Texan schooner San Bernard

The Texan schooner "San Bernard" was a two-masted schooner of the Second Texas Navy from 1839-1840. She was the sister ship of the "San Jacinto" and the "San Antonio". In 1840, "San Antonio" was part of the Texas Navy flotilla led by Commodore Edwin Ward Moore which was dispatched to assist Yucatecan rebels that had taken up arms against Mexico. Returning to the Yucatan in 1841, "San Bernard" assisted in the capture of three Mexican prizes. Upon return to Galveston, "San Bernard" was driven ashore and was not repaired. When Texas joined the United States in 1846, "San Bernard" was transferred to the United States Navy and then sold for $150.

Background of the Texas Navy

The Texas Navy was officially formed in January 1836, with the purchase of four schooners: "Invincible", "Brutus", "Independence", and "Liberty". These ships, under the command of Commodore Charles Hawkins, helped Texas win independence by preventing a Mexican blockade of the Texas coast, seizing Mexican ships carrying reinforcements and supplies to its army, and sending their cargoes to the Texas volunteer army. Nevertheless, Mexico refused to recognize Texas as an independent country. By the middle of 1837, all of the ships had been lost at sea, run aground, captured, or sold. With no ships to impede a possible invasion by Mexico, Texas was vulnerable to attack.

In 1838, President Mirabeau B. Lamar responded to this threat by forming a second Texas Navy. Unlike Sam Houston, Lamar was an ardent supporter of the Texas Navy and saw the urgent need for its continuation. The second Texas Navy was placed under the command of Commodore Edwin Ward Moore, an Alexandria Academy graduate who was recruited from the United States Navy. [cite web | title=The Texian Navy| publisher=Sons of the Republic of Texas| url=http://www.srttexas.org/PDF%20files/SRT_Texas_Navy.pdf | accessdate=2007-11-01] One of the ships of this second navy was the "San Jacinto" along with her sister ships, the "San Jacinto" and "San Bernard".

History of the "San Bernard"

Originally built as one of the Baltimore clippers at the Schott and Whitney shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland and called "Scorpion", she was one of the smallest of a class of schooners and brigs built specifically for the slave trade between 1820 and 1850. A group of six schooners, including "La Amistad" was built in Baltimore around 1836. They were identified as being " [p] urposely built and fitted out for use in the slave trade by the United States Consul General in Havana", and "AScorpion" was typical of the class. [cite web | title=La Amistad| url=http://www.tricoastal.com/amistad.html| accessdate=2007-11-24]

On patrol and carrying dispatches

On June 26, 1840, the "San Bernard" sailed from Galveston with the rest of the flotilla under the command of Commodore Edwin W. Moore. After a season of patrolling off the Texas coast to intercept smugglers and to engage in surveys and cartography, Lt. Crisp and the "San Bernard" delivered Texas agent James Webb to Veracruz, arriving on May 31 1841 but were refused landing rights by port officials. "San Bernard" remained off the coast of Veracruz until the end of June and then sailed for the Yucatan. While crossing the Bay of Campeche, her topmast was carried away and she was compelled to return to Galveston, reaching port on June 20 1841. cite web | last=Cutrer| first=Thomas |title=San Bernard| work =Handbook of Texas Online |publisher=Texas State Historical Association| url=http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/SS/qts2.html| accessdate=2007-11-24]

Capturing prizes

Joining the flagship "Austin" and "San Antonio", "San Bernard" set sail again for the Yucatan on 13 December 1841. The flotilla reached Sisal on 6 January 1842, For the next couple of months, she participated in the capture of the Mexican merchant vessels "Progreso", "Dolorita" and the "Dos Amigos" in April 1842. Off Tampico, Lt. Crisp and "San Bernard" were ordered back to Galveston to deliver dispatches and reports. "San Bernard" did not return to Commodore Moore and the rest of the Texas fleet until April 24 1842.

Beached and rotting

At the end of this cruise "San Bernard" returned to Galveston in early September. The ship was badly worm-eaten. Despite authorization to have her repaired in New Orleans, no funds were provided to pay for the work by the Minister of War and Marine. Later that month, the "San Bernard" was driven ashore by a gale, and lacking the $500 required to refloat her and have her repaired she became a deserted hulk in Galveston harbor.

Transfer to the U.S. Navy

When Texas was annexed by the United States, the "San Bernard" and "Austin" were transferred to the United States Navy, on May 11, 1846. When the United States fleet found no place for "San Bernard", she was sold for $150.

Commanders of the Vessel

The "San Antonio" was commanded by:

* Lt. A.C. Hinton, September—November 1839
* Lt. William R. Postell, November 1839—May 1840
* Lt. William S. Williamson, May 1840—November 1840
* Lt. Thurston W. Taylor, November 1840—January 1841
* Lt. James O'Shaunnesy, January 1841—March 1841
* Lt. Dowling H. Crisp, March 1841—May 1846

References

Further reading

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