Charles Wilkins Webber, born in 1819, lived a multifaceted life as a journalist, explorer, and writer. His early years included time in Texas with the Texas Rangers, followed by medical studies and theological pursuits that he ultimately abandoned. He established himself as a writer in New York, contributing to various literary periodicals. Webber also planned an ambitious illustrated magazine with the sons of naturalist John James Audubon, though only one issue was published.

His adventurous spirit led him to lead an ill-fated expedition to the Colorado and Gila rivers in 1849, hampered by Comanche raids. This experience later spurred his interest in camel transportation, leading him to secure a charter for a camel company in 1854. Webber's life concluded dramatically in 1856 when he joined filibuster William Walker in Nicaragua and was killed in battle. His literary works often drew on his frontier experiences and explored themes of adventure and the wild.

Born in Kentucky in 1819, Charles Wilkins Webber's early life was marked by a connection to the Texas frontier, where he served with the Texas Rangers. After returning to Kentucky for medical studies and briefly attending Princeton Theological Seminary, he transitioned to a career in writing for New York periodicals. He co-owned and edited The Whig Review and collaborated with the Audubon family on a planned illustrated magazine. Webber's adventurous nature led him to organize an expedition in 1849 to the Colorado and Gila river regions, which failed due to Native American hostilities, specifically the seizure of horses by Comanche warriors. This experience highlighted the challenges of desert travel and influenced his later efforts to establish a camel company.

Webber authored numerous books, often reflecting his experiences in the American West and his interest in the natural world. His works include 'Old Hicks the Guide,' 'The Gold-Mines of the Gila,' and 'Tales of the Southern Border.' He also published 'The Hunter Naturalist' and 'Wild Scenes and Song-Birds,' both featuring illustrations by his wife. 'Spiritual Vampirism' is another notable work, which explored complex ideas about good and evil, suggesting that primal instincts could drive beings toward a perceived 'light' for reasons other than moral aspiration. His writing style, particularly in stories like 'Jack Long; or, The Shot in the Eye,' sometimes focused on themes of revenge and violence, drawing attention from figures like Edgar Allan Poe.

Charles Wilkins Webber is considered a strong candidate for the historical figure who inspired the enigmatic character Judge Holden in Cormac McCarthy's novel 'Blood Meridian.' This identification is based on several factors: Webber's presence and activities in the same geographical areas and time period described by Samuel Chamberlain, who wrote about Holden. Like Holden, Webber was a polymath with interests in biology and theology. Furthermore, Webber's alias, 'Holden,' and his writings, particularly 'Spiritual Vampirism,' which presents a philosophical outlook on the interplay of base instincts and higher aspirations, align with Holden's complex characterization. His participation with filibusters in Nicaragua also placed him in proximity to individuals associated with the Glanton gang.

“the fierce half-monkey being is propelled onwards, and even upwards, by the basest of the purely animal instincts, appetites, and lusts. If such beings strive towards the light of the harmonious and the beautiful, it is not because they yearn for either the holy or the good, but because it lends a lurid charm to appetite and glorifies a lust.”