USA > Texas > A pictorial history of Texas, from the earliest visits of European adventurers, to A.D. 1879. Embracing the periods of missions, colonization, the revolution the republic, and the state; also, a topographical description of the country together with its Indian tribes and their wars, and biographical sketches of hundreds of its leading historical characters. Also, a list of the countries, with historical and topical notes, and descriptions of the public institutions of the state > Part 24
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"While deploring the election of Messrs. Lincoln and Hamlin, the Exec-
381
HOUSTON'S SENTIMENTS.
utive yet has seen in it no cause for the immediate and separate secession of Texas. Believing, however, that the time had come when the Southern States should co-operate and counsel together, to devise means for the main- tainance of their constitutional rights and to demand redress for the griev- ances they have been suffering at the hands of many of the Northern States, he has directed his efforts to that end. Believing that a convention of the character contemplated by the Joint Resolution of February 16th, 1858, would be held, and desiring that the people of Texas should be represented in the same and have full opportunity to elect delegates reflecting their will, he ordered an election for that purpose to be held on the first Monday in February next. Although since that time four of the Southern States have declared themselves no longer members of the Union, yet he confidently looks forward to the assembling of such a body. A majority of the South- ern States have as yet taken no action, and the efforts of our brethren of the border are now directed toward securing unity of the entire South. The interests of Texas are closely identified with the remaining States, and if by joining her counsels with theirs, such assurances can be obtained, of a determination on the part of the Northern States to regard our Constitu- tional rights, as will induce the States which have declared themselves out of the Union to rescind their action, the end attained will silence whatever reproaches the rash and inconsiderate may heap upon us."
The sentiments of Governor Houston were not in harmony with those of the Legislature or the leading politicians of the State. Instead of waiting until the first Monday in February, and electing delegates to a Convention of the Southern States, as contemplated in the act of February, 1858, and ordered by Houston's proclamation, the people, by common consent, on the 8th of January, elected delegates to a State Conven- tion. The Convention was composed of two members for every member of the House of Representatives ; and met in Austin, January 23d, 1861. It was organized by electing Oran M. Roberts president, and R. T. Browning secretary. Though the Convention had met without a special summons from the Executive of the State, it was promptly recognized by the Legislature, and Governor Houston announced that he would not stand in the way of the wishes of the people of the State. It was evident that the ordinance of seces- sion would be passed by an overwhelming majority. Fif- teen years before, the Texans were so anxious to get into the Union that they were impatient at the necessary delay in effecting that measure, and a proposition was introduced
382
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
into Congress to displace President Jones, and inaugurate a Government ad interim, to hasten annexation. They were now in a much greater hurry to precipitate the act of seces- sion. The first day of the session of the Convention was spent in debating the question of submitting the ordinance to a vote of the people. That was decided by a vote of 140 for, and 28 against submitting it to a popular vote.
The Ordinance of Secession. as finally passed,* was as follows :
An Ordinance to Dissolve the Union between the State of Texas and the other States, united under the compact styled " The Constitution of the United States of America."
