|
About the
Book
The
First Texas Navy is a measured, detailed, and comprehensive
account of the operations and administration of the 1836-1837 navy
of the Republic of Texas, drawn chiefly from official records and
other contemporaneous writings.
As the author states, if the work “has merit, it lies in
the incorporation of material from primary sources not previously
utilized.”
In
320 pages the author’s vigorous and concise prose describes how
the navy sustained the army of the republic, a beleaguered
citizenry, and a poverty-stricken government striving for
stability against great odds in a war for independence from
Mexico.
The
text is accompanied by extensive discursive comments in numerous
endnotes as well as useful appendices showing sea traffic into
Texas ports during 1836-1837, reconstructed muster rolls for the
four naval vessels during the more important incidents, the
navy’s official manning establishment and pay scales, and
discussions of the reliability of several sources.
Eight
maps illustrate the work; a detailed index is included for easy
reference. Readers
wishing to pursue related matters will find the bibliography
helpful.
|