Texan schooner Independence

The Texan schooner "Independence" was one of the four schooners of the First Texas Navy (1836-1838). In 1836, Charles Hawkins, a veteran of the United States and Mexican navies, visited Texas Governor Henry Smith, seeking a commission in the new Texas Navy. Smith was impressed with his credentials and sent him to New Orleans, where he was given the task of acquiring the United States Revenue cutter "Ingham" for the Texas Navy, [ cite web | last =Cutrer | first =Thomas | title =Charles Edward Hawkins | work =Handbook of Texas Online | publisher =Texas State Historical Association| url =http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/HH/fhaax.html | accessdate =2007-09-29 ] which he did in early January, 1836, for $1,710. [cite web | title =Ingham, 1832 | publisher =United States Coast Guard| date =October, 2003| url =http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g%2Dcp/history/webcutters/Ingham_1832.html| accessdate =2007-09-29 ]

After the Texas victory at the Battle of San Jacinto in April, 1836, "Independence" carried the Texas President and his captive, General Santa Anna, to Velasco, where the Treaty of Velasco was negotiated and signed.

While being refitted in New Orleans in early 1837, her skipper died and a new Captain was appointed. When next she sailed in April, 1837, "Independence" was attacked and surrendered to a superior Mexican force and her officers and passengers were imprisoned. The ship was later commissioned in the Mexican Navy where she served against her former masters.

ervice during the Texas Revolution

From January until March, 1836, before Texas formally declared her independence from Mexico, Commodore Charles Hawkins cruised the Coahuila y Tejas coast between Galveston and Tampico, destroying "a considerable number of small craft, with all material on board that could be used to the injury of Texas."cite web| last =Cutrer| first =Thomas| title =Independence | work =Handbook of Texas Online | publisher =Texas State Historical Association | url =http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/II/qti1.html | accessdate =2007-09-29 ] By March 12, the "Independence" returned to New Orleans for refitting, but she quickly returned to Matagorda to block supplies to the Mexican Army, skirmishing inconclusively with the Mexican brigs "Urrea" and "Bravo". However, with the retreat of Sam Houston's army after the Texans' defeats at the siege of the Battle of the Alamo and Battle of Goliad, Hawkins was forced to move his ship up the Texas coast from Matagorda to Galveston. With the rebel government in disarray during the Runaway Scrape, "Independence"'s mission was to defend Galveston from invasion and block resupply of Santa Anna's nearby army.

After the decisive Texas victory at the Battle of San Jacinto, "Independence" carried Texas President David G. Burnet and his cabinet along with the now-captive Santa Anna to Velasco, where the Treaty of Velasco was negotiated and signed.

After the Treaty of Velasco

As flagship of the Texas Navy, "Independence" was tasked with conveying diplomatic missions. In June, 1836, the schooner bore commissioners Peter William Grayson and James W. Collinsworth to New Orleans on the first leg of their trip to Washington, D.C. to negotiate the recognition of Texas by the United States.

In the summer of 1836, "Independence" was the only ship of the Texas Navy on duty in the Gulf of Mexico; "Liberty" having been sold to pay the cost of refurbishment and "Invincible" and "Brutus" in New York City for repairs. [cite journal
last =Dienst
first =Alex
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =The Navy of the Republic of Texas
journal =Southwestern Historical Quarterly
volume =12
issue =4
pages =249–275
date =1909
url =http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v012/n4/article_3.html
doi =
id =
accessdate =2007-09-29 ] Mexican authorities had recently repudiated the Treaty of Velasco claiming that General Santa Anna did not have the capacity to bind Mexico to recognize Texas' independence. With rumors of an imminent invasion of Texas by Mexico, "Independence" carried out a screening and patrol action at Matamoros, which the Texans had ordered blockaded.

In the fall of 1836, "Independence" returned to New Orleans for refitting and while there Commodore Hawkins died of smallpox. [cite journal
last =Dienst
first =Alex
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =The Navy of the Republic of Texas
journal =Southwestern Historical Quarterly
volume =12
issue =4
pages =249–275
date =1909
url =http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v012/n4/article_3.html
doi =
id =
accessdate =2007-09-29 ] When "Independence" sailed from New Orleans on April 10, 1837, with Texas minister to the United States, William H. Wharton aboard, she was skippered by her new Captain, George W. Wheelwright, who had been left without a command after the forced sale of "Liberty" in May, 1836.

Battle and surrender

On her next cruise, "Independence" had smooth sailing for about seven days when on April 17 she encountered the Mexican brigs-of-war "Vencedor del Álamo" and "Libertador" off the mouth of the Brazos River. The battle took place within plain view of the entire population of Velasco, including Texas Secretary of the Navy Samuel Rhoads Fisher. The populace witnessed a running cannonade and a raking of the Texan ship when the two Mexican brigs outmaneuvered her. The raking did not substantially damage the schooner but wounded her captain who was taken below. Lieutenant John W. Taylor then took command and continued the battle as the better-armed "Libertador" closed to within pistol shot and took up a position to rake "Independence"s stern.

Taylor struck his colors, surrendering the ship. "Independence"'s officers and Wharton were taken prisoner. Imprisoned in Matamoros, all of the prisoners eventually escaped or were released by the Mexican government. "Independence" was commissioned into the Mexican navy under the name "La Independencia" and continued to serve in the Gulf against the Texans.

References