1861 The Alamo San Antonio Harper's Weekly March 23 General Twiggs
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This March 23, 1861, issue of Harper's Weekly is a landmark edition for Western and Texan history. It visually documents the collapse of federal authority in the Southwest and features one of the most famous early illustrations of The Alamo as it appeared on the eve of the Civil War.
Title: 1861 The Alamo San Antonio Harper's Weekly March 23 General Twiggs
📜 ABOUT THIS PIECE OF HISTORY 📜
📜 The Fall of the Department of Texas: This issue is dominated by the controversial surrender of General David E. Twiggs, who turned over all federal military posts in Texas to the state's secessionist committee. The dramatic interior print shows the "Surrender of Ex-General Twiggs... to the Texan Troops in the Gran Plaza, San Antonio." This act resulted in the loss of over $1 million in federal property and was viewed by the North as a treasonous "sell-out."
📜 The Alamo as Headquarters: Included is a significant historical print of "The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas," which at the time served as the U.S. Army headquarters for the Department of Texas. Seeing the iconic mission in the context of the 1861 secession crisis makes this a cross-collectible for both Civil War and Texas Revolution enthusiasts.
🌟 FEATURED HIGHLIGHTS 🌟
⚔️ The Heroes of Sumter:
Front-Page: "Major Anderson's Command at Fort Sumter" — A group portrait of the 9 officers holding the fort, including Captain Abner Doubleday (the man often credited with firing the first Union shot of the war and the mythic "father of baseball").
"Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor" — A detailed interior view showing the state of the fort just three weeks before the actual bombardment.
🏜️ Texas Frontier Forts:
A series of tactical prints showing the lost federal assets: "Fort Brown, Texas" (located at Brownsville) and "Fort Lancaster, Texas." These provide a rare look at the isolated frontier outposts that were abandoned during the secession.
🏛️ Political & Social Figures:
Salmon P. Chase: A portrait of the newly appointed Secretary of the Treasury from Ohio. His role was critical as the Union faced a massive financial crisis to fund the looming war effort.
"Washington the Mediator" — A symbolic and allegorical print reflecting the desperate, final hopes for a peaceful resolution.
📖 Literary Treasure:
Includes an original serialized installment of "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens, published during the novel's initial run.
🔍 CONDITION & TRANSPARENCY 🔍
Completeness: This is the complete 16-page issue, including the original front-page officers' portrait and all Texas prints.
Authenticity: Guaranteed original woodblock printing from March 23, 1861, not a modern reproduction.
Condition Report: This issue is in great condition, which is particularly valuable for the San Antonio and Alamo prints, as they are often found with heavy foxing or wear.
🥂 WHY IT IS A MUST-HAVE 🥂
Texas Historians & Collectors: One of the most important Harper's issues for Texas, featuring the Alamo and the San Antonio surrender.
Sumter & Doubleday Enthusiasts: A primary source for the "faces" of the Sumter garrison before they became national legends.
Salmon P. Chase Collectors: A fine early portrait of the man who would eventually appear on the $10,000 bill.
Custom Framing: I offer professional framing for any item in my shop. The Alamo print or the front-page Sumter officers would make a museum-quality historical focal point!
📦 SHIPPING & PRESERVATION 📦
Safe Storage: Housed in an acid-free archival folder with a Mylar overlay to protect the 165-year-old newsprint.
Flat Shipping: Shipped with heavy-duty reinforcement to ensure the issue arrives in its great condition.
Tracked: All orders include tracking for your peace of mind.
🏷️ TAGS (SEO) 🏷️
1861 Harpers Weekly, The Alamo San Antonio, General David Twiggs Surrender, Major Robert Anderson Fort Sumter, Captain Abner Doubleday, Fort Brown Texas, Salmon P. Chase, Great Expectations Dickens, March 23 1861.
1861 The Alamo San Antonio Harper's Weekly March 23 General Twiggs
$99.99