Palmito Ranch
(March 12-13, 1865)
In March 1865, there was an agreement made between the North and the South banning fighting between opposing forces on the Rio Grande. Even though the fighting had “stopped,” Union Colonel Theodore H. Barrett dispatched an expedition of 250 men to attack rebel outpost camps.
Troops crossed at Boca Chica, because of the weather, which delayed them two hours. At 2:00 A.M. May 12, they surrounded the outpost but there was no one found. Barrett's men were exhausted so they camped that night in a thicket along a bank in the Rio Grande. South of the river, the Mexicans made Confederates aware of the Federals. The man in charge of the Union Cavalry (Branson) promptly led his men into attack at Palmito Ranch. Many little battles happened along the way and Branson’s men defeated Confederate forces. They planned to stay at Palmito Ranch, but were forced to return to White’s Ranch when they saw a larger confederate force arrive.
Barrett reinforced Branson’s army at daybreak with two hundred men and he took over leadership. When they arrived at Palmito, they torched the remaining supplies and continued on. A few miles along, they became engaged in a sharp fire fight. After the fighting had ceased, Barrett led his men back to a camp where they spent the night. At 4:00 P.M., a large Confederate cavalry force approached them. The Confederates beat down on the Union with artillery. Barrett ordered a retreat and kept the Confederates at a respectable distance.
Union Forces returned to Boca Chica at 8:00 A.M., camped there, and left on the 14th. The Confederates won because of surrender by the Union. This is the last battle of the Civil War. Even though this battle was the last one and won by the Confederates, the War was won by the Union. On June 23, a “cease fire” agreement was signed and on November 6, 1865, the last confederate ship surrendered.
