Pennybacker, Anna. A new history of Texas for schools, also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination. Tyler, TX: A. Pennybacker. 1888.
In her presentations of the Civil War in Texas and Dowling, Pennybacker includes accounts of the capture and recapture of Galveston as well as a section on the Battle at Sabine Pass. She places the Battle of Sabine Pass in the context of the larger Civil War effort by noting both the Battle of Galveston that preceded it and the conditions of Texas during the war. The section on the battle itself is fairly short in all three editions; Pennybacker presents the highlights without dwelling on any of the controversies we explored in class. In keeping with her stated goal in the introduction to foster the patriotism of the young Texans studying history from the book, she takes every opportunity in the account to note the heroism and cleverness of the men at Sabine Pass. She does so, however, in a way that does not majorly exaggerate what took place in the battle. According to Pennybacker, the Battle of Sabine Pass was one in which a small group of 40-50 Confederate soldiers, supported by a well-made fort, defeated a much larger Union force of approximately 4,000 men. Although we have seen how this depiction of Sabine Pass has its limitations, it is far from the most sensationalist account of the battle in existence.
In the first edition, Pennybacker provided a very brief account of what happened at Galveston, as well as the Battle of Sabine Pass. This first edition’s account most closely fits the quintessential narrative of the Battle of Sabine Pass as the Confederacy’s Thermopylae, with a “little garrison” of “only forty-one men” bravely fighting away a “Union fleet of twenty vessels.” Dowling is not even mentioned by name. The second edition goes into much greater detail, particularly about the Battle of Galveston and the recapture of Galveston. It is clear Pennybacker is intent on demonstrating the heroism of Texas’s brave soldiers. The passage on Sabine Pass has also been somewhat enlarged, although not nearly to the extent of the battle at Galveston. This depiction gives more information about the fortifications at Sabine Pass, describing it as “a strong fort, defended by eight heavy guns.” Pennybacker also explains the military advantages to the Union should they capture Sabine Pass, namely the railroad that would facilitate a Union takeover of Texas. She gives precise numbers for the number of men on both sides—42 for the Confederacy and 4,000 for the Union—and notes Richard Dowling as the commander of the fort. Pennybacker explains Dowling’s strategy of waiting until the enemy came close, and adds that the Union commander lost two vessels and had 100 killed or wounded, as well as 250 prisoners. Pennybacker finishes the section by saying that President Jefferson Davis presented the garrison with a silver medal in honor of their victory. The third edition’s depiction of Sabine Pass is fairly similar to that of the second edition; Pennybacker again notes the “strong fort, defended by heavy guns,” the importance of the railroad, the number of Union soldiers and artillery lost in the effort, and Davis’s silver medal to the garrison. The only major change is in the number of men defending Sabine Pass, which has been steadily creeping up over the course of the three editions; now, “not more than fifty Confederates took place in the battle.”
According to the Handbook of Texas, Pennybacker herself was a highly educated and very progressive (she was a proud suffragette and a member of the Democratic National Committee) woman born in Petersburg, Virginia. She attended teachers’ school in Huntsville, Texas before continuing her education in Europe, showing she was both somewhat wealthy and well rounded. She taught high school and grammar for 14 years, and her teaching experience is evident in the way in which A new history of Texas for schools, also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination—a “staple of Texas classrooms for forty years” according to the Handbook of Texas—was written and revised. In all three editions, Pennybacker discusses theories of education, the way in which her textbook can best be used in classrooms, and the needs and status of the Texas public school system, showing that this book was written by a teacher for teachers with the goal of imparting knowledge to students in as fascinating a way as possible. As she says in her introductions to both the second and third editions, “every effort has been made to render the subject fascinating to the child mind.” Pennybacker also wrote the book with an awareness that this book would frequently be used in one-room school houses, and makes pains that her book is both accessible to a third-grader beginning to learn history and interesting to a much older student by writing the basic narrative at a low level but including higher level documents in appendixes at the end of each section. Pennybacker is also very concerned with ensuring her textbook inspires patriotism in young Texans, and urges teachers to ensure that no student forgets the importance of March 2nd (Independence Day) and April 21st (San Jacinto Day) in Texas history. Finally, Pennybacker expresses a great deal of concern with accuracy in her introductions. She sought to write as unbiased a textbook as possible, and collaborated with professors at the University of Texas and other members of the Texas community to ensure this accuracy. She largely succeeded in this endeavor; throughout the textbook the information is succinct and thorough, and she even refers to the Civil War as the Civil War, and not “The War Between the States” or “The War of Northern Aggression.”
