Alex Dienst

The Texas Navy (A Fireship Contemporized Classic) Alex Dienst

A Cactus Navy?

Everyone has heard of the USS Constitution and the USS Constellation. They were the first two ships commissioned into the United States Navy. But have you ever heard of the Liberty and the Invincible? They were the first two ships commissioned into the Navy of the Republic of Texas.

Between 1835 and 1845 the Republic of Texas had their own fleet. In between court martialing each other, suppressing mutinies, legalizing piracy and getting stone drunk in New Orleans?they actually found the time to beat the British and Spanish- trained Mexican navy.

In 1906, Alex Dienst made an exhaustive study of the Texas Navy. Using original source documents and newspaper accounts of the day?now, in many cases, long lost?he put together this intriguing book.

It's a little known story of chaos and confusion, mixed with unparalleled heroism; and it deserves to be told again.