New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-09
CAPT. DAVIS'S REPORT on IYALKERS
SURRENDER.

I
Commodore Mervine, and forwarded to Washington:
UNIrTD STATES SHIP ST. MARYS,
Ar SRA, May l6 1857. (
SIR. At the latest date Of my last dispatch, had
the honor TO saw that then waiting for favora-
bic moment when, by a timely and elTectua interpos-
ton OF my good offices, might hope to engage the
conendng parties Ia bring their affairs to peaceful
issue Tie information brought 10y Lieut.. McCoTkle,
who returned on the 18th ult., determined me to 60 to
Rlvas the next day.
reached Gen. Mora's camp on the afternoon of the
3Oth, accompanied b. Dr. j. Winthrop Taylor, the
surgeon of bis ship, and by my coXswan and another
of my ggsmen
After half an hours conference with Gen. Mora,
exchanged several notes with Gen Walker, which
transmitted herewith. numbered from one to SIX.
Three interviews took place between General Hen.
BIZ gsen and Colonel Waters, representing General
Walker and myself, assisted by Doctor Taylor At
the last Of them, the morning OF the Isl INST, the
agreement-a copy OF which accompanying this Is
nun bered received my own signature and the sg-
natures of the other gentlemen present, and having
been returned to Rivas brought back by Colonel
Waters signed by General Walker.
General Mora then addressed 10 me the c0mulunica-
ton marked No. s.
At O'Clock entered Riyas in company with Gen.
Zsyaa and his staff, who attended General Walker
and his staff to San Juan del Sur, where the latter en-
ba1ked on board the 81. Mays.
IL Rivas, the American troops--about 40 In num-
ber-were drawn up in the plaza, AMI the agreement
was read TO them in general orders, and they were
transfened by General Hennngsen TO my charge.
to direct their movements and accompany them TO Viz
gin Bay in the morning. which service, though entirely
extra professional he did the favor to accept most
tbeerully; he executed it with perfect success.
Gen. Canas having entered TO take possession,
turned over to him the plaza of Rvas, by means OF
the note the original Of which is in Spanish numbered
9; after which Gen. Hennngsen and myself went to
San Juan.
On the I'd inst, having exerted myself in vain TO
persuade Gen. Walker to place the schooner Granada
in my keeping, gave Lieut. Maury the order, mum
bcred 10. Finally, however, when the preparations
for the forcble seizure of the schooner were COM
pleted, she delivered up to the United States By
the accompanying order of Gen. Walker, No. III.
The duty of conducting the Americans from Virgin
Bay through the province OF Guanaeaste to Punta
Arenas and thence by steamer 10 Panama, was
signed to Lieut. McCOTkle by the accompanying order
No. IL.
On the evening of the ID inst, went to Virgin Bay
where / found most of the officers and men in good
spints aud behaving exceedingly well. Lieutenant
McCOrke had already begun to reg date the supplies
and divide the people into messes-the company or
ganiza,on being lost In this he was ably assisted by
several efcers, whose amiable conduct under these
difficult circumstances commanded my respect and
grateful acknowledgements The troops embarked for
Tortugas the morning of the ith inst.
Or the morning Of the Sd int. / crossed over 10
Riyas where visited the hospital, and the sick and
wounded Americans in town. Your special attention
will be invited 10 this subject in separate commune
cation.
The accompanying letter from General Mora, num-
Der l3 was handed 10 Inc here.
The schooner Granada, or San Jose, was transferred
to the authorities Of Nicaragua by the accompany
ing letters numbered IA aud i5i the former Of which
explains concisey my reason for this manner OF pro-
ceediDg.
As soon rs certain information was received of the
departure Of Col Lockridge from the river San JUAN
it became apparent that Gen. Walker, now deprived
of ell possibility Of receiving reenorcemen's, and "a
pidly consuming his mules and horses, must elmer
succunb TO the superior force Of the enemy or Try ms
fortune "A change OF Mace. IL WAS Tue opnlOn VI
these who had better means of Judging man myself,
that one month ago he could have passed the eneys
lines and maintained himself 10 uie open c1unuy.
Ice that time deseriion had become go numerous
and re0ueDt not only diminishing his army In num-
bers but demOraZiDg il ID character ina, toward the
end # April the only resort Ieit 10 Gen' walker was
IN cut his wey down to the coast and take refuge Il
possible ON board the schooner Granada. Here,
aoain am citing the opinion OF his friends Accord
ibg 10 the best intelligence, such an attempt would
have beeu the last effort Of despair and would have
terminated fatally in less than five miles from Riyas
The time had, therefore, arrived for determining on
the course TO be pursued IN the case anticipated IN
your irs letter Of instructions Of January 10; that Is
- in the event Of the expulsion of Walker and hls
"forces from Nicaragua by the allied armies, and
"of bis departure 10 adjacent territory in Central
America for the purpose u hostile and aggressive
Operations"
When considered that. under these circumstances.
tie Granada would De destitute Of legal commission
from any recognized Government, or rom any party
then actually existing that she was no longer actng
under the authority of sovereign state, or even Oh
distinct and separate Government in such STATE the
party which had hitherto been deemed a oelhgerent
nation having lost its footing in the country and that
rs ! well knew she would be under the necessary
Of procuring by violence the indispensable means
of Subsistence could not bring myself to consent that
the Grarada thus characterized should pass from under
ny guns out upon the high seas Accordingly on
leaving the hip for Rivas on April ~ handed Lo
Maury the MEMORANDUM Of instructions numbered TO-
aud In conference with Gen. Henningsen and Col9nei
Waters made known to those gentlemen my decision
During all these transactions related IN toe report
nv intercourse with Gen. Mora, the Commahderh-
Chief Of the allied armies was intimate.
amIyery conscious that in these novel ana unnsua,
occurrences may have often to ask for my eondac'
the Kind and candid construction OF the Department.
Feeling secure in the enjoyment Of It's fayoraoe dspV
sjtion While engaged in the performance Of my duty,
should not allude to il now but that Gen. walker nAs
epcsged in mputatons against mysea three senior