The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-10


grace. and demanded trial before the courts. This
carried on for more than year until recently,
after appealing from court to court, it has heea
decided by the highest tribunal ia Mexico that the
German expedition was not ibustering expedition.
German, who had been promised the post of Admiral
in the Mexican navy having been recently acquitted.
has stated his lntoDtion to publish pamphlet giving
the Original documents and true account OF the
whole affair. II this pamphlet is published it wiz
be an instructive ersay upon the manner in ch
nearly ALL If not all the iibustering expeditions to
Spanhh-America are got up.
WALKERS FILIBUSTER EXPEDITIONS IN
NICARAGUA.
To understand the origin Of Walkers first flibus-
ter expedition into Nicaragua, it will be necessaryts
90 back az far a. the year 1854 Its President Il
that time was Don Fruto Chamorro, who was the
representative of the conservative party. In the
spring OF s54 a revolution was organized sgainse
his government, headed by Don Francisco Castilou.
formerly Cabinet Minister, and General Maxine
Jerez, who assumed military command of the insur.
gents. In May, 1854, batse was fought, the result
Of which was the defeat Of Chamorro and his army
and the occupation by the revolutionsts Of the city
of Leon a town next in Importance to Granada, the
capital. Thenceforth there were two governments
in the republic-Chamorro, the actual de juye Prei-
dent, governed in Granada, and Castillon governed
in Leon. For some ten or twelve months this
tate Of things continued. At length the Cha
morristas were besieged in Granada, which
was defended by their President for several
months. Chamorro, however, died on the 18th of
March, 1855, and the Presidency passed into the
hands of Don Jose Maria Estrada An attempt was
made during his administration to reconcile the
tending parties bat it proved unsuccessful and the
internecine strife continued. 1t twas in this condition
Of things that Cushion was induced to propose 70
Col. Vim. Walker to come to the aid Of the revoln-
ti0nary democratic party of Nicaragua. 1t il a.
most needless to add that he accepted the invitation.
An arrangement WAS made with Caston, by WHICH
he was to receive commission a. general in the Nj
caragusn army and grant of 200 acres Of land.
He enter. the service of the democratic party.
and sailed from San Francisco in the brig Vesta with
ffty-six men. some of whom had been with him in
Lower California. The idea Of inviting Walker
was supported by the Nicaragua Transit Com
pany in New York and San Francisco whose
design was, through his agency, to seize upon
the Nicaraguan route and thus prevent the
taxation to which they had been hitherto sub
jected by the government Of Nicaragua. They
fitting out the expedition from San Francisco.
Before his arrival Castlon died Of cholera The
other President, Estrada had recently been assassin
mated iii local outbreak. The party landed on the
shores OF Nicaragua at the close of May, 1855, and
on the 29th of that month they came near being
exterminated al Rvas, town Of considerable i'm
portance on the lake. As it was they lost ten mea
killed and nine wounded, and after IA difficult and
disastrous retreat norhward, they arrived at Reale
10, on the Pacific coast. This attack by Walker on
the town OF Rvas bid fair to have been the last Of
his exploits in Nicaragua. II was said to have been
rash and ridiculous attempt made AGAINST vastly
superior force and contrary to the advice and direc
ton of the revolutiOnists. IL not only lost him
nearly half his force but also the prestige of nvinc
bilhy on which so much depended. The Castillon
people were indignant and entertained an idea OF
dispensing for the future with the services Of Walker
and his fibusteros, and sending them back to San
Francisco. different fate, however, was reserved
for them Don Mariana Salazar-brother.nl law to
Castillon, and who had been the warmest advocate
Of the Walker aiance-proved himself on this 90
cason true friend. He had retired with his family
to the neighboring republic of San Salvador; hut
making All earnest appeal to him for aid To make
another demonstration on Rivas, he presented HIM
self at Realejo and supplied the means for another
attack on that place. It said that he Also sugge ted
the plan Of the expedition in which Guardiola
was defeated by Walker at Virgin Bay, on the Sd
September, 1866
Az soon as General Corral, who was in command
Of the Chamorrista army at Granada heard of the
defeat Of Guardiola he set out with his whole dispo-
sable force for Riyas believing that the next
ment OF Walker would be 20 get possession Of that
town. In fact, that was Walkers design. But Cor
raj movement becoming Known To him, he changed
his plans, and instead of attacking Ryas he embark
ed his army for Granada, and succeeded without
much difficulty in making himself master Of the ca
pital on the 18th of October, 1855.
Walkers capture Of Granada resulted in the sur
render Of Corral. who accepted the post Of Minister
Of War under the new government Of which Don
Patricio Rivas was declared Provisional President
for the term oil fourteen months. General Walker
appointed Commauder.n-Ch The Rivas
government was recognized by MIR. Wheeler, United
States Minister TO Nicaragua. There was now some
prospects that peace would be restored 10 Ncara-
qua but the calm which succeeded the storm was
only temporary Corral, the new Minister Of War,
was found TO he In correspondence with General
Guardiola and the enemies of the liberal party At
least that charge was made against him. He was
arrested tried by court martial and sentenced to lie
shot, and on the Sth Of November, hardly fort
night after the treaty Of peace he was led out to
the Plaza of Granada and suffered the extreme
penalty. His death occasoned much excitement,
and aiienated the massesof the Nj ,anguan people
from the new government. From that day TO this
they have not ceased 20 regard Walker and bis asso
ciates A. the enemie % Themselves and their conn
try The forces Of Walker at the beginning Of the
year 1856 had increased 10 $50 nen-made up Of
reckless adven.urers from all the large cities Major
Louis Schessnger. who had figured in one Of. the
Cuban expeditions, ard who, il il said, was
in the Hungarian revolution, joined Walker
in Canada, and subsequently sent to
Costa RIGA to negotiate treaty OF peace
with that government Hi appointment proved
very inudicious ~ he proved 90 he both incapable
and destitute 81 courage. The Costa Rican govern
ment issued pro ,amstion on the lst Of March, de-
claring war against Nicaragua, and ordering Schles
singer 10 take his departure from San Jose, tho
capital within sir hours. Walker took up the chai
lcnge Of Costa Rica and entrusted to Schlessinger
the command Of the army to operate against that
State.
There was great deal Of bombsst INDUCED In by
Schlcssinvei TO the facility with which he would
drive the Costa Ricabs from the capital; and In fact
he marched into their territory 10 carry ont his
boast. However, on the Goth Of March he was at
tackled and routed with great loss at Santa Rosa,
himself leading the retreat. lie was courtmsrtiaed
for cowardice and sentenced 20 be degraded and
shot The latter part Of the sentence be evaded BY
desertion.
II was on the 18th Of the preceding month that
Walker seized the property Of the Transit Company
and annulled their charter on the plea Of indebted
ness to the State the claim being stated AT fll2Js9.
On the following day, the leh OF February further
| decree was issued granting 20 Edmund Randolph
| and his associates the same rights aud privileges
which the company had previously enjoyed.
After Mr.. Randolph had received this valuable
concession rom the Ncaraguan government he inn
| npdatply IN Now Work and ontcrcd inf nego