Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-08
Surrender of Government Prop
1. erfY I'm Texas.

The Secretary of War, under the direc-
ton Of the President. has published an off
cial order dismissing Gen. David E. Twiggs
from the army s'for his tseachery to the flag
Of his country '>in having surrendered, Gu
demand of the authorities Of Texas, the
military posts and other property Of the u
nited States in his department and under his
charge The surrender took place on tho
18th of February Itappears that General
Ben. McCulloch, with four hundred Texan
Rangers, arrived at San Antonio, to take
possession of the arsenal. &C., before Col.
Carlos A. Waite, who had been deputed, it
was, supposed, to supercede Gen. Twiggs,
could arrive. A letter from that place SAYS
"San Antonio was in state of intense
excitement for some days previous to the en-
trance Of the Rangers. Gen. Twiggs re-
ceved the Seereta Of Wars order on the
18th. Col. Waite. was expected to arrive
the next day It was thought he would re-
fuse to carry out Twigg's agreement, and
would resist by force, with the 1870 United
States troops of the S. A. Arsenal. 1t was
determined not to give him chance.
"On Friday evening. the San Antonio K.
G.. C's, two hundred IN nuliiber-a we'll
armed and equipped body marched out to
meet the coming troops under b1cCuloch,
from the Salado, four miles off. At two O.
clock on Saturday, two hundred of them
picked men entered San Antonio on horse
back as an advanced guard Later FIVE
hundred more marched in. Guards we're
vt once stationed around the arsenal. over
the artillery park aud all che government
buildings
.'After the city companies took posses
sion of the Alamo. General Twiggs, accom-
panied by Major Nichols, met General Me-
rCulloch in the main plaza The horsemen
paraded around them, and there was burst
of cheers as the three officers met. A de-
mand was made for the surrender of the
federal property, and the immediate evacu-
alton of the place by the United Stats SOL
diers without their arms The reply was,
that every soldier would be shot down ere
submitted to that disgrace, 1t was feared
that blood strife would ensuer At half
past twelve o'clock, however, terms we're
agreed upon. The soldiers leave town i'm
mediately, taking their side-arms and suf-
fcient supply of stores to enable them to
leave the State. They are getting ready to
leave. They will camp at the San Pedro
Springs, awaiting the arrival Of Colonel
Waite. All bids fair for the restoration Of
quiet, unless Colonel Waite should object to
the terms agreed upon by General Twiggs,
and attempt to retake this postion-which
is not considered probable The stores,
houses and shops are closed; the streets are
almost deserted, except By the Rangers and
the K. G.. C's. The Alamo aud Military
Plaza prcsenta very martial appearance
The government property is now in charge
of the citizen soldiers of the place. The
volunteers are all well armed They are
plainly dressed, some in Kcrsey-a fine
looking body Of n:en, with determined
air"
Another letter says:
Col Lee, U. S. A., hasj just arrived, but
! too late to effect anything, even if disposed
to offer resistance. The Rangers will re-
turn to their camp on the Salado, and will
at once march to take possession of the other
| United States forts and garrisons on the
frontier 1t is thought they will be surren-
dered without resistance, SO large will be
the force brought against them. The Lone
Star flag once more floats from the Alamo.
Captain Hill has refused the demand of
the Texas commissioners for the surrender
Of Fort Brown, at Brownsvills, or the pub
lie property under his command Captain
Hill had sent to Ringgold Barracks for re-
Inducements to retake the property of the
g ,vernment on Brazos Island 4 collision
was considered imminent.