The Texas Marine Department (1861–1865) (alt Marine Department of Military District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, Trans-Mississippi Marine Department) was formed in the State of
Texas shortly after Texas came under blockade from the
Union Navy in 1861. It operated under the control of the Confederate Army during the Civil War.[1]
"The Texas Marine Department, an organization unique in the Confederacy, combined the roles of a conventional navy, revenue service, and military logistics command."[2]
The ships in the Marine Department mainly consisted of small vessels, improvised
cottonclad warships, and some captured US Navy ships.
The Department was instrumental in the liberation of
Galveston, occupied by the Union, and winning the
Battle of Galveston on January 1, 1863.[3] It was disbanded at the end of the war.[4]
Commanders
Commander William W. Hunter: from 1861 until December 1862. Hunter was a regular
Confederate States Navy's commander (later in the war promoted to Captain, commanded the Savannah squadron).[5][6][7]
Leon Smith: December 1862 - August 1864. Smith was variously described as lieutenant, captain, major, colonel, and commodore, but was a volunteer not actually commissioned in either the Confederate army or navy, despite General
John B. Magruder's repeated attempts to secure a commission for him.[5]
Lieutenant
Joseph Nicholson Barney: regular
Confederate States Navy officer sent to take control of operation, however following discussions with Magruder who was not willing to relinquish controls of the cottonclads, Barney conceded the appointment, and in a letter to Confederate naval secretary Stephen Mallory recommended that the navy relinquish control. Barney later explained that he made his recommendation since he considered that the presence of two separate marine forces with independent commanders would lead to discord and confusion.[5]
Hall, Andrew W. (2012). "Chapter 5: The Texas Marine Department". The Galveston-Houston packet : steamboats on Buffalo Bayou. Charleston, SC: History Press.
ISBN9781609495916.
OCLC812531247.
Marmion, Bob (1985). A Texas soldier & marine during the Civil War, 1861-65: A short biography of Captain James R. Marmion's service in the Confederate States Army and the Texas Marine Department. Melbourne, Australia: n.a.
OCLC12741684.
Bullard, Thomas R. (1988). Civil War Naval Squadrons. n.a.
OCLC19608916.
The Texas Marine Department (1861–1865) (alt Marine Department of Military District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, Trans-Mississippi Marine Department) was formed in the State of
Texas shortly after Texas came under blockade from the
Union Navy in 1861. It operated under the control of the Confederate Army during the Civil War.[1]
"The Texas Marine Department, an organization unique in the Confederacy, combined the roles of a conventional navy, revenue service, and military logistics command."[2]
The ships in the Marine Department mainly consisted of small vessels, improvised
cottonclad warships, and some captured US Navy ships.
The Department was instrumental in the liberation of
Galveston, occupied by the Union, and winning the
Battle of Galveston on January 1, 1863.[3] It was disbanded at the end of the war.[4]
Commanders
Commander William W. Hunter: from 1861 until December 1862. Hunter was a regular
Confederate States Navy's commander (later in the war promoted to Captain, commanded the Savannah squadron).[5][6][7]
Leon Smith: December 1862 - August 1864. Smith was variously described as lieutenant, captain, major, colonel, and commodore, but was a volunteer not actually commissioned in either the Confederate army or navy, despite General
John B. Magruder's repeated attempts to secure a commission for him.[5]
Lieutenant
Joseph Nicholson Barney: regular
Confederate States Navy officer sent to take control of operation, however following discussions with Magruder who was not willing to relinquish controls of the cottonclads, Barney conceded the appointment, and in a letter to Confederate naval secretary Stephen Mallory recommended that the navy relinquish control. Barney later explained that he made his recommendation since he considered that the presence of two separate marine forces with independent commanders would lead to discord and confusion.[5]
Hall, Andrew W. (2012). "Chapter 5: The Texas Marine Department". The Galveston-Houston packet : steamboats on Buffalo Bayou. Charleston, SC: History Press.
ISBN9781609495916.
OCLC812531247.
Marmion, Bob (1985). A Texas soldier & marine during the Civil War, 1861-65: A short biography of Captain James R. Marmion's service in the Confederate States Army and the Texas Marine Department. Melbourne, Australia: n.a.
OCLC12741684.
Bullard, Thomas R. (1988). Civil War Naval Squadrons. n.a.
OCLC19608916.