Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-01-02
THE CAPTURE OF NsWALKER
-COMMODORE PAULDlNGsS DE.
SPATC{f.

WAsHrsaroE, Dec. 90.
The following is Flag Officer Pauldlng's letter to
the Secretary OF the Navy, detailing the circum-
stances under which he arrested Walker:
FLAG SHIP WABASH,
of Aspinwall, Dec. Is. 1857.
SIR: Nv letter of tbe 10Th inst, informed the
Depar'ment that I had broken up the camp OF
General Walker at Puntl Arenas, dsarmed bis
lawless followers, and sent them to Norfolk IN the
Saratoga The General came here with me ard
viii take passage in of the steamers for New
York. where h, will present himself to the Mar
shall of the district The Department being in pos
session of all TIE facts in relation TO Walkers es-
cape with his followers from the United States. as
we'll as the letters of Capt Chartard and Gen.
Walker to me after he landed at Punta Arenas,
the merits of the whole question will, presume,
be fully comprehendcd
could not regard Walker and his followers in
any other light than outlaws, who had escaped
from the vigilance of the officers OF the Govern
ment and left our shores for the purposes OF rpne
and murder and saw other way to vindicate
the law and ieem the honor OF our country t1sn
by dis ruing and sending them home. In dong
so am sensible of the responsibility have IN
Cured and confidently look to the Government
for nv iustiic. alton. Regarded in its true light,
the case appears to me clear one-the poiots few
and strong Walker came 10 Punta Arenas from
the United States having in violation OF law, set on
foot military organization to make war upon
people with whom at peace.
He llpded there with armed men and munitions
OF war in defiance of the guns of ship-o-war
placed there to prevent his laniing. With nothing
to show that be acted bv authority. he formed
camp hoistpd the Nicaraguan flag called 1t the head
quarters of the army OF Nicaragua. and signed
himself the Commander in Chief With this pre-
tension he claimed the right of lawful govern
mpnt over all persons and things. Within sight
of his flag, without riLht or authority, he landed
fifty men at the mouth of thu river Colorado, s'iz-
ed the fort of Castillo on the San Juan, lpturtd
steamers and goois of chants in transit to the
interior, killed men and made prisoners OF the
peaceful INHABITANTS sending to the harbor OF San
Juan IL Norte some thirty or forty men, women,
and chill lren in the steamer Morgan
In doing these things without the show OF au-
thority, they guilty Of T pine a1d murder
and must be regarded as outlaws and pirates.
They en- have claims to be regarded in any
other light. Humanity, well law, justice,
and national honor demand the dispersion of these
awless men. The remnant of the mis- erable be-
ings who surrendered at hivas were conveyed in
this ship last summer to New York, and their SUI
frrngs are yet fresh in the memory of all on board
Besides the suff rings that must ssarily be in
hicted upon innocent aud unOfending people,
these lawless folio sers of Gen. Walker, ms5ui led
end deceived into a career of crime, would doubt
less have persisted in. Central America, or tbs IT
mu,ilated and fssteriEs bodies would have been
brought back to ttefr friends at the expense OF
For the above reasons, which appear to my mind
quite sufficient, have disarmed and sent to the
Unitei States Gen. VIM. Walker and his outli"ed
and piratical followers for trial whatever action
the government in its wisdom may think proper to
pursue. II B. NJ. slip, Brunswick, of red to CO.
operate with me in removing the forty out oil tue
p,rty from Point Arenas but; as they were my
cOuntrymen; l de med il proper TO decline the
participation of forigu flag.
In hi4 letter of December 18th, Paulding gives
the particulars Of the landing of the marines and
seampn at Point Arenas under cir, umstances OF
great difficulty, yet everything was done in so s"a-
manike aud skul manner that it was accom-
pished in the shortest possible time without loss
u accident.
To the excellent discipline AMI fine bearing OF
the officers and be says he is Indebted IN the
performance of this most unpleasant servicr, for
the exemption from all casualty accident. No
was hi Irrd and loss Of any kind was SUI
tanned. NO commanding officer ever support
Ell by body of officers aud men in manner
more highly to command his admiration and res
pect.