Civil War Bombardment of Port Lavaca

The story

As part of the U. S. naval initiative to control Texas Confederate ports, the gunboats "Clifton" and "Westfield" turned to the town then known as Lavaca after easily taking Galveston and Indianola. On October 31, 1862, under a flag of truce, Commander William B.

Crenshaw demanded the surrender of Lavaca. Maj. Gen.

Daniel D. Shea refused. After an evacuation period of merely 90 minutes, Renshaw's ships attacked the town.

The city garrison returned the fire. Partially disabled, the Union boats fell back, but rained a steady barrage upon the town until night came. They resumed shelling the following morning, then retreated.

The city streets were ravaged by gunfire, but Port Lavaca remained in Confederate hands until December 1863. (1998)