The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-29

The decisive, voiumlnem, csunpceheustve and
intensely interesting intelligence which We are
epabled TO Ley bessee or rsaAers this morning,
of the closing scenes md Of tie whole history Of
Gen Walkers career in Nicaragua, may we'll
make up the engrosxAS topic Of the day. The
extraordinary events which have followed the
landing of Walker 1t San Juan dA Sur Ia 1866,
and the remarkable circumstances, ending Ia his
evacuation Of the country, are thus served up for
single sitting Of our readers who have been
awaiting the issue and the history Of this monen-
tous fiibuaering enterprise. The statistics facts
and details, thus laid before them will furnish
them birds eye view of the complications of
this Nicaragua struggle, and Of the parties, prin-
ciples and psrquisites involved from the FIRST to
the last of the bloody drama.
In looking over this exciting, eventful and
sanguinary adventure of Walker, it cannot fail
to be remarked that the causes resulting in this
inglorious failure of his mission form the promi-
nent landmarks of the picture. His first great
mistake was bis rupture with President Rivsa
What maitered it that Rivas held the shadow "a
long as Walker held the substance of the supreme
power Of the States Why ehould the iavader
thus prematurely create faction powerful for
miechief against him, when by Cancellation 1t
could have been made an efficient sllyI The
second and the most disastrous. blunder of Walker
was his coup d'tat against the house of Wander
bilt" This was literally killing the goose that
laid the golden egg. The Vanderbilt company,
by that act, not only ceased to supply the fiji
buster chief with men, means and munitions of
war, but it became most efficient ally of Costa
Rica-
And what did Walker gain by the transfer of
this plum of the Nicaragua Transit monopoly to
his particular friends, Randolph, Garrison, Nor
gan Il Co? The moment his fortunes began to
decline they abandoned him to his fate. His ruin
would have speedily followed, but for the
timely material and financial aid" furnished
by George Law. With George Law the msgnif-
cent stakes were considered equal TO the venture,
and he went into the rescue with the resources of
little kingdom. He sent down General Hen
ningsen, one of the most accomplished, skiful
and daring soldiers of the age, and liberal sup
plies OF the most destructive weapons Of modern
warfare, small arms and artillery. These and
other essential Notwithstanding in the
aggregate to not less than three hundred thou
sand dollars, We dare say-were followed by the
terrific operations at Mssssys and Granada, and
by the stubborn defensive movements of Walker
and Henningsen of San Jorge and Rivaa But
with the occupation Of the San Juan river by
the Costa Ricans and the withdrawal of the Nor
gan steamers, Walker was cut off from the base
of his operations and the fountain Of his sup
plies Thus even George Law could do nothing
more than pray for the success Of his protsgs and
trust to luck. All these we're the results Of the
rupture with athe house Of Vanderbilt"
Another serious blunder of Walker was his de-
cree virtually establishing the institution of
African slavery in Nicaragua. Among many of
the mixed races Of that country this was
the signal for instant rebellion: and that
nothing might be needed to ALLEVIATE the whole
native population, spoliations and confessions,
after the sweeping fashion Of William the Con-
queror or of the filibuster heroes, William the
First became the established policy OF William
the Last This slavery decree also excited the
distrust OF many of the Northern people and poll
tcians of this country, aud the vigilanl suspi-
cions of England. Upon this latter point the
efficient assistance, in the way of armed neutrai-
ty, rendered to the Costa Ricsns by the money,
arms, emissaries and war ships of England, will
serve to show the extent of the folly Of Walker
in following the unreasonable counsels of such
precipitate advisers as the Hon. Pierre Soule.
These are among the disastrous mistakes of
Walker az the civil chief Of Nicaragua, against
Walker az military commander holding
foreign country under a military occupation.
His secondary blunders as a military man are
also sufficiently numerous. In desperate bravery
and reckless fighting he is perhaps without an
equal; but in those rare military qualities so es
sential 10 the maintenance Of small army in the
heart Of hostile country, and 30 indispensable
10 keep open protective line Of communication
between the camp and the coast, General Walker
appears TO be most lamentably deficient. The
descent by means Of RATS Of the Costa Ricans
upon the San Juan, down an unexplored and
magnificent tributary Of that stream, was
hostile movement scarcely, perhaps, within the
range of ordinary calculations of danger. But
still, a. the Key to hH base OF operations Walker
should have made il his first business to render
the defences Of the San Juan river formidable in
the hands Of few men, and in easy and fire.
1uent communication with Zach other. In losing
'h" ~ "a Ty. He may here
-. So s-s 49, uetiicency Of his subordi-
Date=, and his limited resources, In his selfdc-
fence; but while he had the opportunity, the men
and the means, he should have made the river
secure. Instead Of this, however, be fancied
himself established without defences, secure
without vigilance, and superior to all possible
military combinations from the mere prestige of
the individual bravery of his volunteers.
Thus the Nicaragua expedition of Walker, IL
more brilliant than bis Sonora adventure, can
only be regarded a. a more brilliant failure. He
Is back again in New Orleans We are inform