MAP OF THE REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA 1850-1860
SKETCH MAP OF CENTRAL AMERICA at the time of the FILIBUSTERS
PREFACE
The rise and fall of the American Filibusters belong to the history of the Nineteenth Century. From time to time their deeds have been recounted by actors in the stirring scenes, by contemporary observers, and, incidentally, by travellers in Spanish America who lingered for a moment over the romantic legend of the modern Vikings.
Among the works consulted in the preparation of this volume are: "A History of Miranda's Attempt to Effect a Revolution in South America," by one of his officers; Yokum's "History of Texas"; Green's narrative of the Mier Expedition, and Kendall's of that to Santa Fe; Henri de la Madelaine's "Life of Raoussett-Boulbon"; Wells' account of Walker's expeditions to Sonora and Nicaragua; Walker's "History of the War in Nicaragua"; and the several works relating to the latter country of Squier, Scherzer, Stout, Captain Pim, Chevalier Belly, M. Nicaisse, and many other travellers.
From such sources, as well as from the periodicals and official documents of the day, and from the lips or pens of living comrades in the more recent of those tragedies, have been gathered the facts told in the following pages. It has been no easy task to sift the grains of truth from the mountain of myth, prejudice, and fiction under which the actual deeds of the Filibusters long lay buried.
Forty years ago it would have been well-nigh impossible, in the heated atmosphere of the slavery conflict, to view such a subject with philosophical impartiality. To-day we may study the Filibuster dispassionately, for he belongs to an extinct species. The speculator has supplanted him without perceptibly improving the morality of the world. Even the word "filibuster," transformed to a verb, is degraded to the base uses of politics. It is time to write the history and the epitaph of the brave, lawless, generous anomaly on civilization.
Boston, November, 1900. J. J. R.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| CHAPTER I | |
| Etymology of the word Filibuster — Norse Adventurers — The Buccaneers — Miranda — Services under the Directory — First Expedition from theUnited States — Dr. Jenner and the King of Spain — Miranda's secondexpedition and death, | [1] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| Aaron Burr — The McGregor and his kingdoms — Mina's expedition andfate — The Alamo massacre — Travis, Bowie, and Crockett — The tragedyof Goliad — Houston and Santa Ana — Victory of San Jacinto — The SantaFe and Mier expeditions, | [12] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| The Lopez Expedition — Landing at Cardenas — Pickett's Fight — AnExciting Chase — Last Expedition — Execution of Lopez and Crittenden, | [34] |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| The Count Raoussett-Boulbon — A father "de la vieille roche" — Raoussett's contract to garrison Sonora — Proclamations andpronunciamientos — Battle of Hermosillo — Negotiations with SantaAna — Expedition to Guaymas — Engagement and defeat — Last words ofa noble adventurer — Death of the Count, | [42] |
| CHAPTER V | |
| William Walker — Boyhood and education — Doctor, Lawyer, Journalist — Goes to California — Personal appearance and characteristics — Departure of the Sonora Expedition — A government proclaimed — Sterndiscipline — Retreat from Sonora — Bad news at San Vincente — Theadventurers cross the boundary — Walker resumes the pen, | [56] |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| Nicaragua — "Mahomet'sParadise" — Buccaneeringvisitors — Philip II. and Isthmiancanal — Nelson defeated by agirl — The apocryphal heroine of San Carlos, | [73] |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| British intrigues on the Isthmus — Morazan and the Confederacy — TheMosquito Dynasty — Bombardment of San Juan — Castellon calls in theforeigner — Doubleday and his free lances — Cole's contract approvedby Walker, | [81] |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| Purchase of the Vesta — May 4th, 1855, sailing of the"Immortal Fifty-six" — The American Phalanx — First battle of Rivas — Punishing a desperado — Trouble in Castellon's Cabinet — Battleat Virgin Bay — Death of Castellon. | [93] |
| CHAPTER IX | |
| A Servile victory in the North — Walker in the enemy's stronghold — Negotiations for peace — Execution of Mayorga — Rivas chosenProvisional Director — Corral's treason and punishment — Newspaperhistory, | [108] |
| CHAPTER X | |
| Filibusterism abroad — Kinney's Expedition — The Filibusters andtheir allies — An aristocracy of leather — Pierce and Marcy — Arupture with the United States — Costa Rica declares war — Schlessinger's fiasco — Cosmopolitan adventurers — Steamerswithdrawn — History of the Transit Company — Vanderbilt plansvengeance — The printing-press on the field, | [117] |
| CHAPTER XI | |
| The Costa Ricans invade Nicaragua — Second battle of Rivas — Theenemy meet a new foe — Rivas orders an election — Walker a candidate — Treason of Rivas — Murder of Estrada — Coalition of the NorthernStates against Nicaragua — Walker chosen President — Inaugurationand recognition by the United States minister — Tradition of the"Gray-eyed Man," | [133] |
| CHAPTER XII | |
| Administration of President Walker — The Allies advance towardsGranada — Naval victory — Review of the filibuster army — Filibustersand their allies — Assault on Masaya — Civil government — The slaverydecree — Antiquated logic | [146] |
| CHAPTER XIII | |
| Henningsen — Early service with Zumalacarregui — Campaigning with theProphet of the Caucasus — Joins Kossuth — Arrival in America — Omotepe — A Gallant defence — Watters carries the barricades, | [159] |
| CHAPTER XIV | |
| Vanderbilt joins issue — Titus outwitted — Siege of Rivas — Death inthe Falange — Desertion — Captain Fayssoux and Sir Robert McClure — Battle of San Jorge — Allies assault Rivas — Famine and devotion — Commander Davis as a peacemaker, | [170] |
| CHAPTER XV | |
| Ultimatum of Commander Davis — Evacuation of Rivas — Statistics ofthe campaign — Henningsen's opinion of his men — Characteristicanecdotes — Frederick Ward — A filibuster's apotheosis, | [185] |
| CHAPTER XVI | |
| Walker returns to the United States — Crabbe's expedition — Renewedattempts of Walker — The expedition to San Juan del Norte, | [202] |
| CHAPTER XVII | |
| Walker's "History of the War" — Lands at Ruatan and takes Trujillo — Retreats before the English forces — Surrender — Trial and executionof the last of the Filibusters, | [215] |
| CHAPTER XVIII | |
| Character of Walker — A private's devotion — Anecdote — After fate ofthe filibusters — Henningsen's epitaph — Last Cuban expedition — TheVirginius tragedy — An Englishman to the rescue — Finis, | [227] |