New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-26
CRITICAL POSITION OF WALKER.
.,o,pdeno. Of the N. Y. Tribune.


here to give an intelligent opinion to what is to be
the pOlii al future Of Nicaragua From the head
auaItersOl Walker we have conflicting accounts come
asFertng thst he has no z over p th)usaud men well
cOndit!oD'd aud supplied with provisions, arms and
ammuni ou and all sanguine Of success, while Others
give state merits precsoly the rege'ee The seizure
the river fte smers ard all the defenfbls points be-
tween Ills point aud the lake By coup d. m1lR o.
Mr Speur. + and the Costa Ricaus, actIog It is be-
Heved under the auspices Of Commodore Vanderbilt,
has daIkt ned the prospects for flbu-ter cnteprsei
and If il be true that Walker entertained hopes Of re-
gaining n prestige OF his pas. power in Nicaragua,
am inclined TO believe that they were based on tho
confident expectation Ct a26iticncl recruits and aid
from tie United States, and f4oced secure poses-
son of the Tansit route from this point to San Juan
del Sur. But when he shalt learn las he will sOou)
That re ,Iuits are now at Punta A enas without
tbe meaus Of transport that the San joan River is in
pos.essiCt Of ihe Costa Rcons that all It's prominent
points offensive and doftnvc, are held by Them aud
that the tix stea upon which he formerly
relied arc possession Of the cLemy, and are on war
footing aud moving up and down the rver to intercept
any forces and supplies designed for bis assistance
when Walker shall have learned these facts, say 1
thiLk bis organ of hope must have morbid develop
ment, II be eM fails TO perceive that bis situation is
United States to char 20 The of Glbuster for
tune we here not aware but this is certain, that
uness recruits come in sufficient numbers to drive the
Costa Rcana from San Juan, and capture the
steamers the Costa Rcans will follow up their success
SEES BY securing possession Of the whole ranst route
TO San Juan del Sur. But it is believed here that,
under any circumstances, the Gotta Ricaus would
burn the steamers the moment they found that they
were likely 10 lose them, and without these the re-
cruits would be unable TO reader any assistance.
The arrival Of some folty or fifty Of Walkers men
few DAYS since, q few of whom are from Riva., has
afforded lne some fociies for obtaining iuformson-
though in oil cases any Representations Of Walkers
weskDeee are reluctantly made. 10 public converse
ton they talk loudly Of his strength and his prospects
of succtes and it is on when they are separated from
one another and engaged in confidential conversation
with crson under assurances that the authorship
OF the statements viii be made kno that they
viii give any information disparaging the situation aud
prospects Of Walker and his men. Two days since
had an interview with one Of Walkers men who had
come from Rvas on the Both of December. He was
emacated by distas and hardship, and was lying on
bis back in q bamboo hut, with but few garments
on him. After brief conversation, the aim OF winch
WAS to Chct an impartial statement OF the facts o.
Walkers real situation in which he msnifested great
reluctance to communicate any Information except gen.
ersl assertions Of Walkers fine prospects, he said;
"By -, stranger, dontknow what you're pumping
me fs in this way. I'm q little suspicious of you
ard i don't care about blowing when there's
INK IN tho matter, and if it's jast the
same to VOC, I'd rather you'd dry up"
I assured him that was not agent of Walkers,
ror Of any persous interested in ambitious schemes in
Nicaragua and was oply making inquiries to Learn the
true state Of facs. Look here, stranger" sad he
are you honest?' "Certainly," Irepied. "WeD,
said he 81 could tell you thiogs that would make you
stare but Ill lie 1-dh III say word against Billy
Walker" gave him assurances that only wanted
statement q the real situation OF Walker and his men,
md that | would not di close to anybody the person
nom whom obtaised my information. Having estao-
ished myeef in his confidence learned the following
facts: lie lei Rivas the Qth of December. alkcr
was ouailcied there with the main body Of his men,
numbering about one thousand four hundred of whom
were sick or Misunderstanding only six hundred men
able 10 fight Herningsen was with him, with the men
who had fought under him at tho siege Of Granada AT
Masys there were about 5000 Of the allied forces OF
Central Americs, and Walker unable to leave Rivas
without taking the main body Of his men with him. He
and bis were badly off for provisions aud clothing
Their means Of subsistence very preearious,
and as for clothing they were ragged, and some half
naked and without the means Of reftiog themselves,
except from New York, New-Oreans and California,
which were their whole reliance for relief They had
plenty Of arms ard sufficient ammunition for present
puposee and had made arrangements for castng oa'''
They had nine pieces Of cannon but the place was not
fortified. The mon were dspnted, end were Sighting
with the desperate hope OF being able to return to the
United StStes, Reports coming from the natives OF
dissenSions existing among the forces Of the enemy
bouved A. thpr hones Only 81 recruits csme from
California by the last steamer seven left Rivas with
my informant escaped iIom Serapiqui and % from
Fort San esIloe 0vcr0 were killed and dro Ened In st.
tempting to escape from Serspiqui The poor fellow who
gave me this statement had been several months in MIC
arses, duripg which time he had received airy
pay wlscver and the only evidence he had Of any in
debtedHess to him for services rendered in Walkers
army wa. certificate written q small piece Of
foolscap, Il which the following is copy:
PNN.sTER-GEsERAL's OFFICE,
RIvAs, Dec. 30, 1856.
This is 10 cettify that - - has Lot drawn
bis land warrant from this office.
II. r. MARTIN, Asst Psym1er.
TNe steamer Texas, which arrived here few dsys
since brought two hundred recruits from New Orleans,
and the Jsmee Adecr irom New.Yoik brought thirty
one. 1Ney Sro now al Pcn;a Arenas, under the COM
mand cf l Iockridge, and ondoaVorihg to fit up
tie Bu.w,r, old propeller, with the intention OF
Ascending tie river TO attempt the recap'urc of the
points or the river and the steamers. 1t Is understood
that they look upon the matter as hopeless and the
fac thai eighteen Of kC number have deserted, and
are DOW in GrrytOwn under the protection Of the Brit
lsh meSOfwaI slSlioscd tAero would seem TO confirm
the report few week. via determine tie resui Of
Walkers eSttTpuse. R.P.a.