To the Heroes of Sabine Pass, article

To the Heroes of Sabine Pass, article

This article describes the fundraising efforts to have a monument constructed in Dick Dowling's honor, following the triumphalism of the Battle of Sabine Pass. The article chronicles which organizations in Houston were doing what to attempt to raise funds, and calls for help from other confederate groups. The article then describes the physical monument, and the celebrations around its unveiling.

Cunningham, S.A., editor

Confederate Veteran

Cunningham, S. A., Ed. "To the Heroes of Sabine Pass." Confederate Veteran 13, 11. (November 1905): 497.

Digital version published by Rice University.

November 1905

This material is in the public domain.

Journal article

English

Text

DD0048

Houston, Texas; Sabine Pass, Texas

TO THE HEROES OF SABINE PASS.
About 1897 Dick Dowling Camp, of Houston, Tex., had about forty dollars on deposit for the erection of a monument to the memory of Richard Dowling and his forty-two Irishmen, composing an artillery company called "The Davis Guards," so named after President Jefferson Davis. Comrade Philip H. Fall, who had been elected Adjutant of the Camp in 1886, offered a resolution that fifty dollars additional be subscribed by the Camp, which was carried unanimously. He then began writing articles in the Galveston News, Houston Post, and Fort Worth Gazette, calling for contributions. Miss Marti, of "Sabine Pass." was the first subscriber, sending $4.25. Several others followed with a dollar each, Dick Dowling Chapter, of Beaumont, sent the Adjutant nearly one hundred dollars; then the members of the Camp sent a dollar each. Adjutant Fall wrote an article, requesting information and assistance from the Irish, and Mrs. Rosenberg, of Galveston, wrote a nice letter inclosing ten dollars and inquiring why the Irish did not come to the rescue. This made the Hibernian Society of Houston get to work, and they raised several hundred dollars by a Fourth of July picnic. The Camp and Society afterwards joined in a grand concert, thus adding another neat sum.
Through the special solicitations of Comrade Fall, many contributions were received for this monument. Col. John H. Kirby subscribed $250, which so enthused the city that subscriptions came thick and fast, and the amount for erecting the monument was soon realized.
The base of the monument is of Texas granite, the statue of Italian marble, and made in Italy. Upon the shaft are inscribed the names of the forty-two brave men who were in the fight with Dowling. The monument is beautifully located at the east side of the City Hall, where two other plats are awaiting the placing of monuments to Gen. Sam Houston and Gen. A. S. Johnston, both in line with the Dowling monument.
Thus has been commemorated the valor of forty-three as brave Irish Confederates as ever went to battle. President Davis, in his memoirs, says that history, ancient or modern, has no record of such a wonderful fight, for these forty-three Irishmen drove Gen. Franklin's army of fifteen thousand away from Texas, sinking three of his vessels and capturing four hundred and twenty prisoners. But for this valiant defense, Franklin would have invaded Texas and captured thousands of bales of cotton and many thousands of cattle for the Federal army.
The exercises for the unveiling of this monument were of special interest. Business was suspended in Houston on that day. The Governor of the State and other notables made addresses. Mrs. Daniel, the widow of Capt. Dowling, was present with his daughter, Mrs. Robertson. Several survivors of that battle were brought from the Confederate Home at Austin to witness the ceremonies. The procession extended for miles.