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Houston

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Lt. Commander Edward Lea Camp #2

Welcome to Lt. Cmdr. Edward Lea, USN, Camp #2, a Houston-based Camp of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. We are proud to honor the men who fought to preserve the Union, end slavery, and protect the principles upon which our nation was founded.

Our Camp bears the distinguished name of
Lt. Commander Edward Lea, USN, a courageous Union naval officer whose life and service represent the dedication, sacrifice, and patriotism we strive to preserve (see biographical sketch below). By carrying his name forward, we help ensure that his memory - and the stories of the multitude of other Union veterans - remain part of our nation's living history.

As heirs to the
Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), founded by Union veterans in 1866, Lea Camp #2 continues its proud tradition of remembrance and service. We honor our Civil War ancestors by discovering their stories, preserving historic records, restoring and maintaining veterans' graves, and commemorating the sacrifices of those who served.

Our members participate in Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, the annual Battle of Galveston Commemoration, living-history events, historical research, and memorial projects. We also support Eagle Scouts and outstanding JROTC/ROTC students, assist with genealogical research, and promote patriotic education throughout our community. More than an organization, Lea Camp #2 is a fellowship of friends, neighbors, historians, genealogists, and patriots united by a common purpose: remembering the past while strengthening the future. If you share a passion for history, patriotism, family heritage, and honoring those who served, we invite you to join Lt. Cmdr. Edward Lea Camp #2 and become part of its continuing legacy.
Contact Us Lea Camp Website

Honoring the Past

Serving the Present

Preserving the Legacy

2026 Camp Officers

Camp Officers are elected and appointed annually.

Commander
Daniel B. Pourreau, PCC
Houston, Texas

Secretary
Stephen D. Schulze, PDC
Houston, Texas

Camp Council
Dr. Stevenson T. Holmes, PDC
Pearland, Texas

Patriotic Instructor
Ronald S. 'Steve' Brock
Atascocita, Texas

Civil War Memorials Officer
Terry T. Sutton
Corpus Christi, Texas


 

Sr. Vice Commander
Herbert W. Powers, Jr.
Katy, Texas

Treasurer
Jasonn D. Hoffman
Houston, Texas

Camp Council
Michael L. Lance, PDC
Spring, Texas

Graves Registration Officer
Terry T. Sutton
Corpus Christi, Texas

Eagle Scout Coordinator
Ben C. Bonnett, PCC

Conroe, Texas

Jr. Vice Commander
Robert G. Riley
Houston, Texas

Chaplain
Stephen D. Schulze, PDC
Houston, Texas

Camp Council
John C. Vander Meulen, DC
Humble, Texas

Historian
Michael L. Lance, PDC
Spring, Texas

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Images from Recent Events

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Past Commanders of Lt. Cmdr. Edward Lea Camp #2

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Edward Lea,  (1841-1880)

Edward Lea was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1837, the son of Army engineer Albert Miller Lea. He entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1851, graduating in 1855 with the rank of midshipman. He then served at various stations, receiving promotion to passed midshipman in April 1858, to master in November 1858, to lieutenant in 1860, and to Lt. Commander in July, 1862.

Today, Lt. Commander Edward Lea, occupies a distinctive place in Texas Civil War history - not only because of his courageous naval service, but because his final hours became one of the most poignant stories of a nation and a family divided by war. He served as executive officer of the USS Harriet Lane, a powerful side-wheel steamer that had originally served as a United States Revenue Cutter. During the Civil War, Harriet Lane became part of the Union naval forces operating along the Southern coast.

In October 1862, Harriet Lane participated in the Union capture of Galveston, helping establish federal control of that important Texas port. But that control lasted only a few months. Before dawn on January 1, 1863, Confederate Major General John Bankhead Magruder launched a surprise combined land-and-sea attack to retake the island. Confederate cotton-clad gunboats Bayou City and Neptune attacked the Union flotilla. During the fierce action, Bayou City rammed the Harriet Lane - locking the vessels together. The attacking Confederates rushed aboard the now helpless Harriet Lane, leading to brutal hand-to-hand fighting on her deck. Commander Jonathan M. Wainwright, captain of Harriet Lane, and Lt. Commander Edward Lea were both killed during the action.

Edward Lea’s death, however, carried an extraordinary personal dimension. His father, Albert Lea, was then serving as a staff officer with the Confederate forces in Galveston. When Albert learned that his son had been mortally wounded, he was allowed to board the Harriet Lane to comfort his dying son. According to the Rosenberg Library, Edward’s final words were, “My father is here.” Following the battle, Lea and Wainwright received proper burials in Galveston's Episcopal Cemetery. Lea's grave remains a poignant reminder of the personal sacrifices created by the Civil War. Today, His legacy is honored by Lt. Cmdr. Edward Lea Camp #2 - a fitting tribute to a naval officer whose courage, loyalty, and tragic final moments remain woven into the history of Texas and the Union Navy.

Fraternity

Charity

Loyalty