History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families, Part 13

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532

USA > Texas > Harris County > Houston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 13
USA > Texas > Galveston County > Galveston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 13

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In May, 1862, Commodore Eagle, of the United States Navy, demanded the surrender of the city of Galveston, but could not en- force his demand. October 4 following he was re-inforced and easily took the place without much resistance. The Texans criti- cised General IIebert for giving up that city, and he was superseded during the next month by General Magrnder, who forthwith made preparations to recapture the island. Ile made good preparation, with great se- crecy, to attack the island hy both land and water, and he was snecossful in regaining the point, after an engagement that cost the Federals great loss. But the port continued to be blockaded.

At first, and during the earlier part of Governor Lubbock's administration, the Tex- ans enlisted freely and cheerfully, believing that the contest would soon end in victory for them, but ere long they began to feel the tedious burden of war in many ways. Trade was interfered with, military law pro- claimed, conscription resorted to, etc. All

males from eighteen years of age to forty-five were made liable to service in the Confed- crate army, with the exception of ministers of religion, State and county officers and slave-holders, the possession of fifteen slaves being the minimum number entitling to ex- emption. Governor Lubbock was an ex- tremist in regard to this system. In his message to the Legislature in November, 1863, he suggested that every male person from sixteen years old and upward should be declared in the military service of the State; that no one should be permitted to furnish a substitute, and in the same message informed the Legislature that 90,000 Texans were already in the field. When one calls to inind that the greatest number of votes ever polled in the State was but little over 64,000, it will be seen what a tremendous drain had been made on the strength of the country!

August 31, 1861, the Confederate congress passed a law confiscating all the property of Union men, and banishing the men them- selves. Many persons who had spent their lives in Texas thus lost their property, and even temporary absentees in the North, who would have found it difficult, if not impossi- ble, to return, were likewise deprived of their possessions. Many Unionists, in their at- tempts to escape to Mexico, were caught and put to death. Says the San Antonio Herald, a paper loyal to the Confederacy: "Their bones are bleaching on the soil of every connty from Red river to the Rio Grande, and in the counties of Wise and Denton their bodies are suspended by scores from the black-jacks."

By the close of Lubbock's administration, in 1863, the tide of public opinion and feel- ing began to ebb, as the Confederate arıns had met with serious roverses, and the dark

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

shadow of the impossibility of an independent confederacy was casting a gloomy sky over the sunny Sonth.

After the recovery of Galveston island, no other operation of importance ocenrred until September, 1863, when the Federals at- tempted to effect n lodgment at Sabine City, the terminus of a railroad. The blockade of Sabine Pass was temporarily broken by the capture of two United States gumboats, out- rido the bar. Afterward the Confederates created a fort at Sabino City, defended by a formidable battery of eight heavy guns, three of which were rifled. A detachment of 4,000 men, with gunbonte, from Banks' army, inde un attempt in September, 1863, to take Sa- bine City, but met with ignominions defeat, losing two gunboats, 100 men killed and wounded, and 250 as prisoners. The garri- son of the fort consisted of only 200 Texans, of whom only forty-two took part in the ac- tion. These were presented by President Davis with a silver medal, the only honor of the kind known to have been bestowed by the Confederate government.

On the 26th of July this year General Houston died. See his biography on another page, to be found by the index.

The Rio Grande being a national boundary line, it could not be blockaded by the United States; but General Banks, after his failure to capture Sabine City, endeavored to take Brownsville, and thus at least cripple the trade between Texas and Mexico. Late in Octo- ber, 1863, supported by a naval squadron under Commander Strong, Banks sailed witlı 6,000 troops from New Orleans for the Rio Grande. The immediate command, however, was given to General Napoleon Dana. By November 2 the force reached Brazos Santi- ago, and on the 6th took Brownsville, and soon afterward Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass,

Cavillo Pass and Fort Esperanza at the month of Matagorda bay. By the close of the year Indianola and the Matagorda penin- sula were also in the hands of the Federals. The Texans made bnt a show of resistance, withdrawing from the coast defenses west of the Colorado. But this possession of Texan forts was of short duration. After a few months the Federals withdrew from all except Brazos Santiago, leaving the duty of gnard- ing the coast to the navy, which soon after- ward captured several Confederate vessels.

