Second Battle of Sabine Pass
Sabine Pass, near Port Arthur, Texas, USA
What happened
A Union expedition under William B. Franklin, with gunboats under Frederick Crocker, faced about 46 Confederate soldiers of the Davis Guards led by Lieutenant Richard W. Dowling. A Union fleet tried to enter Sabine Pass, where the Sabine River meets the Gulf of Mexico, to land troops and invade Texas. The small garrison of Fort Griffin fired back, and two Union gunboats, Clifton and Sachem, were captured. The battle lasted less than an hour, and the Union force sailed back to New Orleans.
Why it matters
The Confederate win stopped a planned Union invasion of Texas for a long time. Sabine Pass was an important port for Confederate supplies.
What came next
The Confederate Congress thanked the Davis Guards, and the people of Houston paid for medals for them.
Did you know?
The Davis Guards medals were made from silver Mexican pesos that were smoothed and then stamped by hand.
Timeline
- 8 Sep 1863Second Battle of Sabine Pass.
- 1864An official Confederate medal ceremony is held for the Davis Guards.
- 1936A statue of Dowling is put up at the battle site.