Did You Know Before It Was a State, Texas Had Its Own Navy

When you think of Texas history, you think of cowboys, cattle rustlers, the Battle of the Alamo, and winning our independence.  However, when you think of Texas' past, do ships and sailors come to mind?

Texas Had an Army and Militia, But Did You Know It Had a Navy?

The Texas Navy was established in November 1835 to protect the supply line from New Orleans. According to the Texas State Historical Association, the General Council of the Provisional Government created in Texas established the navy through a bill.

This bill allowed for the purchase of four schooners.  The bill allowed letters of marque to be issued for privateers to help protect the line until the Texas Navy could become established.

What is a Letter of Marque?

A license issued by the government in the Age of Sail. This allowed a private person to attack and capture the vessels of a foreign state during war.

In essence, they were the mercenaries of the sea (or the Gulf in this instance).

In 1835 and early 1836, the privateers helped Texas protect that shipping line, and in January 1936, the four schooners were purchased.

The Four Schooners That Fought for Texas

The Liberty - It was the first schooner purchased for $3500

The Invincible - This schooner was built in Maryland originally planned for a slave ship, but was purchased by Texas Special Agents, Thomas F. McKinney and Samuel May Williams, for $12,013.02. They later sold it to Texas after fitting it for service. In August 1837, it sank during battle in Galveston Harbor, where it remains unfound.

The Independence - It was a side-wheel purchased for $1,710.  It was best known for transporting the Texas President and Santa Anna to Velasco after the Battle of San Jacinto in April 1836, where the Treaty of Velasco was signed.  A year later, in 1837, it was captured by the Mexican Navy.

Brutus - It was purchased in New Orleans.  It captured almost a dozen Mexican ships.  In October 1837, the ship sank after being stuck in a sandbar on the coast of Galveston.  This occurred around the same time the Invincible sank. The loss of this schooner ended the first Texas Navy.

What Happened to the Texas Navy?

After the loss of Brutus in 1837 and the end of the Texas Navy, a few years passed, and a new ship was commissioned in 1839, reviving the Texas Navy.  In June of 1843, the Texas Navy was officially disbanded after a truce was finally declared with Mexico, and the US stepped in to protect Texas until annexation.

Read More: Uncovering The Top 5 Most Catastrophic Natural Disasters In Texas

Did the U.S. Navy Take Over the Fleet?

At the end of the Texas Navy, the remaining ships and schooners were handed over to the U.S. Navy.  This brought an end to the Lone Star State's brief venture into naval history.

Where Are Navy Bases in Texas Today?

The U.S. Navy remains active in Texas; three naval bases are still operating.

• Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi - Pilot Training
• Naval Air Station in Fort Worth - Fighter, airlift, and refueling
• Naval Air Station in Kingsville - strike pilot training

Texas also has nine Naval Reserve Centers in Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Fort Worth, Harlingen, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco.

Texas history, it's not just about cattle and cowboys, it's also got a rich past in the sea, err, the Gulf.