Texas Navy#Third Texas Navy

{{Main|Texian Navy}}

The Texas Navy descended from the Texian Navy, which was established by the Consultation of the Republic of Texas on 25 November 1835 to aid the fight for independence from the Centralist Republic of Mexico in the Texas Revolution. It consisted of four schooners: Liberty, Independence, Invincible, and Brutus. Liberty was sold in June 1836. Independence was captured during the Battle of the Brazos River in April 1837. Invincible and Brutus were run aground at the Battle of Galveston Harbor in August 1837.

{{cite web|url=https://texasnavy.org/Resources/Documents/Historical/Ships/Ships_of_the_First%20_and_2nd_Texas_Navy.pdf|title=Ships of the First Texas Navy - 1836 |website=Texas Navy Association |access-date=31 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019032848/https://texasnavy.org/Resources/Documents/Historical/Ships/Ships_of_the_First%20_and_2nd_Texas_Navy.pdf |archive-date=19 October 2014}}

When Texas joined the United States in 1846, the Texas Navy was merged into the United States Navy.

{{Main|Texas Marines}}

The Texas Marines, officially the Marine Corps of the Republic of Texas, were the naval infantry of the Texas Navy tasked with enforcing discipline aboard ships, providing security at shore stations, sharpshooting, and naval boarding. It was officially established on 14 January 1836 and modeled after the United States Marine Corps.{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qjr02|title=REPUBLIC OF TEXAS MARINE CORPS|last=Sullivan|first=David M.|website=Texas State Historical Association}}

Land promised in advance of military service is called a bounty,Miller, Thomas Lloyd. 1972. The Public Lands of Texas: 1519–1970. Texas A&M University Press. which is a military tradition dating back beyond the Roman Empire, and was a well-established tradition in American military history prior to hostilities in Texas during the revolution. The founders of the Republic of Texas attempted to bolster recruitment into the armed forces through the generous inducement of land for military service. The policy in Texas was inconsistent, as not all Texas veterans were treated equally. Veterans of the Texas Navy, due to political rivalries, were excluded from taking part in the land-granting policies, or "unnecessary extravagance", as it was explained by President Sam Houston at the time of his veto.Harkins, James. 2011. The Denial of a Sailors Bounty. Saving Texas History Newsletter. Pp. 4–5. Archives and Records, Texas General Land Office

Texas passed its first bounty act on 24 November 1835, when the general council created a regular army and promised those who served in it for two years {{convert|640|acre|km2}} of land.Gammels Laws, I, 925. The amount of land given in bounty land grants changed over the years; however, it was eventually settled that 320 acres would be given for every three months of military service, up to 1280 acres, or the equivalent of one year in service. After the revolution, the Texas government distributed the public lands, especially to veterans. In all, {{convert|9874262|acre|km2}} was granted to veterans of the Texas army, or to Confederate soldiers in Texas.{{rp|54}} Not one of those nearly {{convert|10|e6acre|km2}} was granted for naval service, despite the importance of naval actions in the Gulf during the revolution. "The fact remains that Texas could not have won her independence and maintained it as she did, without the navy," said Texas Navy historian Alex Dienst.Dienst, Alex. 2007. The Texas Navy. Fireship Press.

It has been said that if the United States was Texas's biological parent, then shipping lanes from New Orleans were the umbilical cord that kept the rebellion alive during its embryonic months.Jordan, Jonathan W. 2006. Lone Star Navy: Texas, The Fight for the Gulf of Mexico, and the Shaping of the American West. Potomac Books, Inc. Washington DC. Historians point out that the Texas Navy was of vital importance to the war effort with approximately three-fourths of all troops, supplies and cash originating from the ports of New Orleans. It was seen as nearly impossible for commerce to go through any other channels into Texas other than by ship due to the impractical nature of crossing Louisiana swamplands, and the "Big Thicket" of East Texas. Navy vessels protected against marauding Mexican warships looking to cut the cord that flowed to Texas through Galveston, keeping the fledgling war effort, and eventually the Republic, alive.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

Additionally, military leaders knew the importance of the Texas coast to winning a revolution, or quashing a rebellion. In fact, Mexican General Vicente Filisola remarked, "...the posts of Texas are not sustainable, whilst a maritime force does not co-operate with the operations of the land service." On the other side, Commander James Fannin, in an August 1835 letter, wrote that provisions were scarce for the Mexican army on dry land. He requested naval assistance to the army, asking: "Where is your navy?" He pointed out that if Texas ships could block access to ports, "they [the Mexicans] are ruined."{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

Despite the importance of the Texas Navy to the Texas Revolution, politics got in the way of rewarding Navy veterans with bounty land grants when President Sam Houston, against legislative support, denied land grants to navy veterans in 1842.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

The battle for bounty lands was a political struggle that culminated six years after the revolution, but had roots that stretched back to 1835. Naval policy was another in a long line of differing views between Sam Houston and Mirabeau Lamar. Lamar preferred an aggressive naval policy that encouraged raids around the Gulf of Mexico to intimidate the enemy. Houston, on the other hand, preferred a more acquiescent naval policy that encouraged ships to stay close to shore, protecting ports for industry and commerce.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

These disagreements led to inconsistent policies during the Republic era, as Lamar and Houston traded the presidency back and forth. Robert Potter, a Senator, and the one-time Secretary of the Navy, and Senator James Webb proposed a resolution that would allow bounty land to be granted to navy veterans on 4 November 1841. It was noted on the 18 November 1841 edition of the San Augustine Red-Lander that this "Resolution will meet with much opposition in both Houses, and a warm discussion is expected." After the resolution was passed, it was presented to President Sam Houston, who vetoed the bill on 6 January 1842.Smither, Harriet (Editor). Journals of the Sixth Congress of the Republic of Texas, 1841–1842, Volume 1. 3 November 1841. Page 6.

