Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/657

Rh the staff for meritorious conduct particularly relating to became adjutant-general of the United States army. He held this rank until 1861, for a short time during this period being secretary of war ad interim. In March, 1861, he resigned his commission, and went immediately to Montgomery and tendered his services to President Davis, by whom he was the next day appointed adjutant-general of the Confederate army, of which he was the ranking officer, standing first on the list of generals. After the war he lived in retirement near Alexandria until his death December, 1876.

Abraham C. Myers, the first quartermaster-general of the Confederate States, was a native of South Carolina, but became a citizen of Louisiana by adoption, and married a daughter of General David E. Twiggs, then the Federal commander in Texas, who resigned his commission and entered the Confederate service. He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1833, and served in the war with Mexico. In the year 1860 he held position in the quartermaster’s department of the United States service, with the rank of brevet lieutenant-colonel, and was stationed at New Orleans. On the 28th of January, 1861, he reported to Adjutant-General Samuel Cooper, of the United States army, that the State of Louisiana had taken possession of the public property in the custody of the Federal officers at New Orleans. The State having adopted the ordinance of secession, he on the same date, reported his resignation with a request that the settlement of his accounts be made up as early as possible. He then tendered his services to the Confederate government at Montgomery, and was appointed quartermaster-general. In this connection Mr. Davis has written: &quot;In organizing the bureaus it was deemed advisable to select for the chief of each, officers possessing special knowledge of the duties to be