The February 8th El Paso (Tx) Times reported that there is a new group formed to support the 58 acre Civil War battlefield on the Texas-Louisiana. The Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site has a statue of Confederate Lieutenant Dick Dowling and an interpretive center for the September 8, 1863 battle.
A fleet of Union gunboats carrying 5,000 troops were turned back by Dowling and 46 men of Co. F, 1st Texas Home Artillery. After 45 minutes of fire, the Union fleet retired. Two gunboats surrendered, 50 Union soldiers were killed and 350 captured. No Confederates were injured.
This is known as the Second Battle of Sabine Pass.
Dick Dowling (1838-1867) was born in Ireland, and came to the US in 1846 and established a saloon in Houston in 1857. His Jefferson Davis Guards were primarily Irish dockworkers. He intensely trained his company in artillery use on the Sabine River's two channels. He placed colored poles in the river marking distances and elevation, which accounts for his success.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
