On Monday, August 10, 1863 at Galveston, Texas several Confederate regiments commanded by General John Magruder began a three day mutiny, citing spoiled and weevil infested cornmeal, excessive drilling, the extreme summer heat, and a lack of furloughs as reasons for their actions.
These Confederates refused to drill or release their units’ heavy weapons until assurances were made to improve both their work conditions and quality of their food. The troops were not the only disenchanted at Galveston.
To strengthen Galveston Bay against future Union attack Magruder employed slaves, forcibly impressed from their owners, to build fortifications at Sabine Pass; sixty-two slaves died from being overworked. Their aggrieved owners would receive not a penny of compensation. Magruder, who had pushed the Union forces out of Galveston, was becoming an unpopular figure.