The enemy seeing Ramirez did not press forward to aid the Americans, got in between the two bodies; and Madregil, as the Leonese colonel was called, marched off with nearly his whole command toward the Costa Rican frontier, thinking, doubtless, that the Falange would be destroyed. The Legitimists, too, noticing the disappearance of Ramirez, began to press the Americans on all sides, making several efforts to charge the houses, where the rifles did good execution. The white ribbons were strewed thickly about the streets, and the Americans had several killed and wounded early in the conflict. But the spirits of the latter did not droop until first Crocker and then Kewen was reported killed. Even after these losses, however, the men were brought to a charge in order to drive the enemy from an old gun, a four-pounder, they were trying to get to bear on the houses the Americans occupied. The charge was successful, and the enemy were unable to use the piece during the action. Then the Legitimists tried to fire the houses held by the Democrats, and they so far succeeded as to get one of the roofs in a blaze. By this time upward of fifteen of the Americans were killed or wounded, not more than thirty-five of them remaining for action. The fight had begun at twelve o’clock, and it was near four when orders were issued to prepare for retreat. Several of the wounded had to be left; but those who could march at all were notified of the intention to abandon the houses, so that they might be ready to move when the order was given. The enemy, protected by the thick undergrowth, had crowded in some force close to the houses when the order was given to sally. At the moment of leaving the house, a shout was raised by the sallying party; the nearest of the enemy turned and fled in confusion; and the main body of the Legitimists, paralyzed, as it were, by the offensive appearance of the American movement, waited, expecting everywhere an attack. Thus the Falange escaped from its difficult position with the loss of only one man killed. When the Democrats attacked Rivas, the Legitimists had probably five hundred men in the town; and they were re-enforced soon after the action commenced by Arguëllo, with some seventy-five or eighty men. There were, according to the best accounts, at least seventy of the Legitimists killed, and as many wounded. The Americans lost six killed and twelve wounded; and five of their wounded left behind were barbarously murdered by the enemy, and their bodies burnt. After such a day, the Legitimists were not much in the humor of pursuing those who had taught them a first lesson in the use of the rifle.