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: 13 of 36
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DOCUMENTS.
119
SAN ANTOxIO, March 2,1861. represented, or before any portion of the American
To John C. Robertson, Chairman of Commit
people, and being satisfied that the complications
tee of Public Sazfety: likely to ensue from the command of the departSIR:
The undersigned, Commissioners appoint
ment passing into other hands, or by reason of
ed by the Committee of Public Safety, to visit orders from Washington, being also of opinion
San Antonio, and confer with Brevet Major-Gen. that the labors of the undersigned and the MiliDavid
E. Twiggs, United States Army command
tary Commission would result in nothing but
ing Department of Texas, on the subject of the delay, and that the best interests of Texas depublic
property in the State under his control, manded that the troops, amounting to nearly
and to command the delivery of the same, should three thousand, should not be permitted to march
it be deemed necessary, submit the following as into New-Mexico, to hold and settle the condia
report of their proceedings and a statement of tion of that territory as a free-soil region, or into
subjects connected therewith. Kansas to form the nucleus of an army to harass
Having arrived in San Antonio, the Commis
and waste our frontier, in the event of coercion
sioners, on the evening of the seventh ult., com
being attempted by the Northern Government,
municated with Gen. Twiggs, when it was ar
and that over five hundred thousand dollars
ranged that the next day should be the time for worth of transportation facilities, as likewise the
a formal interview with him, respecting the sub
cavalry horses, would be lost to the State, by
ject entrusted to their care. Upon calling on permitting the Federal troops to pass into either
him, the subject of the visit and extent of the New-Mexico, Kansas or the Indian Territory-it
powers conferred upon the Commissioners were was determined that prompt and vigorous action
stated, and the present condition and future was necessary. In view of this consideration,
prospects of the State were set forth as reasons and in accordance with previous instructions, an
why the Federal property should be yielded up, express was despatched that evening to Seguin,
and the Federal troops removed beyond the limits calling on Col. Ben. McCulloch, to assemble as
of the State. In answer to these views and de
large a force of the volunteers and minute men
mand, that officer stated that "Texas was not of the State as could be immediately collected,
out of the Union, and would not be before the and without delay to hasten to San Antonio.
second day of March, that for his part he would The next day a communication was received
obey the orders of his government, but would not from Gen. Twiggs, informing the Commissioners
draw his sword against the people of Texas, that Major Vinton, Chief-Quartermaster, Major
and referred his 'order book' for proof of his Macklin, Paymaster, and Captain Whiteley, Chief
having so declared in his communications to the of Ordnance, were appointed to act as a Military
War Department." In reply to a question re
Commission, to meet the undersigned respecting
specting his removal from Texas, he admitted the disposition of the Federal property. A conthat
he might be superseded, and would only say ference was had on this subject, which resulted
that, "all should remain as it was until after the only in expressions on the part of Major Vinton
second of March, when if Texas seceded he and Captain Whiteley, that it was proper and
would then deliver up to the regularly constituted necessary that the troops should leave Texas by
authority of Texas, all the public property under the Kansas route, that a considerable time would
his control, other than that required for the use be necessarily consumed in arranging the heads
of the troops on their march to New-Mexico." of the various subjects to be discussed, and much
The credentials of the Commissioners were prc
time required to examine the different points
sented and their contents stated, but no intima
raised. This conference terminated without any
tion by word or gesture was given that he de
advance being made towards an agreement for
sired either to inspect or hear them read. The the delivery of the Government property, or the
interview was prolonged for some time, but noth
departure of the troops from Texas, and resulted
ing more tangible was elicited, save his expressed in nothing save an increased belief on the part
determination to carry the troops to New-Mexico, of the undersigned, that delay was the object in
and his resolve to lose his life sooner than permit view sought to be obtained by Gen. Twiggs, in
them while under his command to be deprived appointing the Military Commission, and the end
of the arms pertaining to their respective corps. for which two of that body (Major Vinton and
After the termination of the interview, the Corn
Capt. Whiteley) were acting. Two other intermissioners
upon consultation, deputed one of views were had in which the same purpose was
their number to call on Gen. Twiggs, and re
apparent, and at the last interview held, Major
quest from him a written statement of what he Vinton, in reply to a question by the Commiswould
be willing to perform on or after the sioners, as to when an answer would be given to
second of March. He declined giving a written their last communication, stated that, "a reply
statement, but informed the Commissioner that would be given some time between that day and
a military commission would be selected to con
the second of March." This closed the interfer
with the Commissioners, on the subject of the views, and a second express was sent to Col.
disposition of public property. Believing that McCulloch, with suggestions respecting his moveGen.
Twiggs would neither do nor consent to ments.
anything being done that might possibly place On the morning of the sixteenth, that officer
him in a false, or an apparently false position, entered San Antonio, with his command, and beeither
before the Government whose interests he ing joined by the city companies, and about one
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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/m1/13/?rotate=270: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.