The provisional government of 1835 provided for a navy to serve the new
Republic of Texas. It was not a very formidable navy. It consisted at
first of two vessels—the schooners the _Invincible_ and the _Liberty_.
Afterward were added the _Independence_, which became the flag-ship of
Commodore Hawkins, commandant of the fleet, the _Brutus_, and several
small sloops, including the _Champion_ and the _Julius Cæsar_.
These ships cruised about the Gulf of Mexico, watching the coast and
doing what they could with their small guns to annoy the Mexican
war-vessels. Early in April, 1836, the _Invincible_, commanded by
Captain Jerry Brown, met the Mexican brig, the _Montezuma_, near Tampico
and fired upon her. A spirited engagement followed which lasted several
hours, and in which the _Montezuma_ was badly disabled. She drew off,
and in attempting to enter the harbor ran aground.
The _Invincible_ sailed away unhurt, and the next day met and captured
the American brig, the _Pocket_, which was on her way to a Mexican port
with a cargo of supplies for Santa Anna’s army. Captain Brown brought
the _Pocket_ into Galveston, whence the supplies were forwarded to the
army.
The _Invincible_, lying at that time in the bay, received from Captain
Calder the first news of the victory at San Jacinto, and Captain Brown
at once “turned loose Old Tom” to express his own joy therefor.
The _Yellowstone_ came down from the Texan camp and landed the Mexican
prisoners on the island; she then proceeded to Velasco, having on board
the President and his cabinet officers, and General Santa Anna and his
staff.
The _Invincible_ was ordered to follow, and after signing the treaty,
Santa Anna was conducted on board, and Captain Brown received orders to
sail to Vera Cruz with the defeated general. The Texan commissioners
empowered to treat with the Mexican government were also on board. As
already related, Santa Anna was taken ashore again and placed in prison.
The _Invincible_ with the _Brutus_ was soon afterward sent to New York
for repairs. The _Liberty_ conveyed General Houston to New Orleans, and
was there sold to pay her war-expenses.
The new Congress was without means to meet the cost of repairing and
refitting the _Invincible_ and her sister ship. They were on the point
of being sold when Henry Swartwout, the collector of the port of New
York, with great generosity provided the money from his private purse.
They were completely equipped and sent to sea the same year.
In 1837 the entire fleet set out for a cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. The
_Champion_ and the _Julius Cæsar_ were taken by the enemy on the 12th of
April. Both carried valuable cargoes, and their loss was a keen blow to
the young government.
On the 17th of April the _Independence_ encountered near Velasco two
Mexican brigs of war,—the _Libertador_, armed with sixteen 18-pound guns
and manned with one hundred and forty men, and the _Vincedor_, with six
12-pounders and one hundred men. The _Independence_ had but thirty-one
men. The action, in which the Texans behaved with great gallantry, was a
short and severe one. It ended in the capture of the _Independence_. The
crew were sent as prisoners to Matamoras.
[Illustration: Old Capitol at Houston (1837). From an old Print.]
A little later the _Invincible_ and the _Brutus_ captured the Mexican
schooners, the _Obispo_ and the _Telegraph_. Both boats were sent in as
prizes.
In August the _Brutus_ and the _Invincible_ reached Galveston with
another prize. The _Brutus_ with the prize entered the harbor safely,
but the _Invincible_ did not succeed in passing the bar. She was
attacked the next morning (26th) by two Mexican ships. The _Brutus_
started out to assist her, but ran aground and lay helpless on the sand.
The _Invincible_ held her own against the enemy all day; at nightfall
she struck on the breakers. Her crew were saved, but the gallant old
ship went to pieces.
The next year (1838) a new navy was voted by Congress. Several vessels
were bought, but there was now no duty for them to perform. They were
placed in the service of Yucatan, which was in revolt against Mexico.
Some years later, when Texas was annexed to the United States, they
passed into the navy of that country.
The _Brutus_, the last ship of the old Texan navy, was lost in a storm
at Galveston Bay as late as 1867.