Richard W. Dowling
Richard William Dowling | |
---|---|
Houston, Fifth Military District, U.S. | |
Buried | St. Vincent's Cemetery Houston, Texas, U.S. |
Allegiance | Confederate States |
Service/ | Confederate States Army |
Years of service | 1861–1865 |
Rank | Major |
Commands held | Company F (Davis Guards), 1st (Cook's) Texas Heavy Artillery Regiment |
Battles/wars | American Civil War
|
Awards |
Richard William Dowling (baptized 14 January 1837 – 23 September 1867) was an Irish-born
Biography
Dowling was born in the
Business and civic interests
By 1860, Dowling owned a number of saloons. His most successful was named the Bank of
American Civil War
Background
Prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, Dowling had made a name for himself as an able and successful entrepreneur. Among other things, he had been involved with a predominantly Irish
Prelude
Sabine Pass was important as a point of arrival and departure for blockade runners. With the fall of Vicksburg in July 1863, followed by the Battle of Gettysburg, it was obvious that the Civil War was now not going well for the Confederacy, an invasion of Texas appeared to be imminent. It was suspected that the Union Army would attempt an invasion of Texas via Sabine Pass, because of its value as a harbor for blockade runners and because about 18 miles northwest was Beaumont, on the railroad between Houston and the eastern part of the Confederacy.
To negotiate Sabine Pass all vessels except small boats took one of the two river channels, both of about 5 feet (1.5 meters) depth and one on each side of the Pass. These channels were separated by naturally formed "oyster-banks" known to be barely two feet (0.61 meters) under the surface. No seagoing ship could traverse the Pass without great risk of going aground, if it did not follow one of the channels. The inevitable course of any
Dowling spent the summer of 1863 at the earthen fort instructing his men in gunnery. To mark the optimum distance and elevation for each of the guns, he implemented the technique of setting long slender poles (painted white, in this instance) in both channels at several places. This was an old method for guiding boats and, especially since the advent of firearms, to mark an aiming points for guns.
Defense of Sabine Pass, Texas
On 8 September 1863 a Union Navy flotilla of some 22 gunboats and transports with 5,000 men accompanied by cavalry and artillery arrived off the mouth of Sabine Pass. The plan of invasion was sound, but monumentally mismanaged. Four of the flanking gunboats were to steam up the pass at speed and draw the fire of the fort, two in each channel, a tactic which had been used successfully in subduing the defensive fortifications of Mobile and New Orleans prior to this, when gunboats disabled the forts at close range with their own guns. This time, though, Dowling's artillery drills paid off as the Confederates poured a rapid and withering fire onto the incoming gunboats, scoring several direct hits, disabling and capturing two, while the others retreated in disarray. The rest of the flotilla retreated from the mouth of the pass and returned ignominiously to New Orleans, leaving the disabled ships with no option but to surrender to Dowling. With a command of just 47 men, Lieut. Dowling had thwarted an attempted invasion of Texas, in the process capturing two gunboats, some 350 prisoners and a large quantity of supplies and munitions.[6]
Davis Guards Medal
The
After the war and death
After the battle of Sabine Pass Dowling was elevated to hero status in his hometown of Houston. John Nova Lomax of the Houston Press stated that in that city "Dowling was treated something like Julius Caesar home from a punishing foray into Gaul."[10] He subsequently served as a recruiter for the Confederacy and was personally commended for his action at the battle by Jefferson Davis. After the war Dowling returned to his saloon business in Houston and quickly became one of the city's leading businessmen. Dowling's promising future was cut short by another yellow fever epidemic which devastated Houston in the late summer of 1867, and he died on 23 September 1867.[1]
He was buried at St. Vincent's Catholic Cemetery, the oldest Catholic cemetery in Houston.[11]
Legacy
Several places in Houston were named after Dowling. Lomax wrote in 2009 is that by then very few people in the city memorialized him and that the group was "vanishing (if not downright extinct)".[10] In regards to sites named after Dowling, Lomax stated that there have been objections to sites named after Dowling, "But this being Houston, where 1980 is ancient history, nothing is ever done."[10] Two sites, now Emancipation Drive and Lawson Middle School (formerly Dowling Street and Dowling Middle School) have since been renamed.
