Surfside Beach in Brazoria County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Republic of Texas Battery
Photographed By Chris Kneupper
1. Republic of Texas Battery Marker
The Texas Revolutionary Army built an artillery battery near this spot in early 1836, guarding the entrance of the Brazos River for the new Republic of Texas.
The fort existed for several years, through at least 1840:
... had an old brass 18-pounder with a touch-hole equivalent to the circumference of the mouth of Mrs. Sharpe (Sharp) - and 3 other small ones (cannons) whose united ages amount to a greater number, than my arithmetic (which is fair to say was neglected in my youth) will permit me to calculate.
-- Francis C. Sheridan, British Diplomatic Service, 1840.
Sheridan further describes the battery as having a Liberty Pole "... which rears high its stately head, crowned with a small beer barrel, intended to represent the Cap of Liberty, which I must take the liberty to represent, it hardly succeeds in doing."
(Captions)
City of Velasco Plat Map, by Mesier & Co., 1837
Fort Velasco circa 1836, from Nacogdoches Archives
Erected 2024 by Old Fort Velasco Historical Association and Old Velasco/Surfside Beach Historical Committee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Texas Independence. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.
Location. 28° 56.449′
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Confederate Civil War Forts at Mouth of Brazos (within shouting distance of this marker); The San Felipe Incident (within shouting distance of this marker); First Republic of Texas Navy: 1835-1837 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Battle of Velasco Memorial (about 500 feet away); Brown-Hoskins Hotel and Tavern (about 500 feet away); Santa Anna signed Treaties of Velasco (about 600 feet away); The Lively (about 700 feet away); Allen Place, 1883 (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Surfside Beach.
More about this marker. This marker is one of a set of six historical trail signs installed along a jetty-side hiking trail in Feb-Mar 2024 at the site of Old Velasco at the old mouth of the Brazos River, as near as possible to the actual location featured in the sign.
Regarding Republic of Texas Battery. This location is significant since another Fort Velasco was built on this spot in 1836, probably under the command of Capt. Eduard Harkort, who had been appointed
Photographed By Chris Kneupper, 19Mar/2024
2. Republic of Texas Battery Marker
Also see . . . The Texan Fort Velasco. Chronological and Archaeological History of the Forts Velasco (Submitted on March 26, 2024, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas.)
courtesy of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, circa 1836
3. Diagram of 1836 Fort Velasco
Found in the Nacogdoches Archives held at the Texas State Library and Archives, perhaps drawn by Eduard Harkort.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2024, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas. This page has been viewed 53 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 25, 2024, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