Banks' next scheme to obtain pos-ession of Texas was by an entrance from the northeast, from Red river; but this famous " Red river expedition " also ignominiously failed. The Texans were too much for that Yankee army. At the battle of Pleasant IIill, however, the Texans suffered a serious defeat; Sweitzer's regiment of cavalry, about 400 strong, was almost annihilated by the Federals; and they also lost the battle at Pleasant Grove; but in the great battle of Sabine Cross Roads the Texans gained a great victory.

During the month of September Browns- ville was captured by lier old enemy, Cortina, under peculiar circumstances. A French force of about 5,000 took Bagdad, at the mouth of the Rio Grande, with the object of taking possession of Matamoras, where Cor- tina was then in command. Brownsville was at that time occupied by Colonel Ford with a considerable force of Texan cavalry, and Bra- zos Santiago was still held by the Federals. On the 6th the French began to move up the right bank of the river, and their advance be- came engaged with Cortina, who had marched with 3,000 Mexicans and sixteen pieces of artillery from Matamoras to meet them. There seems to have been some understand. ing between Ford and the French commander, for during the engagement the former ap-

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

peared on the other side of the Rio Grande with a large herd of cattle for the use of the invading army, and, immediately crossing the river, took part in the conflict by attacking the rear of Cortina's army. The Mexican commander, however, succeeded in repulsing both Ford and the French, who retreated to Bagdad. Cortina next turned his attention to Ford. On the 9th he passed with his whole foree and drove the Texans from Brownsville, and took possession of the town for the United States.

Governor Pendleton Murrah, of Texas, on his accession to the exeentive chair, found many unnsual perplexities, the State being harassed, and currency down to 3 or 4 cents on the dollar, and all three branches of the government usurped by military proclama- tion, ete. Ile therefore convened the legisla- ture in extra session, to meet May 11, 1864. But the terrible evils under which Texas was laboring could not be remedied in a short time, and before any measure of relief could take signal effect, the end of the great war came. Kirby Smith, however, had the hardi- hood of protiacting the war in Texas some weeks after the surrender of Lee at Appo- mattox, but finally surrendered to General Canby, May 26. But the last engagement in the great war took place May 13, near the old battle-field of Palo Alto, the scene of Taylor's victory over Arista.

AFTER THE WAR.

After the formal surrender of Smith and Magruder, Governor Murrah retired to Mexico, und June 19, General Granger, of the United States Army, assmined temporary command. On the 17th President Johnson, in pursuance of his plan of reconstruction, appointed An- drew J. Hamilton provisional governor of

Texas. May 29, the president issued a proclamation granting an amnesty, with eer- tain exceptions, to persons who had been en- gaged in the rebellion, on condition of their taking an oath of allegiance. Governor IIam. ilton arrived at Galveston near the elose of July, and began the reorganization of the State government, under the old regime, by proclaiming an election, where loyal persons may vote for State and all other necessary officers. Both President Johnson and Giov. ernor Hamilton were so liberal that the ant _ Union men of Texas had hopes of gainin; control of the goverment.

But the greatest practical question now . coming up was the disposition of the freed blacks. The course of Congress soon assured the public that the negroes would have all the rights of citizenship, so far as national legis- tion conld make them. President Johnson seemed to be in haste to re-install the old Confederates in power under the Federal Goverment. During the years 1865-'66 he pardoned over 600 persons in Texas alone who were not included in the amnesty procla- mation he had issued. He " sonred" on cer- tain prominent Republicans in Congress, and seemed to desire to obtain a preponderance of Southern or Democratic element in that body as soon as possible.