Davis Guards Medal (1863)
The Davis Guards Medal was presented by the "ladies of Houston" in 1863 to the artillery company. It is regarded to be the only medal authorized for wear on the Confederate uniform. Of the 50 medals issued, only 3 are known to still exist. They are on display at the American Civil War Museum, Bullock Texas State History Museum, and Texas Military Forces Museum.
Thanks of Congress (1864)
On 8 February 1864, the officers and men of Company F (Davis Guards), 1st (Cook's) Texas Heavy Artillery Regiment, Confederate States Army, received the "thanks of Congress."[12]
Dowling Street (1892)
In 1892, the Houston City Council renamed East Broadway to Dowling Street.[13] On 11 January 2017, Houston City Council approved a plan to rename Dowling Street to Emancipation Avenue.[14]
Tuam Street (1892)
In 1892, the Houston City Council renamed a street, which is perpendicular to Dowling Street (now Emancipation Avenue), to Tuam Street, the namesake of Dowling's birthplace Tuam, Ireland.
Southern Cross of Honor (1899)
Dowling was posthumously awarded the Southern Cross of Honor in 1899.
Statue (1905)
In 1905, the Houston City Council commissioned a statue of Dowling by Frank Teich for the Houston City Hall . It was relocated to Sam Houston Park in 1939 and Hermann Park near the Sam Houston Monument in 1958.[15] In 2020 the City of Houston moved the statue into storage until a suitable place could be found to display it.[16]
This was the first public monument commissioned by the city government; he was chosen as he fought in favor of the CSA.[10]
Historical Marker (1998)
The site received a Historical Marker (#11938) by the Texas Historical Commission in 1998.[17]
Obelisk (1935)
In October 1935, a granite obelisk was built near Dowling's grave at Saint Vincent's Cemetery in Houston. The plaque reads: "Near this spot lies LT DICK DOWLING Hero of the Battle of Sabine Pass".[18]
Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site (1936)
The Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site is the location of the Defense of Sabine Pass, Texas. It is a heritage site operated by the Texas Historical Commission. It features a statue of Dowling and memorial dedicated to the Davis Guards from the State of Texas in 1936.
Dowling Road (1936)
Dowling Road leads to the Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site.
Historical Marker (1936)
The Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site received a Historical Marker (#10509) by the Texas Historical Commission in 1936.[19]
Monument (1937)
In 1937, the United Daughters of the Confederacy a grey granite monument dedicated to Dowling in the center of the intersection of State Highway 87 and Broadway Street in downtown Sabine Pass, TX. It was relocated in the 1960s to a new location on State Highway.[20]
Dick Dowling Elementary School (1953)
In March 1953, the Dick Dowling Elementary School was built and dedicated in Port Arthur, Texas.[21] It was renamed to Port Acres Elementary School in October 2018.[22]
Confederate Medal of Honor (1977)
Dowling was posthumously awarded the Confederate Medal of Honor in 1977.[23]
Dowling Middle School (1968)
In 1968 the Richard W. "Dick" Dowling Middle School was built and dedicated in Houston, Texas.
Tuam Plaque (1998)
In 1998, the town of Tuam also placed a bronze memorial plaque of Dowling, bearing his image and explaining his feats, on the facade of Tuam Town Hall. It reads:
- Major Richard W. (Dick) Dowling C.S.A., 1837-1867 Born Knock, Tuam; Settled Houston Texas, 1857; Outstanding business and civic leader; Joined Irish Davis Guards in American Civil War; With 47 men foiled Invasion of Texas by 5000 federal troops at Sabine Pass, 8 Sept 1863, a feat of superb gunnery; formed first oil company in Texas; Died aged 30 of yellow fever. This plaque was unveiled by Col. J.B. Collerain 31 May 1998
An
Bibliography
- Collins, Timothy. 'Dick Dowling: Galway's hero of Confederate Texas', by Timothy Collins and Ann Caraway Ivins; foreword by Edward T. Cotham Jr. Kilnaboy: Old Forge Books, 2013.
- Cotham, Edward T. Jr. 'Battle on the Bay: the Civil War struggle for Galveston', by Edward T. Cotham Jr. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1998.
- Cotham, Edward T. Jr. 'Sabine Pass: the Confederacy's Thermopylae', by Edward T. Cotham Jr. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2004.
- Cotham, Edward T. Jr, ed. The Southern journey of a Civil War marine: the illustrated note-book of Henry O. Gusley, edited and annotated by Edward T. Cotham Jr. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2006.
