W. M. W: Hunter to P. O. Hébert, C. S. A, November 22, 1861

General P. O. HÉBERT, C. S. A.: : : In obedience to your verbal order of this day, directing me to state

in writing the practicability of gunboats of the class represented to be – > :

in the enemy’s fleet being able to reach a position in Galveston Bay to command the bridge from Galveston Island to the mainland, I would respectfully state that a vessel drawing eight feet of water cannot get within 3 miles of the bridge, and one drawing seven feet of water cannot get within 23 miles of the bridge, by thé way of either the Pelican or Galveston channel. Six feet of water in high tide can be taken to the bridge. The enemy’s gunboats are reported to draw from eight to nine feet of water. Heis however represented to have lighter-draught steamers, on which guns may be mounted. Any vessel capable of erossing Galveston Bar ean pass at very long gun-shot range, by both Fort Point and Pelican Spit, to about 4 miles above Pelican Spit. The enemy’s gunboats may therefore pass both Fort Point and Pelican Spit with the battery at present mounted thereon. Although allthe marks indicating the channel-way into Galveston Bay have been re. moved, the channel is well known to many persons who have been trading to this place, and doubtless the enemy may have the services of some of these. – I am,

very respectfully,