Alpena Weekly Argus

Dispatches from Lima, of Jan. 13 give accounts of a few skirmishes preceding the decisive battle at Chorillos. They are from Peruvian official sources, and claim for the Peruvians all the advantage gained. The battle of Verrugas seems to have been the most important of these, resulting in the loss of 1,500 Chilians and 900 Peruvians. In this battle a strong Chilian division had endeavored to march through the Altos to a point on the Aroya railroad, where the bridges were to be destroyed, and the supply of water from the Rimac to the capital cut off. This division was met by some Peruvian battalions under Col. Negron, near the Verrugas bridge, and driven back on the main body, with the loss as stated.

The battle of San Bartolome was fought on the twelfth, and is described as a formal combat. Four thousand Chilians attacked an advanced post, which was situated on an elevated plateau, and defended by only 150 men. These resisted the attack for about an hour and a half, and were about retiring when Pierola appeared at the head of a Peruvian division, which immediately occupied the position, and after a well contested fight drove the Chilians from the field. The loss is not stated.

A battle is reported to have been begun early on the morning of the 13th, and was in progress when the steamer Ayacucho left Ancon.