The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 325

Book Reviews

did organize an expedition, with the approval of the King of
France, to the mouth of the Rio de las Palmas for the purpose of
ousting the Spaniards, the expedition never reached the South
Texas Coast. (See Morfi's History of Texas, 117-137; Castaneda,
The Catholic Heritage of Texas, I, 283.) If Hernando Cortez
ever visited any portion of Padre Island, it is not recorded in any
of the early Spanish literature or historical documents. It is true
that he sent several expeditions to the area for various reasons,
but nowhere is it recorded that he ever personally visited Padre
Island or came north of the Rio Grande.
The inference is given on page 5 that General Zachary Taylor's
troops marched down Padre Island when they came to the border
in 1846 during the territorial dispute between Mexico and the
United States over the newly acquired State of Texas. Undoubt-
edly some of Taylor's forces did patrol the island between Corpus
Christi and Brazos Pass, but there is no record of any considerable
number using the island route. In fact, most of Taylor's troops
came to the border by water. Verification of the movements of
Taylor's troops is set out in detail in the war department records,
in the American Flag, a newspaper published in English at Mata-
moros from June, 1846, to July, 1848, and in the Personal Mem-
oirs of U. S. Grant.
The Padre Island Story, as presented by these young ladies, is
an interesting and well-written one. It is much too brief, how-
ever, to have any considerable value from the historical stand-
point. It does provide an excellent short story for the occasional
visitor to the island who has become interested in the legends
and romantic past connected with it. For those who wonder what
Padre Island is like because they have heard or read about it,
the book should have considerable appeal. The authors have
captured the aura of romance and adventure which shrouds Padre
Island, and which is a part of its historic past.
J. A. HOCKADAY
A Compilation of Articles Published Igo9-1936 By L. F. Sheffy.
Compiled by L. F. Sheffy. Canyon (privately printed), 1961.
Pp. 98. Illustrations.
Lester Fields Sheffy, former chairman of the history department
at West Texas State College in Canyon, has compiled nine of his

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