Legacy, Remembrance, and Glory: The History of the Armada du la Tejas

[TexanCowboy]

The Texan Armada (or Marine, depending on which side of the Sabine you come from) had its humble beginnings during the Texan Revolution, when the Texan government, located in New Bordeaux at this point in Texan history, bought 4 schooners in order to protect the sea routes to Galveston, which was the only effective way to speedily resupply Sam Houston's valient forces in the Washington-on-the-Brazos region. Of those four schooners, the TMS Independence (1x9 lb, 6x6 lb) was purchased from the Confederate Navy, where it was formally the Ingram, and the TMS Brutus (1x18 lb, 9x6 lb), the TMS Liberty (6x6 lb), and the TMS Invincible (2x18 lb, 2x9 lb, 4x6 lb) were purchased from private owners from places as varied as Acadia, the CSA, Iberia, even Britian. These ships served with honor and distinction during the Texan Revolution, keeping open the sealanes that allowed for several cannon and the equivelent of a regiment of volunteers to flow to Sam Houston, supplies that were essential for his eventual victory at San Jacinto.

Post war, under the command of Commodore Stephen Decatur, "The Father of the Armada du la Texas", several ships were ordered to expand the Texan navy. The sloop-of-war TMS Austin (16x24 lb, 4x18 lb), and the brigs TMS Wharton, TMS Potomac, and TMS Archer (15x18 lb, 1x9 lb) were ordered from a shipyard in Baltimore in 1825, immediantely following the end of the war. and the schooners TMS San Jacinto, TMS San Bernard, and TMS San Antonio (4x12 lb, 1x9 lb) were built in New Orleans in 1827. The Texan Navy was also quick to innovate, becoming one of the first navies to operate a steam-propelled schooner in the TMS Zavela (4x12 lb, 1x9 lb), an ex-passanger liner, in 1827.

In 1834, the 2nd Texican War began. During this war, the Texan navy had many major successes, although their exploits in the war were overshadowed by (insert foreign navy here)'s role in capturing Vera Cruz from the Mexican Army. The Texan navy made many raids on coastal towns during this war, levelling the combined sum of $150,000 from several towns as a ransom not to level the town. In addition, the Armada du la Texas' maintanance was also paid for by certain Mexican rebel groups, to the tune of $8,000 a month for 6 months. A notable accomplishment during this war was the Battle of Campeche, which was perhaps the only time in history a sail-propelled vessel defeated a steam-propelled vessel. The TMS Austin, accompanied by the TMS Wharton, TMS Archer, and TMS San Antonio, attacked the Mexican vessels Guadalupe and Montezuma in an attempt to break a blockade on the city, which was controlled by Mexican rebels. The TMS Austin fought the Guadalupe to a draw, while the TMS Wharton, TMS Archer, and TMS San Antonio sunk the Montezuma; resulting in the first and only victory of sail over steam.

At the conclusion of the war, the Texan Navy was given a considerable budget to expand from by the Texan Congress, which was added to the over $210,000 captured by the Texan navy from ransoms, prize ships, and more (although only about $130,000 could be used, with prize shares and all, which was offset some by the Mexican rebel groups payments to the Texan Navy). Using some of this money, in 1838 the Armada du la Texas ordered two ships of the line from Baltimore, the TMS Campeche and the TMS Alamo (64x32 lb, 8x24 lb, 2x9 lb). In addition, four sail frigates were ordered from Texan yards, the TMS Baton Rouge and the TMS Galveston (48x24 lb, 6x18 lb, 2x9 lb) in 1842 from New Bordeaux, and the TMS Shreveport and the TMS Dallas (36x24 lb, 4x18 lb, 2x9 lb) in 1844 from Galveston. Although the Battle of Campeche caused many reactionary minds within the Armada du la Texas to wish to stick to sail power, claiming that it was superior for discipline, a cleanly ship, and fighting ability, now Admiral Edwin Moore ordered that two steam frigates be laid down in the new harbor of Corpus Christi in 1846, the TMS Mississippi and the TMS Colorado (2x10'', 8x8'', 2x9 lb).

