Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-12-30

f~eOccupled Dy the rebels. The enemy'S
eavalfy were soOn encountered. Driving
them before us, we reached the ranch by
Z or s a. m, and again compelled the
rebels to abondan it. Such stores as had
escaped destruction the day previous
were now destroyed, and the buildings
which the enemy had turned into bar
racks were burned in order that they
might no longer furnish him convenient
shelter. A detachment was here sent
back to Brazos Santiago with our
wounded and the prisoners and captures
of the day previous. The remainder of
the force was ordered to advance. Nearly
the entire forenoon May 49, was spent
in skirmishing. The enemy, though tax
ing advantage of every favorable posi-
ton, was every easily driven back.
Early in the afternoon a sharp engage
ment took place, which, being in the
%lchaparral, was attended with compare
lively little loss to us.
In this engagement our forces charged
the enemy, compelled him to abandon his
cover, and, pursuing him, drove him
across an open prairie beyond the rising
ground completely but of sight. The
enemy having been driven several miles
since daylight, and our men needing rest,
it was not deemed prudent to advance
farther. Therefore, ~relinquishing the
pursuit. we returned to a hill about a
mile from Palmetto Ranch, where the
34th Indiana had already taken its posi-
ton. About 4 p. m. the rebels, now large
ly reinforced, again appeared in our
front, opened fire upon us with both ar
tillery and small arms. At the same time
Ia heavy body Of cavalry and a section
of a battery, under cover of the thick
chparral on our right, had already sue
ceeded in fianking us with the evident in
~tention of gaining our rear. With the
Rio Grande on our left, a superior force
of the enemy in front, and his fianking
force on our right, our situation was
at this time extremely critical. Havingl.
no artillery to oppose the enemy's six
I12-p6under field pieces, our position be-
Jeanne untenable. We therefore fell back.
fighting. This movement, always diff
lcult, was doubly so at this time, having
Ito be performed under a heavy fire from
both front and flank. Forty-eight men
lof the 34th Indiana Veteran Volunteer
infantry, under Capt. Templer, put out
as skirmishers to cover their regiment.
were, while stubbordly resisting the enc
my, cat off and captured by the enemy's
cavalry. The 62nd Z. s. Colored infan-
try being ordered to- cover our forces
while falling back, over half of that reg
iment were deployed as skirmishers, the
remainder acting as their support. This
lSkirmish line was nearly three-auarters
Iof a mile in length and, reaching from
the river bank, was so extended as to
protect both our front and right flank.
Every attempt of the enemy's cavalry to
break this line was repulsed with loss
to him, and the entire regiment fell back
with precision and in perfect order, un-
der circumstances that would lave test
led the discipline of the best troops. SeizA
ing upon every advantageous position,
the enemy's fire was returned deliber-
lately and with effect. The fighting con
tinued three hours. The last volley of
the war. it is believed, was fired by the
|62nd I. S. Colored infantry about sunset
of the 18th of May, 1860, between Whites
Ranch and the Boca Chica, Texas. Our
entire loss in killed, wounded and cap
ltured was 4 officers and Ill men. In sew
eral instances our men were fired upon
from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande.
Upon our occupation of Brownsville a
few days later it was reported, upon
what appeared to be good authority, that
during the engagement a body of Imper-
Iial cavalry crossed the Rio Grande from
MatamorOs to Brownsville, doubtless
with a view to aiding the rebels. Reports
in detail of this action were forwarded
to department headquarters at New Or
leans shortly after the engagement took
place. As these reports may never reach
the adjutant generals office, the forego-
ing statement of the last actual conflict
between hostile forces in the great re-
Ibellion is respectfully submitted.
| | am, general, with high respect, Your
most obedient servant.
THEODORE III. BARRET,
Colonel 62nd U. s. Colored Infantry.
Bvt. Maj. Gen. l.. Thomas,
A%djutant General u. s. Army.