Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-12-30
BATTLE WITH MEXICANS.
United States Troops Have Fight on the
Border.

United States Troops Have p Fight on the
Border.
Rio GRANDE Cry, Tex, Dec. %
Capt G.. Bourke, with nineteen cavalry
men and infantry, met sixty revolu-
tionists at place called the
Retamal. in Star County, seven
miles from where Catarino Cara
crossed into Mexico near Sagoulla,
at 11:30 yesterday, and as the result
Corporal Chatiles S. Edstrom lies dead
at Fort Ringgold with two bullets in his
head and body, while Lieut.. Charles
Hayes, in the fight, was knocked from
his horse by bullet glancing across his
chest, but slightly wounding him.
At $3.50 P. NJ. Monday Deputy Mar
shall M. A. Banada, of Hidalgo County,
Informed Capt. Bourke that large body of
revolutionists were rendezvoJsing in this
county below here, and could make a
crossing at the Grula ranch the same night
to attack Camargo. Capt. Bourke at once
moved out with Lieut.. Charles Hayes and
nineteen men, half of whom were mounted,
to prevent it.
Infantry in wagons on the run reached
the Grulia at 9 o'clock, and placed under
guard Deputy United States Marshal
Cara, who gave information of the revolu-
tionists' rendezvous and numbers from
the Grulla. Two soldiers, mounted on
each horse and with the deputy United
States marshal, handcutfed, marched for
the Retained, collection OF springs within
one mile Of that place.
At 1890 o clock III the morning the United
States forces dlSmOunted by Capt. BOurke'S
order and advanced carefully on the revo-
lutionists with orders to make nc reply
TO challenges, and soon the enemy',s
Pickets started ta the battle Capt.
"tire kneellng," and three volleys
maze the revOlutionlStS break and run.
Deputy Thomas Cara escaped during the
confusion, it begging very dark and not
knowing the ground, Capt. Bourke did not
heard the revolutlonists had their skiffs
ready to cross.
After staying a short time Capt. Bourke
took up the line Of march again for the Re-
tamel Springs. where the revolutionists
were well-posted and opened fire on him,
wounding Lieut.. Hayes. Capt. Bourke's
f1ankerS being driZen in, his handful of
blue Jackets at once advanced. They
were outnumbered nearly four to one. In
short order Garza'S men ran, but not until
Private Lloyd, of c. Troop, Third Cavalry,
who had been captured IN the skirmish
line got back to his command,
1t is not positively known what damage
Was done TO Garza'S men, who are COM
:nanded by Eustergio Ramon and Julian
Flores. Lieut.. Hayes horse was recap
tured and the complete outfit of one of the
revOutlOnlStS. A dozen or more of the
revolutOniStS horses got away from them,
but they were SO wild they could not be
captured. This gallant and timely attack
upon them undoubtedly prevented the
sacking of CamargO.
These men came from the coast countries,
and were part of several hundred, one
section being ordered to rendezvous near
Los An9 eles, near Laredo, to cross above
Fort Mcintosh, the second to cross at
CamiZo to draw the Mexican troops from
Guerrero, Mier and CamargO, so as to
leave the latter place unguarded for an at
tack by the body that Capt. Bourke and
men defeated to-day. This shows positive
ly that more troops are needed here at
once. Three revOlutioniSts were arrested
at the Grulla Ranch by Capt. Bourke, and
are now in the guard house here.