Texan schooner Brutus
A small schooner, similar to Brutus
| |
History | |
---|---|
Republic of Texas | |
Commissioned | 25 January 1836 |
Decommissioned | October 1838 |
Out of service | 26 August 1837 |
Homeport | Galveston |
Fate | Run aground and destroyed by storm 1838 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Schooner |
Tons burthen | 125, or 160[1] (bm) |
Length | 90 ft (27.4 m) |
Propulsion | wind |
Speed | variable |
Complement | 40 |
Armament |
|
Galveston Harbor | |
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The Texan schooner Brutus was one of the four ships of the First Texas Navy (1836–1838) that during the Texas Revolution wreaked havoc on towns along the coast of Mexico, blockaded Mexican ports, and captured ships bound for Mexico with goods and munitions of war.
Her final, and most controversial, voyage was to the
As a private warship
At the beginning of the
In January 1836, the Allen brothers sold Brutus to the Texas Navy, and it became the second ship in the fledgling fleet of schooners.[3]
Captain William A. Hurd took command of Brutus when she was commissioned into the small Texas Navy on 25 January 1836, in New Orleans. She did not reach Texan waters again until early February 1836.[4]
After the
Yucatan campaign
Brutus and Invincible reached the Yucatan on 8 July 1837 and sailed to Isla Mujeres, which they claimed for Texas.[5] The ships cruised off the Yucatan coast attacking shipping and towns with abandon. By 16 July, the two Texas schooners made prizes of the Union, the Telégrafo, and the Adventure off Sisal and on 26 July they engaged the batteries defending Campeche's harbor.[4] Describing the attack on that city, Tom Wells writes, "Continuing up the Yucatan coast, the expedition boarded ships and landed shore parties until finally they were attacked by a cavalry force and driven back to their ships. The Texans burned two villages in reprisal, then tried to force Campeche to pay $25,000 in tribute. However, the city was surrounded by heavy stone walls and was well-fortified. After an inconclusive three-hour exchange of gunfire, the two ships departed."[5] After the unsuccessful attempt to extort money from Campeche, the tiny flotilla sailed north and captured the Obispo and the British vessel Eliza Russell off the Alacranes and then doubled back down the Yucatan coast and then, on 12 August, captured the Correo de Tabasco.[4] The seizure of the Eliza Russell proved to be a diplomatic incident of some note, almost resulting in the United Kingdom's refusal to recognize the Republic of Texas.[Note 1] The ships, running low on water, started back to Galveston, but not before Brutus captured Rafaelita on 17 August and blockaded Matamoros.
Final struggle
On 27 August 1837, both ships arrived in Galveston and Brutus crossed the
Vessels captured with Invincible
All the vessels captured were schooners.[1]
Date | Name | Notes |
---|---|---|
25 July 1836 | Telégrafo | At Sisal, Yucatán |
25 July 1836 | Adventure | At Sisal, Yucatán |
8 August 1836 | Eliza Russel | British; detained |
12 August 1836 | Correo de Tabasco | |
17 August 1836 | Rafaelita |
Notes
- ^ Lloyd's Register reported that Eliza Russell, of 124 tons (bm), had been built at "Chlstn" in 1835. It gave the name of her master and owner as J. Russell, and her homeport as Alloa.[6]
Citations
- ^ a b Silverstone (2001), p.88.
- ^ Williams, Amelia W. "Allen, John Kirby". The Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Assoc. (18 May 2004), www.tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
- ^ "John Kirby Allen". Great Houstonians, 174 Years of Historic Houston, www.houstonhistory.com. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
- ^ a b c d e Thomas W. Cutrer. "The Brutus". Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Assoc. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
- ^ Lloyd's Register (1837), Seq. №E327.
References
- Silverstone, Paul H. (2001) The Sailing Navy, 1775-1854. (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press) ISBN 1- 55750-893-3
External links
- The Brutus from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Texas Navies