In 1849, as the world's attention was drawn to the gold rush occuring in California, Texas and Mexico went to war over supposed violations of each others borders in the Nueces-Rio Grande river valley; starting the Third Texican War. This war started on a disasterous note for the Armada du la Texas, with the single most devestation defeat in Texan naval history, the Battle of Tampico. The Texan Navy was escorting a regiment of primarily Indian calvary troopers to invade south of Tampico and spread into the enemy rear, causing chaos as communications and supplies were interrupted. The fleet, in the process of unloading, was met by a superior Mexican force, composing at least 5 ships-of-the-line, as well as 4 frigates and numorous other small ships. The Texan Navy was caught in the classic T-situation; and was utterly defeating; losing 4 of its 6 frigates (the TMS Colorado and TMS Shreveport escaping) and the TMS Alamo, along with a large number of small schooners and brigs, although the TMS Austin survived. The Indian troops were all safety landed, but the merchant transports, trying to escape afterwards, were mauled. The Texan Navy was forced to sit the rest of the war out, besides the occasional raiding expedition and river defense, such as in the Battle of Laredo, where requisitioned Texas Naval craft helped hold the town against an attacking Mexican division.

The Texan navy was dealt a devestating thrust by this war, and was forced to rebuild afterwards, beginning in 1852, when funds finally became available after the final retirement of Sam Houston from the Presidency. Then, the four ships of the Waco class were ordered, each featuring 82 guns (56x32 lb, 16x8'', 8x10'', 2x9 lb)  and being powered by steam, bring the revolution of the steam battleship to America. Following this, in 1861, the Texan navy, in an attempt to gain an edge over the Mexican Navy, laid down the first iron-hulled vessels ever to grace the waters of the Gulf, the New Bordeaux class...

The New Bordeaux class was laid down to much fanfare in New Bordeaux proper in 1861, with much good reason. Although not as large as other designs being launched on the Atlantic, such as the Byzantium BB-1859, it still served as a very powerful image of the power of the Texas Navy. Fully constructed out of iron, and longer than anything in the Texan Navy by over 100 feet, this was the defining pinnacle of its era, evident by the conversion into a museum the TMS New Bordeaux underwent in 1907, as a new revolutionary ship by the same name took sail. There were three ships of the class, the TMS New Bordeaux, the TMS Lafayette and the TMS Corpus Christi (see appendix). In a less noticed, but still crucial moment to the Armada du la Texas' eventual success at the Battle of South Padre, the 3rd class frigates TMS Natchitoches, the TMS Nacogdoches, TMS Little Rock, and TMS Sante Fe were laid down at various shipyards across the Gulf in 1862, showing the dedication of the Armada du la Texas to the as of yet unproved in battle ironclad ship.

As another sign of the Armada du la Texas' continued interest in the potential of as of yet unproven craft, resulting from the Battle of Tampico to a more technologly advanced foe, was the purchase of two submarine of the mechanically propelled "Plongeur" (4 kts, 210 tons, 1 spar torpedo, 5 nmi) class from France, and the building of four human-propelled Comanche class (4 knots, 8 tons, 1 spar torpedo) locally in Galveston. Although the Comanche class turned out to be an utter failure, from which three of the four of the class sunk from accidental pressure placed on the diving planes within the first week, causing the fourth to be retired for fear of the same occuring to it, the Plongeur class, quickly renamed to the Cheyenne class, turned out to be remarkable successes, as was seen during the fourth Texican war.

The 4th Texican war caused all hell to break out in the Texan admiralty, as the first iron ship-of-the-lines were about to be laid down by the Texan admiralty. They were promptly cancelled, as the iron was needed vitally by the army, which was already losing ground near Tamaulipas. Although the Republic of Texas lost this war, due mainly in fault to the army, the Armada du la Texas had one of the most remarkable victories in its history, one that was to shape the face of naval designing for the next 40 years. This victory was the Battle of Brazos Island.

The Mexican Armada decided to land troops on Brazos Island, in order to secure that island, from which distracting assaults could be launched against the Rio Grande delta, streching an already overstretched, in retreat Texan Army. Rear Admiral Sebastiano Venier, a recent immigrant from Venice, had other plans, and set off in the TMS New Bordeaux as his flag from New Orleans, with the other ships of the New Bordeaux and Natchitoches classes accompanying, as well as those of the Waco class and the TMS Colorado.

The Mexican Armada was composed of a considerable force on this day of April 21st, 1865, with double the number of 2nd class frigates compared to the Texan squadron, as well as the pride of the Mexican fleet, a new turret ship straight outta Compton. They, in addition, had small boats laying mines, found to be so useful in (insert other conflict here, Asia?) as a way to secure a flank against an enemy. The merchants carrying the troops were heading towards Brazos Island when suspicious activity was reported to the right, that suspicious activity being Admiral Venier coming in 2 "Vs", the first V being composed of his iron ships, and the second V being composed of his wooden ships. The Mexican Admiral in command cancelled the landing, then formed his ships into a line abreast, with the turret ship remaining behind as a reserve. Remarkably, at this stage in the battle, he decided to change his flag to the turret ship, ordering the ships in the line to halt steaming. This proved to be his crucial flaw, for the ships in front of his flag did not recieve the message, and instead continued steaming, opening up a hole in the Mexican line which Admiral Venier would exploit.

