manding presence to supplement that personal magnetism which commands followers. But Raousset was diminutive, and in the Tennessee lawyer, William Walker, the ideal is marred by a still more puny stature, and an unprepossessing exterior, marked by light towy hair, and a heavy freckled face, surmounted for a long time by a huge white fur hat with a wavy nap, well in accord with the strapless pantaloons, ill-fitting coat, and stalking gait." A relieving feature was the seemingly pupilless gray eyes, their large orbits, half concealed by white eyebrows and lashes, at once repelling and fascinating with their strong, steady penetration.22 While reflecting none of the emotions. working within the little man, their icy stare indicated only too plainly the unscrupulous nature to which everything was subordinated. His reserve melted not even in genial company from the stolid indifference which deepened into absolute heartlessness. Slow of speech, swift in energy, with a sharp pen ever ready for attack; brave and resolute to obstinacy; a slumbering volcano, repellant save in its snowfringed deception, and burning with ambition for a fame of wide range-herein lies an explanation why he abandoned the sedate medical path staked out for him, to enter the more seductive mazes of the law, and failing, to seek as editor a vent for his pent-up aggressiveness. 23

The French operations in Sonora had served to rouse the similar slumbering projects among the Americans, even in distant Washington, where it took shape in the Gadsden's purchase of the Gila region. And many men, with nothing to lose save life, stood ready to risk it for a possible fortune and the attendant excitement. Walker saw an opportunity; and follow

21 Warren believed that he could not have turned the scales at 100 lbs. His unprepossessing appearance was that of anything else than a military chieftain.' Dust and Foam, 211-12.

22 The keen, sharp flash of broken steel in the sun,' says the poet Miller. 23 Birth and early career have been touched in Hist. Cent. Am., iii., and Hist. North. Mex., ii., this series; also Field's Remin., 93; Bowman's Newspaper Matter, MS., 33.

HIST. CAL., VOL. VI. 38

ing the cue already given, he sought at Guaymas, in the summer of 1853, a grant for a military frontier colony against the Indians; but the government shrank in distrust before an offer so singularly disinterested. The sheep-clothing could not hide the wolf. Unabashed by the termination of his farce, he returned to San Francisco, determined that the state should have his protection whether it willed or not. If Mexico could not shield Sonora from cruel savages, then must humanity step in. The United States had neglected its pledge to restrain the red-skins, and Walker felt bound to interpose in behalf of his country's honor. Raousset's renewed efforts gave spur to his own. Eager to forestall him, and profit by the enthusiasm which his contracts and victories had tended to rouse, he opened a recruiting office, baited with prospective plunder, and the offer of a square league of land for each man. A large number took the bait, and still another host of passive participants nibbled at the scrip, which, representing land in the prospective republic, was freely tendered at a liberal discount. Money was plentiful in those days, and the investment appeared as an attractive lottery, with perchance some prize to be drawn from out the battles. It was argued that the uprising in one section might induce neighboring states to join for eventual absorption in the union; the war in itself to prove a strong appeal for United States interference, if only to stop bloodshed. 24

The brig Arrow was now chartered for the proposed colonists, and provided with stores and a generous quantity of rifles and six-shooters wherewith to develop the resources of the country. The military commander in California at this period was General Hitchcock, a man so blind to the weather-vane of political exigencies as not to understand the value of

24 They intend to arm the Apaches against us,' cries one journal. Sonorense, March 28, 1851. For additional details on this expedition, I refer to my Hist. North Mex., ii., this series.

SAILING FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

595

Walker's implements for industrial unfoldment, nor to perceive his right to distribute the lands of a friendly neighbor. He accordingly undertook to seize the vessel, only to discover his mistake when other wiser officials caused it to be released, and when General Wool was sent to replace him, with headquarters planted at Benicia in order to allow freer play to the champions of enterprise. It is sufficient to point out that Jefferson Davis was secretary of war at the time, and that the Gadsden purchase was then under consideration, in order to guess at the complications apt to arise from a successful revolution in the border states, 25

Meanwhile Walker slipped away in another vessel, the Caroline, during the night of October 16th, with four dozen followers, leaving reënforcements to follow. Guaymas was the announced destination, perhaps to mislead the enemy, which, indeed, made formidable preparations in Sonora. The smallness of the party precluded hope in this direction; and as future enlistments and credit depended on early successes, the isolated and weaker Lower California was selected for the initial point. On November 3d the vessel crept into La Paz under cover of a Mexican flag, and finding all unsuspiciously quiet, Walker pounced upon it, seized the governor, and gained possession without firing a gun. No less mighty with the pen than the sword, he thereupon proclaimed the Republic of Lower California, distributing official honors among his band with lavish generosity. After thus conferring sovereign independence upon the people, he further sought to please them by abolishing the heavy duties under which they had so long been groaning, a double bait to cover the barb contained in the adoption of the code

26

25 Mexican officials protested as late as Jan. 1854, and were assured by Hitchcock that the government was seeking to check the Walker movement; but as it failed, Mexico under.ook to do so, with the result that their consul was arrested, as explained. As late as Aug. 1854 Wool was instructed not to anticipate or interfere with the civil authorities in cases of unlawful expeditions. U. S. Gov. Doc., Cong. 33, Sess. 2, Sen. Doc. 16, vi. 102.

36 A new governor arriving just then was also secured.

of Louisiana for a constitution. The publication of the text was wisely deferred, lest the Mexicans, with their democratic instincts and admixture of negro blood, should shrink before its revolting slavery clauses. Although little concerned at the nature of his measures, so that they served his purpose, Walker based his advocacy of slavery on lofty grounds, as a missionary scheme for civilizing the blacks, while assisting to liberate the whites from degrading manual labor.

The prestige acquired at La Paz had to be preserved; and as it might at any moment be dimmed by a detachment from the other side the bay, the filibusters resolved to seek a still safer base for operations. Their preparations for departure so fired the patriotism of the Mexicans that the entire town rose in lively chase of some stragglers. Walker promptly turned his guns upon them and landed to the rescue, whereupon the natives retired, with some casualties, it is claimed. Thus was the liberator's expedition baptized in blood, in the glorious battle of La Paz.27

A few days later the party appeared at Todos Santos Bay, the new headquarters, whose desert surroundings and paucity of inhabitants promised to be safeguards against molestation, while the proximity to the United States frontier must serve to inspire greater confidence for the invasion of Sonora. Unfortunately the scanty population centred in a military colony whose destitution had infused a desperate courage into an otherwise harmless soldiery, and finding the rancho stock to be rapidly disappearing under the appetite of American foragers, their stomachs filed a stimulating protest. The result was a series of harassing attacks, abetted by the rancheros, whose stolid comprehension could not grasp the advantage of exchanging insecure, elusive property like roaming cattle for the title deeds to fixed landed estates offered

27 The Mexicans also claimed the victory, pointing in proof to the hurried departure of the invaders.