Texan Schooner Invincible - New Captain and Final Battle

New Captain and Final Battle

Captain Brown returned his ship to Galveston on March 14, 1837. That month he was relieved of duty by order of the new president, Sam Houston, and Invincible was placed under the command of Commodore H. L. Thompson. Houston was skeptical of the need for Texas to have a strong navy fearing aggressive naval action would lead to international incidents.

Invincible became the flagship of the two-ship Texas navy in June, 1837 after Independence surrendered to the Mexican warships Vencedor del Álamo and Libertador. Captain Thompson was accompanied on this voyage by Samuel Rhoads Fisher, Texas's Secretary of the Navy, as he set out from Galveston in June, 1837 to harass Mexican shipping and raid coastal towns. Invincible captured several prize vessels including the British merchantman Eliza Russell which caused a serious diplomatic challenge as Texas was seeking British recognition. Texas Minister J. Pinckney Henderson eventually smoothed over the contretemps but the Texas government had to pay British claims totaling about $4,000. As a result of this embarrassment, both Captain Thompson and Secretary Fisher were suspended by President Houston. Fisher later resigned, and Thompson died before a naval investigation could formally start.

On August 26, 1837, Invincible escorted Brutus into Galveston harbor. Brutus had a Mexican prize vessel, Obispo, in tow. Invincible anchored in the channel overnight and the next day she was assailed by Vencedor del Alamo and Libertador. Brutus cleared for action and attempted to assist Invincible but she ran aground on a sandbar at the entrance to the harbor. Invincible was left alone to engage the two Mexican cruisers. After a prolonged engagement, the Invincible attempted to flee from the battle, but due to the shallow tide, snagged her rudder on the harbor bar and ran aground. She was then quickly pounded to pieces by the breakers until her hull completely disappeared.

With the wreck of the schooners Invincible and Brutus, the First Texas Navy was at an end. The wreck site may have been discovered in 1995 by the National Undersea Marine Agency, founded by Clive Cussler.