2/11/1842: Texas marines mutiny in old New Orleans

[Craig Tx]

On this date in 1842, the first and only mutiny in the Texas Navy began.

The schooner San Antonio was anchored in the Mississippi River at New Orleans. Although the high- ranking officers were ashore, the sailors and marines were confined aboard because of fear of desertion. But they evidently got drunk on smuggled liquor and, under marine sergeant Seymour Oswalt, began a mutiny in which Lt. Charles Fuller was killed. Eventually, Commodore Edwin Moore brought some of the mutineers to trial. Three were sentenced to flogging, and four were hanged from the yardarm of the Austin on April 6, 1843. Oswalt himself escaped from jail in New Orleans and was never brought to justice.

[Oldetexian]

Age old story...RHIP (rank has its privileges)...and Marines and liquor never add up to a positive ending...

As always, thanks for another great bit of history.

[Butler Ford 40]

Interesting tidbit!