The treachery in Texas, the secession of Texas, and the arrest of the United States officers and soldiers serving in Texas. Read before the New-York Historical Society, June 25, 1861. By Major J. T. Sprague, U. S. A. Page: 12 of 36
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118
REBELLION RECORD, 1860-61.
118 REBELLION RECORD, 1860-61.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE DIVISION STATE FORCES, t
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, f
Hon. J. C. Robertson, Chairman of Committee
of Public Safety:
SIR: On the receipt of the order of the Commissioners,
calling on me to raise men for the
purpose of securing the property, arms, etc., of
the United States, at San Antonio, immediately I
proceeded to take steps to collect such a force as
would be sufficient to accomplish the purpose.
To Texans, a moment's notice is sufficient, when
their State demands their services.
On the night of the fifteenth inst., by twelve
o'clock, a force of near four hundred men, fiom
the adjacent counties, had assembled on the
Rio Salado. At three o'clock A.M., sixteenth, we
took up the line of march for the city. At four
o'clock, when near the suburbs, ninety men were
ordered to dismount and enter the city on foot,
when I posted them in such positions as commanded
those occupied by the Federal troops;
the main body came in on horseback; at daylight,
several volunteer companies of San Antonio
turned out promptly, and co6perated with
us to aid the State. Orders were given to the
troops under my command, not to fire until fired
upon. In a very short time it was ascertained
that no resistance would be offered. The Federal
troops were requested to keep within their quarters
until the Commissioners should agree upon
the terms by which the arms and other property
of the Federal Government should be surrendered
to the State.
This was decided by the Commissioners and
Gen. Twiggs, before twelve M.: wherefore I instantly
informed the forces under my command
of the fact, and of there being no necessity for
their remaining away from their ploughs and
other peaceful avocations. They left immediately
for their homes, conscious of having rendered service
to their State, and giving offence to no one
save her enemies.
To make distinctions, where all acted so nobly,
would be as unwise as unjust; but I cannot refrain
from expressing my thanks to all for their
gallant and prompt response to the call of their
State, and my admiration for their orderly conduct
whilst we held the city.
Having performed the duty assigned me by the
enclosed order, I now report myself ready to
perform such service as shall be assigned me by
your Committee or the Commissioners appointed
by you. The Commissioners having very kindly
relieved me of many duties common to officers
commanding; it being my duty only to organize
and command such forces as may be necessary
to secure and guard tle public property in my
division, in charge of persons appointed by the
Commissioners to receive the same from the Federal
officers.
I have this day appointed W. T. Meckling,
my Assistant-Adjutant General, with the rank of
captain. I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
BEN MCCULLOCH,
Colonel Commanding.HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS, L
SAN ANTONIO, February 18, 1861.
GENERAL ORDERS NO. 5.
The State of Texas having demanded through
its Commissioners, the delivery of military posts
and public property within the limits of this command;
and the Commanding General desiring to
avoid even the possibility of a collision between
the Federal and State troops; the posts will be
evacuated by their garrisons, and these will take
up, as soon as the necessary preparations can be
made, their line of march out of Texas by way
of the coast-marching out with their arms, (the
light batteries with their guns,) clothing, camp
and garrison equipage, quartermaster's stores,
subsistence, medical hospital stores, and such
means of transportation of every kind, as may
be necessary for an efficient and orderly movement
of the troops, prepared for attack or defence
against aggressions from any source. The troops
will carry with them provisions as far as the
coast.
By order of Brevet Major-Gen. Twiggs.
U. A. NICHOLS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
SAN ANTONIO, February 18, 1861.
The undersigned, Commissioners on the part
of the State of Texas, fully empowered to exercise
the authority undertaken by them, have
formally and solemnly agreed with Brevet MajorGen.
David E. Twiggs, United States Army, commanding
the Department of Texas, that the troops
of the United States shall leave the soil of the
State by the way of the coast; that they shall
take with them the arms of the respective corps,
including the battery of light artillery at Fort
Duncan, and the battery of the same character
at Fort Brown; and shall be allowed the necessary
means for regular and comfortable move
ment, provisions, tents, etc., etc., and transportation.
It is the desire of the Commission, that there
be no infraction of this agreement on the part of
the people of the State. It is their wish on the
contrary, that every facility shall be afforded the
troops. They are our friends. They have heretofore
afforded to our people all the protection in
their power, and we owe them every consideration.
The public property at various posts, other
than that above recited for the use of the troops,
will be turned over to agents to be appointed by
the Commissioners, who will give due and proper
receipts for the whole, to the officers of the army,
whom they relieve from the custody of the public
property.
THOMAS J. DEVINE,
P. N. LUCKETT,
S. A. MAVERICK,
Commissloners on behalf of the Committee
of Public Safety.
Your Committee herewith submit to the Convention,
a full and complete report of the Commissioners
to San Antonio, in regard to the
subject of their mission.
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Sprague, John Titcomb. The treachery in Texas, the secession of Texas, and the arrest of the United States officers and soldiers serving in Texas. Read before the New-York Historical Society, June 25, 1861. By Major J. T. Sprague, U. S. A., book, 1862; New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6102/m1/12/?rotate=270: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.