During the afternoon the enemy set fire to some of the houses held by the Americans, and the fire of their rifles from a tower, in front of Brewster’s command, interfered somewhat with free communication between the east and west sides of the Plaza. As night, too, approached, the fire from both sides slackened, each apparently exhausted by the excitement and strife of the day. In the meanwhile, Walker was preparing to withdraw, and after dark the wounded and disabled were moved over to the church on the east side of the square. Then the several companies were gradually gathered toward the same point, a few men being still left in the burning houses to keep the enemy from embarrassing the American movement. The surgeons examined the wounded, and those declared mortally hurt were left in the church near the altar, while the others were provided with horses for the march. It was past midnight when all arrangements were completed, and the command slowly and silently defiled from the town, the wounded in the centre, and Major Brewster commanding the rear-guard. Soon after daylight, the little force, weary and foot-sore, ragged, but resolute, crossed the Gil Gonzales near Obraje, and halted for a short rest. Their guide, Dr. Cole, and Macdonald, who had gone to Rivas as a volunteer, were missing, although they had left the town with the command. Nor was Captain Norvell Walker anywhere to be found. The rear guard had been well commanded by Brewster, and his coolness and firmness conduced much to the orderly character of the march. It was not until the Americans were some miles beyond the Gil Gonzales that Captain Walker, marching by himself, overtook the rear-guard, and showed by his story that his absence was not due to any laxity of the guard in keeping up stragglers. He had fallen asleep in the tower of the church on the Plaza at Rivas, and not waking until daylight, was surprised to find himself alone in a town occupied by the enemy. But the Costa Ricans had not, up to the time he left, discovered that the Americans had retired: hence he was able to escape with safety. Cole and Macdonald, overcome by fatigue, wandered into a bye-path near Rivas to take rest. Finding themselves separated from the Nicaraguan force they sought and obtained refuge from a poor native, who kept them hid near San Jorge for a week. They did not re-appear in Granada until ten days after the action.