Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-06-18
GENERAL WILLIAM WALKER.
From the Lou,sa,sa Courier.

from Nt AONSS6'to CoHTteF
We perceive in many of our exchanges,
| within the last few days, an extract from a late
number of sBiackwood's Edinburg Magazine, ,
on Nicaragua, in which it is stated that Gen.
Walker, whose position in its affairs has drawn
all eyes upon him, is about forty years of age,
and is native of Alabama, and giving some
details as to his early life and education,
which arc some times correct and sometimes
otherwise.
The writer of this article has known Will
liam Walker from his childhood, and has it.,
therefore within his power to correct several
errors which prevailed with regard to him.
In the first place, then he is a native of the
city Of Nashville, Tennessee, his father be-
ing of Scotch birth, coming we believe, from
Glasgow or its vicinity, his mother, who was a
sister Of John Noryell, at one period Sena-
tor in Congress from Michigan, being a native
of Kentucky. William the eldest of their
children, is about thirty-three or four years of
age, is of rather diminutive stature, with
whitish hair, fair complexion, much stained
on his cheeks and about the eyes with freckles,
grey eyes, and countenancc, on the whole,
rather tame and unpossessing. His voice is
low and decidedly nasel, being what the child
ren call singsong; his manners are uncommonly
quiet and reserved, if not awkward but when
in company with intimate friends, or when in
terested in any subject, he wakes up, and his
whole appearance greatly changes.
At school and college, Walker was most
taciturn and studious. He was particularly
proficient in mathematics and the exact scien-
ces, and on his graduation at the University
of Nashville, he went to Edinburg, where he
west through the School of Medicine, and af-
forwards attended lectures on that science in
Paris, and then travelled over a considerable
portion of middle and southern Europe. On
his return to Nashville he found that neither
his health nor his temperament fitted him for
the life of a physician, and he came to this
city with the intention of studying law and
obtained admittance to the Bar. He pursued
his studies for some time, and was admitted
to practice, but never, we think, made any
very strenuous attempt to advance in the pro-
fessioR. Shortly afterwards, he became con-
nected with the ''Crescent," and devoted him.
self with great earnestness and zeal to editori-
al labors. The experiment did not, however,
prove so fortunate as he had expected, and he
therefore gave it up, and followed the exam
pie of many other adventurous and ambitious
spirits, by going to California. In that State
he was also for a while connected with the
Press, and at the period of the descent upon
Sonora, which he made with handful of fol-.
lowers, he was, if we have not been misinfor-
med, again trying his luck at the Bar. How
ever ill-advised and unfortunate that adven-
ture may be regarded by many, all will agree
that so far as its history has transpired, Walk
er displayed indomitable nerve and heroism
in the midst of the sternest difficulties.
Under his calm and unreserved exterior,
Walker conceals the rarest determination and
most unflinching personal courage. He is,
we are inclined to think, slightly fanatical in
his views, when interested or resolved upon a
matter, and probably never thinks of conces-
sions to any person, or under any circumstan-
ces. He is also strictly just and impartial in
his course, and little given to making distinc-
tions in his treatment of those who offend
against discipline. In proof of this, we heard
the other day from most reliable source, that
ing been guilty of an impudence which dis
qualified him for duty at the moment, he or
dered that he should be reduced to the ranks
and his commission forfeited, nor would he
recede from this position, altho' strongly ur-
ged to clemency by many of his leading and
most trusted officers.
N in fhe