SECTION 1st. Whereas, the Federal Government has failed to accomplish the purposes of the compact of Union between these States in giving protec-
* VOTE .- Yeas .- Mr. President, Abercrombie, Allen, J. M. Anderson, T. S. Anderson, Armstrong, Askew, Adams, Batte, Beasly, Box, Burditt, Burroughs, Burton, Blythe, Brahan, Brown, Black, Broadus, Casey, T. J. Chambers, Wm. Chambers, J. G. Chambers, Campbell, Charlton, Chisan, Clayton, Cook, Chilton, Clark, Jr., Cleveland, Coke, Davidson, Devine, Diamond, Donelson, Dougherty, Dancy, Deen, Davenport, Wm. W. Dia- mond, Dunham, Early, Edwards, Field, Flournoy, Ford, Fall, Feeney, Spencer Ford, Frost, Galloway, Gold, Graham, Green, Gawhal, Robert Graham, Gray, Gregg, Henderson, Herbert, Hill, Hogg, Hooker, Howard, Hays, Hicks, Hobby, Holt, Hord, Hoyle, Hutchison, Ireland, Jennings, Jones, Kelly, Koester, Latham, Lasseur, Lester, Locke, Lubbock, Lea, Lit- tleton, Lofton, Luckett, Maltby, Maxey, M'Craven, M'Cray, Miller, Thomas Moore, T. C. Moore, Montel, Muller, Marshall, Lewis W. Moore, M'In- tosh, M'Craw, Mills, Moss, Nash, Neal, Newsom, Nichols, Nicholson, Noendorf, Nelson, Nayland, A. J. Nicholson, Norris, Obenchain, Ochiltree, Oldham, Palmer, W. K. Payne, W. M. Payne, Peck, Pope, Pendergrast, Poag, Portis, Preston, Price, Rainey, Reagan, Rector, Robertson, Rogers, J. C. Robertson, Rhome, Wm. P. Rogers, James H. Rogers, Ross, Rugely, Runnels, Scarborough, Scurry, S. S. Smith, G. Smith, Scott, Shepherd, Stell, Charles Stewart, J. G. Stewart, Stockdale, Wm. H. Stewart, Taylor, B. F. Terry, N. Terry, Thomason, Todd, Thompson, Waller, Walworth, Warren, Ward, Watkins, Weir, Wharton, Wiley, Wilson, Wilcox, Benja- min Williams, Work,-167.
Noes .- Hughes, Johnson of Lamar, Johnson of Titus, Shuford, Throck- morton, Williams of Lamar, and Wright.
At the re-assembling of the Convention, March 2d, the following names were added to the yeas: Bagby, Chambers, Baxter, Cox, Hall, Harrison Henderson, Henry, Hunt, Jones, Mattox, Montgomery, M'Call, Nash, Stapp, Russel, Wilson, Word.
ELLIS P. BEAN.
385
SECESSION ORDINANCE.
tion either to the persons of our people upon an exposed frontier, or to the property of our citizens; and, whereas, the action of the Northern States of the Union is violative of the compact between the States and the guaranties of the Constitution; and, whereas, the recent developments in Federal affairs make it evident that the power of the Federal Government is sought to be made a weapon with which to strike down the interests and prosper- ity of the people of Texas and her sister slave-holding States, instead of permitting it to be as was intended, our shield against outrage and aggres- sion, therefore, "We, the people of the State of Texas, by Delegates in Convention assembled, do declare and ordain that the Ordinance adopted by our Convention of Delegates on the fourth (4th) day of July, A. D., 1845, and afterwards ratified by us, under which the Republic of Texas was admitted into the Union with other States, and became a party to the compact styled 'The Constitution of the United States of America,' be and hereby is repealed and annulled."
That all the powers which, by the said compact, were delegated by Texas to the Federal Government, are revoked and resumed. That Texas is of right absolved from all restraints and obligations incurred by said com- pact, and is a separate sovereign State, and that her citizens and people are absolved from all allegiance to the United States or the Government thereof.
SEC. 2d. This ordinance shall be submitted to the people of Texas for their ratification or rejection by the qualified voters, on the 23d day of February, 1861; and, unless rejected by a majority of the votes cast, shall take effect and be in force on and after the second day of March, A. D. 1861; Provided, that in the representative district of El Paso, said election may be held on the 18th day of February, 1861.
Done by the people of the State of Texas, in Convention assembled, at Austin, this first day of February, A. D., 1861.
The act of the Convention was hailed with the liveliest demonstrations of popular joy. Bells were rung, salutes were fired, and the following night the Capitol was illumi- nated. After the passage of the ordinance, both the Con- vention and the Legislature adjourned. On the 9th of February Governor Houston issued his proclamation for an election to be held, in accordance with the ordinance of the Convention, on the 23d of February; the people to vote for or against secession. At the election 39,415 voted for, and 13,841 against secession.
The Convention re-assembled on the 4th of March. A committee was sent to hold a conference with the Governor, and to announce to him, that Texas was now "a free, sover- eign and independent State." The Governor protested
386
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
against any further action on the part of the Convention ; and contended that, having passed the ordinance of secession and submitted it to the people, their functions ceased .* The Convention, however, continued in session, and on the same day passed the following ordinance, uniting Texas with the new Confederation which had been formed at Montgomery :
An Ordinance in relation to a Union of the State of Texas with the Con- federate States of America.
