Friday, 12 May 1865
In the last land engagement of significance in the War Between the States, Union troops from Brazos Santiago Post, Texas, under Colonel Theodore H. Barrett, march inland towards Brownsville and attack Palmito Ranch on the banks of the Rio Grande River. The camp was taken, but the Yankees quickly evacuated under pressure from Confederates led by Colonel John S. Ford.
Full report: Since March 1865, a gentleman’s agreement precluded fighting between Union and Confederate forces on the Rio Grande. In spite of this agreement, Colonel Theodore H. Barrett, commanding forces at Brazos Santiago, Texas, dispatched an expedition, composed of 250 men of the 62nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment and 50 men of the 2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel David Branson, to the mainland, on 11 May, to attack reported Rebel outposts and camps. Prohibited by foul weather from crossing to Point Isabel as instructed, the expedition crossed to Boca Chica much later. At 2:00 am, on 12 May, the expeditionary force surrounded the Rebel outpost at White’s Ranch, but found no one there. Exhausted, having been up most of the night, Branson secreted his command in a thicket and among weeds on the banks of the Rio Grande and allowed his men to sleep. Around 8:30 am, people on the Mexican side of the river informed the Rebels of the Federals’ whereabouts. Branson promptly led his men off to attack a Confederate camp at Palmito Ranch. After much skirmishing along the way, the Federals attacked the camp and scattered the Confederates. Branson and his men remained at the site to feed themselves and their horses but, at 3:00 pm, a sizable Confederate force appeared, influencing the Federals to retire to White’s Ranch. He sent word of his predicament to Barrett, who reinforced Branson at daybreak, on the 13th, with 200 men of the 34th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The augmented force, now commanded by Barrett, started out towards Palmito Ranch, skirmishing most of the way. At Palmito Ranch, they destroyed the rest of the supplies not torched the day before and continued on. A few miles forward, they became involved in a sharp firefight. After the fighting stopped, Barrett led his force back to a bluff at Tulosa on the river where the men could prepare dinner and camp for the night. At 4:00 pm, a large Confederate cavalry force, commanded by Colonel John S. “Rip” Ford, approached, and the Federals formed a battle line. The Rebels hammered the Union line with artillery. To preclude an enemy flanking movement, Barrett ordered a retreat. The retreat was orderly and skirmishers held the Rebels at a respectable distance. Returning to Boca Chica at 8:00 pm, the men embarked at 4:00 am, on the 14th. This was the last battle in the Civil War. Caucasian, Native, African, and Hispanic Americans were all involved in the fighting on both sides. Many combatants reported that firing came from the Mexican shore and that some Imperial Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande but did not take part in the battle. These reports are unproven.
In Washington, D.C., the eight alleged conspirators in the Lincoln assassination pleaded not guilty to both specifications and charges against them before the military commission sitting as their court. As the taking of testimony began, all eight had obtained lawyers, but could not consult with them except in the courtroom where their guards could listen.
President Andrew Johnson appoints Major General Oliver O. Howard to duty as the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedman, and Abandoned Lands.
Brevetted Major General Adelbert Ames, USA, assumes the command of the 10th US Army Corps, Florida.
Federal troops scout against Indians, from Cottonwood, in the Nebraska Territory, to Oilman's Station, 15 miles east of Post Cottonwood.
In the last land engagement of significance in the War Between the States, Union troops from Brazos Santiago Post, Texas, under Colonel Theodore H. Barrett, march inland towards Brownsville and attack Palmito Ranch on the banks of the Rio Grande River. The camp was taken, but the Yankees quickly evacuated under pressure from Confederates led by Colonel John S. Ford.
Full report: Since March 1865, a gentleman’s agreement precluded fighting between Union and Confederate forces on the Rio Grande. In spite of this agreement, Colonel Theodore H. Barrett, commanding forces at Brazos Santiago, Texas, dispatched an expedition, composed of 250 men of the 62nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment and 50 men of the 2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel David Branson, to the mainland, on 11 May, to attack reported Rebel outposts and camps. Prohibited by foul weather from crossing to Point Isabel as instructed, the expedition crossed to Boca Chica much later. At 2:00 am, on 12 May, the expeditionary force surrounded the Rebel outpost at White’s Ranch, but found no one there. Exhausted, having been up most of the night, Branson secreted his command in a thicket and among weeds on the banks of the Rio Grande and allowed his men to sleep. Around 8:30 am, people on the Mexican side of the river informed the Rebels of the Federals’ whereabouts. Branson promptly led his men off to attack a Confederate camp at Palmito Ranch. After much skirmishing along the way, the Federals attacked the camp and scattered the Confederates. Branson and his men remained at the site to feed themselves and their horses but, at 3:00 pm, a sizable Confederate force appeared, influencing the Federals to retire to White’s Ranch. He sent word of his predicament to Barrett, who reinforced Branson at daybreak, on the 13th, with 200 men of the 34th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The augmented force, now commanded by Barrett, started out towards Palmito Ranch, skirmishing most of the way. At Palmito Ranch, they destroyed the rest of the supplies not torched the day before and continued on. A few miles forward, they became involved in a sharp firefight. After the fighting stopped, Barrett led his force back to a bluff at Tulosa on the river where the men could prepare dinner and camp for the night. At 4:00 pm, a large Confederate cavalry force, commanded by Colonel John S. “Rip” Ford, approached, and the Federals formed a battle line. The Rebels hammered the Union line with artillery. To preclude an enemy flanking movement, Barrett ordered a retreat. The retreat was orderly and skirmishers held the Rebels at a respectable distance. Returning to Boca Chica at 8:00 pm, the men embarked at 4:00 am, on the 14th. This was the last battle in the Civil War. Caucasian, Native, African, and Hispanic Americans were all involved in the fighting on both sides. Many combatants reported that firing came from the Mexican shore and that some Imperial Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande but did not take part in the battle. These reports are unproven.
In Washington, D.C., the eight alleged conspirators in the Lincoln assassination pleaded not guilty to both specifications and charges against them before the military commission sitting as their court. As the taking of testimony began, all eight had obtained lawyers, but could not consult with them except in the courtroom where their guards could listen.
President Andrew Johnson appoints Major General Oliver O. Howard to duty as the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedman, and Abandoned Lands.
Brevetted Major General Adelbert Ames, USA, assumes the command of the 10th US Army Corps, Florida.
Federal troops scout against Indians, from Cottonwood, in the Nebraska Territory, to Oilman's Station, 15 miles east of Post Cottonwood.