After the final vietory of Northern arnis, the Unionists in Texas, and especially the Federal soldiers, were peculiarly exposed to the vengeance of the more riotons element of the vanquished Confederates, and considerable perseention and some murders were indulged in. Only in the vicinity of the garrisoned towns and posts was seenrity of person and property maintained. Even the courts were warped, according to General Custer's (Fed- eral) testimony. Said he: "Since the estab). lishment of the provisional government in

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Texas the grand juries throughont the State have found upward of 500 indictments for murder against disloyal men, and yet not in n single caso has there been a conviction."

The negro population of Texas at the close of the war was about 400.000. Great num- bers had been sent hither during that struggle to get them away from Federal interference. Now, since they had been freed, they all be- gan to move for employment, and before they attained it many of them suffered much, and some even killed. One man testifies that he collected necounts, showing that 260 dead bodies of negroes had been found throughout the State up to the middle of January, 1866, -- some in the creeks, some flonting down stream, and rome by the roadside. But soon the excito nent died down somewhat, and the negroes began to find work. Plantation own- ers were compelled to yield to necessity and offered them terins which promised to insure steady labor. Wages, $20 a month, or two- thirds of the cotton crop and one-half the corn crops. And many testified that they could net as much from their business under the new order of things as under the old.

THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.

January 8, 1866, an election was held for delegates to n State convention to form a new constitution. There was no excitement, and little interest was shown, probably not half the voters taking part. This created some alarm in the minds of the philanthropists, but an occasion of that kind seldom draws out a large vote, beeanse there is no partienlar issne in question, and no great hero np for oflice, whose followers take zealous hold.

On the meeting of the convention J. W. Throckmorton was elected its president, and they proceeded to adopt every measure neces-

sary for re-admission into the old Union. This constitution was submitted to the people June 23, who that day gave 28,119 votes for it and 23,400 against it. Of course there was many a bitter pill in the now doenment for the old pro-slavery element to swallow, but they could not help themselves.

On the same day of the ratification of the constitution, "Mr. Throckmorton was elected governor, and G. W. Jones, lieutenant-gov- ernor. In his message to the legislature the new governor said it was desirable that all military force, and the agents of the freedmen's bureau, should be with- drawn from the interior of the State, and that the most certain way to effect this object would be the enactment of just laws for the protection of the blacks, and their rigid enforcement. He added that every ef- fort should be made to impress npon the freedmen that their labor was desirable, and that laws should be passed carrying out the intention of that article in the constitution securing to them protection of person and property. lle also called the attention of the legislature to the numerous ontrages recently committed by Indians on the frontier. Upon his recommendation the legislature paid no attention to the question of ratifying the new clanse of the Federal constitution abolishing slavery, and rejcetod by sixty-seven nays to five yeas the disfranchisement of the late Confederates imposed by the fourteenth ar- ticle of the same constitution, which reads: " No person shall be a senator or representative in Congress, or elector of president or vice- president, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State. who, having previously taken an oath as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial offi-

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

cer of any State, to support the constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insur- rection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability." The governor maintained that the adoption of such an ar- ticle would deprive the State, for nearly a quarter of a century, of the services of her ablest and best men, at a time, too, when such services are peculiarly important.

This legislature passed numerous laws for internal improvement, and one providing an efficient military foree for the protection of the frontier, besides many other useful laws.

Under che plan pursued by President Johnson, State governments had by this time been established in all the Confederate States. Bnt Congress considered that the president had been going too fast, and estab- lished military rule throughont the South, ot conrse over the veto of the president. Gen- eral Phil Sheridan was given the 'command of the district including Louisiana and Texas, and he appointed General Griffin to super- vise the latter State, with headquarters at Galveston. To him was entrusted the reor- ganization of the State, and he proceeded ac- cording to the more stringout measures re- quired by the " Radical "> Congre.s. IIe found Governor Throckmorton in his way, and advised his removal, which was done by General Sheridan. Griffin added: "I can- not find an officer holding position under the State laws whose antecedents will justify me in reposing trust in him in assisting in the registration." He further stated that he had again and again called the attention of the governor to ontrages perpetrated on Union men, but knew of no instance in which the offender had been punished. At a later date he explains that efforts were made to exclude

Union men from the jury boxes, to prevent which he issued a circular order, prescribing a form of oath which virtually excluded every person that had been connected with the Con- federacy from serving as a juror. This order was seized npon by some State officials, who attempted to make it appear that the conrts were closed by the enforcement of it.

