The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 64, July 1960 - April, 1961 Page: 313
574 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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John S. "Rip" Ford 313
words as to whether or not the attack should be renewed. Ford
insisted that his men were too tired to fight. Slaughter said that
they were not and ordered Carrington's command to charge the
Yankees as they attempted to cross the Boca Chica. By this time
Brazos Island had been alerted and Barrett's command greatly
reinforced. The Federals were strong enough to hold off any
attack that Slaughter could muster.
As twilight fell the firing dwindled. An artillery shell burst
near a youthful Confederate. Swearing loudly, the boy fired his
rifle at the shadows of the island and the shooting part of the
Civil War was over."9
The war between Ford and Slaughter, however, raged on. As
the Confederates rode to an encampment near Palmetto Ranch,
the two officers engaged in strenuous argument. Slaughter was
highly irritated at Ford for refusing to obey orders and renew the
attack. Ford was equally provoked. He denounced the general for
giving such an order when it was obvious that the men, having
fought hard that day, were almost too tired to shoulder their rifles.
At the Confederate encampment, officers and men stood around
listening to a fiery discussion that ran from one difference of
opinion to another. Finally, in exasperation, Slaughter sat down
on a log, looked up at Ford and said: "You are going to camp
here to-night, are you not?"
"No Sir."
The general frowned savagely. "I have ordered down several
wagons loaded with subsistence and forage."
"I am not going to stop here in reach of the infantry forces at
Brazos Island," Ford said stubbornly, "and allow them a chance
to gobble me up before daylight."
"But remember the prisoners," the general said shaking his
head.
"I do sir," Ford retorted, "if we Confederates were their pris-
93Carrington's report in Brown, Texas, II, 433-435. With respect to the numbers
engaged and the casualties, the accounts of the battle come nowhere near general
agreement. Federal losses out of about 8oo engaged were probably 3o killed and
wounded and x13 taken prisoner. Confederate casualties must have been more than
five slightly wounded, as reported. Carrington himself stated in his report (ibid.,
435) that after it was all over the Confederates took time out to bury their dead.
It is likely that out of some 1,3oo engaged all told, the Confederates lost about the
same number in killed and wounded as the Federals.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 64, July 1960 - April, 1961, periodical, 1961; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101190/m1/347/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.