Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-06-05
Gen. walkers Surrender OF HIvas.
To His Eucellency Gen. William Walker,
Com in Chief and President Of Nicaragua
U. S. SLcoF OF WAR ST. MARYs,
San Juan del Sud, My I'd, 1857

To His Ercellency Gen. William Walker,
Com in Chief and President of Nicaragua
SIR: In conformity with your instructions, on the
night of the 31s of Ap il, I proceeded with Col.
Waters TO the enemys campt at CuatrO Esquinas, TO
confer on yoLr behalf with Captain Davies, of the
u. S. Sloop of War St. Marys Captain Davis re-.
marked that be was in possession OF information,
which, in his opinion, rendered your POSITION at Rlvas
uptenable, and he had therefore, with the view of
saving further useless effusion of blood, opened
gotiations with the allies for the eVacl atlen OF that
place in the event of his being able TO obtain your
concurrence This information firstly: That
Colonel Lockrdge had retired with all your forces to
the U. s., leaving the enemy in possession OF the
San Juan River. Secondly: That the Transit Com
panv intended to send more steamers to San Juan
del Sud Thirdly: That you were reduced TO few
days' provisions, and that your ranks were being
rapidly thinned by deserion.
Under these circumstances, considering your po.
sion as desperate in Rvas, he had to propose thai
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 like
wise be transported via TOrtugas and Pnnta Arenas
10 Panama, alter surrendering their arms to him
the officers retaining their side arms. | replied tina
your entertaining such a proposition, would depend
on your being satisfied with regard TO the evacuation
of the river by Col Lockndge and his command as
YOUR principal motive for holding Rivas till the last
moment was the fear that he nigh arrive and find it
occupied by the enemy. That with regard to your
position beng desperate, it was true that you could
not from want of provision, hold RIvas much longer,
but that you could break through the enemys lines
and march in any direction at present. That 1t
further enfeebed you could always cut your way to
the Pacific and embark either at San Juan or at some
olher point on the coast on your schooner Granada,
which had on board two six FOUNDERS and store Of
arms, cartridges. cannon, ammunition, powder and
lead.
On this. Can't. Davis remarked that be must at
once inform me that it his uTGLtera6le detsrml
nation not to allow the schooner Granada to leave the
port and to take possession of her previous to his
sailing for San Juan del Sud- which must take place
in few DAYS. That he was acting on instructions
from his superors, from his Commander-in. Chief
That since the outgoing of the late Administration
at Washington, instructions had been received from
the news which contained nothing to induce 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. remarked that this resolu-
ton was q most important, and would probably prove
determining fact, and therefore asked MN aetFoer-
ately to repeat whether it his fixed determination
to seize the schooner Granada. He replied that II
was his unalterabe resolution not to allow the
Granada 10 leave the harbor of San Juan and 10 take
possession of her before he sailed With regard TO
the evacuation of the San Juan river by Col Lock
ridge and his command, he said that he had entirely
satisfied himself Of the fact both by the Investigations
of his Lieutenant, MeCorkIe, and by perusaI that
morning of contract for passage to the United
States signed by Scott and by 0cers of the British
squadron, besides corrobative evidences observed
that he might have been imposed upon by forgery,
and asked whether his conviction was shared by c.
J. Macdonald, Agent of the Transit Company, whose
experience rendered his opinion valuable! Capt.
Davis replied that MIR Macdonald had been satisfied
of the fact by Lieut.. McCorkles report. but that he
(Capt. Dayis) fully aware Of the responsibility be