New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-28
THE UNEONAsTs or TEXAS.
How Treated.

| How Treated.
! Mr. Ben. G. Truman, having traversed Texas
for weeks, and made careful inquiry as to her
recent history and present condition, trans.
mits to The Times the following carefully
compiled and most interesting narrative Of the
treatment, suferngs and fortunes Of her open
Unionists during the dominance OF the Rebel.
lion:
THE GREAT GERMAN MAssAcREs.
AT The outset Of the Rebellion, there we're a great
many colonies and settlements in this State compris.
DR in a some 81 0C0 people Of this class Itisalnost
needless TO say that they, like the Germans in all other
sections Of the country loyal 10 the Government and
hated Slavery. Some time before the actual commence.
men Of hostties the hatred Of the leading Rebels was
aroused against these people They hated them. irSt
because they were Industrious and democratic. But
this hatred Of these oyais knew bounds after their
refusal to participate the destruction OF the best
eminent IN the world, which MIS- az first noticeable in
their deelenson 10 vote for any bat Union dele
gates to tho Convention in le6l In Gillespie County
there was election held ut ALL while in many Of the
other COUNTIES The Germans either elected Union dele
gates or kept away from The polls altogether. When
tie ordnance OF Secession submitted 20 the people
OF this state for their ratification rejection Gillespie
County gave 4o1 votes against the ordinance and IL for
~, OF whom only one voter was German. Kew
County voted solid against II, aud many other German
counties did az vel.
During the sitting Of the Secession Convention the
Germans held meeting and arrived M the very
conclusion that 70 was a sediious body and that It
cut aud dried that tie delegates therein assembled
would proclaim themselves for disunion and FOR open
war. In consequence. Mr.. Simon was delegated 10y
the Germans 10 visit Gov. sam Houston, some time
before Tie Adjournment of the Convention and offer him
the services o. LOU armed m'n 10 assist him In putting
tNst Unauthorized and insnIcciionary body under
rest but the Old hero of San JlcintO hardly pre-
pared 10 take so bold scf, and he respectfully de-
cincd.
IN TIE Spring of 1861 Horny Mccullough raised
regiment OF one years men Or service in this section
nnl 4ua'teTcd b In lor Mason, the Colorado River
about 100 miles northwest of this civ then char 20
81 the men surrendered by old TWigqs the traitor.
Farly IN tho sumner SONS Of The companies Of Col.
hcCuIolghs regiment were distributed through what
aye known as The German couaties and particularly In
this county Kew, Gillespie. cOmal and BraDdeTa.
With tie exception o. here ana there knock down. or
street fight. and an occasional murder, active per
gecl,ions tOuk place rnnt late IN the year In Inc
meantime "A large BODY Of the Germans under the
leadership OF few bravo and sklfui men, mad organ
ied secret onion Society throughout the aboyemen.
stoned and Other counties and holding meetings
devise What they should DO The Hon. 4. j. Hamil.
ION now Provisional Governor Of leNas having led for
his life. had returned among them. and concealed In
ihc mountains Some fthom upon hearing Of bis where
ahous called upon him. aud desired him to put HIN.
,f at Their head and march m armed force upon this
c.iyi but IAis Was subsequently not deemed adyisa'
Flrly IN the war the Americans IN this city and
yi1Giy who favored Secession. but declined service
"a The field, established secret societies for Tie soc
purpose 81 exercising an eponage u'on he GeFman'
winch hoy vgusny but quietly did while at the sane
time they world profess friendship for end ingrfiiGtc
themselves into tive confidence Of The unfuspeetng
Jos liisis IN IBIS manner Ley became Thoroughly con
scrsant WIZ an The movements OF the Germans, ana
kept .he Government 40 Ausin well informed 80 10 Tie
Situation srd Anticipated operations.
