Texian Navy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Texian NavyRevolutionary Navy First Texas Navy |
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Texian Navy Seal
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| Active | November 2, 1835—August 26, 1837 |
| Country |  Republic of Texas |
| Allegiance | Consultation of the Republic of Texas Constitution of the Republic of Texas |
| Type | Navy |
| Role | Naval warfare, logistics |
| Size | 4 schooners |
| Part of | Texas Military Forces |
| Vessels |
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| Engagements | Texas Revolution
Expeditions
General Service |
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The Texian Navy was like the navy for the Texians (people living in Texas) during the Texas Revolution. It was also called the Revolutionary Navy or First Texas Navy. The Texas government created it on November 25, 1835.
Working with the Texian Army, it helped the Republic of Texas become independent from Mexico. This happened on May 14, 1836, after the Treaties of Velasco were signed. A new Texas Navy took its place on March 23, 1839.
Contents
During the sea battles of the Texas Revolution, the Texans had three main goals. First, they wanted to protect their coast from Mexican ships. Second, they needed to guide their own ships safely between Texas and the United States. This was important because most of their volunteer soldiers and supplies came from the U.S.
Their third goal was to cause a lot of damage to the Mexican forces. They hoped this would make Mexico agree that Texas was independent. The Mexican navy tried to stop ships from entering or leaving the long Texas coastline. However, they didn't have enough ships, so their efforts weren't very successful. This allowed Texans to bring in many important war supplies by sea.
In 1835, the Texan Navy didn't really exist yet. The only Texan ships were six privateers. These were private ships allowed by the government to attack enemy vessels. The first sea battle involving Texas happened on September 1, 1835. Texan rebels took over two American ships, the San Felipe and the Laura. They then used them to attack the Mexican treasury ship Correo de Mexico near Brazoria. The Correo de Mexico was captured and taken to New Orleans.
On November 24, 1835, the Texan government decided to buy four schooners. These were fast, sailing ships. The first ship they bought was the USRC Ingham. It was a small ship with six guns. They renamed it Independence. The Independence became the main ship of the First Texas Navy. Captain Charles E. Hawkins was its commander. On June 14, 1835, it fought Mexican ships near Brazos Santiago.
The second schooner was the Brutus. It was almost twice as big as the Independence. Captain William A. Hurd commanded it. He used to command a privateer called the William Robbins. The Texans also bought the William Robbins for their navy. They renamed it Liberty. Captain William S. Brown commanded the Liberty. His brother, Captain Jeremiah Brown, commanded the fourth schooner, named Invincible.
Another important event happened on December 19, 1835. The William Robbins (now Liberty) freed an American merchant ship. This ship, the Hannah Elizabeth, had been captured by Mexicans. It was carrying two cannons, which the Mexicans thought were for the rebels.
After the Texans captured the Correo de Mexico and the Hannah Elizabeth, the Mexican Navy started protecting their merchant ships more closely. The schooners Bravo and Vera Cruzana were two ships that helped with this protection.
Meanwhile, the Independence sailed alone in the Mexican Gulf for the first three months of 1836. It successfully captured several small fishing boats. It also messed up communications between Mexico and General Antonio López de Santa Anna's army in Texas.
On March 3, Captain William S. Brown, on the Liberty, was sailing towards the Yucatan area. He found an armed Mexican merchant ship called the Pelican. In the fight that followed, the Texans captured the Pelican. This happened while they were being shot at from the fortress at Sisal. The Pelican was sent to Matagorda as a prize. However, it got stuck on a sandbar and was wrecked. Over 300 barrels of gunpowder and other military supplies were found on the ship. These supplies were later used by General Houston's army.
Soon after, the Liberty captured the American ship Durango. It was also carrying supplies for the Mexican Army. Around the same time, Captain Jeremiah Brown, on the Invincible, captured the American ship Pocket. This happened at the mouth of the Rio Grande. The Pocket was also carrying illegal goods. Its owners told the United States Navy about it.
Later, an American naval officer, Commodore Alexander J. Dallas, arrested Captain Brown and his crew. This happened when they sailed into New Orleans for supplies. The charges were eventually dropped. This was because all the American ships they had seized were carrying Mexican military supplies. However, a civil lawsuit about the ships continued for years. Texan officials bought the Pocket. Both the ship and its cargo were then used against the Mexicans.
On April 3, the Invincible attacked the Mexican ship Montezuma near Matamoros. Captain Brown ordered his men to fire while the schooner sailed in circles around the Montezuma. The Montezuma eventually ran aground and sank.
On April 11, the privateer Flash picked up people escaping the Runaway Scrape. This included members of President David G. Burnet's family. The next big event was the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. In this battle, General Houston led an attack on the Mexican Army and defeated them. He captured General Santa Anna, who then had to sign a treaty recognizing Texas's independence. The fighting on land was over. However, the Mexican government never officially approved the Treaty of Velasco. Because of this, the naval battles continued for another year.
After San Jacinto, the Invincible delivered the news of the victory to President Burnet. The Liberty escorted the ship Flora to New Orleans. The Flora was an unarmed ship carrying the wounded General Houston. He needed better medical care than he could get in Texas. While in New Orleans, the American navy seized the Liberty on May 22. They sold it to pay for unpaid bills.
On June 3, twenty Texas Rangers joined the navy's efforts. Under Major Isaac Burton, they boarded and took over three American ships near Corpus Christi. All three ships were carrying war materials. A court in Velasco ruled that they were legal captures.
Final Battles in 1837
The United States Navy responded to these incidents by sending the sloop USS Natchez. On April 16, 1837, the Natchez was involved in a fight with Mexican ships near the Rio Grande. In this battle, the Americans captured the Mexican ship General Urrea. They also freed the merchant ship Climax. This happened while they were being fired upon by two Mexican ships, the General Teran and General Bravo, and a Mexican fort. The American commander, Captain William Mervine, was later found to have gone too far by taking a Mexican warship. So, he had to apologize to the Mexicans and release the General Urrea.
While the Independence and the Liberty were on their missions, the other three Texan warships, Invincible, Brutus, and Pocket, were ordered to block the port of Matamoros. They stayed there until September. Then, they sailed to New Orleans and New York City for repairs. These three ships stayed in American waters for the rest of the year. They finally returned to the war zone in the spring of 1837. By this time, the Mexican Navy had sent three ships and two schooners to block Galveston.
On April 17, the Independence fought the Mexican ships Vencedor del Alamo and Libertador. This happened as the Independence was entering the Brazos River. Captain George W. Wheelwright knew his ship was outmatched. So, he fled up the river. The Mexicans followed for five hours. Finally, they forced the Texans to surrender in front of Velasco, Texas, and Secretary of the Navy Samuel Rhoads Fisher.
The final sea battle of the war happened on August 26, 1837. The Invincible and the Brutus were returning to Galveston. They had just had a successful trip, capturing five Mexican ships and the British ship Eliza Russell. The Mexican ships Vencedor del Alamo and Libertador chased the Invincible for a short time. The Invincible then ran aground and was left behind. The Brutus was also wrecked and sank. So, the last two Texan rebel ships were destroyed. It wasn't until 1839 that the Texans would have a navy again.
