The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-10

The Surrender Of Kirby smiths Army and Of
Texas In June. 1868.

From the GdresiOn Neics.
In the early part OF March, 1865, Gems. r.
j. Davis ana Lev Wallace. United States Army,
we're sent by Gen. Candy, them commander In
chief Of the armies Of the United 81 ates In the
Rio Grande, to negotiate with those IN COM
mand for the surrender OF the Trans Missis-
sirui Department. They anchored Oh Braz0s
Santiago. and sent their papers To the com ~ and
er AT Brownsville. to be forwarded To- Gen. e.
X. smith. The following were the terms Of
fcred
!. That eli property excepting slaves) should
| he respected.
2. mt all Confederate cotton and otbor prop
erty In the Department should be sold. and the
proceeds divided pro rata among the onicers
3. Tnot there should he no forfetures, pains,
or penalties, and that all VINO desired to remain
| with full rights, while those desiring to leave
could do so. taxing or selling thea properly,
etc. aud few other provisions OF less Import
aDcc.
After awaiting a reply several days. and get
| tug none the Commissioners steamed ~ TO
galveston Bar. where they received an answer
fr1 Gen. John q. Walker, one OF the COM
manders In Texas. who rejected the offer with
| surrendered at AppOmattOx.
The troops being sreadv demoralized, tho
news OF Iee's surrender made them more so,
ana Gen. Magiuder Issued stirinE appeal TO
| the troops. calling upon them to make deter
mined stand. holding out the hOpes that the
Trans Mississippi Department wan strong enough
| to whip the continued armies of the United
stltes. I'M. apueai was hveiei MY ~ "A lew'
ana grinding as had been military law through
out the state. the trouts could not he enc cked,
md all 1t once thew broke ranks aud then COM
| menced a general graf game.
| The cleaning ont OF the stOrehouses Mt Hous-
| ton. where were stored tons Of Government
| goods OF all kinds. was tho work OF ualt dav.
| Mu es ana horses having {. :. were seized. and
| on staricd tie soldiers homewMd. some had
| saddles others put Oh bareback. 10 the honor
| Of the troups let me say that private property
vas everywhere resp. cted and ONLY Confederate
crate cotton. uf which thousands Of bales were
sea tered throughout tue STATE was imuieu lately
| claimed 10y parties as persond property, and
/ "a M 81 an "a
| viii relate an incident coming under my own
observation. A Confederate quattermast err aud
Oue Of his clerks we're DRIVING through the
streets OF H0uston with a hne new ambulance
ana four splendid mules. The charge on the
storebouscs ha1 finished. aud four ragged
| rlNates met the ambulance and ordered tnv IN
| la tes to vdcate. The quarternaster showed
hght and was Immediately pitched out ON the
uounf. lhe c1ptofs then started on home
ward. well equipped.
cos rev wsees PRIOR 70 me orsR up, es II V
ON ,et on Gen. T.. X. smiths staff. and stationed
at shreveport, wrote a letter to tue Houston
| Ictgdph, IN ming that the uhited states
| would be sure to conquer, aud d,isiny the peo-
pie Of the lrans. Mississippi Department to
accept favorable terms, ~ offered. This letter
caused much excitement, aud threats were
Openly made against It's writer. Col +. C.
| Post, md released on parole, r, ached Galveston
under nag OF truce about this timo ana openly
| was arrested. nut shortly atterw Ard released.
| Mint ~ law then ruled supreme.
Galveson' houston, aud, IN fact. the entire
| state. were At the mercy 4 demOra Zed soldiers.
and every body was wishing Tor tie troops OF the
| United states to take possession ana ESTABLISH
The comm inder Of the squadron OF Galveston
| bar = Cpmmodore Siuis. l :. \.
Ine folONiug copies Of of1ciM documents
| all post my readers Of the situation at that
| tine.
NEw oRLrASs. MAY 81. is,S.-Brls.Gen. E. j. DAVIS
viii pfuccV4 g. II custom, Texas Via cstuu, Tor The
pufp,se comforting vim Ien. T. X smith IL accord.
a " 6, dS ne eiaT g ~. cy .aG rSSS S
person To theee nsAdq iarters. iy Order ot -
"A. l.. h i. L. A
BY nasof truce.
UNITED STATES rre AMERIcA.l
| ON NaNtstun Bar. May 81. lsUb. !
OENaEAL s ofr' ~ sSs,oTaW ~, s,1 n.S "a, lion.
i,'g9s va, sgG 10 'S-tS9 g ee is,a' q .as term,
urcan. o,tsreu Leut.-,,cn BGckner Of tie Coaiei.
rae 5.;r' Amy =. cd "a. pr. 4 y@sr,e INA Major
NaJorueu tahU) ~ meet VI a. ANY tine " pace
/. J DAsIs, Brisadier. General. U. sA
| To Gen r.. h. shITn
Gen. smith was at Houston when he received
| To start for Galveston next morning. Gen. Ma
gruder anu several members of his stan we're to
staff aud chief medical director. The nag ship
Jackson. where was Gen. Davis. was soon
reached, and tue officers proceeded to business.
| seems that the fun terms II surrender bad
| already been agreed upon a, New Orleans 10y
teens. Bucknsr aud CAnby, aud AL that remained
~ do was To obtain tue signature Of Gen. Smith.
IA. vas signed " hin. "nd the pen lie used 10
| u " stored "wAy as a great curiosity, as being
| the implement which clos Il the last act u Ia.
gIe 1 drama u the war.
|
| veIelng. un' 4 tue Captains IN 60 tunhnu OF one
| Ol the DiockAdefs TOOK Cap. l.. L. Turner. M4-
| .rudtrs Culef Of S,Au. to Ills vessel He had
| known him Ia former years and wished to tell
| uiln some hing important.
He told htm that there was a plan to arrest
| ali the I'm pOftaut ilttatN men when the United
states troops got ON shore. aud imprs 1n them.
| Can't. Turner h1shly Returned t. the ntgship,
anu all hands were III a great purrY 10 return To
score. train was In readiness to take Them
| to Houston, aud Gen. Mugruder anu several
| m@ubers Of his stan were soon en- route ~afd
| tho Rio Grinde. seeking refuge IN Mexico.
| Gen. kirby smith met the party al > Al AntO-
III, aud all reached Mexico together. Major
| q. n. Watkins, of Gen, Magruuer's stan, was
vel mounted on mule, anu WAC reaoy Tor any
| emergency.
United states officers with whom have cor
| responded inform me that Gen Candy never in
| tended any harm to the fugitiye-, and that the
| Captain OF the ship who made such astir ong
'h' Cont derate Officers certainly p-rpetrated a
| huge joke on them Gen. tanOys conduct
| hftVrward to the eX CODiederates shows that a
| J he was played upon Capt. Turner. June 2,
| lNlj Il TIE date OF the signing OF the nual , a.
pers In the surrender Of the Southern Con-
| fe1eracy.