The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-10-19
History OF tho walker Expedition

IL
History or tho Walker Expedition
The Battles Fought-Defoat Of tho Hondu.
rams in every Bsttlo-The Capture Of tho
Party-Exocution Of Walker.
Tho Now Orleans Della Of September 10Th,
has q long history Of tho lato expedition Of
Walker 70 Honduras, with accounts Of the
closing scenes Of tho drama. Somo Of tho
Deita's details Of tho progress Of tho expe.
dition, before the final event, are fresh. We
copy:
cat midnight Of tho 22d August, Walker,
having destroyed oil tho surplus ammunition
and arms, and leaving eight sick men, in.
cluding Col. Henry, who had been dcspcrat.
ly wounded and was then In o dying state,
marched out of tho fort with eighty-eigh,
men, and proceeded down tho coast in tho
direction Of Roman river. A yigilant look.
out on board tho Icarus, which lay about a
thousand yards from the beach would have
detected this movement. But without inter-
ruption tho little band proceeded several
miles, until they reached tho banks Of riv-
or which their stupid guide told them was
fordable. Hero thoy wero lost and bowildcr-
cd by the Same incapacity Of their guide,
and concluded to cncamp. When tho morn.
ing came, General Walker found that hc
was but five or six miles from Truxillo.
Rcsuming his march hc proceeded further
up tho river, and after two days tedious
marching, the party reached place about
thirty miles from tho mouth Of Roman river
and on its banks, known as tho Cotton Tree.
Hero Walker encampcd TO recruit his wea.
ricd men. Tho men were, accordingly, on
tho morning of tho 9th, resting and lying
under tho trees cleaning their guns, and 9th.
erwlsc engaged, without the slightest suspic.
ion Of an enemy being near, when suddenly
large force Of Hondurancans marched up
on them from tho thickets and commenced
firing. Several of General Walkers men
were wounded by this fire, but no quickly
collected his little band together. and form
ed them into two companies, ordered them
to charge In different directions, one up and
the other down the river. Major Dolan, with
Company Il, charged the principal party
with great impetuosity, bat General Walker.
having got little ahead Of his party, was
fired ut by Honduranean at distance OF
ten PAGES, and wounded in tho face.
The General, however, quickly brought
the rest OF tho Honduraneans fed In great
confusion, leaving their killed and wounded
behind. OF this party Of ono hundred and
forty, but thirty got back to Truxillo. When
it Is considered that Walkers men were oil
veterans, and were armed with Minnie musk.
cts, this loss is not ut oil an improbable one.
In this action, of Walkers party, George
Pomeroy was killed, and the following were
wounded: Licutcnants Ryan. Isly, Priddy,
Coffin. lIogg, Wolgamote. Fuller and Port
er. None Of these men were very danger
ously wounded, but one Of tho wounded,
named Smith, German, who was In charge
Of fellow countryman, named Strecker,
was murdered by the Hondurcaneans. Ills
friend met like fate.
On the night after tho battle, which oc-
CURED in tho afternoon, Walker took up his
line of march TO place further down the
river, called Limon. This place they reach
ed in safety, with no other casualty but tho
severe wounding Of Major HoG by the FIRE
Of somc struggling Hondu~ncans. At Ii
mon Walker party was kindly received by
tho native Carybs, who constitute tho popu.
lation of the place, and who arc invctcrnte
in their hostility TO the liondurancans gcn.
orally, and to all Spaniards. They spoke
English, and gavc Walkers men nm abund-
ance of such provisions as they had. Con-
tinuing their march from this plaoe-pasing
through several Caryb villages, where they
were always kindly entertained, and receiy-
ing now and then Q struggling shot from
some prowiing Hondursncans, tho littlo band
finally reached place on the sca coast, call. |
ed Little Rock, whcro they remained for a
day, receiving much kind treatment from
the Carybs, and where they procured boats
TO transport the sick and woundcd to tho |
place where Walker had arranged TO havo
his rendezvous.
Leaving Little Rock, Walker proceeded to-
ward Black river, stopping on his way nt
the house Of hospitablo Caryb, called John
Bull. At 3P. NJ, on tho 9th August,
Walker reached in safety tho Black river,
Trio Ncgro.) or Tinto, and encampcd ut the
trading. post Of one Dcning, IN Englshman,
who has lived in the country for twenty -One
wears. Here the men obtained provisions,
and Walker remained for thrce days. The
post Is but two and half miles from the
sea coast.
On the Sd Of September, two British cut
tcrs, carrying forty men, came up the river,
and Captain Salmon of tho Icarus. accom-
panicd by General Alvarez, of tho IIondu-
ranean army stepped ashore, and walked ~
tho house in which Gen. Walker was, and
asked an interview with him, which was
granted. Captain Salmon, q burly, blun
young British officer, Of very pomPous. au- |
thoritativc manner, introducing himself 70
General Walker, informed him tina, ner
British Maje-ty's sloop OF war icarus, ~ oI
the mouth Of the river, and that ancnos
near her was q ship, which had on 1
two hundred and iifty Hondunncan sosa'en;
and no thercupon demanded the surrcnuc' W
Walker and his command,
General Walker, with characteristic cooi'
,s.s and dignity. contrasting strongly win
~. E nompous ,o, assurance Of tho British otbccr,
s.I5 I whether this demand was made by
sSnt. Salmon, !, a. n British officer, and Whit.
ar. n be surrendered, IL would DO 10 the
British authoritiesf
"To this inquiry Major DOlsn and Cap
tain West, who were present at tho intor.
view, solcmnly assert that Salmon replied,
Yes, Sir, you surrender 70 mo N British |
officer The question was repeated by Gen.
eral Walker, and the same answer given by |
Commander Salmon, who rather haughtily
and patroniringly added, You may thank mo. |
toe, that you have whole bono In your body. |
The General then told them that under |
those circumstances he would surrender. |
During tho interview between Walker and
salmon, Alvarez, the Houdunnean General,
stood Mt the door listening. Tho men wefe
ordered 10 form, and their arms, even 10 their ]