Club History

The Galveston Artillery Company, a unit of the armed forces of the Republic of Texas, was organized September 13, 1840 and a Charter was granted by the Texas Congress on January 30, 1841. The Charter was signed by the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and David G. Burnet, Provisional President of the Republic of Texas.

Members were to be of high moral character and leaders of the community. The original initiation fee was 50 cents and monthly dues were 25 cents plus additional assessments to defray incidental expenses. Members were required to pay for their own uniforms and side arms. Attendance at the monthly drill was mandatory. John Howe was elected first Captain and original members of the Company included M. B. Menard, Samuel May Williams and Gail Borden.

The Galveston Artillery Company was Texas’ oldest military organization and responded in its military capacity when called on by the Mayor of Galveston. After Texas came into statehood, the Company responded by orders from the Governor of Texas. In 1843, the Artillery Company suppressed the sale of the Texas Navy. At that time the Company was led by Captain A. C. Crawford, who replaced John Howe after Howe’s arrest for disobeying orders.

Sam Houston, who was the President of the Republic of Texas at that time, attended the first Galveston Artillery Company Ball and led the grand march. In 1845 when the Republic of Texas was annexed to the United States, the military duties were not as heavy and the Company began functioning more in social capacity - a tradition which continues to this day. The Galveston Artillery Club is the oldest social club west of the Mississippi.

At the beginning of the Civil War, the Company was called to duty and traveled by ship to the Brownsville area to take part in the capture of Fort Brazos Santiago and Fort Brown. The Federal forces surrendered without firing a shot.

The Company then returned to Galveston. Some of the members went on to achieve distinction on the battlefields of Virginia, Kentucky and other Southern states. Those members who stayed in Galveston enrolled in the First Artillery Regiment, Texas Volunteers which was under the command of Colonel Joseph J. Cook. On New Year’s Day, 1863, the First Artillery Regiment performed in an outstanding manner during the Battle of Galveston, recapturing the City from Federal forces. At the conclusion of the Civil War, the Port of Galveston was the only port still under Confederate rule.

Walter Husted Stevens, an Army engineer and Artillery Company Captain, supervised the fortifications and harbors along the Gulf of Mexico, including Galveston. On March 2, l861 he resigned his commission and immediately assisted in Texas’ preparation for the Civil War. Robert E. Lee placed Stevens in charge of the defenses of the Confederate capital in Richmond, Virginia. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General and Chief Engineer of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Another former Artillery Club Captain, Hugh McLeod, was first Adjunct General of Texas from 1840 to 1841 and represented Galveston in the 2nd Texas Legislature in 1847. He became Colonel of the First Regiment Texas Infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia, C.S.A. McLeod died in Virginia in 1862 and is buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

Following the devastation and death that was associated with the Civil War, the Company was virtually inactive. After the death of Captain Van Buren, First Lieutenant Marcus F. Mott issued the reorganization call on July 21, 1871. The call was successful and the new members elected Marcus Mott as their Captain. He served in this capacity for many years. Mott later became the personal attorney for Henry Rosenberg and served as Chairman of the Rosenberg Library Board of Trustees until his death in 1906.

In 1889, an inventory was taken of the weapons owned by the Company. This list found that the Company possessed two three inch rifles, two-pound field pieces, four mountain howitzers, and an 1883 Gatling gun with carrier, bumpers, caissons, harness and all necessary equipment.

In compliance with the Militia Act of 1889, the Artillery Company gave up its military status in 1893. Galveston Sheriff Pat Tiernan took possession of the Company’s armament for the State of Texas.

At the outbreak of World War I, the Artillery Club members continued their call to duty as every member of the Club volunteered for military service. Only six members were unable to serve because of age or health reasons. During World War II, 50 members served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Club’s first armory was located at 22nd and Avenue H. Other locations subsequently included a large frame building complete with living quarters at Tremont and Broadway, the penthouse of the Hotel Galvez, its own separate structure on the Galvez grounds at 19th and Seawall Boulevard, and its present headquarters at 31st and Avenue O. The latest facility was built by the Club and completed in 1959. In 2000, the Club was refurbished through the generosity of a former member.

The Company had a distinctive dress uniform. Members wore light blue singled-breasted coats, cut tunic style, with a single row of staff buttons, red facings on the cuffs and shoulder knots. Gray trousers were worn with one inch wide red stripes down the outside of the pant leg. The hats were West Point white cork helmets with a brass spike in the center.

In 1999, President James Earthman and the Board of Directors authorized the wearing of the Club’s unique red and blue military uniform for the first time since its suppression in 1893.

During the Battle of Galveston in 1863, the large First National flag was flown by the 1st Regiment Texas Artillery. Following the Civil War, the flag was hidden for many years and in the mid 1950’s was presented to the Galveston Artillery Club by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. This flag is currently displayed in the entry of the Galveston Artillery Club.

The most prominent of the Club’s three Valverde cannons was restored by Mrs. John H. Hutchings in 2002. This cannon was captured in 1862 at the battle of Valverde in the New Mexico Territory by Colonel Tom Green, who later took part in the recapture of Galveston Island.