Governor Throckmorton, of course, denied the many slanderons attacks that had been made npon him, and it seems that he was really desirous of adjusting himself and the State to the new system of recoustrnetion adopted by Congress in opposition to Presi- dent Jolinson's views.

Says Bancroft: " Early in August the deposed governor sent in his final report of his administration. It contains the Treas- urer's report, showing the receipts to have been $626,518, and the expenses $625,192; a statement of Indian depredations from 1865 to 1867, from which it appears that during the two years 162 persons were killed, 48 carried into captivity and 24 wounded; and he gave in addition a copy of his address and the official correspondence explanatory of his conduct. In reviewing this correspondence Throckmorton remarks that every fair-mind- ed person will be satisfied that the reports of General Griffin were made withont any foun- dntion in fact, and were not supported by any public or private act of his; and that the imputation that he (Throckmorton) was an impediment to the reconstruction of the State showed the sinister influences which surrounded Griffin and his proclivity to error.

"In examining the facts Throckmorton calls attention to the fact that he tendered the cordial co-operation of the State anthori- ties to aid in the excention of the laws of Congress; that he called upon the civil au-

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

thorities for such information as would con- duce to that end; and that he advised the people to a cheerful and prompt compliance with the terms. But extraordinary impedi- ments to the propor execution of the nets of Congress had been thrown in the way. First, the circular order relative to jurymen's quali- fications filled the country with consternation, impressing the minds of the people that they were not to have the benefit of the laws; the oath prescribed would in fact oxelnde the nmajority of the people, except the freedmen, from serving as jurors; secondly, by refusing to till vacancies in State offices except by sneh persous as could take the test oath; and thirdly, by delay in appointing boards of registration in many counties. Again, no persons except those of one political party were selected as registrars, while negroes no- toriously incompetent were appointed to act on such boards; such persons as sextons of cemeteries, anctioneers, members of police, under-wardens of workhouses, school direc- tors, jurymen, overseers of the roads and many other classes had been excluded from registration; and finally a manifest disinclin- ation had been shown by the military anthiori- ties to believe in the sincerity of the State officials, and in the people when declaring their desire to comply with the nets of Con- gress."

Besides the above, Mr. Throckmorton pi )- ceeds to enumerate many acts of lawlessness and oppression on the part of the United States agents and the military.

Elisha M. Pease became governor for the third time in August, 1867. Public affairs, however, had sadly changed since the happy period of his first administration. l'artisan feeling was now bitter, and in no, other of ti.c Confederate States did the work of recon-

struction prove more difficult. Texas was the last to be readmitted into the Union.

General Sheridan's military administra- tion gave great dissatisfaction to President Johnson, and on August 26, 1867, he was re- placed by the appointment of General Win. field S. II meock, whose views were very dif- ferent from those of his predecessor. Ilc was unwilling to submit civil offenders to military tribunals. He annulled the rigid rules laid down by Griffin with regard to registration of voters, instrneting the local boards to proceed according to the statutos. But Hancock gave ns little satisfaction to Congress as his predecessor had to the presi- dent, and the want of harmony at Washing- ton between the legislative and executive de- partments was the occasion of frequent change in policy with regard to Texas, and corresponding change of officers, and such a state of national affairs would naturally keep the people of Texas in an unsettled condi- tion. Hancock was succeeded by General Reynolds.

An election was held in February, 1868, which continued four days, for the choice of delegates to a State constitutional convention.

At the same time 44,689 votes were cast in favor of the convention being held, and 11,440 against it. According to the historian Thrall, 56,678 white voters were registered and 47,581 black ones.

