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Inscription. Historic and key Texas port of entry located near here. During the Civil War was fortified by troops and 8 gun batteries at the mouth of the Brazos River, to provide shelter and landing facilities for blockade runners; to protect rich farmlands; and to prevent Federal invasion The South exchanged cotton for European guns, ammunition, milled goods and medicines for army and home use. Velasco was one of the busiest ports. Federal vessels attempted to stop vital trade, and constantly fired upon runners as well as the shore defenses and patrols. The runners would approach the port on dark nights when the waters were smooth, and by the use of sounding lines could determine nearness to shore and avoid blockaders. Boilers would be kept well fired with hard coal that burned with a minimum of smoke, in case it became necessary to outrun Federal patrol ships Union ships had to go to New Orleans for drinking water, food and fuel, because Texas marines on rafts or dredge boats or Texas cavalry and infantry units kept them off the shores. The raw courage of the Texas coastal defenders made this a most dramatic story in the history of the Confederacy From the book CONFEDERATES ON THE CANEY, Self-published by Bobby McKinney, the following partial list of Confederate and Texas State units stationed at Fort Velasco is taken. 2nd Texas Infantry Regt. |
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This marker was
photographed in the late afternoon on August 15, 2008. Hurricane Ike hit
this area very hard so it is not known if the marker still exists. The
site of the mouth of the Brazos River was important in many eras and in
recent times the general area has been a large petrochemical shipment and
refining site with surprising tourist areas along the beachfront. |
Texas
