Texas Navy
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The Texas Navy was the official navy of the Republic of Texas.
There were three Texas Navies. The second was re-established in 1958 by Governor Price Daniel. This re-established navy became the third navy of Texas. The purpose of the third Navy was to "assure the survival of Texas' Naval History, water resources, boundaries, and for civil defense of Texas.
[edit] First Texas Navy
During the Texas Revolution, government officials in Washington-on-the-Brazos decided to establish an official navy. In January 1836, agents purchased four schooners: Invincible, Brutus, Independence, and Liberty. Under the command of Commodore Charles Edward Hawkins[1] they helped win independence by preventing a Mexican blockade of the Texas coast, seizing Mexican ships carrying reinforcements and supplies to its army, and sending their cargoes on to the Texas volunteer army.
By the middle of 1837, all of the ships had been lost at sea, run aground, captured, or sold, and replacements were being procured.
[edit] Second Texas Navy
In 1839, in response to Mexico's continued refusal to acknowledge the independence of the Republic of Texas, the Texas Congress acquired six new vessels and placed them under the command of Commodore Edwin Moore. These six vessels were known as the second Texas Navy.[2]
For three years the Texas Navy raided the Mexican coast and kept the Mexican fleet focused on defending its own coastline. In the Naval Battle of Campeche on 16 May 1843 the Texas Navy schooner Austin and brig Wharton, supported by ships from the rebellious Mexican State of Yucatan, engaged Mexican naval vessels including the steamships Montezuma and Guadalupe. This battle is believed to be unique, marking the only occasion in which a sailing warship engaged and defeated a war steamer.[3]
Other ships of the Texas Navy included the brigs Potomac and Archer, the schooners San Jacinto, San Antonio and the San Bernard, and the Zavala, the first steamship-of-war in North America.[4]
When Texas joined the United States in 1846 the Texas Navy was merged into the United States Navy.
[edit] References
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