The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-21
CAPT. SAMUEL Fl. WALKER.

This officer IS one Of those rare spirits which q
state Of war will bring from our citizen soldiers
His late unequalled conflict with the Mexicans, in
which he lost nearly every man under his command
and his daring herolsm in cutting his way TO Gen.
Taylor's camp, have excited in the public m,ad a
strong desire TO know more OF him. He is the
same gentleman so frequently and honorabiy spoken
of in Gen. Green's journal Of the Mer expedition.
He is native OF Washington city, from whence he
went into the Florida war, where in several cam
paigns he distinguished himself by his intrepid bra
very. In l842 he went to Texas, and during the
invasion Of that republic by Gen. VOL, he was
marked for his bold and daring conduct. After the
Mexican general had retreated from San Antonio,
and when he lay upon the Rio Hondo, Walker and
Capt. Mccullough crawed through his camp one
night and sped out his position, and the next day,
with the gallant Hays, led the attack upon his rear
guard. He then Joined the celebrated expedition
against Mier, and on the morning Of that sanguina-
ry battle, he, with three ethers-being the advance
scout of the Texans-was taken prisoner and car
ried with his hands tied behind him to the head
quarters Of Gen. Ampudla. The Mexican general
questioned him as to the Texan forces, and when
Walker informed him that the Texans had ouly
three hundred men, Ampudia pompously replied:
"Does that audacious handful Of men presume to
follow me into this strong place and attack mef'
Yes, " says Walker; make yourself content upon
that subject, General, they will follow you into hell,
and attack you there" He was, with his comrades,
then marched prisoner to the city Of Mexico
At Salado, with the lamented Capt. Cameron
and Dr. Bremen, he led the attack upon the guards
overpowered them, and marched for Texas, when,
after eating up all their horses and mules and living
for days upon their own urine, surrendered to the
Mexican Generals MERCER and Ortago. He was
again marched to Salado, where, with his comrades,
he was made to draw in the celebrated black bean
lottery, and every tenth man was shot. Those that
remained Of the Texans were marched to the castle
Of Perote and the city of Mexico Here, while
working the streets in that city, he was struck
by a Mexican corporal for not working faster,
when with his spade he knocked down the corporal,
which caused the guards to beat him nearly to
death. Hislife was long time despaired Of and up
on his recovery, he, with two companions scaled
the walls Of his prison after nghtfall, and made his
way to Texas over a distance Of more than q
thousand miles. Before, however, they got out OF
the country, they were twice more imprisoned, and
each time effected their escape. When he reached
Texas again he joined Captain Hays, who, with If
teen others, armed with Colts repeating pistols,
fought 96 Cumanches, and defeated them, leaving
36 killed upon the ground. Here Walker was run
through the body with Cumanche spear, and his
life again despaired of. We now hear of him with
10 Texans, attacking 500 Mexicans, and all per.
shing in battle but himself and six others; and
his way, single handed, into General TayIor's camp
from Point Isabel.
a. To such men Texas is indebted for her emanci.
patton from Mexico. Few as they are, they have
won her liberty, and have miraculousy maintained
IL for ten years against all the boosted power OF
Mexico.--,N " Giobs. a' " t"'. e."