WHEREAS, the Convention of this State has received information that the Congress of the Confederate States of America, now in session at the city of Montgomery, in the State of Alabama, has adopted a Constitution for a Provisional Government, which Constitution is modeled on that of the United States of America; and whereas, as a seceding State, it becomes expedient and proper, that Texas should join said Confederacy, and share its destinies ; and whereas, a delegation consisting of seven members has already been elected by the Convention to the Congress of the Confederacy aforesaid, therefore,
The people of Texas in Convention assembled, have ordained and declared, and do hereby ordain and declare, that the delegation aforesaid to the Congress aforesaid, be and they are hereby instructed, and we do accordingly instruct them, in behalf of the State, and as repre- senting its sovereign authority, to apply for the admission of this State into said Confederacy, and to that and for that purpose, to give in the adhesion of Texas to the Provisional Constitution of said Confederate States; and which said Constitution this Convention hereby approves, ratifies, and accepts.
SEC. 2. Be it further ordained, That the delegation appointed by this Convention to the Congress of the Confederate States be, and they are
* Up to the time of secession, there had been but two Presidents of the Senate elected: Edward Burleson, of the first Legislature, and Jesse Grimes, of the succeeding Legislatures, up to the eighth. H. P. Bee was Secretary of the first Senate; N. C. Raymond, of the second and third; W. D. Miller, of the fourth ; James F. Johnson, of the fifth and sixth; R. T. Browning, of the seventh, and James F. Johnson, of the eighth.
W. E. Crump was Speaker of the first Legislature; J. W. Henderson, of the second ; C. C. Keenan, of the third ; D. C. Dickson, of the fourth ; H. R. Runnels, of the fifth ; H. P. Bee, of the sixth ; Wm. S. Taylor, of the seventh, and M. D. K. Taylor, of the eighth. James H. Raymond was Chief Clerk of the House of the first Legislature; B. F. Hill, of the four succeeding Legislatures (with J. W. Hampton for the extra session of the third Legis- lature) ; E. D. M'Kinney, of the sixth; H. H. Haynie, of the seventh, and Wm. Leigh Chambers of the eighth.
387
TEXAS JOINS THE CONFEDERACY.
hereby authorized to act in said Congress, as the duly accredited represen- tatives of the State of Texas. Provided, however, that any permanent Constitution which may be formed by said Congress, shall not become obli- gatory on this State, until approved in such way as shall be determined upon.
SEC. 3. Be it further ordained, That the President of the Convention immediately transmit, through such channel as he may select, a copy or copies of this Ordinance, to the Congress at Montgomery, and the members of Congress from this State.
CHAPTER III.
THE WAR-CLARK'S ADMINISTRATION-SURRENDER OF UNITED STATES PROPERTY AT SAN ANTONIO AND IN THE SOUTH-WEST-INDIANS HOSTILE-WARLIKE PREPARA- TIONS ON A LARGE SCALE-THE BLOCKADE-LUBBOCK'S ADMINISTRATION-STATE PROSPEROUS-ARIZONA EXPEDITION-FEDERALS TAKE POSSESSION OF GALVESTON -- MAGRUDER IN COMMAND IN TEXAS-RECAPTURE OF GALVESTON BY THE CONFED_ ERATES-FEDERALS REPULSED AT SABINE PASS-CONSCRIPT LAW-MARTIAL LAW- "COTTON ORDERS "-HOUSTON ON MARTIAL LAW-MURRAH'S ADMINISTRATION- FINE CROPS-THE FEDERALS IN THE SOUTH-WEST-FIGHTING IN LOUISIANA-"COT- TON ORDERS" AGAIN-MURRAH VS. MAGRUDER-CONFEDERATE ARMIES DISBAND.
0 N the 14th of March, an ordinance passed the Convention requiring all State officers to take the oath of loyalty to the Constitution promulgated by the Convention at Mont- gomery. Governor Houston and Mr. Cave, Secretary of State, declining to take said oath, their offices were declared vacant, and Mr. Ed. Clark, the Lieutenant-Governor, was duly installed Governor. The other public officers taking the required oath were continued in office. Agreeably to adjournment, the Legislature reassembled March 18th. Ex-Governor Houston sent a message to that body, protest- ing against his removal and the usurpation of the functions of his office by Governor Clark.
