The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 52, July 1948 - April, 1949 Page: 100
512 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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)aotes aid DOCumHets
i. # reeima's Report an the eighth iMiitary
qepartment
Edited by M. L. CRIMMINS
(Continued)
I left Corpus Christi June 26th, and pursuing the line of march of
the Army of Occupation in 1846, reached Fort Brown, distant 174
miles in nearly a Southernly Direction, July Ist. The only water
courses met with on the route were the Agua Dolce, San Fernandez
(the bed of which was then dry), Santa Gertrudes, and the Arroyo
Colorado-this last being salt. Water was, however, found in ponds
at convenient intervals and in sufficient quantity until within 8 miles
of the Arroyo Colorado, from which point to Fort Brown, 45 miles,
none was obtained except from one small stagnant pool. Numerous
salt ponds and lakes were passed on the march. The Colorado was
nearly dry. Its bed at the crossing is about 250 feet wide and in parts
boggy, as were the beds of two or three extensive salt lakes which it
was necessary to cross. After heavy rains these lakes must become too
deep for the passage of Wagons. With the exceptions above stated
the road from Corpus Christi to Fort Brown may be called a good
one in ordinary seasons. The country between the Nueces and the
Rio Grande is mostly prairie with occasional patches of mosquit [sic],
scrub and post oak. Much of the land is covered with a luxuriant
growth of the rich mosquit grass, thus adapting it peculiarly to stock
raising purposes. There are very few settlements, however, except in
the vicinity of Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande. The great obsta-
cles to settlement have heretofore been the fear of Indian depreda-
tions, and the want of water. The latter objection, I am told, may be
obviated by boring Artesian Wells to the depth of (not exceeding)
500 feet, but I doubt whether it will not always operate to prevent
any considerable occupation of the country.
VI.-BRAZOS SANTIAGO DEPOT.
I did not visit this place because the Assistant Quartermaster in
charge, Capt. Stewart Van Vliet,40 who resides at Fort Brown, told
40Stewart Van Vliet graduated from the Military Academy in 1840. He was made
a brigadier general of the Volunteers on September 23, 1861. He was breveted
lieutenant colonel, colonel, and brigadier general on October 28, 1864, for faithful
service during the war. He was made a major general March 13, 1865, for
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 52, July 1948 - April, 1949, periodical, 1949; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101121/m1/107/?rotate=270: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.