Author: Robert M. Franklin

Publisher:

Published: 2015-07-09

Total Pages: 20

ISBN-13: 9781331046943

Excerpt from Battle of Galveston, January 1st, 1863 I shall endeavor this afternoon, to comply with your request, and give you an account, as an eye-witness, of the attack by land and water, on the Federal Squadron and troops in Galveston harbor, by the Confederates, on January 1 st, 1863, generally referred to as the Battle of Galveston. There has been much told and written about this affair, by parties who were, for one reason or another, without accurate information on the subject, and who made no effort to sift out the facts from the mass of false rumors and yarns circulated at the time. You will, I hope, pardon a brief reference to the subordinate part which I played as one of the Horse-marines (so called at the time) in this Tragedy of the Seas; since the reference is necessary to show that my account is drawn largely from my own knowledge and information on the subject. On December 25th, 1862, when General Magruder, through Col. C.G. Forshey, of the Engineers, issued his order to Colonel DeBray, commanding the Eastern Sub-District (military) of Texas, at Houston, to have the river steamers Bayou City and Neptune fitted up, under the supervision of Major Leon Smith, for an attack on the Federal vessels, I was the Adjutant of DeBray sRegiment, and on detached service, as A.A.A.G., with Colonel DeBray. I was thus early advised of this movement, and being tired of the inactivity of life at Post Headquarters, I obtained permission from my chief, and offered my services to Major (Captain) Smith, who put me to work in the capacity of Aide, Middie, Roustabout, or whatever name is suited to his aggregation of volunteer sailors, Artillery men. Cavalry men, and Civilians, who eventually manned the boats; but whatever the rank, I was with Smith on the Bayou City, during the engagement, tried to stay close to him and see what was going on. You will have to take my word for this, however, as Smith, a bluff sailor, more gallant than courteous, not only neglected to recognize my service in his report, but left me alone in charge of a captured bark (The Elias Pike) anchored in the harbor, and apparently forgot my existence, as I remained on board for three days and was then relieved through a remarkable coincidence. In this connection I must correct a statement in General Magruders Report, (Series 1, Vol. 15, Page 219 U.S. War Records). The General says: On January 3 rd, I being then on board the Harriet Lane, a yawl-boat, containing several men in command of a person named Thomas Smith, recently a citizen of Galveston, and who had deserted from our army, was reported along side. This statement does not conform to the facts, which were as follows: On the day of battle, Commodore Smith, on the Steamer John F.Carr had pursued the enemys vessels to the outer bar, and on his return had towed the Bark Elias Pike from Boliver Roadstead, and anchored her in midstream off 18 th Street, leaving me in charge and alone, except a sailor and cabin boy of the Bark, who had remained on the vessel, when the crew abandoned her. Shortly after noon on January 3 rd, this man Smith, a deserter commonly known as Nicaragua Smith, was sent in company with another deserter and four marines, into the harbor for a pilot, to bring the Transport Cambria over the bar. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com