The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 51, July 1947 - April, 1948 Page: 352
406 p. : ill., ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
men, however, in good order, and their quarters and the other build-
ings in a proper state of police. A few men were sick, though fortu-
nately not serious cases, as no physician was at hand. The climate,
I learn, is very similar to that of Fort Ewell, the thermometer ranging
at times over 1oo Fahrenheit. The most common diseases are ma-
larious fever, dysentery, diarrhea, and scurvy.
Lieut. McRae's accounts with the Quartermaster's and Subsistence
Departments appeared to be correct. The post is supplied by the train
belonging to Fort Ewell, and running between that point and Corpus
Christi. Oats are furnished from Corpus Christi; corn is purchased in
the vicinity and paid for at the same place, the price ranging from
75 cents to $1.25 per bushel. There are now in store 11,ooo pounds
of corn, and 11,5oo pounds of oats. Provisions are drawn from Fort
Ewell, only a month's supply for the detachment being required at
a time. Fresh beef was obtained during the past Spring at 4 cents
per pound, though the usual price is from 5 to 6 cents.
I remained at Fort Merrill only a few hours and then pursued the
route to Corpus Christi, where I arrived June 23d. The road, which
follows the general course of the river, is a good one, and water is
found at convenient intervals. The country in the vicinity of the
route for forty miles above Corpus Christi is fast filling with settlers.
Of these settlements San Patricio is the most considerable. There is
also a smaller one, 12 miles from Corpus Christi, called-iri anticipa-
tion, probably, of its future greatness-"Nueces City."
V.-CORPUS CHRISTI DEPOT- (Inspected June 24 and 25, 1853.)
At this place, in addition to its being a depot for Quartermaster's
and Subsistence stores, the Head Quarters of the 8th Department are
now established. The town is situated on the bay of the same name,
in latitude, about 27 40' North, longitude 97 30' West. There is
a regular mail communication weekly, by steamer from Indianola,
with New Orleans, and a mail is sent weekly to the posts on the Rio
Grande and to San Antonio.
The town is built on a plain, eight or ten feet above high tide,
and also on a bluff immediately in rear of the plain, and some forty
feet more elevated, and contains, probably, 1,ooo inhabitants. The
plain which is composed of coarse shell and sand, affording one of
the best and most convenient materials for building that can be
imagined-is about 31/2 miles in length, 21/2 miles wide at its northern
extremity and one fourth of a mile at its southern. The bay is nearly
a circle of about 15 miles diameter, and has two outlets into the Mex-
ican Gulf, the north called "Aransas Pass," 25 miles distant, and the352
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
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/m1/446/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.