Galveston has a rich history and can trace its importance back to the earliest days of Europeans in Texas. Although Indianola vied with Galveston as the principal seaport, Galveston was closer to the mail population centers of early Texas. During the Republic period of Texas Galveston served at the main port for the Texas Navy and served as the temporary capital of the Republic of Texas after President David G. Burnet moved the seat of the Texas government there.
There were only two routes out of Texas for decades… by land on the El Camino Real wagon road northeast to the Red River or down to the Texas coast and then by sail to New Orleans and points east. Therefore, southeastern Texas was particularly vulnerable to attacks by Santa Anna’s forces. Sam Houston issued a proclamation calling for volunteers from all over Texas as well as “back east” in the United States to fight to protect the fragile Texas frontier.
The Galveston Invincibles were one of these groups of brave volunteer militiamen who banded together to protect their homes and neighbors. In spite of their skill and bravery, the small volunteer contingent was vastly outnumbered as Santa Anna’s superior force poured into southeast Texas before being defeated at San Jacinto by the combined forces fighting for an Independent Texas.
