New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-04
THE TEXAS MYSTERY.

at San Antonio. Nearly one-fourth perhaps more,
of the whole effective military force of the United
States was in that Department The Adjutant-
Generals report Of Nov. 90 1860, shows that, |
at that date, there were present in the Depart |
ment I2l commissioned officers, and over 5000
soldiers, including seven companies of the Sd
Infantry, transferred from the Department of
New Mexico These forces were stationed in |
thirteen forts and ten camps, fully provisioned,
armed, and equipped. They cOmprebendcd every
arm of enthusiastically, artillery, iDfantrJ-and
were regarded as the Elite of the Federal Army.
In numbers, arms, discipline, equipments, in
everything that constitutes military power and
efficiency, the Army Of Texas far exceeded any
force then organized, or that for long time
could be organized, in the United States.
This army, in tho month Of February sur
rendered TO enemies Of the United States every
fort garrison, and military station in Texas
peaceably and quietly surrendered. Not the forts
only but $50, 600 Of public money, thirty-hVe
thousand stands of arms, twenty-sx pieces OF
mounted artillery, forty-fo pieces of unmoun'ed
artillery with horses for regiment OF cavalry
mules, wagons tents, provisions, ammunition,
and munitions of war, were surrendered, 10 the
| estimated value of from One-aBd o half to three
millions of dollars Without shot, without
! blow. the flag of the United States was hauled
down from thirteen forts aud ten camps, aud the
! great Military Department Of the South West,
with it's cannon, arms and munitions, was, oy
Government Officers, "turned over to insurgents
and rebels, to be used as at this hour they are
used, against the Government
The pecuniary value Of this immense sacrihce
of public property is as nothing compared to the
military advantage gained by the rebels ana io't
to tie Government by this surrender The De-
partment of Texas, resting on the gull, outiiank'
ing the nsurgent States, with short and sale
communication by sea with the mouth OF the
Mississippi, and having cOmmodious ports ana
harbors for refuge, shelter, and defense of our
commerce against pr,ynteerng pirates, posresSed
geographical, commercial, and military adyan'
tapes for the present contest, inestiUa6le to the
Government. With that Department occupied
by loyal regular disciplined military force Of
cavalry, artillery, aud infantry strong IN num-
bers. equipments, munitions aud transportation, Ds
the amy Of Texas was, the Federal Govern
ment would have required little additional
strength or effort to protect tho public properly
and enforce the laws in all the States bordering
upon tho Gull aud Atlantic sesbOard That De-
par,ment, moreover, would have constituted n
barrier aganst the piratical attacks row threat
ened BY the rebels upon Ne~Mexlco and the
Pacific States.
10. by tue surrender Of that Department the
Government has lost and the Rebel cause gained
naval, military, and commercial advantages be-
yond the power OF money to estimate, or Of Ian
guage to express. When, added 10 this the po-
ltcal advantage is considered which the insur-
gents acquired by having their sO-caied Conied-
Grafton embrace a solid tier of States on the
seaboard and Cult, instead Of being banked anu
hemned in as they would have been by the
State Of Texas, some idea may be formed Of the
disastrous consequence of the surrender OF this
Department by the Texas Army. lad the Gov
ernment troops, with loyal officers like Capt.
Lyon, remained in Texas, that State must have
continued loyal 10 the Union. Without Texas,
the Southern Confederation could never have
been set on foot.
How happened this great calamity Why
| were thirt EN- forts aud ten camps surrendered
10 rebels and tho flag OF tue Uniun hauled down
! from every military post and station i'll the De-
pori,;.eut, Why above all, were cannon, and
| arm. and hortes, aud wagons, means OF trans
portation. aud munitions of war turned over "
by officers of the Untso States TO The enemies Of
! tue Government without swv,so drawn OF gun
| fred in their defense IL there NJ such 'hihg
| as military duty or fidelity to this lioyerDneb'
These are questions to which Congress must de-
mond an answer and speedy one, if no oyer
! broncA Of the Government will notice them. AS.
| founded by the shameful sight of Commodores
burning, and unsnlliully burning, our own noble
ships aud great nayy.yards; confused and hur-
ricd along by the swSt current of treason and
rebellion, the pubicimind has not yet been able
to grasp or COMPREHEND the mOmentous transac-
tions in Texas. But the presence at Washing.
ton of Col Waite and other officers who played
paris in these transactions VIII compel the
Government TO probe and understand this Texas
mystery. Why MAS oil the public property in
the Department of Texas turned oyer"
as military spoil TO rebels National honor
national safety, national justice demands
explanation of this mystery. 1t is said
the officers "were betrayed into the hands of
"the enemy by General Twigg'." He was broke,
dismissed from the army, for " treachory to the |
flag of his country" No one denies or doubts |
bis guilt. But how the trcachery Of Twiggs could |
have accomplished any thing without the aid OF
others, remains to be explained. Twiggss order
was made on the 18th day of February But |