David E. Twiggs

David E. Twiggs (1790-1862) American soldier. He served during the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the American Civil War as a general in the Confederate States Army.

Twiggs's last command in the United States Army was as the commander of the Department of Texas from 1860 to 1861. He was actually ill for most of 1860, leaving then-lieutenant colonel Robert E. Lee as acting commander. Twiggs was able reassume command in December, 1860. When the state of Texas voted to seccede from the United States in February, 1861, Twiggs, a strong believer in states' rights, found himself largely adrift, until he finally opted to surrender all U.S. property and munitions after his garrison in San Antonio was surrounded by 1,000 Texans led by Colonel Benjamin McCulloch. As his home-state of Georgia had already seceded, Twiggs commissioned as a major general in the C.S. Army in May, 1861, but his illnesses prevented him from seeing combat. He died in 1862.

David E. Twiggs in "Lee at the Alamo"
David E. Twiggs was unable to return to duty as Commander of the Department of Texas in 1860. Thus, when Texas voted to leave the Union in February, 1861, it fell to Lt. Colonel Robert E. Lee to defend U.S. government property and munitions.