Early life of Twiggs-Appointed captain-Affairs in Florida

Black Hawk war-Battle of Ouithlagoochie-Rank of Twiggs and Worth-Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma-Twiggs appointed governor of Matamoras–Cerro Gordo.

At the increase of the regular army, which enabled General Taylor to lay aside his brevets for a full commission of major-general, the president was authorized to appoint two other general officers, with the rank of brigadiers, and one of these commissions was conferred on Colonel D. E. Twiggs, of the 2d dragoons. Authentic information derived from the family, tells us that General Twiggs is the fifth son of General John Twiggs, of of revolutionary memory, whose services in the stormy crisis of the era, when Georgia hesitated to adopt the cause of the other colonies or to remain faithful to Great Britain, won him the appellation of the « Savior of Georgia.” This he merited, for when the revolution broke out, he raised at his own expense and long kept in service an effective brigade, which rendered most valuable service to the cause of independence, more than once in danger of being extinguished in that vince.

ros was born at the residence of his

d been one of the companions of hond county, in the year 1790.

is matriculated in Franklin Col

lege, at Athens, where he remained bat a short time, having been removed to Augusta to study law in the office of Thomas Floumoy, Esq., under the charge of whom he completed his legal studies. At this time the war of 1812 broke out, and at the instance of his father, young Twiggs was appointed a captain of the 3d infantry. Of the old regiment bearing this number, it is believed, there now remain in service only two other officers. Captain Twiggs was, during the war of 1812— 13-14-15, stationed on the southeastern frontier of the United States, kept, it will be remembered, continually on the alert by the British, who had virtual possession of Amelia Island, and other of those detached portions of Georgia and Florida, operating from which he was able to create much alarm, but effected nothing serious.

This was a sphere in which not even Bayard could win renown or celebrity; but, while there, Captain Twiggs earned a reputation for soldierly bearing and the correct and exact performance of his duty, which he has in every sphere of his service constantly maintained. When peace was made, Captain Twiggs was retained in the service, without a diminution of rank; and, for the faithful manner in which he had conducted himself in service, received the brevet of major.

Major Twiggs was next called on to participate in events which were most important in character, and exercised great influence over the country, though now neglected and* almost forgotten. It will be remembered that in 1817 Florida was under the Spanish flag, and, in consequence of the long disturbances which had existed in Spain, its defence was confided to a most inadequate garrison. Spanish authority was virtually extinct, or existed only to shield the nefarious designs of a number of foreign outlaws, the majority of whom were of British extraction, against the United States. The leaders, or the most important of them, were two persons, called !Nichols and Woodbine, who had earned a most unenviable reputation in the circumstances which rendered necessary the invasion of Florida by General Jackson, in 1814. Similar outrages continued until 1816, when General Jackson, still in command in the south, wrote to the Spanish governor, firmly but respectfully requiring him to put an end to the outrages then being committed tinder the command of the unfortunate Ambrister and Arbuthnot, against the United States. Nichols, the instigator of these atrocities, established a fort near St. Mark's, on the Apalachicola; from which such outrages were perpetrated, that General Jackson determined to destroy it, and sent against it Colonel (since General) D. L. Clinch, with a large detachment of regular troops and five hundred friendly Creeks, under the celebrated chieftain, M'Intosh, who subsequently met so untimely a fate. On the approach of the Americans, Nichols and Woodbine, after exacting an oath that their confederates would not surrender, fled. To supply Colonel Clinch's command with munitions of war and provisions, two schooners had been sent, under convoy of two gunboats, with which Colonel Clinch attacked the fort, and, in a short time, destroyed it.

East Florida was under the command of General Gaines, who, on the 15th of November, received from the war department orders immediately to remove the Indians from a territory ceded by them to the United States, at a prior treaty with General Jackson. After sending a junior officer to Foultown, to summon the chief to visit him, and account for his conduct, the Indian refused, and Major Twiggs was immediately detached, with two hundred and fifty men, to "bring him Vol. II 9

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in.” The Indians attacked the command, which, however, in a severe engagement, totally routed them, after having killed and wounded a large number. On the next day, he proceeded to Foultown, to attack them in their stronghold. Finding the town, however, deserted, he destroyed it. For his conduct of this expedition, he was highly complimented by General Gaines. The scene of these operations was in the neighborhood of Fort Scott, situated on Flint river, near its junction with the Chattahoochie, in the present county of Decatur, in Georgia. General Gaines was at this time at Fort Scott, which, being in want of provisions, was ordered to be supplied from Mobile. The vessels, with the supplies, under Major Muhlenberg, having been detained by contrary winds and sickness, a command was sent to their assistance, under Lieutenant Scott, who reached the vessels in safety. On his return, however, Hornotlimed, the chief whom Twiggs had defeated, attacked him at the mouth of Flint river, killing his whole party, except six men, who escaped. With Lieutenant Scott were many women and children; one of the former of whom was made prisoner. This state of things induced the government to order General Gaines to attack the Indians, if they appeared in force, even on the Spanish side of the line. In obedience to this authority, that officer entered Florida, and proceeded towards Amelia Island, where a number of Indians, negroes, and British outlaws were said to be in force. On the 26th of December, 1817, General Jackson was ordered to assume command; and, in case he should consider the regular force under General Gaines too small, to call on the executives of the neighboring states for troops. After having collected his army, on the 10th of March he crossed the Flint, and advanced towards the mouth