Battle of Galveston | |||||||
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Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War | |||||||
CS Bayou City captures USS Harriet Lane during the Battle of Galveston | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States (Union) | Confederate States (Confederacy) | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Isaac S. Burrell William B. Renshaw † |
John B. Magruder Leon Smith | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
West Gulf Blockading Squadron 42nd Massachusetts Infantry |
Department of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona Texas Marine Department | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
6 gunboats Unknown infantry |
2 gunboats Unknown infantry | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
ca. 420 captured 1 gunboat captured 1 gunboat destroyed | 26 killed, 117 wounded |
The Battle of Galveston was a naval and land battle of the American Civil War, when Confederate forces under Major Gen. John B. Magruder expelled occupying Union troops from the city of Galveston, Texas on January 1, 1863.
After the loss of the cutter Harriet Lane, the Union Fleet Commander William B. Renshaw blew up the stranded vessel USS Westfield to save it from falling into enemy hands. Union troops on shore thought the fleet was surrendering, and laid down their arms. The battle is sometimes called the Second Battle of Galveston, as the Battle of Galveston Harbor (October 1862) is sometimes called the First Battle of Galveston.