Surrender of Federal Forces by General David E. Twiggs

Brought about a Texas moved to expel 2600 federal troops- a step necessary after secession. Frontier fighter Ben McCulloch with 400 volunteers forced surrender negotiated at headquarters of Gen. Twiggs a block and a half from here, by 4 representatives of the Texas Committee on public safety. Talks began Feb. 8, 1861; were stalled by Feb. 15. That night 90 of Mcculloch's men stole in, fixed guns on Federal Sentries and Garrison in Alamo Plaza. 300 more Texas troops entered the city. The 160 men of Twiggs' force were disarmed and held in Quarters. On Feb. 16, Gen. Twiggs agreed to evacuate his troops with arms and personal gear. Further pressure was used and one Feb. 18 he surrendered over $3,000,000 worth of Federal Property: Ordnance, wagons, mules horses, supplies, money and a chain of forts. Gen. Twigs, native of Georgia, career soldier, veteran of war of 1812 and Mexican war, was 70 and in poor health. He held sacred his oath as an officer. Since Dec. 27, 1860, he had written 4 times to his superior in Washington, general of the army Winfield Scott, for orders to use in event Texas seceded. He had no reply. Nevertheless, surrender brought him dismissal for treachery-and personal heartbreak.

Surrender of Federal Forces by General David E. Twiggs is a historical marker in San Antonio, Bexar County, dedicated in 1965. It is one of 236 historical markers documented in Bexar County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 503 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.4249, -98.4939 near San Antonio. The nearest cataloged historic site is Woll Invasion (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Frost, T.C., and the Frost Bank, San Fernando Cathedral, and Church of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria y Guadalupe.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5029005579. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.