The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 65, July 1961 - April, 1962 Page: 253
663 p. : ill., maps (some col.), ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Notes and Documents
one of our Boats the Neptune1o we supposed was disabled, as she re-
mained motionless. We found afterwards that she was sunk by the
fire of the Harriet Lane. But the water was shoal- (Here sleep over-
came me, and after such fatigue as I had undergone, I had a glorious
night's sleep)
Friday Jan. 2nd. I have had another day of hard work, and now sit
down to continue my account of the fight. The other Cotton Gunboat
the Bayou City," hauled up on the Harriet Lane, grappled and our
boys poured in, and the pride of the Yankee Navy was the prize of our
Cow-boys;12 her Captain3 son of Bishop Wainwright of New York,
was killed, with four of his men, including the 2nd Lieut:14 besides
a Negro, who had run away from this neighbourhood; she had also
quite a number wounded, whom I have in Hospital here. There were
79 men and 9 officers taken prisoners on board of her, and 270 men
& officers of the 42nd Massachusetts Regt. who laid down their arms
on the wharf,15 near which the fight took place. In the meantime
the Propeller Gunboate6 was sailing up and down pouring 6o pound
shells and grape shot into our men, and fired on the Harriet Lane
after she was taken. The Flag ship,1" a steamer carrying a very heavy
armament, tried to make her escape, but grounded and was blown up
by Commodore Renshaws who commanded her, he and his men,
going off in one of the transports. Thus ended the Battle of Galveston,
its results being the loss to the enemy of near 400 killed and taken, the
Harriet Lane, a most magnificent vessel carrying 5 exquisitely beau-
tiful and heavy guns, well found and equipped two three masters,1'
one laden with an assorted cargo, the other with coal, and a very
powerful steam ship, carrying seven guns, destroyed-but the poor
Neptune lay sunk, her 24 pounder having burst at the second dis-
loThe Neptune was a small river steamer barricaded with cotton bales for protec-
tion, armed with two twenty-four-pounders, and commanded by Captain W. H.
Sangster.
11The Bayou City was a state owned steamer, also protected by cotton bales, which
mounted a thirty-two-pounder rifle, and was commanded by Captain Henry
S. Lubbock.
12Both Confederate cottonclads were loaded with sharpshooters, from the cavalry
regiments of Colonels Tom Green and Arthur P. Bagby, nicknamed "Horse Marines"
because of their exploits in this battle.
s1Commander Jonathan M. Wainwright.
14Lieutenant Commander Edward Lea.
'sKuhn's Wharf. was at the end of 18th Street.
'6The Owasco was the only regular warship in the Union flotilla, and mounted
four heavy guns.
17The Westfield, a side wheel former ferryboat, was armed with six heavy cannon.
aSCommander William B. Renshaw.
'oElias Pike and Cavallo.253
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 65, July 1961 - April, 1962, periodical, 1962; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101195/m1/283/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.