Tex-Arkana

Twiggs Surrenders Federal Arsenal in San Antonio

David E. Twiggs - soon changing uniforms

I’m a little confused about the dates, but according to the Texas State Historical Association General David E. Twiggs surrendered the San Antonio arsenal to Ben McCulloch on February 16, 1861:

When secession came to Texas, McCulloch was commissioned a colonel and authorized to demand the surrender of all federal posts in the Military District of Texas. After a bloodless confrontation at the Alamo on February 16, 1861, General Twiggs turned over to McCulloch the federal arsenal and all other United States property in San Antonio. On May 11, 1861, Jefferson Davis appointed McCulloch a brigadier general, the second-ranking brigadier general in the Confederate Army and the first general-grade officer to be commissioned from the civilian community.

Ben McCulloch helps obtain $1.3 million in federal property (uncoercively?)

Here’s more detail from the article about Twiggs at the Texas State Historical Association:

McCulloch posted his men on the surrounding rooftops so as to command the buildings occupied by federal troops and picketed Twiggs’s quarters, a mile outside of town, to prevent the federal commander from communicating with his forces in San Antonio. Near 7:00 A.M., McCulloch demanded the surrender of the troops in San Antonio. Without firing a shot, they capitulated. In the meantime, Twiggs was placed under arrest and escorted into San Antonio. There the commissioners required him “to deliver up all military posts and public property held by or under [his] control.” Although willing enough to surrender the other public property, Twiggs repeatedly assured Maverick and his fellow commissioners Thomas Jefferson Devine and Philip Noland Luckettqqv that “he would die before he would permit his men to be disgraced by a surrender of their arms.” Wishing to avoid a bloody confrontation, the commissioners were willing to compromise on that issue. After “a stormy conference between the department commander and the commissioners,” Twiggs agreed that the 160 United States soldiers in San Antonio would surrender all public property, an inventory estimated at $1.3 million in value. Twiggs and the commissioners further agreed that all forts in Texas would be turned over to Texas state troops, and their garrisons were to march from Texas by way of the coast.

Gunfight in Fort Smith

This doesn’t relate to the Civil War too much, but once again my reaction was, “This stuff really happened.” From The New-York Times February 17, 1861:

Terrible Tragedy at Fort Smith, Ark.; SHOOTING AFFRAY AND ATTEMPT TO LYNCH.

FORT SMITH, Saturday, Feb. 15.

A terrible tragedy occurred in this city last night. A party of five Overland Mail and Little Rock coach-drivers entered the grocery of a German named HAGGE, and commenced quarreling. Pistols were drawn on both sides. The bar-keeper, named BUTCHER, was shot through the heart, and died instantly; HAGGE received a shot in the forehead, and died at 8 o’clock this morning.

Three of the drivers, GEORGE BENNETT, MATT ELLIS and PONY FARMER, are under arrest, and guarded by a company of military. The other two escaped. Intense excitement exists among the citizens. The prisoners are now undergoing an examination before the Mayor. They will undoubtedly be hanged to-day.

FORT SMITH, Saturday, Feb. 16.

As the trial of the prisoners for the murder of HAGGE and BUTCHER was drawing to a close yesterday, a mob entered the Justice’s office and demanded the prisoners for the purpose of lynching them. One of the prisoners, named PONY FARMER, broke from custody and attempted to escape. He was immediately fired upon and instantly killed. The crowd then secured the remaining prisoners and made for a place of execution, but before they could carry out their designs the authorities interfered and secured the prisoners, and lodged them in Greenwood jail. The excitement in regard to the affair still continues and is intense.

Much safer than ocean travel - depends on who your driver is, apparently

The route

David E. Twiggs fought for the United States in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. He’d soon be a Confederate general.

Benjamin McCulloch was a friend of Davy Crockett and later a Texas Ranger. He also would become a Confederate general.

According to Wikipedia Fort Smith’s nickname is “Hell on the Border”. It’s motto: “Life’s worth living in Fort Smith, Arkansas”

Based on the route I’m assuming the Overland Mail in the story is the Butterfield Overland Mail

According to Arkansas in the Civil War:

Accounts of the [Fort Smith gunfight] were carried in newspapers across both the Union and Confederacy, interrupting temporarily the drums of war being beaten by newspaper editors North and South.