Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-18


DisErnceful and Painful "Reminiscences Of
General Twiggs-His Alleged Cruelty
and Barbarfty. t
The Green Bay (Wis.) Free Press in late
issue has these "reminiscences of General
Twiggs, which we hope for his sake and that
of humanity, are exaggerated to his disad-
vantage:
To many Of our older citizens. General
Twiggs is we'll l-known. Thirty-odd years
ago be was stationed here, in command of
Fort Howard. Invested with supreme trust
in this then new country, with little or no
government other than martial law, exam
pies OF his vindictiye and barbarous conduct
live in the memory of some of the old resi-
dents with bitter distinctness There are no
brilliant deeds of heroism in his history as
in most American officers of his aye. to daz-
zle or avert the eyes bent upon his early in
famy and wanton barbarItm A long life
OF service in the army mostly in frontier
stations, has afforded means of qualification
to his tyrant nature but in his profession
his cowardice shielded him from danger
more successfully than his vanity stimulated
him to his distinction.
In his intercourse with civilians, he was
supercilious and overbearihg. In his con-
duct to his soldiers, he was the merciiess
tyrant and taskmaster., He was constantly
en- oroied in feuds without cause Of COM
plsinti his commands was never without "A
victims of his cruelty and Oppression. Fl q
In 1873, soldier named Prestige, smart
ing under the infliction of punishment more
severe than usual, determined to take his
life. Making his preparations with extraor.
dinary care, Prestige watched his opportu-
nifty when Twiggs was asleep in his quar-
ters one afternoon, and stealthily creeping
to his bedside, placed the muzzle of heav-
llV-lOadpd nnaEaf fn HE
mended his soul to the keeping of the infer
nal regions. By some strange accident the
musket missed fire; but the swapping of the
gun awoke the sleeper; and seizing it by
the muzzle, he Drained the soldier at a blow,
leaving him for dead.
So far it was all right; doubtless the out
r,aged but treacherous soldier deserved to
die. But he did not die; his skull was
smashed in by the Punlock, but he lived
lived TO suffer a complication of horrors sick
ening TO think Of The skull of the wounded
man was trepanned by DR.. Foot, an excel.
lent surgeon and man, and while the patient
was under his immediate care his condition
was comfortable. But scarcely had he COM
menced to convalesce when Twiggs began O
series, system of cruelties and enormities
unparalleled in the annals of vindictive per-
secution.
Before his reason was entirely regulated,
the suffering soldier was severely cowhided
once every day, either by the hand of the
tyrant himself or by his orders and in his
presence. He was confined in the dungeon,
fed like beast upon uncooked food, denied
any comfort or convenience suitable to man,
and worried and exasperated with taunts
and curses, as sauce to his coarser punish
ments.
In the Fall or Autumn ofthe year the troops
at Fort Howard were ordered to the Portage
to establish Fort Winnebago PRESTIGE
feeble with famine and brutal chastisement,
crippled with chains and laden with burden,
was forced to march under guard through
l50 miles of wilderness. Once, when pity
ing fellow-soldier relieved his fainting victim
of part of his burden for while, he was
kicked and cursed for a scoundrel for his
impertinent humanity. .......-. -......
Arrived at the Portage he was not per-
mitted the coarse comforts Of his fellows, but
| chained to a tree like beast. In this con.
dition he was kept through severe winter,
without shelter or protection other than one
blanket and shed of slabs which some other
| soldiers were suffered to build around him.
1t is said that the villain Twiges, the
/ coward Twiggs, never passed the lair without
bestowing upon his suffering victim, nause
Gus with filth and alive with vermip, a blow,
! or kick and curse. In the Spring of 1929
when the soldiers enlistment expired, and
the tyrant could no longer retain him for his
| private persecution and revenge, his head
was shaved and he was drummed out of the
service.
But the malice of the coward did not end
there. When he could no longer reach him
by his own arbitrary schemes of torture, he
sent him under guard to this city, and sur
rendered him to the civil authorities to be
tried for his attempt on the dastard's life.
He was tried, and sentenced by Judge Doty,
| to FIVE years imprisonment in the county
| Jail; but only short time elapsed when
proper representation of the facts was made
to President Jackson, and he was pardoned
| and set at liberty