Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-02

INTERESTING DETAILS OF WALKERS CAPT.
TIATInN- HENNINGSEN,S nISPA TCH


INTERESTING DETAILS OF WALKERS CAPT.
ATION-HENNINGSEN's DISPATCH.
The steamship Isabel, Capt Rollins, arrived at
this port last night, with dates from Havana and
Key West to the 25th inst. We are indebted to
Purser James SalvO for favors
The Panama Herald records his arrival on the 17th
at Panama, with his staff and officers, and says that
the remnant Of his staff and officers would be sent
down to that city. The evacuation Of Rivas was
made on the LIST of May, according to the terms Of
capitalization to Capt Davis, Of the ship-Of-war st.
Marys. We have the full particulars Of the bust
ness, but the substance Of which will be found in
the following dispatch from Gen. Henningsen
which is all that can publish Of the affair this
morning:
U. S. SLoOP OF WAR ST. MARY's,
San Juan del Sud- May ID, 1857. J
TO his ErcelIeacy Gen. Walker,
Com. en- Chief and President OF Nicaragua:
SIR: In conformity with your Instructions on the
night Of the 3lst Of April, proceeded with Col.
Waters to the enemies camp at CUatO Esquinas to
confer on your behalf with Capt Davis of the Z. s.
SloOp of War, st. Marys. Capt Davis remarked
that he was in possession of information, which, in
his opinion, rendered your position at Riyas unten-
able, and he had therefore, with the view Of saving
further useless effusiOn of blood opened negotia-
tiOns with the allies for the evacuation Of that place
in the event Of his being able to obtain your concur
renee The information was, firstly: That Colonel
Lockridge had retired with all your forces to the
United States, leaving the enemy in possession Of
San Juan river. Secondly: That the Transit Com
pany intended to send more steamers to San Juan
del Sud. Thirdly: That you were reduced to a few
days provisions, and that your ranks were being
rapidly thinned by desertion
Under these circumstances, considering your pO-
stion desperate in Riyas, he had to propose that
you should surrender Rivas to him; that you and
your staff should accompany him to San Juan del
Sud- to be transported by the st. Marys to Panama.
That the rest OF the army and citizens should be
transported via Toltu gas and Punta Arenas to Pana
ma, after sUrrenderIng their arms to him-the OIL
GERS retaining their side arms. / replied that your
entertaining such proposition would depend on
your being satisfied with regard to the evacuation
OF the river by Col LOcBTidge and his command,
as your principal motive for holding Rvas the last
moment was the fear that he might arrive and find
il occupied by the enemy. That with regard TO
your position being desperate, it was true that you
could not, from want Of provisions, hold Rlvas
much longer, but that you could break through the
enemies lines and march in any direction at pres
ent. That if further enfeebled you could always cut
your way to the Pacific, and embark either at San
Juan or at some other point the coast on your
schooner Grenada, which had on board two six
Founders and a store of arms cartridges, cannon,
ammunition, powder and lead
On this, Capt Davis remarked that he must at
once inform that it his unalterable determi-
nation not to allow the steamer Grenada to leave the
port and to take possession Of her previous to his
sailing from San Juan del Sud, which must take
place in a few days That he was acting on instruc-
tions from his superiors, from his Commander-in-
Chief. That since the outgoing of the late Admin
istratiOn at Washington, instructions had been re-
eeived from the new which contained nothing to in
duce him to alter the course which he intended to
pursue. But that he preferred would consider all
this as unsaid, and that you would regard him
acting ON his own and sole responsibility. remark
cd thar this resolution most important one,
and would probably prove a determining fact, and
therefore asked him deliberately to repeat whether
il his fixed determination to seize the schooner
Grenada. He replied that it was his Unalterable
resolution not to allow the "Granada" to leave the
harbor Of San Juan, and to take possession Of her
before he sailed With regard to the evacuation of
the San Juan river by Col. LOckridge and his COM
mand he said that he had entirely satisfied himself
Of the fact both by the Investigations Of his Lieu
tenant McCorkle, and by perusal that morning Of
contract for passage to the United States signed by
Scott and by officers of the British squadron, be-
sides other coroboratve evidence l observed that
he might have been imposed upon by a forgery, and
asked whether his conviction was shared by c. J.
Macdonald, Agent Of the Transit Company whose
experience rendered his opinions valuable Capt
Davis reLlied that Mr. Macdonald had been satisfied
of the fact by Lieutenant McCorkles report, but
that he Col Davis fully aware of the responsible
ity he was assuming, pledged himself for the aU-
thenticity of this statement.
l therefore agreed to communicate to you this
conversation, anu 10 submit the IOuOWlng OHerS
from Capt. Davis, as the only position likely to be
admissible, viz That under the guarantees Of the
American flag you should with sixteen officers of
your selection with their arms horses, and effects,
leave Rivas to embark at San Juan for Panama That
Rivas with its garrison should be surrendered to
Capt Davis. That the privates should be delivered
up to him, their arms, and together with the Off
GERS employees, aud citizens, be transported by
another route TO Panama accompanied by United
States officer, and under guarantee Of the United
States flag. At two o'clock, a. IN, lst May, re-
turned to Rivas promising your answer at ten
o'clock and personally to come back if the negOtia
tions were not broken off. Accordingly at ten, a.
m. returned to the quarters Of Capt. Davis at
CUQtro EHqUiadS accompanied again by Colonel Wa
ers when Col Davis signed the draft Of the agree
ment which had made out in your presence, and to
which YOU acceded in view Of the determining facts,
that Capt. Davis declared that he had enlarged
and intended to seize the Granada which was
therefore certain, and pledged himself to the
evacuation Of the San Juan river by Col Lockridge,
which was therefore more than probable.
In conformity with your instructions, not only the
agreement in question was drawn out without any
reference to the allied rebel leaders, except when
once mentioned as the enemy" but Without com
municatiOn with them.
With Gen. ZaVala l interchanged cOurtesies in
the quarters of Capt. Davis. Jeres met in the
same place after signature of the agreement, but
no aIlusion was made to it by either, whilst being
marked in reply to a remark which had been made,
that shots were fired from both lines during the
mistic; that from the other side they were fred
wantonly-from ours only when the enemy profting
by the suspension of arms to induce desertion or
erect barbados. which were considered, and would
continue to be considered, act Of hostility; that
on the 1lth ultimO, when returning the wounded
prisoners to the enemy by your direction, myself
saw them under cover Of the white flag attempting
to raise barricade the 81 George road. To this
I Al IL az IL
been given and that the matter should be looked !
nto in future; but gave me to understand that the
in Of the enemy's entrenced camps
had very little control over the other.
Having brought back the agreement for your sig |
noture Col. Waters returned with it to the CuaT0
Esguiaas. and was to bring back Capt Davis as
soon as the word was sent that you were ready to
evacuate the place 1 next ordered the cannon,
foundry and ammunition to be destroyed, by break
ing the trunnons and saving through the carriages