The most outrageous of the American filibusters, the audacious William Walker left an indelible mark on Nicaragua.
by Eric Alberts
Seizing Nicaragua for three years, William Walker declared English the official language, reintroduced slavery and upon pronouncing his Presidency was given brief recognition by the US. His actions helped determine the capital, redraw the borders of Nicaragua, and briefly unite Liberals with Conservatives.
Dissatisfied with three respected professions, at he age of 25 Walker decided his future lay in the niche of filibustering, a career path that lead him to his own manifest destiny - reigning over a country.
Filibuster was originally a Dutch term from the 1600s, vrijbuiter or freebooter, basically meaning pirate. The term, adopted by the Spanish, described someone who made war on a country that his was at peace with for the purpose of overrunning and occupying it. Officially a crime, filibustering was discouraged by the US only where too blatant.
Born in 1824 in Tennessee to a Scottish banker, Walker’s parents had originally intended him to take on the ministry. Walker’s European education however, inspired a far more revolutionary bent. First studying in Nashville, he then went to Scotland at 14, later France, Germany, and Italy where he studied Medicine. Dissatisfied with practicing medicine, he decided Law was more suitable for his aggrandizement. He studied Law and was admitted to the bar in New Orleans. Pursuing several professions, young Walker was continually searching for greater rewards.
California
Before his 25th birthday, gold was discovered in California. Lured to the new frontier, Walker embarked on a third career as co-editor of The San Francisco Herald. Walker started venting his revolutionary ideas.
Walker’s early Californian experiences were but an inkling of his future ill-fated endeavors. Walker went to prison briefly for contempt of court. Later, challenged to a duel at dawn, Walker escaped death for the first time. He and his adversary both fired their guns but neither appeared hit. Both reloaded but before another shot could be fired, the adjudicators spotted blood - honor was served. Walker had been shot in the foot. Walker wanted to fight on but the rules were satisfied.
Mexico
Following where others had failed, Walker decided it was time to conquer the western states of Mexico. He devised a scheme appealing to the greed of the new west. In 1854, he recruited a motley crew of 45 desperados offering them land and money. Fanatically pro-slavery, Walker gained financial support from the southern states of the US.
Landing in La Paz using the military tactic of surprise, he succeeded in overthrowing the Mexicans with a tiny, poorly-equipped army. Two months later his band took adjoining Sonora. He claimed this territory naming it the Republic of Sonora and made himself president at 30 years of age. His forces now totaled one hundred; however, both Mexicans and Indians gave chase and quickly succeeded in decimating his army. With a bedraggled group of less than ten, Walker escaped across the border directly into the hands of US forces. Aware of his previous activities, the US tried him for breaking neutrality laws. Walker got off with only a slap on the wrist.
Nicaragua
Unfazed and dreaming of bigger conquests, Walker saw opportunity in Nicaragua. The Conservatives of Granada and Liberals of León had been fighting for years, alternatively seeking support from wherever available. The Liberals contracted the American Byron Cole in 1855. Cole avoided neutrality laws by organizing 300 American colonists liable to military rule. Walker’s triumphs in Mexico secured him the command of these mercenaries; he now went by the ad-hoc title of Colonel.
Charles Morgan and C.K. Garrison, business associates of Cornelius Vanderbilt who ran the transit company operating in Nicaragua, supported filibustering Walker. Their ultimate ambition was to gain control of Vanderbilt’s highly profitable company. Upon learning of their plans, Vanderbilt penned a letter to Morgan and Garrison: “Gentlemen: You have decided to swindle me. I will not sue as justice is slow. I will ruin you. Sincerely Yours, C. Vanderbilt.”
Walker and his forces landed at El Realejo in July 1855. He soon took Granada using the previously successful tactic of surprise. The people of Granada were asleep from drunken victory celebrations over the northern Leonese. Walker stormed the city with only a couple hundred men and lost not one soldier.
Walker gained political control over President Patricio Rivas who rescinded Vanderbilt’s transit concession the following February. In 1856, Walker became President of Nicaragua with the largest vote ever polled. Outrageously rigged, the residents objected. Given that there had been two presidents every year for the previous six years, Walker felt justified.
The Presidency
As President, Walker re-introduced slavery abolished 33 years prior, proposed annexation to the United States, and was given brief recognition by President Franklin Pierce. In 1856, he made English the official language and with grandiose plans to create a basket of slave states across Central America, he soon antagonized every Central American.
Lacking diplomacy, Walker threatened the sovereignty of Central Americans, antagonized the British by meddling in their Miskito Protectorate, and went to head with Vanderbilt, the biggest business in town. Walker never failed to astound. When he heard El Salvador was marching against him he simply declared himself president of that republic too.
The countries of Central America and Vanderbilt united to oust Walker. Despite troops outnumbering Walker two-to-one, the allies took heavy casualties, more from cholera than Walker’s maneuvering. The allies lost nearly half their force of 30,000; Walker lost only 10,000.
Walker, retreating from the pursuing forces, left a sign that said “Here was Granada,” torching the town as he fled. He was overwhelming defeated at the battle of San Jacinto on September 14, 1856, now a national holiday. Then after a year of fighting in Rivas, massive forces finally overcame him. Houdini-like, he avoided the firing squad and managed to surrender to a US warship cruising off the coast.
Out and back again
The now allied states of Central America formed a protectorate over Nicaragua. Costa Rica was rewarded for its major contribution in battle by gaining control of Guanacaste and the strip of land along the Río San Juan, an area disputed since 1825. The begrudgingly and briefly united Conservatives of Granada and Liberals of León agreed on Managua as the new capital.
Walker was sent back to the US and was given a hero’s welcome. His political and military exploits were lauded, but reports were harsh regarding his poor management. Reflecting the mood of the times, US citizens didn’t care to notice. Walker sought congressional support for having been expelled from his country of Nicaragua but did not receive an audience.
Walker headed south, recruiting for the re-conquest of his presidency. Public in his effort to retake Nicaragua, the US arrested him for plotting an unlawful expedition. Again he was acquitted. He was not deterred and a few days later arrived in San Juan del Norte. He took several of Vanderbilt’s boats but US Commodore Hiram Pauling stationed off the Caribbean coast intervened and forced him to surrender. Sent home, he again eluded punishment.
Walker doesn’t give up
Taking time out to regroup and motivate waning investors, Walker wrote a book called The War in Nicaragua. It must have helped because two years later, he was equipped again and ready to retake ‘his country.’
US sentiments had shifted and President James Buchanan issued a proclamation calling attention to emigration companies intending to colonize Nicaragua. A US frigate prevented Walker’s first re-attempt at sailing for Nicaragua. The British made it clear they would forcibly repel Walker should he make any attempt on Nicaragua.
Characteristically undeterred, Walker was as committed as ever to his kingdom. With all the attention on Nicaragua, he decided the best route would be via Honduras to the north. Walker set sail for Roatan, an island off Trujillo, Honduras. Roatan was a British colony and they also had a mortgage over the port of Trujillo. Walker failed to acknowledge the British.
His audacious tactics worked, though only momentarily. He took Roatan and Trujillo before being surrounded by both Hondurans and British. With no choice but to retreat, his forces and provisions close to depletion, his best choice was to surrender again - this time to the British. With no sympathy for Walker and against their promise, the British handed him over to the Hondurans.
The British offered to plead on Walker’s behalf only if he declared American citizenship. Walker, ever the man of his convictions, maintained his right to the Nicaraguan kingdom. His luck ran out. The Hondurans put him up against the wall on September 12, 1860. Walker, dead at 36, had recast history in Central America. He was unceremoniously given a humble grave in the Trujillo cemetery.
