American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-07-19
FROM TEXAS.

TenueI Vi hirbg chithy says
As matter of form it was we'll = that
Kirby Smith and Magruder did send
commissioners and did consent to surren-
der the Trsns-Missippi Department, but
as matter Of fict, the whole affair was
one Of the sublimest iarces of the war
Who and what did Kirby Smith surren-
der: lie surrendered regiments that
had disbanded two weeks previous and
had gone off to their homes, swearing
bitter vengeance against all their leaders,
political and military. He surrendered
troops over whom he at that time had
about as much control as he had over the
body guard of the King Of Dahomy -
lie surrendered men that were securing
the country, hanging quartermasters,
contractors and cotton spectators where
they could find them. He surrendered an
Empire that could not muster single
organized regim or companylrom the
Mississippi to the Rio Grande. He sur
rendered in short, to save himself, disban-
ded soldiers whom he had been so long de-
frauding and who would show him no mer-
cy. These facts have ascertaised from
the bitterest traitors themselves since we
have been in Galveston For the last
two years Smith and Magruder have
been speculating in cotton under shelter
of the Confederate name, and refused to
pay any moiety to the deluded masses that
have garrisoned their forts and stations
They have fed them on lies. They have
dsalowed the publication of the truth
in regard to Northern victories. They
have exaggerated the number Of the 10y
alists slain, and have kept quiet in re-
gard to the defeats Of Hood aud John
ston The Texans have been unfOrtu-
nately situated for the gaining Of iuteli-
gencc The blockade runners brought in
few New York papers, but only few,
and even those were suppressed if found
to contain tidings of Union Victories
"This has been the rich man war, they
all say, even those who cling to the dear
doctrine of secession, and worship the
memory Of JeG. Davis.
There are still hundreds and thousands
in Texas who desire to see the Lone Star
flag once more. They want to be indie
pendent of the United States, Mexico,
England, France and civilization gener-
ally. They profess that they "went in'
with the Confederacy to "heIp them out. "
They thought it would be selfish to 90 of
en- their own account, and therefore they
linked their fortunes with Davis, and now
they are whipped out at last" rs they
freely confess.
have in former letter given my
views in regard to Southern loyalty in
Florida and Alabama. The impression
prevails in the North that large proper
tion of the people of Texas were at heart
loyal. We have been mistaken. The
rank and file of the disbanded soldiers,
and of the citizens in the city of Calves
ton, and the country round about, are
traitors of the deepest dye.
spent one day visiting the ruins of
the metropolis Of Texas Although no
marines or provost guards are in the city,
yet comparatively good order prevails -
The people seem to be too much depressed
to hurt any one, and officers and seamen
are unmolested. The silence of an eter-
nal Sabbath rests upon the deserted
wharves and desoatcd habitations, Fur
niturc of every kind is very scarce, and
the h houses appear to have been guttei and
sacked by an enraged soldiery. The
shelves in the stores are empty, and the
.proprictors look long for customers. -
Nothing is for sale and nothing to pay for
it. Specie is the currency for those who
haze it, and beef for those who have
nothing better. | visited the slave mart.
1t was closed, for negro stock is down,
and no purchasers can be found at any
price, although there are more slaves in
Texas than there were before the war
Dogs are as thick as the locusts in Egypt
and the nights are made hideous by their
incessant bowling. The sobricgaet of
''dog town. usually applied to it, is well
meritcd The city boasts of few elegant
residences, and not one attractive street
or park.
A large part of the population of are
foreign birth, Germans, Spaniards, French
Northerners, Africans. A terrible blood
thirsty look these rangers have. Scores
of bowie knives would be thrust into our
hearts were it not for the guns of the fleet.
Wereitnot for the military power it would
be worth ones life to stand in the mar.
.ket place of Galveston and say II am an
American citizen" In no part of the