On the 20th of January, 1860, Governor Houston sent General J. M. Smith on a confidential mission to General Twiggs, at San Antonio, inquiring what disposition would be made of the public property belonging to the United States in the department? To this inquiry Gen. Twiggs replied : "I am without instructions from Washington, in regard to the disposition of the public property here, or of the troops, in the event of the State's seceding. After secession, if the Executive of the State makes a demand on the Commander of the Department, he will receive an . answer."
389
CLARK'S ADMINISTRATION.
Edward Clark, the Lieutenant-Governor, having taken the prescribed oath to the Southern Confederacy, was sworn in as Governor on the 16th of March, but General Houston continued to occupy the office building of the Governor until the morning of the 18th, when Mr. Clark entered the room before Houston reached it in the morning, and remain- ed in undisputed possession.
There were at that time about twenty-five hundred United States soldiers guarding the frontiers of Texas ; all under command of Major-General Twiggs. The Convention had appointed commissioners to receive the public property ; and the following agreement was entered into just after Clark became Governor :
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 18th, 1861.
The undersigned, commissioners on the part of the State of Texas, fully empowered to exercise the authority undertaken by them, have formally and solemnly agreed with Brvt. Maj. Gen. David E. Twiggs, U. S. A., commanding the Department of Texas, that the troops of the United States shall leave the soil of the State, by the way of the coast; that they shall take with them the arms of their respective corps, including the battery at Fort Duncan and the battery of the same character at Fort Brown, and shall be allowed the necessary means for regular and comfortable move- ment, provisions, tents, etc., etc., and transportation.
It is the desire of the Commission, that there shall be no infraction of this agreement on the part of the State. It is their wish, on the contrary, that every facility shall be afforded the troops. They are our friends. They have heretofore afforded to our people all the protection in their power, and we owe them every consideration.
The public property at the various posts, other than that above recited for the use of the troops, will be turned over to agents to be appointed by the Commission, who will give due and proper receipts for the whole to the officers of the army, whom they relieve in their custody of the public property.
THOS. J. DEVINE, P. N. LUCKETT, S. A. MAVERICK.
Commissioners on behalf of Committee of Public Safety.
In accordance with this agreement, the United States soldiers marched to Green Lake, near Indianola, ready to embark ; and the Government sent an unarmed steamer, the Star of the West, to remove them. The steamer was
390
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
captured by Colonel Earl Van Dorn; and Major Sibley chartered a couple of sail-vessels, upon which he embarked his men. A norther sprung up, and Sibley was unable to procure a pilot. While in the bay, Colonel Van Dorn, with a few hundred volunteers, and the assistance of the steamer General Rusk, sent from Galveston, captured the schooner and soldiers.
Governor Clark authorized Colonel Wm. C. Young to enlist a thousand men for service on the northern frontier. About the first of May, Colonel Young crossed Red river, and captured Fort Arbuckle and other forts in the Indian Territory, Major Emory retreating toward Kansas. The troops from the frontier posts collected in the neighborhood of San Antonio, and on the 9th of May, Van Dorn, with a large volunteer force, demanded their surrender. Officers were paroled, and the men agreed to leave the State. A few of them enlisted in the Confederate army.
The Indians, still chafing under their forcible removal from their reservations, and seeing the frontier denuded of troops, became more bold and hostile than ever. Murders were committed in Gillespie, Uvalde, and Kerr counties, and a band of the savages penetrated Atascosa county. Indeed the whole frontier was more or less troubled by their raids. An expedition from Galveston sailed down the coast to the mouth of the Rio Grande, to assist Colonel Ford in capturing the forts and public property on the lower Rio Grande. It was at first thought that the officer in command of Fort Brown would resist; but after some hesitation all the public property was turned over to the Texas Commisssioners, Messrs. E. B. Nichols and H. B. Waller.
