The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-16
asg. ryaxev on Gen. gmith.


Pskts TExAs July sob, 1855.
Col CiGs LeRcrss, Editor Standard:
DEAR SIR Il have not, uHtii the last TIVE DAYS
had an opportunity Of aering G.n Z Kirby Slulths
letter Of 3oih Nay last, written from Houslon.
This letter has peen published in iGll in the New
York Herald Of Ja,e l1th, and commegsed upon, q.
leng.h iu.ibe ArIny and Navy Jourus .: Jaae 2.sh.
As Gen Smith iDahes sweeping charge a-ajHst
Texas troops desn it due 10 the splendid TeEas DIV
ieion had the ho3e 70 command, the ioI-
loving statement:
NJ div sion was bn 5gY in the district of Texaa ana
few Gays prior oi Surrender. was ordered to kca
mon15 aSout twenqy three mics from Houston. Gen.
Aagsudsg comdiagi & toe district Of X xas equesLe1
20 Keep Up the Organization unt! tue th oi AaF,
whsa he lad deseEIliud dscharge The army under
his cotsDaud. He --sucd an order tbs effect d
rpctipg condng o5c rs OF Regiments and ba anO
issue discharges to- tue men, saowing tht i,ey nad
NAMED true 10 tue last Printed blanks wete turaish
ed Tor this purpose
dy diyision, composed Of uarrison's, Gaud's and
Ar-ys brigadss sla remain ther directed and
we're discharged ss ordsted. Why ley should have
remained afer thg district commander mad discharged
tsen Surviving he had isE.her USE for theul,
a0ie TO perceive
Gen. sa.ita 81 ~ ".be dsy after refused the de-
aaad Of the terAl gts,r aent surrender snls de-
partueut, left SareYs purs for HunsloA.
ordered tne Missouri, a Kansas AID Louisilna
troops to 1oloS. 5sE
Il any ever followed I dom. know IT, aud never
heard Of H. -.
H. say, "ay prpase vas to concentrate the eusirs
strength the department, avail negotiation, aud II
possible, Germs alike honorable soid4er ana
cNizen. Failing IN this iuIeuded struggle to .4e
hast and with army u4 ed in purpose, dIn u rs.
solve, ard battling Tor the rgh, believed God wUeA
ct Gits the yl:.orY." Il.
vas With .hetagny n aouston yhea the news Of
Lees surrender vas received. Together VITA seyera
other gen:lenrn spoke 10 several thousand sollers
aad cIt,zeus. Ia fully satisfied there Eix,d d=-
tern. TIE par. Of sgoops TO IA tao
Geld 10 there org tf1 i army IL tue Gi,
AiseIssip,i department. There alEer.ug uni
Johns.ons Teitsi when II became evident IaFiog
would hase TO 81 render, and the Cs Mississippi isIc
without C6ufea4r4te army, thus cutiag loose all ed
eegl tnere. TO operate here The men believed
that l3nger orEal ION here would u7iIe Invasion,
be lo!U ed by Geraa ,t,ion without adequate
OF resls,ance therefore t9ger Es.s.dcc holy.
Ia TING beiIsfp they nete Fgnt.
! lstt Hous 81 Oh he evening Of the 23 Of Mar;
having be. FORMALLY reeE II my @ est, az tLu
troops were D discharged by regiment uHd battalion
GO nma.ders pe4t day, mating It unnecessary luc
to remain lougef reached AUu! vile the IN.
Gen Smith passed through Huntsville on the evening
Of the 3 I'll, oute tor Houston and could have
reached Houston before .ho night ot the 3Jth. lie
says, i reached here 10 jad the Texas troops dis
btIGa, and aas.sEing 70 .ner h0mes, They I'D tor
saleu their colqr- aad tl=r commanders had ab4t-
appropriated h, pubttc per- 10 tleIr personal use
Had there been a. Houston the arrival Of Gen,
Smith EHHared L!ous nd troops, they would uayv
uern surrender3 troops Tg ms nor the 26;h
81 Man but four days before date of cen $ uls
letter, Gen. BCdzne, Tor, aud in behat OF Gen 5.nb
AUD By hiq auhori ysurrenderel .he entire depsr
zcent :! Mes 0fteaas, % Gen. CH2y.
Iffp &cuu CIT the Texas troops Jill not affect ths
surrender Tor they ef. the vicinity OF Houston, by the
consent and authorization of their dittr.E Ter.
On the q b, aid il could not have been known to
Gen Rucaner q. New 0rlsans, the 25b, day Of
SURRENDER.
Ear did !: sfTec. The propositions m. de By Gen
Smith Gen. CanhF for these propositions ntdY
and delivered 10 G,n. Bucanrr, be / ken to New
Orleans before Gen Smith lett rsyeporE Houston.
The circumstances all iudc,se most Il the
deter mua len 10 snrt=a1 the department beuFa Gen.
Smith LETT sG7ptep0Fs Gen. Buekner had left ShrrTr-
port for New Orleans for that purpos aud accom- ash.
81 it. Heads OF d rtauA aud pitnents were leaving.
Governor Alien, from s., porE on the I'd o. Jane,
out three days aler Gen. Slsus tier from Houston
s,ys Tue over, tue contest i ended the SOL
diyrs dsba$dtd gone 10 their honies; and now
there's 10 Lauis opposition mt.;eyetto te coz
>titution ana Ia5 OF the United sta;es."
Ga NY return sorihern Texa. met tho Trinity
men of ,gb4's brisa ls, dIgUaH3ad in Louisiana |
think from THE above statemeats known 70 many Of
your readers w!o w.re my DIVISION, taa; 8 IT Smiths
Hug tie ~ troops is gr.tuitoas and anfounded;
lar 1t lct-t 4 lay division concerned. The uher
Texas troops have luy capable Of piacng them
tAG On the CORD.
Ia copcpFioa viii add that have on many o,ca.
sion fought oiIe Is side with Texans and no bett-
more gsa,l+ roaps eyer ShuniI-Frd ii ntu>ker ana
ey OF yiei1a 5rcgp=e 1t wUu.d hH G been criminal
toliy to contin5s hopeless contest
Very truly, your friend,
S. &. &AXEY.