The Battle of Galveston was a naval and land battle of the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
, when Confederate forces under Major Gen.
John B. Magruder
John Bankhead Magruder (May 1, 1807 – February 18, 1871) was an American and Confederate military officer. A graduate of West Point, Magruder served with distinction during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848) and was a prominent Confede ...
expelled occupying Union troops from the city of
Galveston, Texas
Galveston ( ) is a coastal resort city and port off the Southeast Texas coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas. The community of , with a population of 47,743 in 2010, is the county seat of surrounding Galvesto ...
on January 1, 1863.
After the loss of the cutter , the Union Fleet Commander
William B. Renshaw
William Bainbridge Renshaw (October 11, 1816 – January 1, 1863) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was killed during the Second Battle of Galveston.
Biography
Renshaw was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a ...
blew up the stranded vessel to save it from falling into enemy hands. Union troops on shore thought the fleet was surrendering, and laid down their arms.
The battle is sometimes called the Second Battle of Galveston, as the
Battle of Galveston Harbor (October 1862) is sometimes called the First Battle of Galveston.
Battle
Two Confederate
cottonclads, and the commanded by
Leon Smith, sailed from Houston to Galveston in an effort to engage the Union Fleet in Galveston Harbor, which consisted of , , , , and .
Outnumbered six to two by the Northern ships, ''Neptune'' was severely damaged by the Union Fleet and eventually sank. While ''Neptune'' was quickly disabled, ''Bayou City'' succeeded in capturing .
During this time, was grounded on a sandbar. A three-hour truce was called for by Magruder, but Union Fleet Commander
William B. Renshaw
William Bainbridge Renshaw (October 11, 1816 – January 1, 1863) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was killed during the Second Battle of Galveston.
Biography
Renshaw was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a ...
, ignoring the negotiation offer, attempted to destroy the grounded ''Westfield'' with explosives rather than let it fall into enemy hands.
Reanshaw and several Union troops were subsequently killed when the explosives were set off too early. Union troops on shore were convinced that their own ships were surrendering and, therefore, laid down their arms. The remaining U.S. ships did not surrender and succeeded in retreating to Union-controlled
.
Aftermath
The Union blockade around the city of Galveston was lifted temporarily for four days, and Galveston remained the only major port that remained in Confederate hands at the end of the war. The Confederate Congress stated this on the successful recapture of Galveston:
The bold, intrepid, and gallant conduct of Maj. Gen. J. Bankhead Magruder, Col. Thomas Green, Maj. Leon Smith and other officers, and of the Texan Rangers and soldiers engaged in the attack on, and victory achieved over, the land and naval forces of the enemy at Galveston, on the 1st of January, 1863, eminently entitle them to the thanks of Congress and the country... This brilliant achievement, resulting, under the providence of God, in the capture of the war steamer ''Harriet Lane'' and the defeat and ignominious flight of the hostile fleet from the harbor, the recapture of the city and the raising of the blockade of the port of Galveston, signally evinces that superior force may be overcome by skillful conception and daring courage.
See also
*
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II (July 27, 1821 – January 1, 1863) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War, who was killed in action during the Battle of Galveston.
Early life
Wainwright was born on July 27, 1821, i ...
, killed in action during the battle.
References
External links
National Park Service battle descriptionCWSAC Report Updateat Lone Star Junction
Battle of Galvestonat ''The Handbook of Texas Online''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Galveston II
Battle of Galveston
The Battle of Galveston was a naval and land battle of the American Civil War, when Confederate forces under Major Gen. John B. Magruder expelled occupying Union troops from the city of Galveston, Texas on January 1, 1863.
After the loss of ...
Battles of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
Confederate victories of the American Civil War
Conflicts in 1863
Battle of Galveston
The Battle of Galveston was a naval and land battle of the American Civil War, when Confederate forces under Major Gen. John B. Magruder expelled occupying Union troops from the city of Galveston, Texas on January 1, 1863.
After the loss of ...
Battle of Galveston
The Battle of Galveston was a naval and land battle of the American Civil War, when Confederate forces under Major Gen. John B. Magruder expelled occupying Union troops from the city of Galveston, Texas on January 1, 1863.
After the loss of ...
Battles of the American Civil War in Texas
January 1863 events
Naval battles of the American Civil War