In the spring of 1855, one of America’s most notorious filibusters, William Walker, invaded Nicaragua to capitalize on that country’s civil war. Two years later, the San Antonio Ledger reported, “a large and enthusiastic meeting of the friends and sympathizers of Gen. Walker was held in front of the courthouse on this evening.” Shortly thereafter, the "Alamo Rangers" headed to Nicaragua to assist Walker's colonization efforts. Led by Capt. Marcellus French, the foray explains much about Texans during the antebellum years, and about French, whose role in multiple arenas firmly connects him to Texas and American history during the second half of the nineteenth century.
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