 The Confederate commanding officer at Corpus Christi tentatively refused the request pending the decision of General Hamilton P. Bee who commanded Southern forces in Texas.While awaiting Bee's decision, Kittredge proceeded to Flour Bluffs where "Belle Italia" rejoined his small force.The next morning, the sloop joined in the shelling of several small vessels that escaped into the shallow waters of Laguna de la Madre where the Union ships could not follow.