First Battle of Sabine Pass

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First Battle of Sabine Pass
Part of American Civil War
Date September 25, 1861 Location Sabine Pass, Texas Result Union victory
Combatants
Union	Confederacy
Commanders
Frederick Crocker	J.S. Irvine
Strength
2 schooners 1 steamship	30 infantry 30 cavalry unspecified number of artillery
Casualties
N/A	Unknown

Operations to Blockade the Texas Coast
1st Sabine Pass – 1st Galveston

The First Battle of Sabine Pass was a naval battle during the American Civil War in Texas which, in addition to strengthening the Union naval blockade on the Texas coastline, also intended to open the way for a possible amphibious assault.

In the early morning hours of September 25, 1861, Union naval forces under the command of Acting Master Frederick Crocker attempted to enter Sabine Pass, from which Crocker attempted to make his way through the inland passage to Port Arthur.

As they neared Fort Gibson, a Confederate artillery battery guarding the Sabine Pass, Crocker ordered his fleet of two schooners and a steamship to begin an artillery bombardment of the enemy position. Confederate forces numbering 30 infantry and artillerists, additionally supported by 30 cavalrymen, were unable to return fire as the outdated garrison's batteries were unable to reach the Union fleet. The commanding officer, Major J. S. Irvine, ordered his artillery spiked and then retreated during the night. Without a significant military presence, the town of Sabine Pass, Texas, surrendered the following day.

[edit] References

• Linedecker, Clifford L., ed. Civil War, A-Z: The Complete Handbook of America's Bloodiest Conflict. New York: Ballentine Books, 2002. ISBN 0-89141-878-4