And yet, it cannot be denied that Vanderbilt played a decisive role in Walker’s downfall. He had found the filibuster’s weak point, crafted the plan to strike it, selected the agent to carry out the operation, and paid its costs. The Central Americans likely would have won in the long run without his help—but with it, they won in the short run. “Mr. Vanderbilt… has shown the ablest generalship,” the London Times observed. “Walker’s most formidable enemy has conducted the campaign from New York.”
