The Story of the Texas Navy

I relocated from Virginia to Texas about three years ago and have truly enjoyed diving into the rich history of my new home state. Recently, I came across a fascinating chapter of Texas history that I’m excited to share with you in this month’s Fortitude post—the story of the Texas Navy.
 
Yes, the Republic of Texas had its own Navy before becoming a state in 1845! 
 
I’m especially drawn to the story of the Texas Navy, having served in the U.S. Navy myself. I enlisted in 1975 at the age of 17 and worked as an Electronics Technician, maintaining shipboard radar and communications systems. After eight years of enlisted service, I was selected for an officer commissioning program. Following my graduation from Auburn University and Officer Candidate School, I returned to sea as a Surface Warfare Officer. I retired in 1997 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, concluding 22 years of naval service.
 
Now back to the Texas Navy story—but first a brief history of Texas.

Texas History

The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America for nearly a decade, from 1836 to 1845. Its story began on March 2, 1836, when Texas officially declared independence from Mexico. That independence was secured through victory over Mexican forces during the Texas Revolution of 1835–1836.¹

The Battle of the Alamo—the most famous engagement of Texas’ war for independence—endured for 13 days, from February 23 to March 6, 1836. At dawn on the final day of the siege, just four days after Texas declared independence, Mexican forces stormed the mission, scaling its walls and launching a full assault. The fighting lasted about 90 minutes, and by sunrise every defender had been killed. Among those who fell were the legendary knife-fighter James Bowie and the famed frontiersman and former U.S. congressman, Davy Crockett.²

But the Texas patriots weren’t done fighting for freedom just yet. On April 21, 1836, the Texan Army, commanded by Sam Houston, launched a surprise attack on Santa Anna’s encampment near the San Jacinto River. Spurred on by the rallying cry, “Remember the Alamo”, the Battle of San Jacinto lasted only 18 minutes. The swift and decisive victory secured Texas’ independence, resulting in Santa Anna’s capture and his signing of agreements recognizing Texas as an independent nation.³

Sam Houston became the first president of the Republic of Texas on September 5, 1836, shortly after his decisive victory at San Jacinto. Texas remained an independent nation for nearly a decade before joining the United States on December 29, 1845, as the 28th state.⁴

The Texas state flag of today, known as the “Lone Star Flag,” was first adopted in 1839 as the national flag of the Republic of Texas.

Mexico never fully recognized the independence Texas declared in 1836. When the United States annexed Texas in 1845, growing friction between the two countries escalated, ultimately erupting into the Mexican-American War on April 25, 1846.
 
In 1848, after two years of fighting, and a subsequent American victory, Mexico ceded extensive territory to the United States, including what are now California, Nevada, Utah, and most of New Mexico and Arizona, along with portions of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. Mexico finally abandoned its claims to Texas and formally recognized the Rio Grande as the southern boundary with the United States.⁵

First Texas Navy (1835-1837)

So, what exactly prompted the Republic of Texas to establish a navy during its fight for independence from Mexico? One likely reason was its 367-mile stretch of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico, extending from the Louisiana border to the Rio Grande.⁶
 
Defending that long coastline against a potential Mexican naval invasion was the primary mission of the Texas Navy. Equally important, however, was safeguarding the vital supply route between New Orleans and Texas, ensuring the steady flow of supplies needed to sustain the revolution.
 
So, on November 25, 1835, the first Texas Navy was established when the General Council of the provisional government of Texas authorized the purchase of four schooners: Liberty, Independence, Brutus, and Invincible.⁷

This first Texas Navy existed until mid-1837, by which time all of the ships had been lost.
 
In 1836, while docked in New Orleans for repairs, the Liberty was ultimately sold when the Texas government proved unable to cover the cost of its refit.⁸
 
In April 1837, the Independence departed New Orleans bound for Galveston. As it neared its destination, two Mexican warships attacked. After a four-hour battle, the Texas vessel was forced to surrender—its capture increasing the Mexican navy’s strength to eight ships.⁸
 
In June 1837, the Brutus and the Invincible sailed from Galveston into the Gulf of Mexico, raiding Mexican coastal towns and seizing vessels. When they returned, the Brutus successfully crossed the sandbar into Galveston Harbor. The Invincible, with a deeper draft, waited offshore for better conditions. The next morning, two Mexican warships attacked. Attempting to assist, the Brutus ran aground on a sandbar. The Invincible fought on until evening before trying to enter the harbor, but it too ran aground. The Invincible was destroyed that night. Although the Brutus was eventually freed, it was lost in a storm in October 1837 marking the end of the First Texas Navy.⁸

Second Texas Navy (1839-1846)

There was virtually no Texas Navy between October 1837 and March 1839.