June 1 following, the convention, compris- ing sixty-three delegates, was held at Austin, . and organized by electing Edmund J. Davis president, and W. V. Tunstall secretary. Al. though the convention was composed of loyal Republicans, they were divided into two fac- tions. , General Griffin had some time before that beon petitioned to declare by military order all acts of the Texas legislature passed after secession null ab initio; but he died

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

before issuing the order. The members of the convention who believed in having a formal order issued annulling all aets during the period of secession, were called by nick- name "Ab Initios." Another difference con. cerned the question of suffrage, a portion of the convention being inclined to be more in- tolerant toward the ex-Confederates than the other party. For three months those oppos- ing factions argued these matters and made bnt little progress in framing a constitution. August 31 they adjourned to reassemble December 7, and when they did meet again, the differences appeared to be more irrecon- cilable than ever; but finally the more lib- eral party prevailed by a vote of thirty-seven yeas against twenty-six nays, on February 3, 1869. The article concerning the franchise, which was finally adopted, was drafted by Governor Hamilton, and reads as follows:

". Every male citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years and upward, not laboring under the disabilities nained in this constitution, without dis inetion of race, color or former condition, who shall be a res- ident of this State at the time of the adop- tion of this constitution, or who shall there- after reside in this State one year, and in the county in which he offers to voto sixty days next preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote for all officers that are now, or here- after may be, elected by the people, and mpon all questions submitted to the electors at any election; provided, that no person shall be allowed to vote or hold office who is now or hereafter may be disqualified therefor by the constitution of the United States, until such diequalification shall be removed by the Con- gress of the United States: provided further, that no person, while kept in any asy- hmm or confined in prison, or who has been convicted of a felony, or is of unsound mind, shall be allowed to vote or hold allice."

But the very next day after the adoption of the form of constitution to be submitted,

namely, on February 4th, twenty-two of the minority members signed a protest, the pres- ident, E. J. Davis, being one of them. In substance the objections they raised were: That it was based on the assumption that the constitution of the United States and the accepted constitution of Texas of 1845 had not been continuonsly the supreme law of the land; that the article on the right of suffrage enfranchised all those who volunta- rily became the public enemy of the United States; that the majority of the convention had deliberately removed from the constitu- tion every safeguard for the protection of the loyal voter, white or black; had stricken from it the whole system of registry; had repudi- ated the oath of loyalty contained in the reconstruction laws; had spurned the test of equal civil and political rights, etc.

The convention was so disorderly as to not adjourn in a formal and decent manner, and the members left for their homes before the journal of the proceedings was made up and approved. General Canby reported the trouble. to Washington, and on instruction proceeded to gather together the records as well as he could and compile them in an orderly shape.

The popular vote on the constitution, taken November 30 following, resulted in 72,366 in favor of it, to 4,028 against it. At the same election Edmund J. Davis was chosen governor, and J. W. Flanagan lieutenant governor. Members of the legislature were also appointed, and an order was issued by the military commander, summoning the leg- islature to assemble at Austin February 8, following.

Governor Pease, finding his position an embarrassing one, the military rule being so awkwardly mixed in with civil affairs, that he resigned September 30, 1869, and ar in.

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

terval of over three months occurred, in which the adjutant in charge acted a kind of provisional governor, before Davis was in- augnrated.

The legislature, meeting as ordered, promptly ratified the proposed amendments to the United States constitution (enfran- chising negroes, etc.), appointed senators to Congress, and did other necessary business imposed npon it by the reconstruction laws as a provisional body, and adjourned.

March 30, 1870, the president of the United States, Grant, approved the Con- gressional act readmitting Texas " into the Union."

The reconstruction period of Texas ex- tended over five years, during which time lawlessness prevailed as it never did before. On this subject General Reynolds, in a letter to the War Department, dated October 21, 1869, says: "The number of murders in the State during the nine months from January 1, 1869, to September 30, same year, accord- ing to the official records, necessarily imper- feet, is 384, being an average of about one and a half per day! From this statement it appears that with the partial breaking up of bands of desperadoes by military aid the ummmber of murders is diminishing from month to month."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895 Number of Pages: 1532

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532