After a long conversation, and the excitement somewhat abated, Major Maclin was asked if he would grant to each officer twenty-four hours to consider upon the subject, when they would report to him in person their determination. To this he agreed, and permitted each officer to take one of the manuscript paroles for consideration. guard at the door was then dismissed, and the officers retired. The WEDNESDAY, April 24, 1861. The officers assembled at 12 m. to-day at the office of the commanding officer, Major Maclin, as agreed upon yesterday. No further modification could be had other than the terms offered yesterday, excepting a provision for exchange as prisoners of war, and the privilege to Colonel Waite to report the facts and past transactions to his Government. They now were offered the acceptance of the paroles, or to be considered close prisoners of war. There was no alternative but to be subjected to the rabble; to crowds of undisciplined troops, regardless of authority or control; to the vindictive and active prejudices of men in temporary authority, swayed by spleen and disappointment, as well as infidelity to the General Government in former commissions, who had already stipulated terms, or take the paroles offered and ask safe conduct out of the State. The latter was determined upon as the only method which could secure safe egress or escape, and place us within the authority of the United States Government. Each officer took his parole under the protest made by Colonel Waite the day previous. [Inclosure C.] SAN ANTONIO, TEX., April 24, 1861. On the morning of the 23d of April, 1861, about 12 m., Captain Wilcox, commanding a company called the Alamo Rifles, entered the office of Colonel Waite, U. S. Army, and inquired for Colonel Waite. He was informed that he was at his quarters. Captain Wilcox then said to the officers present, viz, Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, Captain Garrard, and Assistant Surgeon Smith, "Gentlemen, I am directed to arrest you, and take you over to Major Maclin's quarters." Colonel Chandler inquired, "By what authority, sir?" Captain Wilcox replied, "By authority of the Confederate States," and offered to show his order directing him to make the arrest. Colonel Chandler then said, "How do you arrest us; as prisoners of war?" Captain Wilcox replied, "Yes, sir; as prisoners of war." Colonel Chandler then replied, "I do not recognize your authority, sir, and refuse to obey your orders. I decline going to Major Maclin's office unless you have an armed force with you." Captain Wilcox answered, "I have a force, sir," and pointed out of the window to a detachment of about thirty-six armed infantry. Colonel Chandler then said, "I surrender myself to you as a prisoner of war, reserving to myself the right of protesting against these proceedings." The other officers present, when called on by Captain Wilcox, replied, "Sir, we surrender on the same terms." Captain Wilcox then said, "Gentlemen, will you go over to Colonel Waite's quarters with me?" Colonel Chandler replied, "We are your prisoners, and will go if you order us." Captain Wilcox then said, "You remain here." He then left the room, and the officers remained in it, under charge of a guard, until Captain Wilcox returned after arresting Colonel Waite, when they were marched, under charge of the guard, to Major Maclin's office, in company with other officers who had been taken prisoners. HDQRS. BATTLN. FIRST, THIRD, AND EIGHTH INFANTRY, Bvt. Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General of the Army, Washington, D. C. SIR: Having already made a brief report of the capture of this command, I have now the honor to submit the following additional particulars connected with the embarkation of the troops and the capitulation in Matagorda Bay on the 25th of April: Of the seven companies comprised in this command, the three companies of the Third Infantry arrived at Indianola on the 13th of April, at which date I relieved Lieutenant-Colonel Backus in the command, and encamped in rear of the town to await the arrival of the troops designated as a part of the complement number for embarkation on the steamer Star of the West, then lying off the coast near the mouth of Matagorda Bay. On the 17th these troops, consisting of the adjutant and non-commissioned staff and band, and two companies of the First Infantry and two companies of the Eighth Infantry, arrived at my camp, when I immediately marched with the whole command to the wharf at Indianola, where the baggage, camp, and garrison equipage, and stores were stowed on two small steamers, which had been engaged as lighters to convey the troops to the Star of the West. The troops slept on the wharf on the night of the 17th, and embarking early in the morning of the 18th the steamers got under way and proceeded down the harbor. On arriving at the designated point it was found that the Star of the West had disappeared from her anchorage, and I was reluctantly compelled to return to the camp previously occupied near Indianola. During the 19th and 20th I made unsuccessful efforts to obtain some other means of transportation, and on the 21st I succeeded in chartering two small schooners-the Horace, of 168, and the Urbana, of 138 tons burden. The latter not having discharged her cargo we were obliged to unload