Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-06-23
THE SURRENDER OF GALVESTON,
TEXAS.

Official Report Of Admiral Thatcner'
The following has been received al tne navy
Department:
WEST GuLr SQUADRON q. s. Flagship r. r
Cuvl.,. of Charleston, Texas, June S, 1e65.-Sir::
In nv dispatch, No. 1856, written at Mobile,
informed the Department that rebel commits
sisners at galveston had desired transportation
to New Orleans, to meet General CANDY with q
view to arranging terms OF surrender, and
that had directed such transportation to be
On the evening of the 18th of May 1 arrived
at New Orleans, where / remained until the
morning Of the 5.h instant, and during that
period bad several official interviews With
defenses of Galveston, who assured me that
there would be NO opposition on the part Of the
forces under his command, or the people, to
the occupation Of Galveston by the Navy. On
the morning Of the 5th left New Orleans in
the Z. > 5. r. Cuyler, and arrived off Gal
weston yesterday at two p. m
Captain Sands then informed me that on the
Cd instant M ajor General f. Kiroy Smith and
Major General b. Magruder came on board
the u. s. =. Fort Jackson, where they were
met by Brieadier General J. Davis, repre-
senting Major General Z. r. S. Candy, and the
terms OF surrender heretofore agreed upon be-
tween Representatives OF Generals Smith and
Candy were signed by General T. Kirby
Smith.
After the signing of the articles of surrender,
Captain Sands Immediately took the necessary
steps to buoy ont the channels, and on the 5th
instant procee ded inside the bar In the u. S ).
OorneIia, followed by the Preston and landed
at Galveston, compan1ed by Comm an der
Stevens Commander Downs, and Lieut. Com
mander Wilson, and bad an interview with the
Mayor, q. ii. Leonard. after which the mag OF
the United States was raised on the Custom
House, the citizens conducting themselves In
the most orderly manner.
The flag Is now floating on all the forts In
the harbor, but as we have not sufhc Gent force
from the fleet to garrison the latter, have di-
rected the light draft gu nboats Cornelia, Pres
ton and New London to remain inside the bar,
Royal. have also given orders to Commander
LIE Roy, Of the Ossippe, TO convey with his ves-
sci the troops which Gen. Canhy ii Is hoped
will In q few days be ready to despatch to oc-
cupy the different ports on the coast already
surrendered TO us.
General Brown, of TIE u S Army, on the
LIST instant, with a brigade, took possession of
the garrison at Brownsyille; the other ports
on the coast OF Texas, which have been here
tofore blockaded by our vessels, are now held
by the naval forces. Thus, blockade running
from Galveston and the coast of Texas is at
An end.
To-day / went on shore, and had an inter-
view with the civil and military authorities,
by whom l was cordially received, and in
conversation these gentlemen expressed them
selves anxious for a speedy restoration OF the
old order OF things, and reiterated their desire
main within the harbor for their protection.
On the visit 1 was accompanied by Captain
Sands and part of my staff.
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. X. THATCHER, A. r. Admiral
commanding W. G. Squadron.
Hon. GIDEON WELLRs, Secretary OF the Navy,
Washington, ID. q.
p. S-The r. r. Cuyler will now proceed to
New York, in obedience to orders OF the De-
paftment.