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Interesting Letter from Texas.We have been favored with the following extract from a letter of an officer of the U. S. Army in Texas, to his father in Binghamton.N. Orleans—St. Charles Hotel—the Barracks— Steam Ship Alabama—St. Josephs Island—Campat Corpus ChristuCamp Corpus Christi, Texas,Oct. 13, 1845. 0***1 liked the appearance of N. Orleansvery much although I visited it at an unfavorable time, as the citizens have not yet returned from the north, where a great many of them go to spend thesummer. The city is consequently dull—no amuse*merits and very little business going on. I stopped at the 4*8t. Charles” and being slightly acquaintedwith Mr. Wilson one of the proprietors, felt quite athome thero. This is the Astor House of N. Orleansand a very splendid house it is too. I will venture to say however that there are more juleps and coblcrs drank in the rotunda of this house in one day, than in all of the houses of Broadway, Such is the differ*encc between N. York and N. Orleans.New Orleans Barracks are beautifully situated about three miles below the city—the grounds having been ornamented as much as possible with trees—thepri ncipal ones cultivated being **pride of China” anduArbor vitae.” The quarters are two slories high, built of brick, enclosed bv a brick wall flanked bvfour niartello lowers. We left this post on board ofthe Steam Ship Alabama in the evening, so that we saw nothing of the country along the river from thereto the Balize—but I am told that it seems to be one*•large sugar plantation the whole distance, and it isthe same above New Orleans as far as Baton Rouge.We left the Balizc about sunrise and did not seeland again until wc reached St. Josephs Island inAransas Bay. We had a severe storm qn the Gulf and nearly all of our officers and men were sea siek.There were near fifty officers and about four hundredmen on board. Many of these officers were on their way to join their different Regiments and corps,which tvere already in Texas.On board of the Alabama they live in real south*ernjstyle—the first thing presented in the morning is a cup of strong coffee. On the breakfast table we also find coffee and claret, the latter of which is furnished at every meal- We were on board of the steam ship about three days. At St. Josephs Island we were obliged to encamp and wait for transportation, for the reason that large vessels cannot get to this place. We left there on Saturday morning and arrived here the same afternoon..This encampment presents a beautiful appearance. There never was so large a portion of our Army collected together before. We b.ave five Regiments of Infantry, one Regiment of Dragoons, sixteen compa. nies of Artillery (h e. four companies from each of the four Regiments,) and the Battallion of LouisianaVolunteers, The camp is about two miles long, and our Regitncnl occupies the centre. Every body admits that we have the handsomest camp in the wholeline, particular pains having been taken to improveand grade the ground we occupy. They ail admit too that we have the best band in the army. On thearrival of our Baualiion they came out and playedAuld Lang Syne, as a welcome to us. The differentRegiments are encamped as follows:IsT Brigade—Artillery, 8th Infantry, 2d Drag.goons. 2nd Brigade—7th Infantry, 5th Infantry—Bastion. 3rd Brigade—Light Artillery, 3d Infan* fantry, 4th Infantry, Louisiana Volunteers.Each Regiment and each Company is encamped by itself of course, in' regular streets. The Officers’ tents in one line are pitched on a shell bank next tothe Bay. It is beautifully located, but there is greatscarcity of wood and water, and the camp will probably be moved by winter in consequence. The water is brackish, and you would think it impossible to drink it—but I think it is not so bad here as at St.Josephs.Some half dozen Mexicans have just passed my tent, but they do not look very formidable—some ofthem are in camp every day,—I suppose they livesome where in the neighborhood. We bad a reporthere yesterday that there was a party of three hundred about fifty miles from here, but Gen. Taylor ap-pears to have no confidence in the report. There is no probability of a war, so that we will not probablyhave any chance to distinguish or- immortalize our*selves* If we were to march to the Rio Grande, (andI should not be surprised if we did,) perhaps we mightfind a few Mexicans on the route, but 1 presume they would get out of our way as soon as possible. Weare all in good spirits and good condition, ready for any kind of service that may be required of os.It is impossible to tell how long we are to remainill this country. One or two Regiments of coursewill have to be stationed permanently In some part ofTen*, mod we know not which It will be. The■Dragoon, who came over land to this Camp, apeak in the highest terms of the country and ita inhabit*ante, They say they net people of great refinement,
Newspaper Details
Binghamton Courier
Binghamton, New York, US
Wed, Nov 12, 1845
Page 1
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Anonymous
WY, USA 02 Feb 2022
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