Extract from New York Courier and Enquirer, May 29, 1861.
The remnant of the U. S. troops which the traitor Twiggs abandoned to the tender mercies of the Southern chivalry ”in Texas will arrive here to-day from Havana, and we indulge the hope that somebody will feel it their duty to receive them in a manner worthy of the heroism they have evinced in resisting every conceivable inducement to imitate the conduct of their leader in his treason to the Stars and Stripes. Lieutenant Slemmer arrived at this port on Saturday, and remained until Monday evening; but no more notice was taken of him, his brother officers and soldiers, than if they had done nothing at Pickens to uphold the American flag! If Major Anderson deserved credit and commendation, honors and promotion, for moving his command into Fort Sumter—and no press has lauded that act more than the Courier and Enquirer—then was the conduct of Lieutenant Slemmer in transferring his command to Fort Pickens still more to be commended and still more creditable to the service and the country. Anderson, being ordered to hold and defend a work which he knew was not defensible, disappointed the purposes of the traitor Floyd and occupied a stronger work, where he knew he would be safe. It was a wise and meritorious act, and merited the universal approval which it received. Lieutenant Slemmer was called upon to surrender his command to a force irresistible in numbers, and saw one of the senior officers of the Navy cower before the rebel forces, and, with his brother officers ingloriously pull down the Stars and Stripes and surrender the navy-yard at Pensacola without a blow. He was admonished by his senior and by his example that such also was his duty; but he scouted at yielding, resolved upon resistance, and in defiance of the advice and example of Commodore Armstrong, who should have been driven from the Navy with disgrace, threw himself into Fort Pickens and bid defiance to the rebel force. It was a noble act, and, like Anderson’s at Sumter, worthy of high praise; and even more creditable, because he is a much younger officer than Anderson, was threatened by a much superior force, and was obliged to resist the contaminating influence of the surrender of the navy-yard, its garrison, and all its munitions of war by a senior officer of the navy, without a struggle and with abundant means of defense. By his gallantry he and his handful of brave men saved Fort Pickens to the country, and gave notice that they
were prepared to be starved or to be buried beneath the ruins of the fort, but that never would they surrender it to the rebels or permit their infamous colors to wave over its walls! They redeemed their pledge, have been relieved and came among us on Saturday last. On Monday evening Slemmer and his brother officers left here in pursuit of their families; and although the press announced their arrival, who called to give them a welcome and say Godspeed to the noble young officers and gallant men who had so fearlessly and under such peculiar circumstances sustained the honor of their flag—of our Stars and Stripes— of the banner of the Union, to sustain which a quarter of a million of men are now in arms!
were prepared to be starved or to be buried beneath the ruins of the fort, but that never would they surrender it to the rebels or permit their infamous colors to wave over its walls! They redeemed their pledge, have been relieved and came among us on Saturday last. On Monday evening Slemmer and his brother officers left here in pursuit of their families; and although the press announced their arrival, who called to give them a welcome and say Godspeed to the noble young officers and gallant men who had so fearlessly and under such peculiar circumstances sustained the honor of their flag—of our Stars and Stripes— of the banner of the Union, to sustain which a quarter of a million of men are now in arms!
But let this pass; such is popular favor and such the thoughtlessness of those whose duty it is to foster a sound public sentiment. Slemmer has gone, unnoticed and unhonored; and now, there will arrive to-day 700 non-commissioned officers and privates, accompanied, we presume, by some of their company officers, who should be received by our volunteers with every mark of honor.
When the traitor Twiggs abandoned his command and passed over some five millions of public property into the hands of the rebels, he escaped seizure from his officers by having scattered his command into small garrisons and surrounding himself with 1,500 rebel troops. Then, to make the surrender less offensive to the troops and less dangerous to the rebels, he provided for his 3,000 U. S. soldiers retiring peaceably and with their arms from the soil of Texas. A portion of them did so retire; another portion were captured by Texan troops in the harbor of Indianola when embarking, according to the code and practice of “Southern chivalry;” and the remainder, those who are expected to arrive to-day, were, according to the same code and practice, and in vindication of their claim to infamy by the rebel authorities, disarmed, proclaimed prisoners of war, and only permitted to leave Texas on parole. And what adds to the infamy of the wretches who have inaugurated the term “Southern chivalry” and vindicated its significance, they suffered these poor fellows to be exposed to starvation on their route homeward. They, however, succeeded in reaching Havana in safety, where the Spanish authorities, who do not recognize the code of “Southern chivalry” and its practices, supplied them with the necessary food before our consul could interfere in their behalf.
We give below1 the particulars of the manner in which Colonel Waite and his brother officers were treated by the “Southern chivalry” of the Confederate Republic, because they were true to their flag; and one of these very men, with tears in his eyes, related to us the noble conduct of the men. When they learned that they were to be disarmed they swore a big oath that their guns should never be used against the Stars and Stripes, and commenced deliberately breaking off the butts of their muskets by smashing them against the earth; but for the interference of their officers not a musket would have escaped. But the “chivalry” threatened vengeance at what they called a breach of the capitulation; and there was too much reason to apprehend that they only desired an excuse to put to death every soul, because both officers and men had indignantly spurned their offers and refused to be influenced by the conduct of their traitor general, David E. Twiggs, of the rebel State of Georgia. And therefore the officers, perceiving the langer to which the men were exposing themselves and the general massacre which was but too probable , rushed in among them and explained that their personal safety from assassination depended upon their quietly yielding up their arms uninjured. The men complied, but not one solitary soldier was seduced from his duty by all the threats of the robber band which composed that portion of the “Southern chivalry.”
Such are the men about to arrive among us after having barely escaped with their lives from their surrender by the traitor Twiggs to the “ Southern chivalry;” and we call upon those in authority over our volunteers—upon General Dix and certain committees—to see that our volunteers be permitted to receive these brave men with becoming honors. Government will no doubt, at the proper time, define the position of both officers and men who were thus forced to give their parole of honor not to fight against the rebels until formally exchanged. We all feel that such a parole has no moral force, and, as a case of conscience, is not binding. It was extorted and in violation of a compact. But, nevertheless, officers and men pledged their honors to respect it; and the Government must and will respect that pledge.
To send them into battle in disregard of it would be to send them forward with halters around their necks in the event of being taken prisoners; and consequently we hope at an early day to see an order vindicating the officers and men from all censure and recognizing their status, while exposing the baseness of “Southern chivalry.” In a very few days we shall be in possession of more than sufficient of the enemy to exchange for the much abused officers and men surrendered by the traitor Twiggs. From among our first prisoners let there be sent into the rebel camp the precise number of men and officers of corresponding rank to those now on parole, giving the rebel authorities notice that we do so in order to redeem the honor of our people, while we condemnas worthy only of “Southern chivalry” the acts of infamy which made them quasi prisoners of war.
To send them into battle in disregard of it would be to send them forward with halters around their necks in the event of being taken prisoners; and consequently we hope at an early day to see an order vindicating the officers and men from all censure and recognizing their status, while exposing the baseness of “Southern chivalry.” In a very few days we shall be in possession of more than sufficient of the enemy to exchange for the much abused officers and men surrendered by the traitor Twiggs. From among our first prisoners let there be sent into the rebel camp the precise number of men and officers of corresponding rank to those now on parole, giving the rebel authorities notice that we do so in order to redeem the honor of our people, while we condemnas worthy only of “Southern chivalry” the acts of infamy which made them quasi prisoners of war.
- See below