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The Texas schooner ''Invincible'' was one of the four schooners of the First Texas Navy (1836-1838), serving from January, 1836 until she was run aground at Galveston, Texas on August 27 , 1837 while being pursued by two ships of the Mexican Navy and was wrecked. During her short career in the service of the Republic Of Texas , she was a raider and flagship of the small navy. PURCHASE AND COMMISSIONING OF THE ''INVINCIBLE'' Originally built to be a coast. Captain Jeremiah Brown was given command of the ''Invincible'' on March 12, 1836 in Galveston. BATTLE OF BRAZOS SANTIAGO AND CAPTURE OF ''POCKET'' Captain Brown was immediately ordered to defend the Texas coast and seek out and engage the Mexican Man Of War ''Montezuma''. The Invincible cruised south to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where on April 3 , 1836 , ''Invincible'' encountered the 20-gun Man-of-War in an area then-called Brazos Santiago (now called Boca Chica ) at the mouth of Laguna Madre . After an exchange of Broadsides the ''Montezuma'' ran aground on a sandbar, and her crew escaped. ''Invincible'' barraged the Mexican cruiser until she was destoyed. Official website of the Texas Navies Later that same day, the ''Invincible'' sighted and engaged the . ''Pocket'' had been en route from Matamoros to Santa Anna's army in Texas with a contraband cargo of flour, rice, lard, biscuit, and 300 kegs of powder. Based on the accumulated evidence, Brown assigned a Prize Crew and escorted ''Pocket'' to Galveston. ''Invincible'' arrived on April 8, and there he learned from captured documents that Santa Anna had plans to capture all Texas ports and to station 1,000 men on Galveston Island . Thus forewarned, the Texas government quickly fortified the strategically important and most populous Texas' island. The provisions captured aboard the Pocket ultimately were consigned to Sam Houston's army. "Jeremiah Brown", ''Handbook of Texas Online''. Texas State Historical Association. Texas historian Jim Dan Hill, writing during the Texas Centennial in 1836 credited the ''Invincible'' with contributing mightily to Sam Houston 's vistory at San Jacinto by depriving the Mexicans of reinforcements that would have been brought by ''Montezuma'' and by redirecting ''Pocket'''s supplies to the Texians just before the battle.Hill, Jim Dan. ''The Texas Navy, in Forgotten Battles and Shirtsleeve Diplomacy''. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1937. Reprint, Austin: State House Press, 1987. CHARGES OF PIRACY Brown immediately left Galveston after disposing of the prize because ''Invincible'' was due to be refitted in New Orleans. However, word of the ''Pocket'''s capture upset certain New Orleans merchants and insurance carriers, whose lobbying forced local federal officials to take action against the Texans under the guise of protecting American shipping in the Gulf of Mexico. On May 1 , 1836 , the captain and crew of the ''Invincible'' were arrested and charged with Piracy under U.S. laws. However, the charge was not substantiated, and the crew was released. "Invincible", ''Handbook of Texas Online''. Texas State Historical Association. After some delays, the schooner ''Invincible'' returned to Galveston where she was ordered to Anahuac where she was supposed to transport the captive Santa Anna to Veracruz as part of the Treaty Of Velasco . On June 5 , 1836 , General Thomas Jefferson Green arrived in Anahuac with American volunteers aboard a Texas contract vessel, ''Ocean''. The ''Ocean'' prevented the ''Invincible'' from getting underway, and Santa Anna was again detained and after an abortive escape attempt was clapped in irons. Thus relieved of his prisoner, Captain Brown sailed south to defend the Texas coast. On "). After the ''Invincible'' approached the blockading vessel, the ''Vencedor'' withdrew without firing a shot. ''Invincible'' nevertheless chased her as far as Veracruz. REPAIRS IN NEW YORK: ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE BAILIFF AND THE U.S. NAVY On , the U.S. collector for the Port of New York City (and a noted Texas benefactor). Swartwout helped settle the crew’s debts and save the ship from being sold at auction, like her sister ship ''Liberty'' . When all the bills were settled, the ''Invincible'' departed New York with great haste, just ahead of a pursuing United States Navy vessel with orders to arrest the crew and detain the vessel for violating the neutrality of the United States. "Invincible" ''Handbook of Texas Online''. Texas State Historical Association. NEW CAPTAIN AND FINAL BATTLE Captain Brown returned his ship to Galveston on March 14 , 1837 . That month he was relieved of duty by order of the new President , Sam Houston, and ''Invincible'' was placed under the command of Commodore H. L. Thompson . "Jeremiah Brown", ''Handbook of Texas Online''. Texas State Historical Association. Houston was skeptical of the need for Texas to have a strong navy fearing aggressive naval action would lead to international incidents. ''Invincible'' became the flagship of the two-ship Texas navy in June, 1837 after ''Independence'' surrendered to the Mexican warships ''Vencedor del Álamo'' and ''Libertador''. Captain Thompson was accompanied on this voyage by Samuel Rhoads Fisher , Texas' Secretary Of The Navy , as he set out from Galveston in June, 1837 to harrass Mexican shipping and raid coastal towns. ''Invincible'' captured several prize vessels including the British merchantman ''Eliza Russell'' which caused a serious diplomatic challenge as Texas was seeking British recognition. Texas Minister J. Pinckney Henderson eventually smoothed over the contretemps but the Texas government had to pay British claims totaling about $4,000. As a result of this embarassment, both Captain Thompson and Secretary Fisher were suspended by President Houston. Fisher later resigned, and Thompson died before a naval investigation could formally start. "Invincible" ''Handbook of Texas Online''. Texas State Historical Association. On August 26 , 1837 , the ''Invincible'' escorted the ''Brutus'' into Galveston harbor. The Brutus had a Mexican prize vessel, ''Abispa'', in tow. ''Invincible'' anchored in the channel overnight and the next day she was assailed by ''Vencedor del Alamo'' and ''Libertador''. The ''Brutus'' cleared for action and attempted to assist the ''Invincible'' but she ran aground on a sandbar at the entrance to the harbor. The ''Invincible'' was left alone to engage the two Mexican cruisers. After a prolonged engagement, the Invincible attempted to flee from the battle, but due to the shallow tide, snagged her rudder on the harbor bar and ran aground. She was then quickly pounded to pieces by the breakers until her hull completely disappeared. Official website of the Texas Navies With the wreck of the schooners ''Invincible'' and ''Brutus'', the First Texas Navy was at an end. The wreck site may have been discovered in 1995 by the National Undersea Marine Agency , founded by Clive Cussler . NUMA website REFERENCES |
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