The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-08-11
Eron, th. Rasfon Courier.
RETURN OF So FILLIBUsTERs--

Il RETURN OF So FILLIBUSTERS---
Their :. Statements - Their Opinions
Of HuLker, Etc. Etc.
The sloop-of-war Cyane arrived ut this
port from A>pinwall, bringing Fifty til, ee OF
Walkers men who were at the siege of Ri
vas.
Ia conver>ing with these men. we found
that u remarkable degree of respect tor
s their past commander, and much enthusiasm
regarding future prospects in Nicaragua
appeared to animate the whole. Not one
complained of the treatment he had receiy-
ed from General Walker, but all attributed
their sufferings and privations to causes
which it WAS not in his power to CONTROL
Many of them conyersed very intelligently
in regard to the state Of affairs in the coun-
try where they had met with such disasters.
aud maintained that Walkers conduct had
been much misrcpresrutcd. All were earn
est in pr"clumiug their desire to "turn
about aud e. back" if the opportunity
should gain ntfer itself.
Lieutenant I-Hae Il. Snyder. of Phindel-
phia, has been with Walker since last No
yember lie thinks Walker one of the
brayest Of soldiers. Walker in battle never
suid "Go ahead, :" always said Come
ON. men, aud Snyder hud seen him at the
head Of his men in the midst of heavy fire,
frUm which it did not seem possible that he
could come out alive. Snyder says that
he WAS always well treated by Walker, AID
Inns no cause to complain of him. He never
knew of but two or three Instances in which
the Commanders conduct could be cOnsid
cred cruel. One was when n sergeant who
hal deserted was captured and brought
bnck to Walker. who ordered him to be
shot without n court martial. The other
instance, Walker gave orders to party to
90 in search of six deserters, and if they
were found to shoot them instantly. Three
of them were discovered and shot. Snyder
thinks Gen. Hcmningrcn "fine man. and
better versed in military matters than
Walker" Thinks Walker did the best he
could for hiG soldiers in regard tn food Gud
clothing. The greatest loss of Walker was
hi+ steamers, the capture Of which Snyder
attributes to the agency of Vanderbilt. If
It were not for the loss of the steamers
Walker would be in possession of the cOun-
try now. The CommisSary Department he
blnmes for not storing more provisions at
Riyas. where. during the siege, the men
were compelled to subsiSt some time upon
the mrat of iackasses and mules. Snyder
IL ready t" join Walker again if he returns
to Nicaragua. He says that the soldiers
experienced no real suffering until after
their surrender at Rivas. when they were
cruelty treated by the Costa Ricans. He
spoke of the valor of a boy about sixteen
years of age, who was attached to the army,
aud who, in battle, after being wounded
in the head with bullet, went about call
ing upon the wounded men to follow him.
In the same fight this boy afterwards re-
ceiyed three severe bullet wounds in bis
breast, and two of the bullets still remain
in his body. He Is now alive and on board
the Roanoke.
Alexander T. S. Anderson belongs in
Brooklyn, \. Y. and was a captain under
Walker, with whom he served for about
fifteen months. lie thinks Walker brave,
patriotic, unsclfsh, and not cruel" but ad-
mitted that he could have fed and clothed
the soldiers better if he had tried" AL
though having a high opinion of Walker,
LA L-I:~-ee IIrunfngsrn WAS ''the man for
the army" he being a better general than
Walker. Tie says Walker is ambitious
and fond of glory - that he had to be very
severe i'll his discipline in order to keep the
army together, and thinks such severity was
justifiablc. Says the men had tn live on
mule meat forty days at Rivas, and as some
of tho mules were sick when killed, the
some of the men to have ulcers. Is ready
to join Walker again, IF there's any kind
of u show"
James l.. Lambert, of Richmond, Va,
went from California to join Walkers army,
and hnd been with it two years as a pri-
waite. He likes Walker, and says that al
most all of the men brought here in the
Cyane are attached to him and ready to GO
back again. Says that only the dpserters
complain of Nv alker's cruelty" Thinks
Walker great soldier. and Nicaragua n
paradise. Wants to go back to Nicaragua
to live there, when the Americans have CON
troll of the country.
Some of the other soldiers with whom We
conversed speak generally in praise of Wal
ker, although some of the men regard him
as not quite up to the requirements of u
revolutionary hero.
Most of the men by the Cyane hail from
the South and West.
.CENSURING A CLASS FOR THE
FAITT,TS Of AM TN0Jurnu.r