In Houston's veto message, the President paid tribute to the "exalted Gallantry and distinguished bravery" of the men who went to sea on behalf of the Republic, but he would "not sanction injudicious and unnecessary extravagance" on their behalf. Houston went on to say, "Generally, the seaman has no interest (except a transitory one) on shore." He explained that a people who made their living at sea would pay no attention to improving land granted to them. He believed that to give a land grant to a navy veteran would not benefit the country to any degree, explaining that, "The harpies that are generally found in sea-ports, and to whom seamen usually become indebted, are those only who would profit by the bounty and munificence of the Government."

Houston further explained that it was traditional that the sailor receives his pay, and also receives prize money for capturing enemy vessels. "The sailor has his bounty and prize money as incentives to enlistment and continuance in the service; none expect more," he said. "If moreover, a fleet be in the vicinity of a land army, its co-operation is always supposed, and it accordingly participates in the spoils of victory. If, on the other hand, the victory be achieved by the fleet, the reverse is the case; the Naval corps alone enjoy the entire reward of success."

Houston also claimed that "the sailors who would have claims are either dead or scattered to the winds of heaven." However, army veterans and their heirs were eligible to receive bounty land whether they lived or died. Houston continued, "If bounty land were granted, the few who survived would deem it valueless, because not one of them would be willing to penetrate the wilderness in quest of a place to locate it, some hundreds of miles beyond the frontiers; and rather than make the attempt, they would be willing to sell it for a trifle."

Infuriated by the complete disdain that the "Navy hating" President of the Republic had shown, Robert Potter re-introduced a joint resolution on 25 January 1842 that would hopefully pass over the President's veto, authorizing the Secretary of War and Navy to issue certificates of bounty land to the officers, seamen, and marines of the Navy.Smither, Harriet (Editor). Journals of the Sixth Congress of the Republic of Texas, 1841–1842, Volume 1. 7 January 1842. Page 210. Despite Potter's reputation as a good steward of public land and his continual support of the navy, his arguments fell upon deaf ears as he continued to push the issue, to no success.Fischer, Ernest C. 2006. Robert Potter: Founder of the Texas Navy. Pelican Publishing. The issue was tabled as President Houston ran out the clock on the bounty land for navy veterans' bill, and the issue would never be broached again.

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{{Main|Texas Marine Department}}

The Texas Marine Department was a branch of the Confederate States War Department that operated in Galveston during the American Civil War. It was not a component of the Texas Military Forces, nor did it operate under the Texas Military Department chain of command. It is similar to the United States Army Department of Texas

In the aftermath of World War II, which saw 24 Nazi U-boats attack 70 ships in the Battle of the Gulf of Mexico, sinking 56 of them, the Adjutant General of Texas Major General Kearie Lee Berry reestablished Texas naval forces to "provide well-trained coastal and inland patrols." The initiative was authorized by the Commander-in-Chief of Texas Military Forces, Governor Beauford H. Jester, and the First Naval Battalion of the Texas State Guard was officially established on 31 October 1948. Its first and ultimately only vessel was the Sumoria, a 60-foot diesel-powered yacht commanded by Sterling Hogan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/41422042|title=Texas Navy Sails Again Sunday After 103 Years|date=31 October 1948|work=Valley Morning Star}}{{Cite web|url=https://tmd.texas.gov/the-long-proud-history-of-the-texas-state-guard|title=The long, proud history of the Texas State Guard|last=Gately|first=John|website=Texas Military Department}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.flpublicarchaeology.org/blog/teslaproject/wreck-sites/world-war-ii/|title=Shipwrecks in the Gulf, World War II|website=Florida Public Archaeology Network}}

In the midst of the final battle of the Texas tideland dispute with the United States, "the most serious conflict of the century between the states and the federal government", the Commander-in-Chief of Texas Military Forces, Governor Price Daniel, reestablished the Texas Navy in 1958 as an additional effort of inciting public sentiment for Texas naval interests.{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/mgt02|title=TIDELANDS CONTROVERSY|last=Daniel|first=Price|website=Texas State Historical Association}}{{Cite web|url=https://texasnavy.org/resources/Documents/Historical/General/Timeline_History_of_the_Texas_Navy.pdf|title=Timeline History of the Texas Navy|website=Texas Navy Association}}

