The citizen of Texas, traveling in the United States, is often-times shocked to find that comparatively few people are aware that Texas for ten years was an independent Republic. However, this ignorance is by no means confined to people out side of Texas; even informed Texans are surprised to learn that Texas in her struggle for independence, and the maintaining of that independence, possessed a Navy, powerful enough to aid her in the struggle, and to successfully combat every effort of Mexico to regain her territory.