Passages on Galveston & Sabine Pass in A new history of Texas for schools, also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination:
From the 1888 edition, pages 136-138:
Galveston Captured. – In October, 1862, Galveston was taken by the Northern troops. In December, General Magruder, by a well-planned attack, retook the city, captured several Federal vessels, and frightened away all blockading ships. For a few days, Galveston was once more an open port. In a short time, however, the blockade was renewed.
Battle at Sabine Pass.- Texas was free from further conflicts till September 6, 1863. A fort had been built to defend Sabine Pass. The garrison numbered only forty-one men. On the above-mentioned date, a Union fleet of twenty vessels appeared off the coast, and several of the ships commenced a bombardment. The little garrison at once fired away with all their guns, and so bravely did they keep up the fight, that soon two of the ships were wrecked, while the rest hastily sailed away.
From the 1895 edition, pages 267-270:
Galveston Captured.—October 4, 1862, Commander Renshaw, with four war-vessels* and a well-disciplined land force, captured Galveston Island, meeting with little resistance from Confederate troops. About the same time Corpus Christi and the defenses of Sabine City were captured by the Federals.
*These vessels were the Harriet Lane, Owasco, Westfield and Clifton.
Galveston Retaken.—One of the most brilliant exploits of the Texans was the recapture of Galveston. In November, General Magruder was placed in command of the Southern forces on the Texas coast. He determined to expel the Northern forces from Galveston Island. His preparations were made with the greatest care and secrecy. As the unfortunate Sibley expedition had just returned, General Magruder found them eager to be led against the enemy; 5000 Texans who had been called out to protect the coast, were also at the General’s disposal. He changed four river steamers into gunboats by piling up compressed cotton bales for bulwarks and manning them with suitable men and cannon. The gunboats were to sail to the head of the Bay and open fire on the Federals just as the moon sank below the horizon on the morning of January 1st, while at the same moment Magruder was to attack the land forces. The Massachusetts regiment that was encamped on one of the wharves of the city, and the six Union war-vessels that lay in the harbor or toward the pass, knew nothing of the battle that threatened them. With the opening of the fourth hour of the New Year, Magruder led his men to the attack. The Northern soldiers fought bravely, but were soon forced to surrender. The gunboats, being delayed, were unable to open battle at the appointed hour, but when the conflict did begin, the scene was most exciting. The Harriet Lane was first attacked; the Confederate boat Bayou City came so near that the rigging of the two crafts became entangled. Leaping on the enemy’s deck, the Texans waged a deadly hand-to-hand fight; great heroism was shown on both sides; Commander Wainwright and his second officer being killed,* the Harriet Lane struck her colors. The Neptune received a fatal shot and sank. The Westfield, being in great danger of capture, was blown up by the Federals, but, unfortunately, the commander and fifteen men were killed by the explosion. The other vessels escaped. For a few days, Galveston was once more an open port, but the blockade was soon replaced. Galveston Island remained in possession of the Confederates till the close of the war.
*These officers were respected and admired by the Confederates, who buried them with all the honors of war.
