Battle Of Palmito Ranch  "The Last Battle Of The War"  May 12 - 13, 1865

The war was ending quietly in the far south of Texas. A month had passed since Lee's surrender in Virginia, and anticipating the end of the war, the Union and Confederate forces around Brownsville observed an informal truce. Then the inexperienced Col. Theodore H. Barrett arrived at Brazos Santiago Post to take command of the Union forces in the area. Barrett had direct orders not to initiate any military action, but his ambition would not allow the war to end before he gained his share of the glory.

On May 12, Barrett led a mixed force of 800 black and white Union infantry and cavalry in attacking a Confederate outpost on the banks of the Rio Grande at Palmito Ranch, 12 miles from Brownsville, and captured the place. The Confederate troops, who had done nothing to break the unofficial truce or provoke a battle, consisted of about 350 ragtag cavalrymen called the Cavalry of the West, under the command of former Texas Ranger Col. John S. "Rip" (for Rest In Peace) Ford. Ford counterattacked and forced the blue troops back out of the Confederate camp. The next morning Barrett returned and again attacked and took the camp at Palmito Ranch. In midafternoon, Ford and his determined troopers counterattacked Barrett's soldiers again, and again forced them to with draw. This time Ford's men pursued the disorganized retreat back toward Brazos Island and took many prisoners. Ford called off the pursuit when his horses got tired. The Confederates suffered only five minor wounds in the skirmish at Palmito Ranch, while 30 Union soldiers were killed or wounded and another 113 were captured.

The last fighting by land forces of any size during the war, Palmito Ranch was a Confederate victory. Its outcome had absolutely no bearing on the war and was a useless waste of life. Regardless of which side had won or whether the engagement was even fought, the war was ending all the same.

Fascinating Fact:  In order to avoid a formal surrender, Col. Ford disbanded his Cavalry of the West 13 days after his victory at Palmito Ranch.


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