[CIVIL WAR] (2) Copies of Brig. Gen. David E. Twiggs 1861 Dismissal

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Day 2: The American Civil War

By Fleischer's Auctions

Apr 25, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-04-25 09:00:00 2026-04-25 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Day 2: The American Civil War https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/day-2-the-american-civil-war-22127
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• Lot Description

  Two (2) printed documents calling for the dismissal of Brig. Gen. David E. Twiggs from the Army of the United States. Washington, D.C., 1 March 1861. 1 page, approx. 4 3/4 x 6 1/4 in. 

   

  General order number 5 from the War Department dismissing David E. Twiggs from the U.S. Army. Written by Secretary of War Joseph Holt, the order reads as follows: 

   

  "By the direction of the PRESIDENT of the United States, it is ordered that Brigadier General David E. Twiggs, Major General by brevet, be, and is hereby, dismissed from the Army of the United States, for his treachery to the flag of his country, in having surrendered, on the 18th of February, 1861, on the demand of the authorities of Texas, the military posts and other property of the United States in his Department and under his charge." 

   

  Born on Valentine's Day in 1790, David Emanuel Twiggs began his military career as a captain during the War of 1812. He went on to establish two forts, one of which was a base of operation during the Black Hawk War, as well as commanded one additional fort. By the Seminole Wars, Twiggs was commissioned as colonel of the 2nd U.S. Dragoons, earning the nickname "Bengal Tiger" for his fierce temper. During the Mexican-American War, he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded a division at the Battle of Monterrey. 

   

  It was after the Mexican-American War, though, that Twiggs was 1) breveted major general and 2) given command of the Department of Texas. As head of the Department of Texas, when states began to secede on the eve of the Civil War, Twiggs surrendered his entire command to Confederate forces. This included 20 military installations, 44 cannons, 400 pistols, 1,900 muskets, 500 wagons and 950 horses, totaling to $1.3 million. Twiggs was promptly dismissed from duty, as is covered in this document. 

   

  Following his dismissal, Twiggs accepted a commission as a major general for the Confederacy in May 1861; however, he was too sick to lead and resigned from his commission before he could assume active duty. He eventually retired and returned home to Richmond County, Georgia, where he passed away from pneumonia on 15 July 1862. 

   

  [Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs]

  Condition

  Request Condition Report

  Appears to have been removed from a bound book or pamphlet. 

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