The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920 Page: 107
319 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Border Troubles Along the Rio Grande, 1848-1860 107
he soon had an army of several hundred. Hoisting the Mexican
flag over his quarters, he published another proclamation, more
verbose and drastic than that of September 30, in which he de-
nounced in bitter terms the Americans of Texas, set forth a pro-
gram for the redemptions of the Mexicans in that State, and de-
clared himself the divinely appointed agent to break the chains
of his enslaved compatriots.5"
But at last the slow moving Federal authorities began to take
some action. Immediately after the first invasion of Brownsville
the collector of Brazos de Santiago had given notice to Twiggs,
commander of the United States forces in Texas.o Upon receipt
of this letter the latter had given orders for the dispatch of two
companies of infantry, one to the junction of the Leona and the
Frio rivers, and one to the Rio Grande below Fort Duncan, while
he sent a company of artillery and one of cavalry to scout between
Forts Duncan and Clark.1 When news of the raid reached Wash-
ington the immediate reoccupation of Fort Brown was ordered."
It was not however until the latter part of November that these
forces reached Brownsville; and Major Heintzelman who was to
have charge did not arrive with his command until December 5."6
Finally, on December 14, Major Heintzelman with 165 regulars
and 120 rangers advanced upon Cortina's position. The latter
retreated northward avoiding a serious engagement until December
27, when his forces were overtaken and routed near Rio Grande
City. Cortina fled into Mexico, leaving his "guns, ammunition
and baggage carts, provisions, and everything he could throw away
to lighten his flight." He had about sixty killed and drowned in
the river, the rest escaping into Mexico without their arms. Cor-
tina afterwards moved down the river collecting the remnants of
his scattered forces and eventually establishing his camp at La
Bolza on the Mexican side about thirty-five miles above Browns-
ville with the intention of capturing the American steamboat
Ranchero on its way down the river.
On February 4, 1860, he apparently attempted to seize this
"House Ex. Doe. 52, 36th Cong., 1st Sess., 79-82.
enatete Ex. Doc. 2, 36th Cong., 1st Sess., 378-379.
"Ibid., 378.
'Adjutant General to Twiggs, October 25, 1859. House Ex. Doe., 36th
Cong., 1st Sess., 36.
"Ilbid., 64; House Ex. Do. 81, 36th Cong., 1st Sess., 7.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920, periodical, 1920; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101075/m1/113/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.