Last Battle of the Civil War
While most agree that Lee's surrender "ended" the Civil War, the fighting continued on. The last official battle of the US Civil War was fought in West Texas. One can only imagine if Mexico had weighed in a couple of years earlier.
Palmeto Ranch May 1865
Union Col. 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 Lt. Col. David Branson, to the mainland, on May 11, 1865, to attack reported Rebel outposts and camps.
Unable to cross to Point Isabel as instructed, because of foul weather, the expedition crossed to Boca Chica. At 2:00 am, on May 12, the expeditionary force surrounded a 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 Palmeto Ranch. After much skirmishing along the way, the Federals attacked the camp and scattered the Confederates. At 3:00 pm, a sizable Confederate force appeared, influencing the Federals to retire to White's Ranch.
Branson 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 Palmeto Ranch, skirmishing most of the way.
At Palmeto 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 to camp for the night. At 4:00 pm, a large Confederate cavalry force, commanded by Col. 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. Native, African, and Hispanic Americans were all involved in the fighting. Many combatants reported that firing came from the Mexican shore and that some Imperial Mexicanforces crossed the Rio Grande but did not take part in the battle. These reports are unproven.
Palmeto Ranch May 1865
Union Col. 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 Lt. Col. David Branson, to the mainland, on May 11, 1865, to attack reported Rebel outposts and camps.
Unable to cross to Point Isabel as instructed, because of foul weather, the expedition crossed to Boca Chica. At 2:00 am, on May 12, the expeditionary force surrounded a 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 Palmeto Ranch. After much skirmishing along the way, the Federals attacked the camp and scattered the Confederates. At 3:00 pm, a sizable Confederate force appeared, influencing the Federals to retire to White's Ranch.
Branson 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 Palmeto Ranch, skirmishing most of the way.
At Palmeto 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 to camp for the night. At 4:00 pm, a large Confederate cavalry force, commanded by Col. 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. Native, African, and Hispanic Americans were all involved in the fighting. Many combatants reported that firing came from the Mexican shore and that some Imperial Mexicanforces crossed the Rio Grande but did not take part in the battle. These reports are unproven.
