Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-03-29
The Germans in Texas.
Unparalleled Prosecutions
and Suffering During
the Rebellion.
Some Thrilling Chapters
of History Hitherto
Unpublished.
[oorre.ponn.denese oInolnlnatI o0mmercIal. ]
5. : j. AUSTIN Cry, March

AUSTIN Cry, March,
My authorities forthe facts given be.
low are Messrs. A. Siemering, editor OF
The San Antonio Express, Z. Degener,
Delegate to the Convention, William
Alexander, Attorney-General Of Texas,
and Prof. @. c. Stremme, Chief of the
Photographic Department of the Land
Office, all Of them gentlemen Of high
character for loyalty, truthfulness and
ability.
1t is not to stir again the smoldering
fires OF partisan hatred that burned so
fiercely in this State, that write this;
but to do simple justice to loyal and
gallant people--a people, who, coming
from foreign land, chung with unwa-
vering constancy to the fortunes Of the
flag they had sworn TO support, while
the uagSa.ssq eh ahasa t G III aR stsTr7
folds, despisgd and deserted il 5 -
The hatred of the rebel leaders was
early aroused against the Germans BY
the refusal of the latter to participate in
the election for the secession conven-
ton. In Gillespie county, they held no
election at all, aud in other counties
sent none but Union men. When the
ordinance was submitted to the popular
vote, Gillespie county gave 467 votes
against il and fourteen for it, of whom
only one was @ German. Kerr county
voted solid against it, and other coun-
ties did nearly as we'll =
Early in 1861, Henry Mccullough,
brother to Ben, raised regiment for
one year service, and had it quartered
mostly at Fort Mason, in charge Of the
remnant Of the 9Th infantry, surrender
ed by Twiggs at San Antonio. Some of
the companies were distributed through
the German counties Gillespie, Kerr
Comal, Banere and Bexar, and some
others--to watch them. No active per
secution was yet attempted, however, and
matters went on in ordinary quiet until
late in the year and early in 1862
Meantime the Germans, under few
brave and skillful leaders, had organic
ed a secret Union society throughout
their counties, and were holding meet
ings to devise what they should DO.
Hon. A. j. Hamilton having fed for
his life, was now among them concealed
in the mountains, and assisting them by
his counsel Some of them desired him
TO put himself OF their head and march
TN armed force upon San Antonio, but
this was not deemed advisable.
should have mentioned before this
that Mr.. Simon was sent by the Ger
mans to Governor Houston, at the time
the secession convention was in session
with or otfer of a thousand armed men
to put that unauthorized body under or
rest, but the Governor was hardly pre-.
pared to take so bold step, and de
clined
During 1861 the Knights Of tie Gold
en- Circle, at San Antonio, cont;aued Il
exercise q Vigilant espionage upon the
Germans and kept the government at
Austin well informed of their move.
ments. Among them, as everywhere
else, there were traitors who informed
on them. In Kerr and Gillespie coun.
ties some injudicions Germans, carly in
1862, held series OF open Union meet
ings, to which they invited every enc
including Americans, and in which they
openly denounced the rebel authorities
These meetings put the latter well on
their guard, and made them more tho.
rough in their searches than before.
About this time, Gin Mayl, one Stewart
en- Englishman, who bad been taken intc
a secret Union League, turned traitor
and made some important disclosures
A band of the less prudent Germans al
once resolved on his death, and one O
their number was drawn, By lot and
sworn to kill him He shot him in .
thicket, but his body was found and III
affair created an immense excitement
A crisis was precipitated at once, and
became necessary for the Germans noV
to declare themselves openly for ON
side or the other.
Various attempts had been made b
the rebels to recruit among the Germa
counties, but up to this time, they ha
scarcely obtained q corporars guard
and were enraged accordingly. Affair
had now come to such pass that the
were obliged to enlist or Zee to th
mountains for life. A prominent an
trusted leader among them proposed
plan of action, which was that the
should enlist for frontier service, ele'
their officers, get arms, and then bold
march on San Antonio--at that tim
slightly gsrrisoned--and either hold
and was for assistance from the Unite
States, or, in default of that, escape
Mexico A company had been recrui
ed in Gillespie County for this pnrpos
when the Governor became suspicion