Military Adventures Beyond the Mississippi

Sabine Pass Expedition

In September, 1863, General Banks fitted out an expedition under General Franklin, to occupy the mouth of the Sabine River. It consisted of four thousand men, and four steamers. . The expedition proved an entire failure. Two of the gun-boats, disabled by a shot through the boilers, at almost the first fire, fell into the rebel hands. Another ran aground and escaped with difficulty. The expedition returned without effecting any injury whatever upon the enemy.

A month later General Banks took command in person of an expedition the object of which was the occupation of the Texan coast. He landed at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, and successfully occupied, without serious opposition, most of the coast of Texas, from its western boundary nearly to the city of Galveston. This campaign, however, produced no important influence upon the general results of the war, and was marked by no striking incidents or important battles.

Landing at the Rio Grande

The rebel leaders in Texas complain bitterly of the manner in which their State has been treated by the Confederate authorities at Richmond. They say her troops have been summoned to other fields, and she herself has been left defenseless. They even threaten to secede from Secessia, and set up an independent Southern empire. It is certain that the national control of the Mississippi River forever separates them from the heart of the Southern Confederacy. In truth the battles of Texas and Arkansas were fought on that river. Their fate was determined at Vicksburg and Port Hudson.