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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
in a steamer and succeede [d] in relieving them on the 11th. of December. So desperate was their condition that but ninty survivers of the four hundred who commenced the siege remained. The retreat from Granada was the most gallant achievements of the whole war and is undying proof of the military skill and valor of Henningsen who was in command. The destruction of Granada worked deeply to the injury of Walker. The natives abandoned his cause almost to a man, and the greater part of his own soldiers abhorred him for the barbarous act. There could be no earthly excuse for his doing it other than gratifica- tion of his hatred against the Nicaraguans. The excuse that he wished to prevent the enemy from occupying it was a feeble one, for it could as well be occupied by them in its ruined condition as at any other time. The results were only disastrous to Walker who lost 300 of the flower of his army in its execution and delayed his campaign for more than a month by which time the enemy were completely organized and prepared to meet him. I am decidedly of opinion had Walker neglected this wanton act and taken other proper measures that he would to this day be holding sway in Nicaragua Of the subsequent events, your Excellency, is doubtless ac- -quainted. The seizure of the River San Juan by the Costa Recans and .the defeat of Lockridge's cxpidition; the besieging of Rivas by the Allies, and the final surrender of Walker to them, on the 1st of May 1857 are subjects which have been sufficiently discussed in the U. S. news papers to render comment by me unnecessary. I would here state that a part of the convention entered into between Captain Davis on the part of the U. S. and the Allies has been violated by the Nicaraguan government. An artical of this convention provided all Nicaraguans who had adhered to the cause of Walker should be allowed to remain in the Republic secure in per- son and property. Many of these persons however have been impris- oned expelled from the country forced to do military service and other- wise persecuted. In surrendering, they did so under the guaranties of Capt Davis and to ·the U. S. through him, they naturaly look for protection I have thus laid before your Excellency some of the leading facts of this Revolution in Nicaragua still the narative is incomplete notwithstanding the length to which these pages have been carried. At some future day I may proceed to lay before you other facts of an interesting natnrr. I haw the honor to be vour Excellencies iiost obedent . Humble Servant James Thomas. [Endorsed] Some account of WalkPrs operations in Nicaragua
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