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The
Trial of Edwin W. Moore
On
June 25, after waiting for a new supply of gunpowder to
be delivered from New Orleans, Moore slowly began to make
his way home, stopping along the way to receive both accolades
and payment from the people of Yucatán. He finally
arrived home in Galveston on July 14, where he received
a hero's welcome. Moore had defended Texas from a possible
disaster, and the people loved him. Sam Houston was burned
in effigy at the celebration. But Moore couldn't enjoy
the party. Once a friendly and outgoing man, he was now
exhausted and consumed with bitterness.
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Detail from
Republic of Texas currency (1840 $50 serial)
Prints and
Photographs Collection,
Texas State Library and Archives Commission. #1989/84-16.
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was unmoved by the outpouring of public support. The seamen
were let go, Morgan was fired as commissioner, and Commodore
Moore was immediately served with a dishonorable discharge
from the Texas Navy. The letter repeated the charges of
disobedience and piracy and added a charge of murder for
the execution of the San Antonio mutineers. In
addition to Moore, dishonorable discharges were handed
out to Commander John Lothrop, commander of the Wharton,
and one of Moore's lieutenants, C.B. Snow, who was charged
with taking small arms from the wrecked San Bernard
in Galveston and delivering them to Moore in New Orleans.
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To the People
of Texas
The opening
pages of To the People of Texas, 1843
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On September 21, 1843, Edwin W.
Moore published a 200-page pamphlet entitled To the
People of Texas. Moore's book transcribes almost
every important official document pertaining to the Texas
Navy between September 1841 and July 1843. Moore's purpose
in publishing To the People was to persuade the
public, and the Texas Congress, to investigate his firing.
It worked; a Congressional investigation found that Moore,
along with Lothrop and Snow, had been illegally dismissed
and deserved a court-martial in which they could confront
the charges against them. |
Moore
demanded that he, Lothrop, and Snow be given a chance
to face their accusers in a court, but no trial was forthcoming.
A Congressional investigation cleared Moore of all charges
and ordered that such a trial be held. All but three naval
officers had resigned in protest of Moore's treatment.
Since no body of naval officers existed to hear the case,
the court consisted of army officers, headed up by Major
General Sidney Sherman. The trial began on August 21,
1844, with Moore up on charges of willful neglect of duty;
misapplication of money, embezzlement of public property,
and fraud; disobedience to orders; contempt and defiance
of the laws and authority of the country; treason; and
murder.
Dishonorable discharge
of Commodore Moore, July 1843
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Report on the condition
of the navy, January 1844
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Summons to testify
in Commodore Moore's court-martial, March 1844
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The court quickly acquitted
Snow and dropped the charges against Lothrop, who died
a few days later in a yellow fever epidemic that was consuming
Galveston. The trial of Edwin Moore lasted seventy-two
days. In the end, the court convicted Moore on four minor
counts of disobedience. Houston, along with the rest of
Texas, considered the verdict a complete victory for Moore;
he vetoed the findings of the court.
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