it, the parties working during the day and most of the night of the 22d, and on the 23d we again proceeded down the bay, towed by the small steamer Fashion. The weather was extremely unfavorable, the wind blowing from the northeast across the bar, and on the 24th the master of one of the schooners reported that it would, under the circumstances, be absolutely impossible to manage his vessel at sea, there being at this time more than two hundred persons on board, including some thirty-five women and children, together with the subsistence stores and property. I was, therefore, compelled to seek for an additional transport, and Captain Bowman, of the Third, and Lieutenant Greene, of the First Infantry, with a detail of thirty-four men, taken from all the companies, were dispatched on the Fashion to endeavor to obtain another vessel, which was understood to be lying at the port of Lavaca. During the afternoon of the 24th we obtained with the small boats an additional supply of brackish water from the marshy lands at Decklas Point, and by night, nothing having been heard of the detachment, some suspicion of the seizure of this party and a movement to cut us off was entertained on the schooners, but we could not get out across the bar. The easterly winds which prevailed, and the refusal of the pilots along the coast to come to our aid, had completed our disaster. The night was cloudy and dark, but about 11 o'clock three steamers were visible within a short distance of our anchorage to the windward. Lieutenant Hopkins, of the Third, was sent off in a small boat to obtain some information in regard to these steamers. He could get no answer from them, and returned to the schooners. At daylight on the morn4 R R-SER II, VOL I ing of the 25th it was observed that these steamers had on board some 800 or 1,000 troops, effectually protected with tiers of cotton bales on both decks. It is supposed these steamers had several pieces of artillery. Čolonel Van Dorn sent a messenger, requesting an interview, which, after consultation with the officers, was granted, and at this time a large steamer from New Orleans came over the bar and took up a position below us. She had on board two 24-pounders and two field pieces, and probably 500 troops. There being no further hope of our escape I was obliged to accede to the requirements of Colonel Van Dorn, and surrender my command as prisoners of war. On the 28th the brig Mystic arrived off the port of Saluria, bringing Lieutenant Greene and the detachment sent up on the 24th. They had been captured at Indianola. The command was then divided-the battalion of the First Infantry being assigned to the schooner Horace, that of the Eighth to the schooner Urbana, and that of the Third Infantry to the brig Mystic. The two first named were towed over the bar on the 30th and proceeded to sea. The brig was unable to pass the bar until the 3d of May, owing to the low water. The two schooners arrived in the harbor of New York on the 31st of May, and the brig on the 1st of June, after a rough passage of a month from the coast of Texas. It is not necessary to speak of the accumulated hardships to which the troops have been necessarily subjected, crowded as they were upon these inconvenient, open transports; and I again take occasion to remark upon the high-toned, unwavering spirit of the officers, and the fidelity and good conduct of the enlisted men of this command. I inclose herewith a copy of the articles of capitulation; also, copy of a letter from Maj. Larkin Smith relative to the embarkation of the troops, the official report* of Lieut. J. B. Greene, First Infantry, a field returnt of the command on the 25th of April, a copy of the parole of the officers, and a copy of the oath taken by the enlisted men. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. C. SIBLEY, Major Third Infantry, Commanding Troops. [Inclosure No. 1.] SALURIA, TEX., April 25, 1861. Articles of agreement this day entered into between Maj. C. C. Sibley, of the U. S. Army, on the one part, and Col. Earl Van Dorn, of the C. S. Army, on the other part, viz: It is stipulated and agreed to that the United States troops, officers and men, shall become prisoners of war, with the privilege of giving their paroles of honor, if officers, and their oaths, if soldiers, not to bear arms or exercise any of the functions of their office, under their commissions or enlistments, against the Confederate States of America, unless an exchange of prisoners shall be made, or until released by the authority of the President of the Confederate States; the arms and equipments of the men and all the public property in the possession of the company commanders to be given up to an agent appointed for the purpose, on board the transport which shall be employed to convey those who may desire it to the United States, private property to be unmolested. *Omitted. See Series I, Vol. I, pp. 564-566. It is further stipulated and agreed to that all the officers and men who shall give their paroles and oaths as above stated shall be allowed to pass unmolested through the Confederate States of America, by the way of Galveston and up the Mississippi River, to any point they may see fit to go within the limits of the United States of America, or by any other route they may see fit to take. C. C. SIBLEY, Major Third