The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-04
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Historic Fight in Mexico he Editor of The Age-Herald:

there on the spot, and was a member of Capt. John s. Ford's company of Texas Rangers, and was engaged in several bat ties with Cortenas' men. We first struck them in their camp about 10 miles above Brownsville, but were not engaged in the first engagement, which was fought out by a company of Rangers and regu- lars We joined the first company late in the afternoon of that day. and were in a small skirmsh next morning. but the enemy had scattered all through the country, as we waited for them to get together again. In the meantime the first company was ordered up the river to some other point to look at the Comanche In- dians. who had broken out and who were out on the warpath.
 shortly after this we were informed that if body of about p men was sent over the border into Mexico, we could se- cure lot of the men who had engaged in the murder of Americans and their Mexican friend. Captain Ford was too old an Indian fighter to be caught in a trap. He took in all that was told him, but he did not conform to the plans laid
 
 men with orders to cross the Rio Grande. but instructed them to delay as long as possible in going to the appointment, so as to give him time to get to the rear of the enemy and see If it was a joke or fight His men dismounted and slipped up close enough to view the situation; then returning to their horses. mounted and charged the gang, while our men in front cut off their escape. Several Mex. icahs and few Indians were killed in the melee which followed. Shortly be- fore we reached the scene of action. how ever, Cortena and his men had murdered a number of American men and women, disfiguring their bodies in a most dread full manner and throwing the remains into the river. So from that time on no quar- ter was given. If a Mexican or Indian was captured. he was instantly killed.
 A short time after our first invasion of Mexico we engaged the enemy up near Rio Grande City. We fought them 10 miles of ground, and killed 162 of them. Our loss, was one man wounded. his in- juries, however proving fatal. He was an Alabama boy and a gallant Ranger. His name was Woodruff, and he lived near Vernon. In this fight the enemy had small piece of artillery. which gave them great deal of courage. This piece was dragged along by ropes fastened to the horns of their saddles Captain Ford gave strict orders not to capture this piece, of artillery, as he said when this was done that they would scatter and the fight would end. This proved to be correct As soon as the sorder to take 1t was given. the whole company went on wild charge, running over the men in charge of the piece, killing the most of them. This ended the campaign. as they never got up any recruits to fight us. On the night of April 1. 1859, we crossed the river and surrounded n small Mexican town, searching 1t for some of the mur- deros gang, but we found none of them. Then we started on a march down the river to much larger town. Reanos. Here we found large body of armed men waiting for us. We entered the town against>their repeated command to parity, Halt! halt But Captain Ford at the head of the command proceeded just as though no one had demanded that we should not enter the town. The street along through which we had to pass in order breach the plaza was defended by two pieces of artillery, which were pointed directly at our column, but not man fiinched, and we continued our march as calmly as though entering a town in pos session of our troops. We passed the ar- tillery. dismounted. 9hd turned it on the plaza, which was filled with armed men. Captain Ford called for the mayor. who was fine looking man. He came for ward at once. and demanded why we had | invaded Mexico, and requested that we depart at once. Captain Ford was as quiet and serene as though at home with his family. He told the mayor that many murders had been committed by the Mexicans in Texas. and that he knew that some of the murderers were hiding in that town; that he had come for them and that he was going to take them. without fighting if possible: but that he was there and would not leave until he had made a complete search of the town, and that he would fight if 1t was neces- sary The mayor was so certain that we could not find any one that he consented. We then searched and found two of the men we were after. These we took to the Texas side of tho river and hung them up in plain view of the Mexican town. We then camped directly opposite the Mexican town. Just about dark. when we had begun to cook supper, the Mex jeans across the river opened fire. The |captain. however ordered us not to re-
 
 shelter behind a sand ridge nearby. which afforded ample protection during the night Next day plan was formed to cross the river the following night and burn the town. But late In the aft ernoon Col. R. F. Lee afterwards Gen. |R. E. Lee-having heard of the inva- |Dion, came up. Colonel Lee first ordered -Four captain to move his men from that part of tue country; but Captain Ford replied that hes took orders from the governor of Texas alone. and that he would leave when he got ready and not before. Colonel Lee then dismounted and had . long talk with the captain; gave assurance that he had no right to command him. that he did not wish to offend, that fe was one of the bravest men he had ever known; and that he would change his command to re- |Quest. for the sake of peace. Then Cap tain Ford agreed to move next day. To this General Lee at once acquiesed. and offered to send i've companies of cav airy to help in case of need. which Cap