The Van Buren press., 1870-04-05
entirely discounted, to Harrison's Land

was offered by President DAVIS an iinpor
tant command in the West, but the Gene
raj begged to be allowed to remain until
after the struggle in his native State was
decided.
| Gen. Magruder was then ordered to the
command in Texas, the entire Texas
Congressional delegation requesting his
transfer there. He arrived at Houston
in December, 1862, and found Galveston
and the whole coast in possession Of a
Federal land and naval force, which
threatened an advance by land and water
on Houston, the railroad centre and
principal city of Texas. Gen. Magruder
at once determined to endeavor to retake
Galveston. A combined attack by land
ard water, starting from Houston atnight
was made; the Federal troops in Calves.
ton, after gallant defence, we're captur
ed, and the Federal Fleet in the Bay,
numbering seven or eight war steamers
among them the " Harriet Lane"-was
also compelled to surrender. The Con-
federate forces were led by Gen. DeBray,
Gen. Scurry, Col. Cook, andl other brave
Texans, some Of whom are now number
ed with the dead. They had only few
light field pieces unprotected, to oppose,
from the open beach OF the bay, the
heavy guns of the feet, firing at about
800 yards. Gen. Magrudcr fired the first
gun himself; desperate night struggle
ensued, which was terminated by the at
tack on the Federal vessels by the two
Confederate gunboats-that is to say.
two egg shells of steamboats, drawing
l8 inches water, partially protected by
cetton bales; armed, on the open bows,
one with heavy rifled gun that burst at
the third discharge, and the other with
two light fcld pieces. But the man VINO
commanded this little squadron, Com,
Leon Smith, and the men who assisted
him, the heroic Tom Green and his Tex
as Rangers, Capt. Lubbock and Others,
were men after Magruder's own heart,
determined, truly, to conquer or die. The
Harriet Lane was most gallantly fought
She sunk one Of the Confederate boats !;
but the merciless Confederate sharp
shooters fire from their upper decks.
could not be resisted; the brave captain
in command of the Lane fell dead in re-
sisting, hand TO hand, the rush on board
his decks; his first lieutenant was killed,
fighting to the last and after short but
bloody struggle the Lane was taken.
Among Gen. Magruder's staff, who
came on board with him shortly after,
was prominent and accomplished Texan
just arrived from Richmond, and who
volunteered for the occasion. In the
body of the bravo Federal first lieutenant
stretched on the blood staiued deck, he
recognized his own son.
The Federal commodore. stationed a
short distance up the bay, FASTENED to the
rescue, but his steamer grounded, and he
blew her up, aud himself with her, rather
than surrender. One of the Federal war
steamers managed to escape, after hoist
| ing the white flag; the remainder, with
the troops, sailors, marines, and great
amount of stores, we're all in Gen. Ma
gruder's hands an honur after the Lanes
was hauled down.
Few better planned, more daring, or
more successful contests than this dis
tinguished the war; Gen. Magruder fol-
lowed it up, however, by more daring
one still lie sent Major Oscar Watkins.
(of Louisiana,) one of his staff officers,
to Sabine Pass, having under him small
body Of Texas Infantry and Rangers,
! (who had never been at sea before,) and
company of Irish artillerymen, the
"Davis Guards who had distinguished
themselves at Galveston. Hastily equip
ping two small steamboats, with cotton
bales, to protect the sharpshooters, and
with one ri1ed piece on the larger boat,
Major Watkins started out to attack the
Federal squadron ofthree or four vessels,
stationed Off Sabine Pass, one Of them
heavily armed. The squadron put to sea /;
was followed for thirty miles; and cap
tured after hard fight, by the uncrring
fire of the Texas sharpshootcrs alone, the
field piece bursting at the first fire.
Thenceforward gunboats ceased to be
terror to the Confederates. The block
aiding ships now all left the coast of Tex
as, and Gen. Magruder published to the
world that the blockade was raised the
whole length of the coast, and invited
trade from all foreign nations--intema-
tienal law requiring sixty days notice for
the renewal of the blockade.
Many valuable supplies were brought
into Texas after these brilliant victories,
and the prominent points on the coast
were fortified, by Gen. Magruder's or
ders, under the direction Of that gallant
soldier and skillful engineer, Col. Sula
kowski, citizen of New Orleans
In 1868 Gen. Franklin attempted the
invasion Of Texas by way Of Sabine Pass.
lie had large feet Of transports, four
war steamers, an army OF twelve or iif-
teon thousand men. This formidable in
vasion was defeated by the unequaled
yalor and skill Of the Davis Guards'--
forty two Irish Demonstrations in Sa-
bine Fort, by Gen. Magruder, under
Lieut.. Richard Bowling, formerly ofNcw
Orleans, then of Houston, assisted by
Lieut. Henncssey, OF Houston. Their
rour heavy guns completely commanded
the two channels that led by the fort, but
with the artillerymen and their officers,
were entirely unprotected from the fire
Of the sharpshooters who swarmed on
the approaching gunboats, Bowling, as
modest and pious rs he was cool and
brave, made his men knecl and say their
prayers, and then went to the guns stood
the hot Federal fire, ut close range, calm
| ly and unshrinkingly but when ho did
fire, blew up aud sunk both the gunboats,
thus completely obstructing the channels,