Infantry, Commanding Troops. Colonel, C. S. Army, Commanding Troops. [Inclosure No. 2.] Copy of parole given by the officers. SALURIA, TEX., April 25, 1861. TO THE AUTHORITIES OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA: I give my word of honor as an officer and a gentleman that I will not bear arms nor exercise any of the functions of my office under my commission from the President of the United States against the Confederate States of America during the existence of the war between the said Confederate and United States unless I shall be exchanged for another prisoner or prisoners of war, or unless I shall be released by the President of the Confederate States. In consideration of the above parole it is understood that I am free to go and come whenever I may see fit, except that I shall not attempt to enter or depart from any fort, camp or garrison of the Confederate States without the sanction of its commanding officer. C. C. SIBLEY, Major Third Infantry, U. S. Ármy. [Inclosure No. 3.] Copy of oath taken by the enlisted men. SALURIA, TEX., April 26, 1861. TO THE AUTHORITIES OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA: We do solemnly swear that we will not bear arms against the Confederate States of America, nor in any way give aid and comfort to the United States against the Confederate States, during the existence of the war between the said United States and Confederate States, unless we shall be duly exchanged for other prisoners of war, or until we shall be released by the President of the Confederate States. In consideration of this oath, it is understood that we are free to go wherever we may see fit. Col. L. THOMAS, KANKAKEE CITY, ILL., June 18, 1861. Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. SIR: I have the honor to report my arrival at this place yesterday, the 17th instant, having come from San Antonio, Tex., with as much dispatch as the means of travel and communication would permit, leaving that place on the 4th. I inclose herewith a copy of my report made under date of May 12,* fearing that that report did not reach your office in consequence of the disturbed state of the country and the uncertainty of the mails. I also inclose a detailed report of the latter portion of the march and surrender, to which reference was made in my former report. This latter report could have been iong ago made had there been any reasonable prospect of its reaching you. This is the first point where I have been able to stop from which letters could be forwarded with safety. I hereby report further how I happen to be here. After surrender, the troops were paroled-the officers to the limits of the Confederate States of America, and the men placed under oath not to leave the county of Bexar, Texas. Up to the 4th of June Colonel Van Dorn was expecting orders to grant unlimited paroles to the officers, and told me that he had no doubt such would be granted on return of his messenger from Montgomery. The 1st instant I received the sad, crushing intelligence of the death of my oldest daughter, and Colonel Van Dorn at once offered me the privilege of coming home. I availed myself of his generosity, both with the view to make arrangements for the care of my remaining children and to communicate with the War Department, in the hope of being of some service to the prisoners of war in Texas by representing their true state and condition. Not knowing whether my reporting in person would be either desirable or proper, I send the following brief statement: Up to the time I left San Antonio the troops were in quarters and under the care and control of their own officers. They were allowed the usual subsistence and all the clothing necessary; had no restrictions as to limits, except attendance on retreat roll-call; and could be permitted to go anywhere within the county upon a written pass signed by their own officers. With the exception of some five or six, they remained faithful to their Government and refused all offers and inducements to join the Confederate service. The day before I left Colonel Van Dorn informed me that they would be moved into camp some five miles from town and placed under charge of Confederate officers, who would attend to their wants, thus separating them from the care of their own officers. In all this they have been as well if not much better treated than is the usual fate of prisoners of war. Their peril consists in the fact that they are retained as hostages against the rigorous treatment of any prisoners who may fall into the power of the United States. Colonel Van Dorn does not regard the parole which is given to the officers as revocable by his Government, and their peril is not, therefore, the same as that of the men, in his view of the case; therefore it is not easy to see, in the same view of the case, any good reasons for restrictions as to limits being made in the parole. The officers are furnished with quarters and board at the expense of the Confederacy, at least while they remain in San Antonio. I shall be in Dansville, in New York, in a few days, where communications will reach me. Hoping that I may be justified in the course I have pursued, as represented in my reports, I remain, sir, yours, very respectfully, I. V. D. REEVE, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. Army. * See p. 41. |