Texan schooner Invincible

Because of the activities of Mexican raiding vessels along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the provisional government of Texas in the 1830s became acutely aware of the need for a navy.[2] On the day that Texas acquired the first ship to the purpose, Liberty, the General Council reported that they were being offered another, Invincible, which they recommended be examined and, if suitable, purchased immediately. Originally built as a slave trader in a Baltimore shipyard, the schooner was being presented to the government by new owners, Texas special agents Thomas F. McKinney and Samuel May Williams, who had purchased her for $12,013.02 and were asking a 12.5% commission.[2][3] She was approved and purchased three days thereafter, on January 8, 1836.

The schooner had been built sturdily, but for speed, and was fitted in New Orleans with two 18-pounder long guns, two 9-pounders and four 6-pounders.[2] The costs were borne by General Thomas J. Green, Texas general agent William Bryan, and purchasing agent Edward Hall. By the time the 70-crew Invincible was prepared for service, she cost almost $20,000.00.

On March 12, 1836, she was given over to the command of Captain Jeremiah Brown.

Captain Brown had been given a specific initial mission: to protect the Texas coast from the Mexican man-of-war Montezuma.[2][4] On April 3, 1836, he found her. By that time renamed Bravo, the 20-gun man-of-war was near the mouth of the Rio Grande awaiting a refit for a lost rudder when Invincible came up. One of her lieutenants, William H. Leving, was sent to Bravo on a small boat, but when Bravo attempted to flee with Leving on board, Invincible opened fire. Bravo ran aground on a sandbar near the north beach and there broadsides destroyed her. While Invincible suffered no damage in the conflict, Bravo's crew escaped with Leving and hanged him for piracy.

Invincible's battle with Bravo was witnessed by the captain and crew of the American-owned brig Pocket.[2] This merchant vessel, captained by Elijah Howe, was carrying food and weapons to Santa Anna's army in Texas.[3][5] It also carried important evidence of Santa Anna's plans to seize the ports of Texas and station men on the strategically important and heavily populated Galveston Island. After the destruction of Bravo, Brown captured Pocket and arrived with her in Galveston on April 8. Sam Houston's army received the seized supplies fortified Galveston Island with them. Texas historian Jim Dan Hill, writing during the Texas Centennial in 1936 credited Invincible with contributing mightily to Sam Houston's victory at San Jacinto by depriving the Mexicans of the reinforcements that Bravo would have brought and by redirecting Pocket's supplies to the Texans just before the battle.[6]

Upon leaving Pocket, Captain Howe lodged a complaint of piracy against Captain Brown. The sloop Warren captured Invincible on May 1 and took her to New Orleans, along with 46 of her crew.[2] Brown escaped capture. The crew was soon released when insufficient testimony was offered to counter the defense's claim that Invincible had apprehended Pocket for violating the laws of the Republic of Texas and of nations, by carrying contraband and spies to Santa Anna. After the courts released his men, Brown surrendered and also was released. However, the government of Texas agreed to settle with the United States for Pocket by paying $11,750.00. This was paid, with interest to a total of $12,455.00, on July 6, 1849.

Thereafter, Invincible defended the coast until June, when she was ordered to transport Santa Anna to Veracruz.[2] Santa Anna was already aboard the schooner when General Thomas Jefferson Green arrived on June 5 from New Orleans aboard Ocean to forbid the transport.

On July 4, Invincible was sent to Matagorda to defend the schooner Brutus, which was blockaded by the Vencedor del Alamo.[2] Invincible offered to engage the retreating Vencedor del Alamo in battle near Vera Cruz, but were told that the crew was not able to fight.

In September, Invincible arrived in New York city for repairs and might have remained there due to lack of funds to pay for the services.[2][7] However, Texas benefactor Samuel Swartwout settled the debt to release the ship from impoundment. Pursued by a ship sent to arrest the crew for violating the neutrality laws of the United States, she fled back to Galveston, arriving on March 14, 1837.[2][3]

In April 1837, Invincible received a new captain, Commodore H. L. Thompson, who after a fruitless search for enemy on the Texas coast alongside Brutus, set off for Mexico.[2][5] The ships captured several pirogues and burned eight or nine Mexican towns before capturing several vessels. One of these was the merchantman Eliza Russell, a British ship that was flying a neutral flag and carrying no contraband.[2][lower-alpha 1] Eliza Russell was quickly released, but the British government later demanded, and received, about $4,000.00 compensation for the detainment. Because of such acts and because Invincible had continued sailing several months beyond her sailing orders, President Sam Houston relieved Captain Thompson of his command. Houston also dismissed Texas's Secretary of the Navy, Samuel Rhoads Fisher, who had abandoned his position to join the ships.[3] Thompson would die on November 1, 1837, before he could be brought to trial.[2]

The wreck of the schooner Invincible at Galveston in 1837 by E.M. Schiwetz

Invincible and Brutus returned to Galveston on August 26, 1837, but while Brutus entered the harbor, poor weather kept Invincible outside.[2] In the morning, Vencedor del Alamo and Libertador attacked her. Brutus attempted to come to Invincible's assistance, but ran aground. When after some time resisting Invincible attempted to enter the harbor, she too ran aground. Her crew abandoned her and Invincible was dashed to pieces during the night. The First Texas Navy had lost its two final ships and was no more.

On May 23, 1838, President Houston agreed to pay the officers and crew one half of the value of the prizes they had obtained, albeit illegally, on their last cruise.[2]

All the vessels captured were schooners.[1]

The National Underwater and Marine Agency, founded by Clive Cussler, may in 1995 have discovered the wreck site.[9]

• Silverstone, Paul H. (2001) The Sailing Navy, 1775-1854. (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press) ISBN 1- 55750-893-3