Project Gutenberg's Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 6 June 1848, by Various

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Title: Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 6 June 1848

Author: Various

Editor: George R. Graham
Robert T. Conrad

Release Date: July 7, 2009 [EBook #29344]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GRAHAM'S MAGAZINE, JUNE 1848 ***

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[Illustration: inscription--Yr affectionate Brother, S H Walker]

GRAHAM'S MAGAZINE.

VOL. XXXII. PHILADELPHIA, JUNE, 1848. NO. 6.

CAPTAIN SAMUEL WALKER.

BY FAYETTE ROBINSON.

[WITH AN ENGRAVING.]

Time and opportunity make men--and high talent in any profession or
sphere of life is valueless unless called into action. This is
strikingly exemplified in the career of the person with whom we now
have to do.

Samuel Walker was born in the county of Prince George, Maryland, in
the year 1815. His family, though respectable, had neither fortune nor
influence sufficient to advance his interests; and at an early age he
was thrown on the world, dependent for success only on his own
exertions. Educated to no profession or business, the chances of his
drawing a prize in the lottery of life seemed small indeed, yet it is
probable no man of his grade in the service has, since the
commencement of the Mexican war, attracted more attention. Of the
early career of Walker we know little except that in 1840 he was one
of the party of less than twenty men selected by Col. Harney, from the
strength of the 2d Dragoons, to penetrate the great Payhaokee or
everglades of Florida. The history of this expedition is peculiar.

After the battle of Okeechobee the might of the Seminoles was broken,
and they took refuge in the chain of lakes and immense hamacs which
extend almost from Cape Florida to the Suwannee River. Divided into
small parties, they defied the pursuit of heavy columns, yet
frequently left their fastnesses to commit the most fearful
atrocities. During the winter of 1839 and 40 they had been peculiarly
bold, and had ventured even to attack, und