Padre Island in Corpus Christi in Nueces County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Skirmish at Corpus Christi Pass
Photographed by Brian Anderson, October 12, 2025
1. Skirmish at Corpus Christi Pass Marker
Inscription.
Skirmish at Corpus Christi Pass. . On December 7, 1862, Federal blockade forces attempted to capture the Confederate blockade runner Queen of the Bay, which was in Corpus Christi pass on a surveying mission. Twenty armed men from the USS Sachem with civilian Peter Baxter of San Patricio as their guide sailed across Corpus Christi Bay in two launches while the USS Arthur stood by in the gulf to cut off the Queen should it attempt an escape to sea. The Queen spotted the two launches as it attempted to return to Corpus Christi and re-entered the pass. There, the ship's crew and Confederate infantry under Captain John Ireland-a total of twelve men only nine of which were armed-secured positions in the sand dunes to await the Federals., When the Federals closed within 200 yards, Confederates opened fire. The Federals returned fire on the well-positioned Confederates before beaching their launches and attempted to engage the Confederates from an ineffective range of nearly 1,000 yards. In the exchange of fire, two Federal sailors were killed, Baxter was mortally wounded, and three other sailors were injured. There were no Confederate casualties. With neither Federal ship in sight, the surviving Federals began the twenty-mile march up Mustang Island to their base on Aransas Bay. Meanwhile, the Confederates returned to the Queen and secured the dead sailors, the wounded Baxter, and two federal launches before returning to Corpus Christi. Despite medical care, Baxter died soon after returning to Corpus Christi. He and the two sailors were buried in the Corpus Christi cemetery., Fought just four months after the better-known Battle of Corpus Christi, this skirmish was the last engagement between Federals and Confederates in the Corpus Christi area.
On December 7, 1862, Federal blockade forces attempted to capture the Confederate blockade runner Queen of the Bay, which was in Corpus Christi pass on a surveying mission. Twenty armed men from the USS Sachem with civilian Peter Baxter of San Patricio as their guide sailed across Corpus Christi Bay in two launches while the USS Arthur stood by in the gulf to cut off the Queen should it attempt an escape to sea. The Queen spotted the two launches as it attempted to return to Corpus Christi and re-entered the pass. There, the ship's crew and Confederate infantry under Captain John Ireland-a total of twelve men only nine of which were armed-secured positions in the sand dunes to await the Federals.
When the Federals closed within 200 yards, Confederates opened fire. The Federals returned fire on the well-positioned Confederates before beaching their launches and attempted to engage the Confederates from an ineffective range of nearly 1,000 yards. In the exchange of fire, two Federal sailors were killed, Baxter was mortally wounded, and three other sailors were injured. There were no Confederate casualties. With neither Federal ship in sight, the surviving Federals began the twenty-mile march up Mustang Island to their base on Aransas Bay. Meanwhile, the Confederates returned to the Queen
Click or scan to see this page online
and secured the dead sailors, the wounded Baxter, and two federal launches before returning to Corpus Christi. Despite medical care, Baxter died soon after returning to Corpus Christi. He and the two sailors were buried in the Corpus Christi cemetery.
Fought just four months after the better-known Battle of Corpus Christi, this skirmish was the last engagement between Federals and Confederates in the Corpus Christi area.
Erected 2023 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23814.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is December 7, 1862.
Location. 27° 37.565′ N, 97° 13.255′ W. Marker is in Corpus Christi, Texas, in Nueces County. It is on Padre Island. It is at the intersection of South Padre Island Drive and Packery Channel Park Road, on the right when traveling north on South Padre Island Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14218 South Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi TX 78418, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 20, 2025, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 20, 2025, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.