Ea-ly n tie year l-G2. the Germans Of Gillespie
Kew and Conil Counties held series Of open meet
.ngs 80 which they invited al casscs including
ocs.ioniss. in which some of the more inlldiciouf
boldly Denounced disuniun and al connected wish H.
iucGlipg McCu,lOuEhs regiment and tho boXcfnTeHt
At Austin This sorl % thing pat the Reht authorues
tbcr gu1rd and they became moro torouga in Their
espionage upon The oyalisis. About tbs time' waiol
vas n tho middle 81 May. ls'i2 a. E.glshman named
stewart Who lad been FOR zone time one OF The nom
bers ~ secret Union League near hs city. turned
traitor and made more important discln'ufes regard
ing lis proceedings and Intentions. short tline afr
hls treason became known tho League Of Wuica De
formerly member met not al its Old place. bnt h
villa place 10 the mountains, during nn awful Storm
and. after tutoring solemn prayer % hieh Heaven or
their snccess AID invoking tis OmnipDtcnt ~ guide
them in the commission Of 10 wrong. unIrltF OF the
member present decided that stewart mast D. pai 10
death. 1hev cast lots to which of thciT luiuo'r
should perform the part Of eIccut0uer which cI upon
the brother ~ tie gentleman Who gives ine us uor
nation. and whose have promised never 20
mention Stewart Killed IN i6ss than ten h0lrs
eiicrward IN thicket near D. the place 81 meeting,
hut hs body was discovered in fog day. and iho a
iair created great excitement. and crisis ~ ~.
mcdiately precpiiaiei. ~ which The brIm4ns W'Te
compelled 10 declare themselves openly Tor either ono
side OF the other.
yariors attempts lad been made by TIE Rebels TO
not succeeded IN getting any follower when ehiaged
them beyond OIL description. As have stated above.
the crisis bad arrived. 4 fairs had reached such
pass that they obliged 10 enlist In the Tcoc ranks
or fec to the moInians for ne.
A. fhis jlucfure one 81 their most prominent and
rusiy leaders proposed plan of action which whs ihet
hoy shoud enlist tor the frontier. elect their
offcrfF procure arms, aud then boldly march on
San Antonio at hat time slightly larrisoned ana
either hold u and wait for assistance RON Tbs bniel
States. or. IN default OF that endcavor 10 escape &c
Mexico. 1Lis al first worked we'll A company had
been recruited IN Gillespie County aud had sent word
Ia the Governor ior commissions for their duly elected
officers. The Governor however, had IN the mean.
time become suspicious. aud he refused To- c0mm-.iun
their officers The, then tried suolher plai. which
was 10 enlist under tie officers sent by IT, Govern.
ment. and 10 JOIN regiment that was a. relieve Me
Cuongs. thon m charge Of the prisoners oi the eth
Infantry surrendf red by IWggs, then ~ Font Mason
OF whom there sti about 500 Then the follow
programme vac to hc attempted: They 10 mutiny
hbe:ate the prisoners, se1o what they could and
march on this city. before. This plot came nearly
being successful and would. doubt have been ear
ried quite To perfection had J, not been tor treason
within their own camp. They had relieved McCul-
Tough, aud we're in charge OF Fors Mason; and were
nearly ready 10 release the prisoners, when they
second time betrayed. and their scheme frustrated.
f0nr OF the leaders Immediately deserted and escaped
but three Of them were shortly after taken and put
irons IN this city. II will be remembered TINT this was
in the month Of May, 1862. As soon this last plot
was discovered ths Rebel authorities determined 10
make an end Of all id Dutch conspiraces." they
I, rmed the acts o these loyaliss and they appointed
Cnpt Duff "a Scotchman, who. with about 800 cavalry.
were 10 escort the remnant of the 9Th Infantry TO this
cty for safe keeping. to take charge OF the German
mnInceTs."
Alter getting the prisoners safe In San Antonio, thi,
infamous Scotchman DUH proceeded on his niission Of
cruelty. He issued proclamation, establishing mar
tal law in the German Counties ana ordered oil 10 De
enrolled aud take the oath 10 the "Confederscy," I'M
der main of arrest and imprisonment. Tue terrible
;ircsts made by him. and more particularly by one Of
his lieuenants who il is said, ordered that no pris
be taken induced the greater part OF those who
mad fed 10 the mountains on his approach 10 return
either through despair 10 protect their homes anu
| families from destruction. Nearly LUZ came 10" y
- ~. dcixe rcd then seyee up. and LOOK