Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-07

commands finally separated, agree
ing to meet several miles down the
river. The party of Lieut.. Porter
encountered several members OF Fal-
cons band engaged in Jerking" beef.
As Porter approached, a Mexican
snapped his musket at him and Porter
fired both barrels Of his pistol at the
party. The latter fled, and Porter's
party took possessions Of the horses
and beef. They started for camp,
and were ~overtaken by a violent rain
storm. A few miles below Fort Brown
they were ambushed by a party Of
Falcons men. Porter and a private
named Flood being shot down. The
arms Of the Americans had been rem
dered useless by the rain, and they
were dispersed. all members OF the
party. except the two slain in the
ambush, reaching camp the follow
ing day.
A Mexican came into the camp
April 81 and informed Geenral Taylor
he would lead q party to the spot
where he had found the body OF
Colonel Cross. The body was ecover-
cd, and on April "a was buried with
military honors near Fort Brown,
the first American military funeral
on the lower Rio Grande.
The Thornton Disaster
General Arista, who was hurrying
from Monterrey TO Matamoros, ar
rived AZ the Rancho Soliceno April
%. This rancho is located on the
Mexican side Of the Rio Grande just
south Of the present Cameron county
town Of Santa Maria. He ordered ell
the cavalry to concentrate there, TO
cross the river az Carfricitos rancho
and cut the American lines Of COM
munication with the base at Point
Isabel. This maneuver was never
carried out. though the excellent
strategy of the plan is obvious.
Hearing Of the movement, General
Taylor sent Captain Thornton with a
squadron Of so dragons TO recon
moiter the road. now known as the
| military highway, as far as rancho
Carricitos, where the Mexican cav
airy and infantry under the command
OF General Torrejon, was reported
crossing, Captain Thornton left the
camp April rs. and in the afternoon
found the force of Torrejon near the
Carricitos rancho. located near the
NiNGL UEthGEH MudN Is uUh hHVhH ac
the Landrum ranch and Los Indios.
Thornton's dragons charged the
ranch house, which they found IN.
occupied. Shots we're fired from the
chaparral to the left, and the
Dragons turned TO find their retreat
cut off by a company OF infantry de-
ployed along the road which was the
only exit, the ranch being surrounded
by dense chaparral. They charged
the infantry, met a murderous fire
which killed six and wounded several.
Retiring beyond muskct range they
reformed for another charge and dis
covered the entire ranch was sur
rounded by infantry and cavalry con
cealed in the dense br3sh. the Amer
lean force being exposed in the
open clearing.
Thornton surrendered, and the 81
dragons and their commander were
treated with every courtesy by Gen
eral Arista who received the prison
ers from General Torrejon. Two Of
the most seriously wounded Amer
leans we're delivered 10 General Tay-
Tor and the rest OF the wounded were
held prisoners. receiving medical aid
in the Matamoros hospital. The en-
tire force subsequently, was returned
10 the American army in the ex-
change Of prisoners following the
battle Of Resaca de Ia Palma, Captain
Thornton making a report TO Cen
erai Taylor in which he commended
the excellent treatment accorded by
General Arists and the Mexican
troops. Lieutenant Mason 81 the
Second Dragons, = West Point
graduate. was the only officer killed
in the Carricitos skirmish.
Army Moved 10 TT. isabel
Troops or General Torrejon pene-
trated to the rear 81 the American
forces, and on April IS, q force IL IS
Texas under command Of