BOMBARDMENT OF CALLAO BY THE SPANISH FLEET.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2806, 24 July 1866, Page 6

BOMBARDMENT OF CALLAO BY THE SPANISH FLEET.

Wa (Sydney Morning Herald) are indebted to Captain Edwards, of the screw steamship * Oraeo, which arrived in port from Tahiti, yesterday, for the following particulars respecting the bombardment of Callao by the Spanish fleet on the 2nd of May last. Captain Edwards obtained his information from an officer of one of the Spanish fleet, some of thd vessels of which arrived at Tahiti eight days before the 'Omeo left for Sydney. The engagement between the Spanish squadron and the Peruvian batteries at Callao resulted in considerable damage to the fleet, and in the loss of fifty men, who were either killed in the action or had since died of their wounds. The loss on the side of the defenders was notascertained, but it has probably been considerable, as the ships did not retire from Callao before all the batterie", with the exception of two, had been silenced. Admiral Nunez was wounded on board the flag ship • Numancia,' one of lils arms being much lacerated by the rebounding of a piece of iron from a shell which had struck some portion of his vessel. Tha fleet went elost up to the batteries. The ' Numancia' took the ground twice, and the 'Resolucion' was also on shore during the engagement. The 'Almancia' received 106 shots frotnthe batteries", and the 'Villa d* Madrid' had to retire from the action in consequence of damage to her steampipe, which was struck by a shell. The shell did not burse on board, and happily no lives were lost. The 'Berenguela/ however,'was lets fortunate, for the ahip was struck by a three hundred pound shell, and was almost sunk. Thirteen men were killed by the bursting of the shell. The Spanish squadron is said to have behaved with great bravery, and the ships were lustily cheered by tbe officers and crews of the English and American fleets lying at Callao when they withdrew from the engagement. They also placed their medical sjtnff at the service of the Spanish Admiral. It is said that the reason why the bombardment •£ Valparaiso did not last longer was, that the Spanish fleet was skort of ammunition : the vessel expected with supplies having got disabled off Cape Horn, and had put back either to Monte Video or to Rio. The ships of the fleet lying at Tahiti when the Omeo left were, the frigate VBerengnela,' the 'Vencedora,'the 'Marques de la Victoria, 'and tha itoreship 'Matara.' The'ironclad •Numancia,' and the 'Uncle^ Sam'(an American ship bought by the Spanish) were' hourly expected. Admiral Nunez, with the other Tesielsof tliefleefc— the 'Villa de Madrid, "Almancia,' 'Elanca,' and ' Itesolucion' — had gone either to Monte Video or to Rio de Janeiro. Captaiu Fd wards further reports that it was the intention of tbe officers commanding tbe portion of the fleet lying at Tahiti either to go to Manila, or to come on. to Sydney to refit.