Dissecting the Civil War
(or at least the Texan portion of it, anyway)
Galveston
WHO? Commander William B. Renshaw (Union Naval Commander)
WHEN? October 2, 1862 - January 1st, 1863
WHAT? Led a brigade and took over galveston, but was stopped 3 months later
WHY? To demand surrender to the Union
How? With a lot of troops, a lot of guns, and a lot of determination
Why Do I Care? This battle helped protect a port (Supply Line) for the states that was basically in charge of supplies for the whole Confederacy.
Sabine Pass
WHEN? September 8, 1863
WHAT? A failed attempt to gain a foothold in Texas
WHY? A need for supplies that Texas had
HOW? With 4,000 soldiers sent by transport from New Orleans
How is this important? This saved us from another invasion from the Union
"Fun" Fact: This was the second time the Union had tried to invade Sabine Pass
Brownsville
WHEN? November 2-6, 1863
WHAT? A successful effort to disrupt Confederate blockade runners along the Gulf Coast.
WHY? To lower defenses and supplies for the Confederacy
HOW? By outnumbering the confederacy with 3 brigades (about 6,000 troops) against a mere 150 confederate soldiers
AND? This significantly disrupted cotton trade in Texas
The Red River campaign (a series of battles)
WHEN? March 10, 1864 – May 22, 1864
WHAT? Nathaniel unsuccessfully attacked Red river with four objectives
WHY? To destroy Taylor's army, capture Shreveport, Louisiana, Steal a butt load of cotton, and organize pro union states in the region.
HOW? He attacked with a lot more troops than the confederacy should have been able to handle, but due to poor planning and mismanagement, he lost.
How is this important? It was the last decisive Confederate victory of the war
Palmito Ranch
WHEN? May 12-13, 1865
WHAT? The Union attacked Brownsville and captured a few people, but the next day the attack was repulsed and became a Confederate victory
WHY? Because they didn't know the war had been over for a month
Why does it matter? Because all of those people died for absolutely no reason :/
Works Cited
"GALVESTON, BATTLE OF." BARR, ALWYN. Web. 04 May 2016. Includes information about the battle of galveston
"SABINE PASS, BATTLE OF." BARR, ALWYN. Web. 04 May 2016. Includes information about the battle of Sabine Pass
"Final Civil War Land Battle Was 150 Years Ago in Brownsville." The Monitor. Web. 04 May 2016. Includes information about the battle of Brownsville
Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations. Web. 04 May 2016. Includes information about the Red River Campaign
"PALMITO RANCH, BATTLE OF." HUNT, JEFFREY WILLIAM. Web. 04 May 2016. Includes information about the battle of Palmito Ranch