On the 8th of June, Governor Clark issued his proclama- tion announcing that a state of war existed, and that Texas creditors were prohibited from paying Northern debts, &c.
On the 2d of July, a blockading squadron appeared at Galveston, and on the 4th seven small sailing vessels were
391
LUBBOCK ELECTED GOVERNOR.
captured. Soon afterward, the whole Texas coast was closed to commerce, except by the hazardous mode of blockade- running.
The whole country was alive with the military spirit. The State was divided into militia districts for camps of instruc- tion. In August the Governor appointed thirty-two Brig- adier Generals of militia. By the 7th of November, fifteen thousand men had enlisted in the Confederate army.
At the election in 1861, F. R. Lubbock was elected Gov- ernor, and John M. Crockett, Lieutenant Governor .*
* For Governor: Francis R. Lubbock, 21,854; T. J. Chambers, 13,759 ; Edward Clark, 21,730. Total, 57,343. For Lieutenant Governor; Crockett, 22,321; F. F. Foscue, 12,160.
Executive Officers During Houston and Clark's Term .- Secretaries of State, E. W. Cave, Bird Holland, and C. S. West; Attorney General, G. W. Flournoy; Comptroller, C. R. Johns; Treasurer. C. H. Randolph; Land Commissioner, F. M. White.
Courts .- At annexation, John Hemphill became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and A. S. Lipscomb and R. T. Wheeler, Associates. Tom Green, Clerk. In 1856, Justice Lipscomb died, and O. M. Roberts became Associate Justice. In 1850, the Court was required to hold its sessions alter- nately in Austin, Galveston and Tyler. In 1858, Justice Hemphill was elected to the Senate. Wheeler became Chief Justice, and James H. Bell, Associate. In 1862, George F. Moore was elected Associate Justice.
In 1846; John C. Watrous was appointed Judge of the Federal District Court. In 1858 a new district was formed and Thomas H. Duval was ap- pointed Judge.
In 1856, the Legislature created a Court of Claims. James C. Wilson was appointed Commissioner. He was succeeded in 1857 by I. A. Illingworth ; and in 1858 by Ed. Clark; 1859 by Joseph Lee; and in 1860 by William S. Hotchkiss.
We have entered upon the era of the great civil war. The time has not arrived to write its story, or to discuss its principles with the calm spirit of history. It was a dark, gloomy period, in which bitter passions pre- vailed. Future generations will form their estimate of its men and its measures. We shall confine ourselves to a simple record of the facts and incidents as they occurred.
Congressional Representation .- Sam Houston was Senator from 1846 to 1857; Thomas J. Rusk from 1845 to 1857. After Rusk's death Matt. Ward filled out his unexpired term, when Lewis T. Wigfall was elected. In 1859, John Hemphill was elected in place of Sam Houston. Wigfall and Hemphill resigned when the State seceded. Texas was entitled to two Representatives in the lower House. David S. Kaufman represented the Eastern District from 1846 to 1851; Richardson Scurry, in 1851-53; O. W.
392
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Mr. Lubbock was inaugurated Governor November 7th, 1861. Texas suffered less, probably, from the effects of the civil war than any other Southern State. Her numer- ous gulf ports offered many facilities for running the block- ade; and on her southwestern border, cotton found a ready market in the towns of Mexico. Through these channels, supplies of groceries and other necessaries were procured, though at an advanced price. Though so large a portion of her able-bodied men were in the army, the old men and boys so managed the servants, as to raise the greatest abundance of corn, wheat, cotton, etc. The women, with great cheerfulness, submitted to the additional labors imposed upon them; assisting in the field, and especially in the manufacture of cloth for domestic use. The inex- haustible salt lakes of the Southwest furnished the State, and could have furnished the whole Confederacy with that necessary article.
