Fort Manhassett

Fort Manhassett was a group of earthen fortifications that guarded the western approaches to Sabine City, Texas during the American Civil War, operating in service of the Confederate Army from October 1863 to May 1865.

By the time Fort Manhassett's construction was complete, Texas had long been a target for attempted Union occupation. President Abraham Lincoln's blockade of southern ports threatened to cut off the Confederacy's foreign supply of desperately needed arms, powder, and lead. By late 1862, both Sabine Pass and Galveston, two port cities vital to the Confederacy's war effort, had been occupied by Federal forces. However, when both cities were reclaimed by Texan forces after a yellow fever epidemic drove Lt. Frederick Crocker's expedition out of Sabine Pass and Maj. Gen. John Bankhead Magruder recaptured Galveston on January 1, 1863, the two port cities quickly renewed their blockade running activities. In the summer of 1863, US President Abraham Lincoln, fearing an alliance between the French government in Mexico and the Confederacy, ordered the invasion of Texas. After some deliberation in planning the actual site of the invasion, Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks directed Maj. Gen. W.B. Franklin to plan for the landing of an amphibious expeditionary force to establish a base of operations for the invasion and occupation of Texas. A fleet of nineteen transports carrying about 1200 Federal marines was assembled in New Orleans. Escorted by six gunboats mounting heavy guns to support the landings, the fleet got underway and sailed for Sabine Pass.

On September 8, 1863, a company of 42 immigrant Irish dockhands from Galveston, under the command of a young Lt. Richard 'Dick' Dowling, were manning six antiquated cannon in a small earthen fortification, known as Fort Griffin, at Sabine Pass. On the evening of the 8th, the Federal fleet arrived off the bar and sent four gunboats up the pass to neutralize the fort. Dowling withheld the fire of his guns until the Union boats came within point-blank range and decimated the Union ships. After watching Dowling's gunners maul three gunboats, and fearing rebel gunboats and field artillery, the Union fleet immediately set sail and returned to New Orleans, without ever disembarking its troops. Dowling had captured two gunboats with heavy cannon and captured approximately 300 prisoners, without the loss or injury of a single Irishman.

Had the Federals attempted to land further south rather than the killing zone of the pass, Fort Griffin would have been turned and become useless to resist the invading force. Having painfully realized their oversight, the Confederate authorities immediately began plans to construct a line of fortifications to secure and defend this unprotected 'back door' to Sabine City.

...
Wikipedia