Veteran of Mexican American War & Civil War

Bernard Kowalski – First a US Soldier then Confederate Soldier

           Bernard Kowalski was born in Inowrazlaw, Poland in 1821. He immigrated to the United States in 1841 locating in New Orleans where he became a successful businessman. In 1846 he was naturalized as an American citizen and joined the US Army to serve in the Mexican War.

            He joined the Washington Artillery, a famous military organization of New Orleans. Bernard went with General Zachary Taylor's army to Fort Brown near the future town of Brownsville, Texas. He served as a quartermaster officer. He followed Taylor through the war, taking part in many engagements.

           After the war, Bernard went to California to search for gold. Not finding gold he moved to Brownsville with his family in 1861, to start his business.

           Battle of Brownsville: On the breaking out of the Civil War Bernard Kowalski enlisted in the Confederate Army to protect Brownsville and the lucrative cotton trade.  Cotton bales crossed the river near Brownsville to be shipped from the Mexican port of Bagdad near the mouth of the Rio Grande. Bernard was commissioned major of artillery to defend Fort Brown under General Hamilton Bee. In November 1853, Union General Nathanial Banks assembled 6000 troops to attack Fort Brown. Confederate General Bee ordered the evacuation of Fort Brown and the burning of military supplies and cotton. Inside the fort were 8000 pounds of explosives which caused a huge explosion and the burning of a great part of downtown Brownsville.   Bernard Kowalski was taken prisoner and taken to New Orleans where he was kept a prisoner until the close of the conflict.  It wasn't until July 1864 that Confederate forces under the command of John S. "Rip" Ford were able to reoccupy Fort Brown.                                      

 After the war Bernard Kowalski returned to Brownsville with Sophia his wife and their 3 children to resume his mercantile business operations in this city. They were founding members of the Jewish community. Their sons Louis and Benjamin helped with the success of the business. The Bernard Kowalski home was constructed at the corner of 5th and E. Elizabeth where it remains today as a historical landmark. Son Benjamin Kowalski served as Mayor of Brownsville from 1912 to 1914. Sophia was Sophia Bernstein, born in Posen, Poland.

            Bernard Kowalski was an honored resident until his death, June 24, 1889. His wife Sophia died a year later in 1890. 

           Bernard Kowalski and Sophia are buried in the Kowalski plot in the Hebrew Cemetery.  

Presented by Larry Holtzman 2024-02-25