Admiral Venier had his ships steam full ahead, straight into the gap created by the breaking of the Mexican line, with the wooden ships peeling off to assault the Mexican merchants watching from the left flank. At one point, a patchy line of mines was observed, but Admiral Venier ordered the fleet to continue, with his famous words "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" Remarkably, no ship was hit by torpedoes mines, which was viewed to be less remarkable in view of the later records of the numbers of mines laid.

The Mexican line was confused by the presence of a full 7 Texan ships smashing straight through the hole in their line firing full broadsides on both sides, and bunched up, with some ships stopping, some turning broadside to assault the Texan ships, some ships not reacting, and even a few in the fan going straight in reverse, at some points causing minor collisions, and in one Mexican frigates case having its stern nearly knocked off. Seeing this confusion, the Mexican admiral decided to take his ship into action, leading with his turret ship, and causing the other ships to turn in towards the Texan fleet. Meanwhile, on the western flank, Captain Riboty, commanding the wooden wing, decided to turn in towards the Mexican flank, to relieve pressure upon the Texan center. Although the manuever caused heavy damage to the wooden ships (although nothing mortal), and decapitated Captain Riboty, it succeeded in sinking that unfortunate Mexican frigate whose stern had been laid open by one of its own number, by having the TMS Waco firing straight through that part and raking the gun decks until the frigate was forced to lower its colors, another unique event in naval history, as it may have been the only time a wooden ship defeated a iron ship in combat.

Meanwhile, in the center of the melee, the TMS Nacogdoches and the TMS Lafyette simultaneously rammed a Mexican frigate from opposite sides, sinking it, while the TMS Corpus Christi and the TMS New Bordeaux were in a close range knife fight with the Mexican turret ship. A confused stage of events occured for the next half hour of so, both navies in a massive mess, with no orginzation, firing blindly at each other, until the TMS Sante Fe got lucky, very lucky. A stray shot fired from a 7'' gun managed to hit a open gun port on a Mexican frigate, not an uncommon event in this battle to both sides. However, this shot knocked out the gun, which, collasping, yanked the gunner, who was about fire, forward, sparking the flint which lit a fire in the gunpowder bucket next to the gun. This fire quickly spread throughout the gun deck and down to the engineering spaces, where, igniting some coal, caused a boiler explosion, which quickly sank the already flaming ship. Simultaniously, another Mexican frigate, two or three miles away, hit a drifting mine, ironically one of the ones used to prevent the Texan navy from attacking the Mexican fleet, and sunk with all hands

At this point, the TMS Natchitoches rammed a Mexican frigate, heavily damaging the frigate as well as itsself. This frigate, the Mexican admiral's flagship before the battle commenced, and still having his colors aboard, quickly lowered its flaggs, an odd event, since it wasn't damaged enough to keep it from forward motion. Nonetheless, the captain of the Natchitoches came aboard, accepting the Mexican captains sword and transferring her crew belowdecks on the Natchitoches, and grabbing the Mexican flag and the admiral's pennent, scurried aboard, allowing the Natchitoches to slowly limp away from battle.

The Mexican admiral, having lost four first line vessels in little more than an hour, ordered his ships to retreat, an order seen and gleefully obeyed by all ships. The Texan squadron, for the most part, did not follow the enemy force, although the New Bordeaux kept up an ineffective firing at the retreating turret ship, which responded. Although many of the ships in the Texan navy were heavily damaged, the Texan fleet had won a miraculous victory, destroying 4 enemy vessels in exchange for no losses of its own while heavily outnumbered. This was expressed not only in the size of the crowd as the battered fleet returned to New Bordeaux with 4 green pennents on each ship to represent 4 sunken Mexican ships, it also was expressed in the promotion of Admiral Venier to Grand Admiral, the first and only grand admiral in Texan navy history.

The Mexican and Texan navies played little more role in the 4th Texican War, besides the usual commerce raiding and protection. This war, however, showed to Texan admirals that the future was in innovation, from ironclad ships, which had allowed that victory, to steam, which allowed for more tactical and even stragetic flexibility, to turret ships, which the sole member used in this war had saved the Mexican fleet from even greater losses than suffered. This war would shape the destinies of both navies in unique ways...

(1824-1861)