WALKER 123 



land, the other in boats. At about half a mile from the fort, 

 those on land fell into an ambuscade, but they defended them- 

 selves so well that the enemy took to flight, and the Americans 

 captured the fort easily. 



In it, they found a large store of provisions and arms, 

 among which sixteen cannons. The population seemed to 

 accept the accomplished fact. 



The proje6i of Walker was to reinstate Cabanas as 

 President of Honduras,and with his help, to re-enter Nicaragua, 

 and to form a new federation between the five Republics of 

 Central America, but his first success came quickly to an end. 



On the 20th of August, i860, the English steamer, Icarus^ 

 appeared before Truxillo, and its commandant summoned 

 Walker to evacuate the town. This evacuation took place 

 the next day. His army was reduced to eighty men well 

 equipped. 



After leaving Truxillo, Walker and his men advanced in 

 the direction of Cape Gratias, where they were attacked by 

 Honduras troops, which obliged them to retreat. They 

 camped on the margins of Rio Negro. Some English boats 

 landed at that place some troops commanded by Alvarez, who 

 captured Walker and some of his men. They were taken 

 back to Truxillo and delivered to the authorities, to be treated 

 as the circumstances required. It was immediately decided 

 to put him on his trial and he was sentenced to be shot. 



His faithful companion. Colonel Ruddier, was sentenced 

 to four vears' confinement, and the men to be sent back to 

 the United States, at the expense of the American Govern- 

 ment. 



Before being delivered into the hands of the Hondurian 

 authorities by Captain Shannon, Commandant of the Icarus, 

 Walker signed a protestation as under : — 



Protestation of General Walker. 



'' By the present, I protest, before the civilized world, 

 " that when I surrendered to the Captain of the steamer 

 *' Icarus, this officer has declared to receive mv sword and 

 " pistols, as also those of Colonel Ruddier, and that my 

 " surrender has been made expressly to him as a repre- 

 " sentative of her Majesty. 



W1LLLA.M Walker." 



" On board the steamer Icarus, this' 5th of September, 

 '' i860." 



Immediately after the sentence W^alker was put in prison, 

 and when asked if he wanted an^'thing he replied that he 