Battle of Sabine Pass.—Texas was free from any other important military actions till September, 1863. The Confederates, early in the year, drove the Federals from Sabine Pass, and built a strong fort, defended by eight heavy guns. From Sabine Pass, a railroad extended into the interior of the State. General Banks, the Northern commander, felt that if he could capture the Pass, it would be an easy matter to seize the road, push on to Houston, take possession of all other railways, and thus conquer Texas. With all this in view, he ordered 4,000 troops to embark for Sabine Pass, where he hoped to take the garrison by surprise. Captain Richard Dowling was in command of the fort; forty-two Confederates took part in the battle. The commands of General Banks were not well carried out, for when the Union vessels reached the Pass, Captain Dowling and his men were ready to receive them. When, on September 6th, the Union fleet commenced a bombardment, the guns in the fort were silent till the enemy came within close range; then there burst forth so furious a fire that two of the Federal vessels were wrecked and the others sailed hastily away. The Union commander lost two vessels, 100 killed and wounded, and 250 prisoners. President Jefferson Davis presented the garrison with a silver medal, in honor of the victory.
From 1907 edition, pages 239-241:
Galveston Captured.—October 4, 1862, Commander Renshaw, with four war-vessels12 and a well-disciplined land force, captured Galveston Island, meeting with little resistance from the Confederate troops. About the same time Corpus Christi and the defense of Sabine City were captured by the Federals.
12. These vessels were the Harriet Lane, Owasco, Westfield, and Clifton.
Galveston Retaken.—One of the most brilliant exploits of the Texans was the recapture of Galveston. In November, General Magruder was placed in command of the Southern forces on the Texas coast. He determined to expel the Northern forces from Galveston Island. His preparations were made with the greatest care and secrecy. As the Sibley expedition had just returned, General Magruder found them eager to be led against the enemy. He changed four river steamers into gunboats by piling up compressed cotton bales for bulwarks and manning them with suitable men and cannon. The gunboats were to sail to the head of the bay and open fire on the Federals just as the moon sank below the horizon on the morning of January 1st, while at the same moment Magruder was to attack the land forces. The Massachusetts regiment that was encamped on one of the wharves of the city, and the Union war vessels that lay in the harbor or toward the pass, knew nothing of the danger that threatened them. With the opening of the fourth hour of the New Year, Magruder led his men to attack. The Northern soldiers fought bravely, but were forced to surrender. The gunboats, being delayed, were unable to open battle at the appointed hour, but when the conflict did begin, the scene was most exciting. The Harriet Lane was first attacked; the Confederate boat Bayou City ranged alongside and the rigging of the two ships became entangled. Leaping on the enemy’s deck, the Texans waged a deadly hand-to-hand fight; great heroism was shown on both sides; Commander Wainwright and his second officer being killed, the Harriet Lane struck her colors. The Neptune received a fatal shot and sank. The Westfield, being in great danger of capture, was blown up by the Federals, and unfortunately, the commander and some of his men were killed by the explosion. The other vessels escaped. For a few days Galveston was once more an open port, but the blockade was soon replaced, Galveston Island remained in possession of the Confederates till the close of the war.
Battle of Sabine Pass.—(241) The Confederates, early in 1863, had driven the Federals from Sabine Pass, and built a strong fort, defended by heavy guns. From Sabine Pass, a railroad extended into the interior of the state. General Banks, the Northern commander, felt that if he could capture the Pass, it would be an easy matter to seize the road, push on to Houston, take possession of all other railways, and thus conquer Texas. With all this in view, he ordered some four thousand troops to embark for Sabine Pass, where he hoped to take the garrison by surprise. Captain Richard Dowling was in command of the fort. The orders of General Banks were not well carried out, for when the Union vessels reached the Pas, Captain Dowling and his men were ready to receive them. When, on September 8, the Union fleet commenced a bombardment, the guns in the fort were silent till the enemy came within close range; then there burst forth so furious a fire that two of the Federal vessels were wrecked and the others sailed hastily away. The Union commander lost two vessels, one hundred killed and wounded, and two hundred and fifty prisoners: these results are remarkable since not more than fifty Confederates took part in the battle. President Jefferson Davis presented the garrison with a silver medal, in honor of the victory.