Sanders, being in the advance, drove in a small picket near the edge of the town, and proceeding at a double quick step, entered the Plaza and rushed up the street toward Mora’s quarters. The enemy, taken by surprise, had scarcely commenced to return the fire of the Rifles when the latter reached a small brass gun standing in the street, about half way between the Plaza and the magazine of the Costa Ricans. Sanders’ men, shouting over the gun they had taken, carried it to the Plaza; but in the meantime they had given the enemy time to recover from the first shock and the Costa Ricans’ fire now became galling. Brewster had succeeded also in clearing his side of the Plaza of the enemy, and, with Captain Anderson’s company in front, was urging his command on toward the houses occupied by the Costa Ricans. A few sharp-shooters, however, of the enemy, French and Germans, got possession of a tower in front of the Rifles, and so annoyed them that they were finally forced to seek cover. Natzmer and O’Neal got possession of the houses on Brewster’s left and were doing good execution, keeping their men well protected and pouring a sharp fire into the enemy’s ranks. While Machado, leading on his natives in the most gallant manner, had himself fallen; and his soldiers, after his death, took small part in the engagement. Thus, in a few moments, the Americans had possession of the Plaza and all the houses around it, while the enemy shutting themselves up in the buildings in the western part of the town, kept up an irregular fire from the doors and windows, as well as from the loop-holes they soon began to cut through the adobe walls. As for the Americans, after the first enthusiasm of the attack had died away, it was impossible to get them to storm the houses where the Costa Ricans were hiding from the deadly aim of the riflemen. Many of the men, exhausted by the first charge, actually set their muskets against the walls, and throwing themselves on the ground, could scarcely be driven to any active exertion. When Col. Fry came up with his reserve an effort was made to get them to charge down the street to Mora’s house; but Fry and then Kewen—who as volunteer aid acted gallantly during the day—urged the men in vain to the attack. The depression of the companies, blown by the first onset, had its effect on the fresh men; and it was impossible to get any portion of the force to renew the attack with the vigor which marked its commencement.