In the fall of 1861, a brigade was organized at San Antonio, by General Sibley, for the occupancy of the Upper Rio Grande country. Sibley reached Fort Bliss, near El Paso, on the 16th of December. He marched up the river on the east side, and arrived within a few miles of Fort Craig on the 20th of February, 1862. At a place called Valverde, a great battle was fought on the next day. The Texans, after a severe fight, remained masters of the field ; having taken some prisoners and six pieces of artillery. The Federals retired to the fort. After this fight, the Texans advanced up the river, occupying Santa Fe on the 23d of March. On the 27th of March, at a canon called Glorietta, twenty miles north of Santa Fe, a portion of the command was attacked by a strong force of Federals, and suffered a heavy loss in killed and prisoners. Some other
Smyth, in 1854-55; Lemuel Dale Evans, in 1856-57; and John H. Reagan in 1858-61. Timothy Pillsbury represented the Western District from 1846 to 1849; Volney E. Howard, in 1850-53; P. H. Bell, in 1854-57; Guy M. Bryan, in 1858-59; Andrew J. Hamilton, in 1860-61.
F. R. LUBBOCK.
395
CALLS FOR TROOPS.
skirmishes took place, but without any decided victory. The last one was at Peratta, on the 23d of April. The command was then on the retrograde march toward Texas. In killed, wounded and prisoners, the brigade had lost about five hundred men in New Mexico. This was a heavier loss, but the result was not so disastrous as the Lamar Santa Fe expedition in 1840. The Texans found Forts Craig, Union, etc., too well garrisoned and strongly fortified to take with their slender means; and the popula- tion of New Mexico, almost to a man, espoused the Federal cause.
The whole power of all departments of the Government was exerted to fill up the ranks of the army. February 26th, 1862, Governor Lubbock called for fourteen regi- ments, and sent them into camps for instruction. November 29th, General J. Bankhead Magruder succeeded General Herbert in the command of Texas. He called for ten thou- sand additional troops. At the close of Lubbock's adminis- tration, the Adjutant-General reported ninety thousand Texans in the Confederate armies.
On the 17th of May, 1862, Commodore Eagle, of the blockading squadron, demanded the surrender of Galves- ton. It was known by the Confederates that he had no land forces to occupy the city, and no attention was paid to the demand. On the 4th of October, the demand was repeated, and four days allowed for the removal of non-combatants. The Commodore gave notice that he had a sufficient force to capture and hold the island. The Confederates withdrew to Virginia Point, six miles distant. The Commodore sent , some of his vessels into the inner harbor, and two hundred and sixty men, of the 42d Massachusetts, landed and raised the United States flag over the Custom-House, and took a position on one of the wharves. This was the situation when General Magruder assumed command in Texas. He at once determined to repossess the island. The return of Sibley's brigade from Arizona gave Magruder a large
23
396
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
force of experienced soldiers, which was augmented by about five thousand State troops called into temporary service for the protection of the coast. Preparations hav- ing been carefully, but secretly, completed, Gen. Magruder went to Virginia Point on the 29th of December, at the same time sending the Neptune and Bayou City, two bayou steamers fitted up as gun-boats, with the Lucy Gwinn and John F. Carr as tenders, to the head ( alveston Bay, with instructions to enter the harbor on the night of Decem- ber 31st, for the attack on the city. Early in the night designated, the land forces crossed from Virginia Point over to the island and silently took a position for the attack. The 42d Massachusetts was stationed on the wharf; but had taken up the planks between their position and the shore. The steamer Harriet Lane was lying at the wharf, and the brig Westfield, the gun-boat Owassee, and the Clifton, a transport, and some smaller craft, were lying out toward the Pass. The fight was opened by the troops on the island. Soon afterward, the bayou steamers moved up to the channel and attacked the Harriet Lane. The Neptune was pierced by a shell and soon sunk in shal- low water. The Bayou City ran up to the Harriet Lane and became entangled in the rigging, and could not be readily disengaged. The Texans promptly leaped on board the Harriet Lane, which soon surrendered, having lost her principal officers. Soon afterward, the men on the wharf surrendered ; and some other Federal vessels, includ- ing a barque and some smaller craft, were captured by the Texans. The others left the harbor. The Westfield, in trying to get out, got aground, and to prevent her from falling into the hands of the Confederates, a train was set to explode her. The explosion not occurring as soon as expected, Commodore Renshaw, with fifteen men, went on board to examine the fuse. While they were on the ship, she exploded, and all the men lost their lives. All the vessels left the harbor, and for a few days the port of Gal- veston was open to commerce.
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