Battle Naval Battle of Campeche

the brig wharton depicted on texan currency.

the battle began on april 30, , involved texas-yucatan force had been attacking , clearing gulf of mexico of mexican merchant , fishing boats, against small mexican squadron consisted of sailing ships , small steamer, regenerator. initial battle lasted few hours , draw, both sides retired. after rearming, texan ships, including 600 ton flagship austin, on may 16 encountered stronger mexican squadron, included modern 1200 ton ironclad steamships guadalupe , moctezuma, armed paixhans guns able fire exploding shells, commanded british officers , manned british , mexican seamen. after 3 hours of broadsides, battle draw, both sides again withdrawing after sustaining considerable damage , casualties. texas ships suffered physical damage, mexican , british sailors suffered many more casualties of both dead , wounded. battle scene memorialized samuel colt in engraving on cylinder of famed 1851 , 1861 colt navy revolvers , colt 1860 army revolver. in expression of gratitude commodore moore in 1837 had purchased colt paterson revolvers republic of texas navy. time of battle of campeche, however, colt s enterprise bankrupt. make comeback in 1847 when under colonel john c. hays rescued oblivion , put work making guns texas rangers use in mexican war.

the mexican steamship regenerator , battered attendant squadron rejoined guadalupe , moctezuma flotilla may 19, , withdrew area, texas squadron retired galveston. acclaimed heroes on return, though texas president sam houston had declared commodore moore , ships captains , crew pirates sailing against wishes. however, after court martial, commodore moore acquitted of piracy charges. having fought ironclad mexican steamships draw using wooden sailing ships achievement commodore moore, naval battle of campeche becoming naval battle in world history in sailing ships held own against steam-powered ships in combat.