American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

WELLS, William V. (1826-1876). Walker's Expedition to Nicaragua; A History of the Central American War; and the Sonora and Kinney Expeditions, Including All the Recent Diplomatic Correspondence, Together with a New and Accurate Map of Central America, and a Memoir and Portrait of General William Walker. New York: Stringer and Townsend, 1856. Frontispiece of Major General William Walker, vi, [11]-316 pp., FIRST EDITION of this "highly partisan defense of the filibusters' regime." Publisher's black cloth. Twice inscribed, "Gilbert B. Claiborne / July 1856 and "Gilbert Claiborne / Richmond July 1856." Large folding hand-colored map of "Central America / 1856" by J.H. Colton & Co. pasted down to front end paper. Map includes insets of the Isthmus of Panama and "The Nicaragua Route."

William V. Wells was an American author, journalist, and adventurer with a personal connection to William Walker's mercenary adventures. Wells was an original "Forty-Niner" who sailed to San Francisco from Boston in January 1849, eventually becoming part owner of the San Francisco Commercial Advertiser newspaper in 1853. Following reports of gold deposits in Honduras ca 1854, Wells traveled there and in partnership with others formed the Honduras Mining and Trading Company. There, Wells's business partner James Davenport Whelpley encountered American filibuster William Walker, and was detained by him for nearly a year. Published in 1856, Well's book Walker's Expedition to Nicaragua was published while Walker was at the height of his filibustering activities, and is considered one of the best contemporary accounts of Walker's life and expedition to Nicaragua in 1855-56. Wells' account carries events up through Walker's election as president of Nicaragua and formal recognition of his government by the United States in June 1856. The owner's inscription on this book identifying it to "Gilbert B. Claiborne" is likely Gilbert Burnet Claiborne (1827-1908), who was born in Richmond but later removed to California. Records indicate that he may have been an original "Forty-Niner" as well, as he applied for a passport to the Territory of California which was issued to him 14 March 1849.

[With:] Message of the President of the United States, communicating, in compliance with the resolution of the Senate of January 4, 1858, the correspondence, instructions, and orders to the United States naval forces on the coast of Central America, connected with the arrest of Wm. Walker and his associates, at or near the port of San Juan de Nicaragua. Sen. Doc, 35th Congress, 1st session, Ex. Doc. No. 13.) 38pp, 5 1/2 x 9 in. (disbound, light soil first page top right). President James Buchanan transmits to the Senate a report from the Secretary of the Navy related to investigations into the lawfulness of William Walker's arrest by Commodore Hiram Paulding.

[With:] Incomplete, unsigned 2pp manuscript, 7 3/4 x 9 3/4 in., with Platner & Porter Congress stationers watermark (creasing, toning, approx. 1 in. tear in upper right quadrant running thorgh both pages). Seemingly pages from a draft speech intended for Congress and related to the Congressional investigations of the actions of Commodore Paulding with regard to William Walker's arrest. Excerpts include: "[Walker] sought to invade the country with an armed force - no matter what may have been his professions. He went there proclaiming himself a military chieftain - his business was war and not peace. His business was to usurp rights that did not belong to him and to obtain dominion over a country.... If we have done [Nicaragua] a wrong, when she presents her demand for redress, let us make a suitable atonement...."