The ‘"Occupation"’ of Galveston.
There seems to be a wrong impression on the public mind relative to the ‘"situation"’ at
Galveston.
The Island of
Galveston is a strip of land from three to ten miles from the main land, thirty miles in length, and from one to three miles wide.
The city of
Galveston is situated on the eastern end of this Island, and extends to within a mile and a half of the extreme eastern point of the
Island.--Around this point is the channel to the harbor, which lies north of the city.
Within this harbor, and abreast of the city, lies the
Federal vessels with their guns double-shotted pointing at the town.
This is all the possession they have got of it. They have made no permanent landing, and really to-day have no more possession of the city than have our forces.
A few miles west of the town is the railroad bridge, two and a half miles in length, connecting the island with the main land.
Our forces hold the bridge, with batteries on both sides, and we are in full possession of the island itself.
It is said our scouts scour the city whenever they please.
They arrest all persons who appear to be disaffected, and send them within our lines.
The Federals know this and dare not prevent it. With their present force only, the
Federals have won an elephant in a raffle, and they don't know what to do with it. They can't take possession; they can't let it go, and so they sit still with their double-shotted guns pointed at a peaceable people and are waiting to see what will turn up.