The National tribune., 1908-04-02
Stories Emneny Worth Telling Of Experiences and Adventures
in the Great National Struggle

expedition consisting of $50 men of his
regiment and So men and officers of the
I'd Tex. Cav, not yet mounted, against
strong outpost of the enemy at Pal
metto Ranch, on the banks of the Rio
Grande. The Confederates were not
prepared for the visit, and We're quickly
driven from their position, losing all
their camp eQuipage and stores. Some
horses and cattle were also taken and
q number of prisoners. Lieut.-Col. Bran
son then returned to the vicinity of
Whites Ranch, where he was Joined on
the morning of May IS by about 200
men of the 34th Ind. under the COM
mand of Lieut.-Col. Morrison. Learn
ing that the enemy had reoccupied Pal
metto Ranch Col. Barrett led the unit
ed force back to that place, from which
he drove the enemy. and destroyed what
had not been burned before, including
some buildings used as barracks. The
enemy was pursued for several miles,
with sharp skirmishing at every time
he attempted to take advantage of the
ground to make a stand.
After giving up the pursuit the force
returned to a hill about a mile from
Palmetto Ranch. The enemy had been
reinforced, and now reappeared,
opening fire with both muskets and
cannon. They brought six 12-pounder
pieces up 10 play upon the position, and
at the same time developed large force
of cavalry on our right. This made the
position of the command very critical,
as the Rio Grande was on its left, a
strong force of the enemy in front and
heavy body of cavalry on the right.
Col. Barrett withdrew his force fight
ing, and As men of the 34th Ind, under
Capt. Templer, who were making a
stubborn resistance to cover the retreat
were cut off and captured by the enc
my's cavalry. One-half of the SD T.
S. c. T. were deployed in a skirmish
line nearly three-fourths of a mile in
length, and succeeded in repulSing every
attack of the enemy. Advantage was
taken of every position to halt and de-
liver an effective fire at the pcrsuers,
and the fighting in this way continued
for three hours until the engagement
ended at sunset between Whites Ranch
and the Boca Chica- 1t was claimed
that the Imperialists on the Mexican
side aided the enemy by firing into
the flank of our troops and also BY
sending over body of cavalry.
Col Barrett reports his loss in killed,
wounded and captured to have been
four officers and III men, and ne claims
that he fired the last yolley in the war.
Lieut.-Col. David Branson. in COM
mand of the 62d U. S. c. T., reports
that he made a long, circuitous march
to surround Whites Ranch, where he
expected to capture an outpost of 65
men with their horses and cattle. Ow-
ing to the exhausted condition of the
men he did not reach the ranch before
daylight but hid his command among
tn weeds and in the banks of the Rio
Grande, where he remained undiscov-
cred until $3.50, when he was discovered
by people on the Mexican shore, who
alarmed the enemy. At that time the
Imperial soldiers were marching up on
the other bank of the river. He did not
succeed in surprising and bagging the
enemy as he had hoped, but he drove a
force of about 190 men from their camp.
captured three prisoners, two horses
four beef cattle and over 10 days ra-
tions. His only loses were five men
wounded and seven Enfield rifles and
accouterments. The Texas cavalry be-
haved well, and the expedition showed
that the negro soldiers could march
and could be depended upon for good
service under the most trying circum-
stances.-Editor National Tribune.