Gallery
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Davis Guards Medal, 1864
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Grave, St. Vincent's Cemetery, 1867
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Obelisk, St. Vincent's Cemetery, 1935
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UDC Memorial, Sabine Pass, 1937
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Plaque, Tuam, 1998
References
- ^ a b c d Ward, James R. "DOWLING, RICHARD WILLIAM". TSHA.
- ^ "Lt. Dick Dowling: A Brief Biography". Texas Historical Commission.
- ^ "Birth Death Marriage Genealogy Records Ireland - Irish Family History Foundation". ifhf.rootsireland.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ a b Dick Dowling: Galway's hero of Confederate Texas, by Timothy Collins and Ann Caraway Ivins. Old Forge Books, 2013
- ^ map showing the location of the Bank of Bacchus
- ^ Dallas Historical Society. "Bound For Texas: The Civil War". Archived from the original on 7 October 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2006.
- ^ Library of Congress. "Journal of the Confederate Congress --FIFTY-FOURTH DAY--TUESDAY, February 9, 1864". Retrieved 8 June 2008.
- ^ MedalofHonor.com. "Confederate Honor Roll". Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2008.
- ^ Brian Dowling. "1st. Lt. Richard W. Dowling". Retrieved 25 October 2006.
- ^ a b c d Lomax, John Nova (26 August 2009). "Houston 101: The Short Happy Life of Dick Dowling". Houston Press. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Davis, Rod. "Houston's really good idea Bus tour celebrates communities that forged a city." San Antonio Express-News. Sunday 3 August 2003. Travel 1M. Retrieved on 11 February 2012.
- ^ U.S. War Department, comp. (1889). Scott, Lieut. Col. Robert N. (ed.). War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I–Volume XXVI–In Two Parts. Part I. Washington: Government Printing Office. p. 915.
- ^ Hagerty, Michael (22 October 2015). "Who Was Dick Dowling And Should Dowling Street Be Renamed?". Houston Public Media.
- ^ "Houston's Dowling Street To Be Renamed Emancipation Avenue | Houston Public Media". Houston Public Media. Associated Press. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ Texas Escapes Online Magazine. "Dick Dowling Statue". Retrieved 25 October 2006.
- ^ Houston Chronicle 17 June 2020 at page A11, 18 June 2020 at page A3, and 20 June 2020 at page A14.
- ^ "Details for Major Richard William (Dick) Dowling, C. S. A. (Atlas Number 5201011938)". THC Atlas.
- ^ "Lt. Richard W. "Dick" Dowling, CSA – St Vincent's Cemetery, Houston TX". Waymarking.
- ^ "Details for Richard Dowling (Atlas Number 5245010509)". THC Atlas.
- ^ "Dick Dowling Monument – SH 87, Sabine Pass TX". Waymarking.
- ^ "Dick Dowling Elementary School". The Odessa American. 1 March 1953.
- ^ Mullooly, Chris (25 October 2018). "PAISD board approves changing the names of Lee and Dowling Elementary Schools". KFDM.
- ISBN 978-1-85109-682-4.
- ^ "School Histories Middle Schools". Houston Independent School District. 26 April 2013. Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2020. - Newer revisions of the page, which now call it by its current name, do not mention the opening date of the school.
- ^ Lomax, John Nova. "Houston 101: The Short Happy Life of Dick Dowling." Houston Press. Wednesday 26 August 2009. Retrieved on 26 October 2011. "[...]and a middle school with 99 percent minority enrollment (Vince Young's alma mater) out in the Hiram Clarke area."
- ^ "HISD approves name changes for seven schools". ABC 13. 12 May 2016.
- ^ "Proposal to remove Tuam plaque to Confederate soldier rejected". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
Further reading
- Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Park, Archeological Report #8, Antiquities Permit #21 by T. Holtzapple and Wayne Roberson. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Historic Sites and Restoration Branch, Austin, Texas, Sept. 1976.
- Dick Dowling, Tuam Emigrant-Texan Hero, in pages 42–58 of Glimpses of Tuam since the Famine by ISBN 0-9530250-0-4
- The Thermopylae of Lieutenant Dick Dowling, in The Irish Sword by Patrick Denis O'Donnell, VOL.XXIII, no.91, Military History Society of Ireland, Dublin, Summer 2002 (pages 68–86)