In 1837, legislation authorized the construction of six ships at a total cost of $280,000. The following year, in November 1838, the contract was awarded to Frederick Dawson of Baltimore.⁸

In June 1839 the first ship of the Dawson contract, the schooner San Jacinto, arrived in Galveston followed by the San Antonio in August. The San Bernard then arrived in September, followed by the brig Wharton in October, the sloop-of-war Austin in December, and the brig Archer in April 1840.⁸

In 1842, while the San Antonio was in New Orleans for refitting, the only mutiny in the Texas Navy occurred. A group of crew members, led by a marine sergeant, attacked the officers, killing one of them. The mutineers were quickly captured by United States authorities. The four primary conspirators were hanged from the yardarm of the Austin in April 1843. Three other mutineers were sentenced to flogging.⁹

The San Antonio left New Orleans for Yucatán in September 1842 but never reached its destination and is presumed to have been lost in a storm.⁸

In June 1846, six months after Texas was admitted as the 28th state, the ships of the Texas Navy were formally transferred to the United States Navy. The officers of the Texas Navy sought to enter the U.S. Navy along with their ships, but their request met resistance from officers already serving in the U.S. Navy.⁸
 
The Republic of Texas Navy played a crucial role in securing the sea lanes and keeping Texas ports open for essential supplies from the United States. By cutting off logistical support to Santa Anna’s forces prior to the Battle of San Jacinto, the Texas Navy significantly contributed to the Republic of Texas’ victory in its war of independence.⁸

So that’s the tale of the Texas Navy—brief in years, but a truly distinctive chapter in American history.

Fortitude’s 4th Anniversary

This month (May 2026) marks four years since the publication of my book, Fortitude: Preserving 400 Years of an American Family’s Faith, Patriotism, Grit and Determination. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has read it and shared encouraging reviews on Amazon. These past four years have brought the added joy of meeting so many wonderful people as a result of this journey. You can learn more about the book HERE.

NOTES

1. Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Texas Declaration of Independence, 1836. Accessed from https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/texas-declaration-independence-1836 on February 18, 2026. 
2. The Alamo. Battle and Revolution. Accessed from https://www.thealamo.org/remember/battle-and-revolution on February 18, 2026. 
3. Kemp, L. 2020. Texas State Historical Association. The Battle of San Jacinto: A Decisive Moment in Texas History. Accessed from https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/san-jacinto-battle-of on February 18, 2026. 
4. U.S. Department of State. Office of the Historian. The Annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1845-1848. Accessed from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/texas-annexation on February 18, 2026. 
5. National Archives. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848). Accessed from https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/treaty-of-guadalupe-hidalgo on February 19, 2026. 
6. McGowen, J., Garner, L., and Wilkinson, B. 1977. University of Texas at Austin. Bureau of Economic Geology. The Gulf Shoreline of Texas: Processes, Characteristics, and Factors in Use. Accessed from https://www.beg.utexas.edu/publications/gulf-shoreline-texas-processes-characteristics-and-factors-use on February 18, 2026.
7. Texas State Historical Association. First Texas Navy Created. Accessed from https://www.tshaonline.org/texas-day-by-day/entry/928 on February 19, 2026. 
8. Ritchie, M. 2025. Texas State Historical Association. The History of the Texas Navy: From Early Settlers to Modern Commemoration. Accessed from https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/texas-navy on February 20, 2026. 
9. Texas State Historical Association. Texas Marines Mutiny in New Orleans. Accessed from https://www.tshaonline.org/texas-day-by-day/entry/254 on February 21, 2026.
10. Featured Image: Naval History and Heritage Command. NH 48550-KN Sloop of War Austin. Accessed from https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-48000/nh-48550-kn-sloop-of-war-austin.html on February 22, 2026. 
11. Image: Onderdonk, R. 1903. Wikipedia. The Fall of the Alamo or Crockett’s Last Stand. Accessed from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FalloftheAlamo.jpg on February 22, 2026. Public Domain. 
12. Image: Texas State Library and Archives Commission. State Flag Description. Accessed from https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/flagdes on February 22, 2026. 
13. Image: Wikimedia Commons. Independence Flag Ship of First Texas Navy. Accessed from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Independence_Flag_ship_of_First_Texas_Navy.jpg on February 22, 2026. 
14. Image: Wikipedia. Texan Schooner Austin. Accessed from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Texan_schooner_Austin.jpg on February 22, 2026.