He declared the "memory and heritage of the Texas Navy can be preserved best by Texas citizens who are willing to continue by every lawful means the defense of the rights and boundaries of the State." It is often referred to as the Third Texas Navy and was theoretically akin to the United States Merchant Marine. However, it did not fall under the Texas Military Department chain of command, nor have an operational charter. It primarily served as a social and ceremonial club to commemorate the history of the Texian Navy and Second Texas Navy. It was headquartered at Houston Yacht Club and held annual Admiral Balls where the governor would review the fleet at the San Jacinto Monument. The fleet primarily consisted of civilian vessels from its members with the {{USS|Texas|BB-35|6}} serving as flagship. Officers were selected on their merits and commissioned by the Governor as Admirals in the Texas Navy.{{cite web|url=http://www.texasnavy.com/History/General/A_Brief_Overview_of_the_Texas_Navy.pdf|title=Texas Navy Association – Historical – General Information|access-date=31 July 2017}}File:Ceremonial flag of the Texas Navy Association.svg

Although the Tideland dispute was settled on 1 June 1960, the Third Texas Navy continued to function as a social club. In 1970, its headquarters were relocated to Galveston by Governor Preston Smith. In October 1972, it was re-designated the Texas Navy Association and chartered as a nonprofit organization by Secretary of State Bob Bullock. In 1973, the Sixty-third Texas Legislature passed S.B. 94, which established the "Texas Navy Association as the official governing body of Texas Navy operations". As of 2019, the Texas Navy Association is still in operation.{{Cite web|url=https://texasnavy.org/Resources/Documents/A_Brief_History_of_the_TNA.pdf|title=A Brief History of the Organization of the Texas Navy Association|website=Texas Navy Association}}

{{Main|Texas State Guard}}

The Maritime Regiment of the Texas State Guard, also known as the Texas Maritime Regiment and TMAR, was established by the Commander-in-Chief of Texas Military Forces, Governor Rick Perry, in 2006. It is the naval militia force of Texas tasked with providing sea, littoral, and riverine operational support for homeland defense, including civil contingency, security, rescue, and disaster operations in conjunction with the United States Coast Guard, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Forest Service, and the Lower Colorado River Authority. It operates and maintains a fleet of brown-water watercraft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.txsg.state.tx.us/Data/Sites/1/txsgdocs/factsheeets/txsg_fs_06-11.pdf|title=Fact Sheet, Texas Maritime Regiment|website=Texas Military Department|access-date=29 September 2019|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203115350/https://www.txsg.state.tx.us/Data/Sites/1/txsgdocs/factsheeets/txsg_fs_06-11.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://tmd.texas.gov/state-guard|title=Texas State Guard Components|publisher=Texas Military Department}}

• Awards and decorations of the Texas Military
• List of conflicts involving the Texas Military
• Texas Military Department
• Texas Military Forces

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book | last = Jordan | first = Jonathan | title = Lone Star Navy: Texas, the Fight for the Gulf of Mexico, and the Shaping of the American West | publisher = Potomac Books |location = Washington, DC | year = 2006 | isbn = 978-1-57488-512-5 }}
• {{cite book | last = Meed | first = Douglas | title = The Fighting Texas Navy, 1832–1843 | publisher = Republic of Texas Press | location=Plano, TX | year = 2001 | isbn = 978-1-55622-885-8 }}
• {{cite book | last = Wells | first = Tom | title = Commodore Moore and the Texas Navy | publisher = University of Texas Press | location = Austin | year = 1988 | isbn = 978-0-292-71118-1 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/commodoremooret00tomh_0 }}
• {{cite journal | title = Flags and Seals of Texas | journal = South Texas Law Review | date = February 1992 | first = Charles A. | last = Spain Jr. | volume = 33 | issue = 1 |pages = 215–259 | url = http://www.flagguys.com/pdf/txspain1.pdf}}
• {{cite book |last=Dienst |first=Alex |title=The Texas Navy |ref=Dienst |publisher=Fireship Press |year=2007 |pages=208 |isbn=978-1-934757-04-8 }} Originally published by Dienst in 1909 as The Navy of the Republic of Texas.
• Fischer, Earnest G (1900), Robert Potter: Founder of the Texas Navy, Pelican Publishing Company Incorporated, pp. 320, {{ISBN|0882890808}}
• Hill, Jim Dan (1987), The Texas Navy: in forgotten battles and shirtsleeve diplomacy, State House Press, pp. 224, {{ISBN|0938349171}}
• Stone, Barry (2011), True Crime and Punishment, Mutinies: Shocking Real-life Stories of Subversion at Sea, Pier 9, Murdoch Books, pp. 151–152, {{ISBN|1741966345|}}
• Sullivan, Roy F. (2010), The Texas Navies, AuthorHouse, Bloomington, IN, pp. 176, {{ISBN|1449052584}}

• [http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/republic/uniforms.htm Texas Navy, Marines, and Coast Guards - Uniforms of the Republic of Texas] (Texas Military Forces Museum.org)
• [https://texasnavy.org/ Texas Navy Association]

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Category:Texas Revolution

Category:Military of the Republic of Texas

Category:Military units and formations established in 1836

Category:1846 disestablishments

Category:1836 establishments in the Republic of Texas

Category:Texas Military Department

Category:Texas Military Forces