Phenix Gazette

CALLAO.

A letter from an officer on board the U. S. ship Peacock, dated Callao Bay, Feb. 11th, speaking of the surrender of the Castles says—

"The garrison and inhabitants of Callao were reduced to a deplorable state, almost entirely without food, and in a state of starvation; dead bodies were found in the houses and streets, that had died of hunger. The Marquis Torre-Tagle, his wife and family, have either been killed, or starved to death. From the extreme want of food in his family, he gave Gen. Rodil a medal presented to him by the Peruvian Government, whilst President of Peru, valued at thirty thousand dollars, for a half barrel of beef, and a small quantity of rice. It is ascertained as a fact that the horses and mules they were compelled to kill, to prevent their dying of starvation, were sold to the inhabitants at the enormous sum of $17 per pound. A single fowl for $50, and ship biscuit at $5 a piece; there was not a dog or cat to be found in the place at the time of the surrender of the Castles—they had all been eaten by the inhabitants. At the commencement of the siege there were 1500 troops in the Castle, and 4500 inhabitants in the town. At the surrender there were but 500 troops and 500 inhabitants; thus you see, that out of 6000 souls, there were but 500 left."