The Cecil Whig., 1862-10-11
1)ublit AGoirs.
The TWiggs Treason in Texas.

The TWiggs Treason in Texas.
TIE HISTORY OF TIE CAPTURE or THE
yEXAs TRoOps-ATTEMpTs TO COR
RrPT OUR SOLDIERS.
Captain Edwin D. Phillips, of the
Regular Army, gives an interesting
account of the treachcry by which tina,
part of our army stationed in Texas at
the commencement of the Rebellion, for
the protcc ion of the citizens against the
Indian outrages, was first surrendered
by General Twiggs, with all its stores
and ammunition and how the solemn
agreement made by Texas Commissioners,
guaranteeing our troops safe passage,
with their arms, out of the State, was
afterwards broken, and part of these
soldiers secretly cntrapped, surrounded
by Il superior force, under command of
officers scarcely as yet out of their
United States uniforms Van Dorm
at their hcad-and made prisoners Of
war.
The story of Captain Phillips is ex-
tremel y discrcditable to the recrcant
army officers, who seem deliberately to
have planned this double act of trcachcrv,
mud who, when they cast off their allie
glance, appear to have thrown away with
that all notions of honor and honesty
1t is not by such acts as these-of Earl
Van Dorm and his associates-that men
claiming the desire to set up new
nation can win the respect and esteem
of the world for their efforts. Itappcars
that the points occupied by our troops in
Texas were widely scattered. The
headquarters of General Twiggs were
at San Antonio. The Secession Con-
vcnton, whose mcmbcrs," wri;es Cap
tain Phillips, represented, with few
exceptions, the wishes Of no class of The
community" and whose measures we're
taken with the EXTREMIST circumspccton,
and prosecuted with such vigor that
within II few days almost the entire pop
nlation may be said to have been under
arms" appointed three Commissioners,
TO demand of Twiggs the surrender of all
thc public property within the limits of
the State. The General, with treason
in his hear, but with reasonable dread
of the disgrace he was bringing upon a
name honorable till then, hesitatcd to
give definite reply to this demand.
lie put off the evil day When pressed
to act, he usually said, a l will give up
cvcrything," but with pitiful caution he
refused to put his decision on paper -
1t is reported that the cxertions of
Colonel Nichols, Assistant Adjutant
General, in all probability prevented a
much more disgraccful capitula ion than
that which followed"
TERMS or CAPITtLATION.
On the 18th of February, 1861, Cen
cral Twiggs made public his shame. lie
ordered that the garlsons evacua their
posts and take up their march out of
Texas, by way of the coast, " with their
arms, the light batteries with their guns,
their clothing, camp and garrison equip
age, qnartermaster's, subsistence, mcdi-
cal and hospital stores, and such means
of transportation of every kind as might
be necessary for an efficient and orderly
movement of the troops, prepared for
attack or defense against aggrcssions
from any source, and carrying with them
provisions as far as the coast" Stimuli
tancously with this order appeared cir
cular of the Commissioners, stating that
having been fully empowered by the
State of Texas, they had &C formally and
solcmnly agreed " with General Twiggs
to the performance of the specific obliga.
tions above mentioned. ,..-..,-
y Mcanime, an order from Washington
dated January 2Sth, relieved Twiggs
from command, and appointed in his
place Colonel Carlos A. Waite, then
commanding distant post. The Com
missioncrs endcavorcd to prevent this
order leaving San Antonio; they inter.
cep'cd one messenger on his way to Col
Waite, but Col. Nichols, who seems tc
have been prompt officer, had sent
ano her, BY different route, who reach.
ed safely his destination In three
hours after receiving the order. Colone
Waite was in the saddle, and arrived al
San Antonio at midday on the 18th O
February. But Twiggs and the Com
missioners had been quicker than eve,
he could be; the surrender was com
pleted, San Antonio occupied by a large
force of Texas, who had guards over TIN
public property, while the garrison, two
companies of regulars, had been with
drawn, and was cncanped out of town
His act OF treason thus fully oonsum
mated, Twiggs, on the following day, tn