns and haciendas along the shore,—­and the enemy had gained boldness to go there by our repulse at Obraja:  or it may be that the force at Obraja had come down from Granada by land, and so only continued their march to San Jorge,—­though the rumor was, that they had landed from the lake, as I have said.