 At the beginning of the Texas War of Independence, businessmen John and Augustus Allen endeavored to keep the Texans' supply channels open.At their own expense, they outfitted a ship called "Brutus" for the purpose of protecting the Texas coast and assisting troops and supplies from the United States to arrive safely in Texas.In January 1836, the Allen brothers sold "Brutus" to the Texas Navy, and it became the second ship in the fledgling fleet of schooners.