The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 51, July 1947 - April, 1948 Page: 353
406 p. : ill., ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Notes and Documents
35-3
south-"Corpus Christi Pass," 18 miles. Between these two passes lies
Mustang Island, 3o miles long, by 2 wide. Accounts vary materially
as to the depth of water that can be carried at high tide over the
bars of the two passes, but from the best information within my reach
I do not think it would be prudent to risk more than 71/2 feet over
Aransas, and 512 over Corpus Christi bar. I have seen a letter from
Bvt. Capt. McClelland32 of the Engineers, who surveyed this last,
in which he says "Government stores should never be sent to Corpus
Christi Pass in vessels drawing more than 51/2 to 6 feet scant-and in
no event when it is possible to send them to Aransas, bad as the
latter is." After getting inside these passes there are intervening flats
which prevent vessels of more than 4 feet water coming up to the
town. I understand that at an expense trifling in comparison to the
advantages to be derived, a channel could be opened giving 7 feet
to Corpus Christi.
The chief drawback to Corpus Christi as a residence, is the want
of good drinking water, which it is necessary to haul from a distance
of many miles for the use of those whose houses are not furnished
with cisterns; and even where cisterns are provided, serious incon-
venience is frequently experienced from droughts that are often of
long continuance. Nothing can exceed the delicious freshness of the
atmosphere. The air is almost constantly in motion, a brisk breeze
prevailing from the South East with the regularity of a trade wind
nearly throughout the entire twenty-four hours. It combines more
advantages of position and salubrity for a General Hospital than any
other point on the Gulf or Southern Atlantic coast; and I am of
opinion that the establishment of such a hospital is called for by the
wants of the service in this Department. I learn that Surgeon Jarvis,83
Medical Director, made a recommendation to this effect in November
last, accompanied by an estimate of the cost of a suitable building,
and that these papers were forwarded by General Smith to Wash-
ington.
The officers on duty at the Head Quarters of Bvt. Major General
Smith, Comdg. the 8th Department, are Bvt. Major D. C. Buell,34
82George Brinton McClellan graduated from the Military Academy in 1846.
He was breveted lieutenant on August 2o, 1847, for gallantry at Contreras and
Churubusco, promoted to captain September 13, 1847, for gallantry at Chapul-
tepec, and was made a major general of the Ohio volunteers April 23, 1861. He
became a major general of the United States Army on May 14, 1861, and was
commander in chief of the army from November 1, 1861, to March 11, 1862. He
was given formal thanks by Congress July 16, 1861. He resigned his commission
on November 8, 1864, and died October 29, 1885. Heitman, Historical Register of
the United States Army, I, 656.
38Major Surgeon Nathan Jarvis died May 12, 1862. Ibid., 571.
a4Don Carlos Buell graduated from the Military Academy in 1841. He was
breveted captain for gallantry at Monterrey and major for gallantry at Contreras
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 51, July 1947 - April, 1948, periodical, 1948; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101119/m1/447/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.