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      eHistory  >  American Civil War  >  Battles  >  Galveston II Search
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Galveston II (1863)
 
War:   American Civil War
 
Date(s):   1 Jan 1863
 
Location:   Galveston County, Texas, US
 
Outcome:   Confederate victory
 
Description:   Col. Isaac S. Burrell, USA Cdr. W.B. Renshaw, USN
Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder, CSA

Burrell had three companies, while Renshaw had several warships. The Confederates had four gunboats and a much larger ground force.

The Confederates lost 50 men but inflicted about 600 casualties, mostly prisoners.

Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder, who became the Confederate commander of military forces in Texas on November 29, 1862, gave the recapture of Galveston top priority. At 3:00 am on New Year's Day, 1863, four Confederate gunboats appeared, coming down the bay toward Galveston. Soon afterward, the Rebels commenced a land attack. The Union forces in Galveston were three companies (D, G, and I) of the 42nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment under the command of Col. Isaac S. Burrell. The Confederates captured or killed all of them except for the regiment's adjutant. They also took the Harriet Lane (by boarding) and two barks and a schooner. Cdr. W.B. Renshaw's flagship, U.S.S. Westfield, ran aground when trying to help Harriet Lane and, at 10:00 am, she was blown up to prevent her capture by the Confederates. Galveston was in Confederate hands again although the Union blockade would limit commerce in and out of the harbor.


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Selected sources:
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