The National tribune., 1881-12-17

Streets III which event the details on the house
tops were TO fire down upon the Federal troops.
After the detachment had marched into the
city, the remainder Of the command was moved
forward to the top of Powder House Hill, about
one mile from the heart Of the city, where it re-
manned in ranks until after daylight, expecting
every moment to hear the music beg 1t was
cold on that morning of the 10th of February,
standing in ranks on Powder House Hill, and glad
were we indeed when the command Forward"
was given little after daylight Slowly we
wended our way in double ranks, into the city,
reaching the military plaza but a few blocks
from the barracks at sunrise Here fresh de-
tail of another hundred men was made and sent
off in small detachments to support the men al
ready in position. The writer had command of
sixteen men at the foot of ladder leading to the
top of one-stOTy building overlooking the back
yard of the barracks, and Oh which were posted
twenty men under lieutenant. His orders were
to guard the ladder as long as he had man living,
and if any United States officer or soldier came
out of the barracks into the street to order him
back, and in case the order was disobeyed, to
open fire on him at once. The foot of the ladder
was not distant more than twenty feet from the
was that building watched A number of times
did the blue-coated boys come to the doors and
look out, but not one ventured into the street
No reveille sounded that morning in the bar
racks, and no soldier was marked absent from
roll-call.
General Twiggs was at that time in command
of the Department of Texas, and while his SYM
pathies were with the South and in his heart it's
cause was his own, yet while he was in the ser
vice of the United States and wore the uniform
of its army he was true 70 its interests and true
to his duty. He had in San Antonio but one
hundred and twenty soldiers and he knew that
it was worse than follyto make resistance with so
small force against the odds McCulloch had in
numbers and the advantagehe had secured in the
night. He knew, furthermore, that all San An
tonic was against him, and more than all, that he
could not get more than half his men to fight
True, Leutenant-C Colonel Waite with consider
able force, was hurrying to San Antonio, but he
could not possibly reach him, even if unmolested
in time to be of service. He knew, too that a
large force had gone to meet Waite, which force
would never let him come if he made resistance.
1t was q critical moment for the brave old man.
How to discharge honorably the duty he owed to
the Government he served without entering into
a hopeless and awful contest in which blood
would flow like water and very many lives be
lost required judgment, active thought, and un-
quailing nerve. Calmly did the old hero meet
the appalling emergency. To the oft-repeated
demand to surrender at discretion he gave evasive
answers and in parleying gained time. Finally,
at ten o'clock in the morning, McCulloch made
his last demand, giving him twenty minutes in
which to reply The answer came that he would
if his command was paroled and per-
mitted to retain their side-arms, were given
to the coast and permitted to leave
the State The Surrender included all the troops
and Government property in the State. McCul-
loch readily assented, and so ended the siege of
San Antonio.
The officers and soldiers were all paroled, and
the State of Texas took possession of all the Gov
property within her limits Couriers
were hastily sent to Colonel Waite and the State
them prevented. At San Antonio alone some
100000 worth of property, consisting of the |
Government buildings, ordnance, commissary |
medical, and quartermasters' stores, were secured
and probably half as much more at the different |
posts throughout the State. General Twggs soon |
after resigned his commission in the United |
States army, and was given a position in the |
confederate army, but died shortly afterwards |
while in command at New Orleans. There was
no conflict between the forces at San Antonio |
yet probably the first gun fired during the war |
went off there on that memorable 10th of Febru- |
ary. McCullOch's men were armed with all |
sorts of guns, from the old squirrel rife up to the
alilitary plaza the men all dismounted and were
awaiting orders, standing around and sitting
down in groups. One man had left his double
barreled shotgun fastened to his saddle. His |
horse shook himself and the gun falling to the
ground one barrel was discharged, wounding
seven men. One poor fellow was shot in the hip |
and did not get off his crutches until about
year before the war ended, when he joined a COM
Dany and did twelve months good service. No |
me was killed, but all were severely hurt. A
Mexican, mere looker-on in Vienna, who was
auatting down on the sidewalk near, received a
,uckshot in the face which passed through both
,heeks taking two teeth with it. His only re-
mark was: "Maldita! Este buena"
Of the enlisted men of the army in Texas who
we're surrendered by Twiggs at San Antonio, more
han half joined the confederate service. Some
went into the ranks and some were commissioned
All of them made good soldiers rendering eff
:ient service under the new flag. Quite number
Of the officers, too commissioned in the