The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910 Page: 5

The Navy of the Republic of Texas.

ernment for any purpose whatever, and, as an application has been
made by the Commander of the station to transfer her to the pilot
of Galveston, with a view of making a light boat of her, upon
such terms as he believes would be beneficial to the public interest,
I advise this measure, believing it will not interfere with the best
interests of the navy, and that it will be of great advantage to
our growing commerce.
Not another word we can find concerning her, except in the
Tennison Papers, in the original order of A. C. Hinton command-
ing the naval station at Galveston, and addressed to William A.
Tennison, midshipman, on board the Potomac at Galveston, order-
ing him to report to Lieutenant William S. Williamson .on board
the brig of war Brazos, for duty.1 This is the only time the brig
of war Brazos is mentioned officially or otherwise. Where she came
from, or what became of her, no existing documents relate. Under
another name, she may have played some part in Texas history.
That there was such a, vessel in the navy in 1842, there is no
question, as the document mentioning it is original and genuine.
For the sake of economy, the president ordered the secretary
of the navy to disband the officers and men of the navy until ves-
sels could be procured for them. Only enough were retained to
man the Potomac and the naval station at Galveston.2 This act,
while a hardship, on the officers and men, was proper under the
circumstances, and proved quite a saving to the government; as
it was some time before the men were needed.
Fate was very kind to Texas .at this time, when she had no
navy and was seemingly at the mercy of her enemy. The French
government, having certain claims against 'Mexico, which Mexico
declined to satisfy, assembled a considerable naval force at Vera
Cruz and declared the Mexican ports blockaded. Shortly after the
inauguration of the new president of Texas, M. B. Lamar, on
December 9, 1838, Texas was gratified with the intelligence of the
capture of Vera Cruz. The blockade of the French having failed
to bring the government to terms, Admiral Baudin despatched a
messenger to General Rinc6n, the Mexican commandant, inform-
ing him that he was about to attack the castle of San Juan
1 inton to Tennison, an undated autograph letter signed.
'Report of Secretary of Navy, October 30, 1838, in House Journal, 3d Tex.
Cong., 1st Sess., 15-16.