The Junior Historian, Volume 7, Number 6, May 1947 Page: 2
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1THE JUNIOR HISTORIAN
after a short retreat and sent messen-
gers with pleas for reinforcements to
his commanding officer, Colonel John
S. Ford. Colonel Ford replied, assuring
him that he would collect troops that
night and come to his assistance in the
mclrning. "lTowar(ls the end of the day,
without waiting for reinforcements,
Captain Rolbinson, with sixty troopers,
l;:gan skirmishing towards the Yankee
pcsitioa at l'almito Ranch.
The Fedelrals, thinking that the Con-
feclcrates had increased their numbers,
retreated some four miles back to
\Vhite's Ranch. There Lieutenant Col-
neI l Branson contacted Colonel Bar-
rett for reinforcements while his men
i.edcd down for the night. Thus ended
May I1,, with both sides gathering all
the strength available to engage in a
struggle which had terminated actually
a month before.
T'he next morning Captain Robinson's
!attalion was joined by another battalion
of cavalry, brl-iinging the Confederate
cavalry force total to about three hun-
d(red men. "lThis new force was coni-
maln(led by Captain D. M. Wilson. The
Yankees also received reinforcements
with the arrival from Brazos Island
(f C olonecl Barrett and two hundred
men from the 34th Indiana Infantry.
Colonel Barrett assumed command of
the entire expedition and ordered an
advance against Palmito Ranch, which
had been reoccupied by the Texans.
This advance began about seven o'clock
that morning.
The smaller Confederate force once
more tried to halt the advance but were
driven back intact. The Yankees again
occupied(l lalmito Ranch, this time com-
pleting by fire the destruction which
they had begunl the previous day. The
skirmllishing continued throughout the
morning, with the Federals finally
halting about a mile past the smoldering
ranch.
Th'lhat afternoon Colonel Ford arrived
with a battery of six twelve-pounders
and seventy men, assumed command ofthe Confederates, and made prepara-
tions for a crushing attack. The enemy,
outnumbering his forces but being com-
posed mainly of foot soldiers, was in
his direct front. The Rio Grande was
to his right and open brushland to his
left. The cavalry could be sent to the
left, skirmish, and then outflank the
Federals and possibly gain the rear,
cutting off the escape route and driving
the enemy into the river. This was
Colonel 1'ord's plan, which, when carried
into effect, partially succeeded.
The Rebel cavalry was ordered to
skirmish and outflank the enemy's
right. Just as the Federals stiffened to
meet this cavalry attack, the Confed-
crate artillery opened fire. This was a
complete surprise to the Yankees, and
they were thrown into panic at the ex-
ploding shells. Thus, in their sudden
advance, the Texans were able to cap-
ture forty-nine Federals who were well
in advance of their main body. Seeing
this and realizing that his army would
be butchered unless something were
done, Colonel Barrett ordered an im-
mediate retreat. This soon ,becamel a
rout. After hearing the Texans' blood-
curdling yells, some of the Yankees
so feared death or capture that they
tried swimming across the Rio Grande.
A few managed to reach the other side,
but many were drowned in the muddyv
river. Colonel Ford's complete destruc-
tion of the Federals, however, did not
take place, although the rout was com-
plete with the Yankees running about
seven miles, stopping just short of Boca
Chica. By next morning g no Yankees
remained on the mainland, for they
were all safe on Brazos Island.
The Confederates took stock of their
fighting c;f the past two days. Although
they had been outnumbered some two
hundred and thirty men by the enemy,
the Rebels had had only three men cap-
tured and five imen wounded, none of
these seriously. The Yankees, on the
other hand, had had thirty killed and
(Continued on page 10)
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Texas State Historical Association. The Junior Historian, Volume 7, Number 6, May 1947, periodical, May 1947; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth391473/m1/4/?q=%22civ-war%22: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.