Second Battle of Galveston

| Second Battle of Galveston

| Began:|

January 1, 1863

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| Ended:|

Same day

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| Location:|

Galveston County, Texas

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| Theater:|

Trans-Mississippi Theater

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| Campaign:|

Operations to Blockade the Texas Coast

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| Outcome:|

Confederate victory

|

Combatants

42nd Massachusetts
Galveston blockading squadron

Four Confederate gunboats
Troops from Texas, New Mexico,
and Arizona districts

Commanders

Isaac S. Burrell
Colonel, USA
William B. Renshaw
Commander, USN

John B. Magruder
Major General, CSA

Strength

| |

|

Casualties

600

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 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 Harriet Lane, by boarding her, 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. (NPS summary)

v • d • e

Operations to Blockade the Texas Coast, September 1862-January 1863

1st Sabine Pass \-- 1st Galveston \-- 2nd Galveston

v • d • e

Battles of the American Civil War: 1863

Eastern Theater|

Fort Anderson \-- Kelly's Ford \-- Washington, NC \-- Suffolk \-- Suffolk (Hill's Point) \-- Stoneman's Raid \-- Chancellorsville \-- Salem Church\--2nd Marye's Heights \-- Brandy Station \-- 2nd Winchester \-- Middleburg \-- Aldie \-- Upperville \-- Sporting Hill \-- Hanover \-- Gettysburg \-- Carlisle \-- Hunterstown \-- Fairfield \-- Monterey Pass \-- Williamsport \-- Boonsboro \-- Funkstown \-- Manassas Gap \-- 1st Auburn \-- 2nd Auburn \-- Bristoe Station \-- Buckland Mills \-- Droop Mountain \-- 2nd Rappahannock Station \-- Mine Run \-- Charlestown

Western Theater|

Arkansas Post \-- Dover \-- Thompson's Station \-- Vaught's Hill \-- Brentwood \-- 1st Franklin \-- Grand Gulf \-- Snyder’s Bluff \-- Day's Gap \-- Port Gibson \-- Raymond \-- Jackson, MS \-- Champion Hill \-- Big Black River Bridge \-- Vicksburg \-- Milliken's Bend \-- Hoover's Gap \-- Goodrich's Landing \-- Helena \-- Tebbs' Bend \-- Lebanon \-- Corydon \-- Buffington Island \-- Salineville \-- 2nd Chattanooga \-- Cumberland Gap \-- Davis' Cross Roads \-- Chickamauga \-- Blountsville \-- Wheeler's Raid \-- Blue Springs \-- Brown's Ferry \-- Wauhatchie \-- Collierville \-- Campbell's Station \-- Chattanooga \-- Ringgold Gap \-- Fort Sanders \-- Bean's Station \-- Mossy Creek

Trans-Mississippi Theater|

2nd Galveston \-- 2nd Springfield \-- Hartville \-- Cape Girardeau\-- Chalk Bluff \-- Cabin Creek \-- Honey Springs \-- Raid on Lawrence \-- Devil's Backbone \-- 2nd Sabine Pass \-- Bayou Forche \-- Baxter Springs \-- Pine Bluff

Lower Seaboard Theater|

1st Fort McAllister \-- 1st Charleston Harbor \-- Fort Bisland \-- Irish Bend \-- Vermillion Bayou \-- Plains Store \-- Port Hudson \-- LaFourche Crossing \-- 2nd Donaldsonville \-- 1st Fort Wagner \-- Grimball's Landing \-- 2nd Fort Wagner \-- 2nd Charleston Harbor \-- 2nd Fort Sumter \-- Kock's Plantation \-- Stirling's Plantation \-- Fort Brooke

Naval|

Alabama vs Hatteras