The Texas Navy was a controversial outfit, which caused major political infighting among Texas government officials. President Sam Houston in particular was at odds with the Navy, as he viewed it as having violated his direct orders to defend the port cities of the Gulf of Mexico. Instead, Navy vessels took a piratical turn at raiding and looting towns along the Mexican coast. In retribution for this disobedience, Houston refused to issue land grants for service in the Texas Navy.[3]