Battle of Palmito Ranch

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Date	May 12-May 13, 1865
Location	Cameron County, Texas
Result	Confederate victory

Combatants

United States of America

Confederate States of America

Commanders

Theodore H. Barrett

John "Rip" Ford

Strength

Detachments from the:
62nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment, 34th Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Detachments from:
Gidding’s Regiment, Anderson’s Battalion of Cavalry, and other Confederate units and Southern sympathizers

Casualties

118 killed and wounded

few dozen wounded

Expedition from Brazos Santiago
Palmito Ranch

The American Civil War Battle of Palmito Ranch was fought on May 12 – May 13, 1865, and in the kaleidoscope of events following the surrender of Robert E. Lee's army, was nearly ignored. It was the last major clash of arms in the war.

[edit] Reason for Battle

Early in 1865, both sides in Texas made a gentlemen's agreement that there was no point to further hostilities. By that time, most Union troops had pulled out from Texas for campaigns in the east. The Confederates sought to protect their remaining ports for cotton sales to Europe, as well as importation of supplies. Mexicans tended to side with the Confederates due to a lucrative smuggling trade.

Why the needless battle even happened remains something of a mystery—perhaps Union Colonel Theodore H. Barrett had political aspirations. Neither local exports of cotton nor Mexican smuggling had a significant effect on the war.

Barrett certainly had very little military experience. It has since been suggested that he had seen little to no combat during the war, and felt to bolster his political desires after the war, he needed to establish a reputation as a war hero, possibly reasoning that most of the opposing candidates he would likely later face during an election would most likely be former military men.

[edit] Combat Events

Barrett instructed Lieutenant Colonel David Branson to attack the rebel encampment at Brazos Santiago Depot near Fort Brown outside Brownsville, commanded by Confederate Major John "Rip" Ford.

Union forces marched upriver from Brazos Santiago to attack the Confederate encampment, and were at first successful, due to the Confederates being under the understanding that hostilities had ceased. However, after some confusion and bitter fighting, the Union forces were then driven back by a relief Confederate force. The next day, the Union forces attacked again, and again to initial success and later failure. Ultimately, the Union force retreated to the coast.

There were 118 Union casualties. Confederate casualties were "a few dozen" wounded, none killed. Like the war's first big battle at First Bull Run, which also yielded little gain for either side, the battle is recorded as a Confederate victory. Like the Battle of New Orleans, it occurs after the war was over and therefore could not affect the outcome. Texas armies formally surrendered on May 26, 1865; Confederate general Kirby Smith surrendered his forces in the Trans-Mississippi Department on June 2.

It is worth noting that private John J. Williams of the 34th Indiana Volunteer Infantry was the last man killed at the Battle at Palmito Ranch, and probably the last combat casualty of the war. Fighting in the battle were white, African, Hispanic and native troops. Reports of shots from the Mexican side are unverified, though many witnesses reported firing from the Mexican shore.