hA Brief History" of the Lower Rio Grande Valley" By Fraak Cashman Here© Brownsville, Texas tmumnmrnmammt tmrnmnmaammamu MNMnMNtlMMI NMRMHWWMWMIR wwnmw Class. Book Gopyriglit}^?- h 3^ 2. x^^^ CDPXRIGHT DEPOSm A BRIEF HISTORY of the LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY BY\y FRANK C. PIERCE 1917 GEORGE BANTA PUBLISHING COMPANY MENASHA. WISCONSIN Copyright 1917 by FRANK C. PIERCE MAR -I 1917 ©Cf.A457278 PRINTED AND BOUND BY GEORGE BANTA PUBLISHING COMPANY MENASHA, WISCONSIN PREFACE The present generation of Americans has known very little of that part of their country which lies along the Rio Grande and has had no realization of the ofttimes stirring scenes which have been enacted along their southern border. At different periods in the past the country has been stirred by the dramatic episodes and the conflicts growing out of the meeting of two entirely dissimilar peoples in that land of cactus and mesquite. But the present generation has known and thought little of that country until the conflict between these two races again blazed out and made the Rio Grande border once more a household topic in every village and every home in the United States. Strangely enough, there has been no connected historical statement of that region ever put in type or, so far as the writer knows, ever even written, and it has remained for Mr. Pierce to perform this service. Mr. Pierce has been a resident of Brownsville since 1859 and there is no one in all that long stretch bordering Mexico who has been in closer touch with the people of Mexico and with its customs and its language or has been a deeper student of its history on both sides of the river than Mr. Pierce. He, therefore, has performed a distinct service to the cause of history in thus putting into this little book the story, brief though it is. George Banta. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY The Lower Rio Grande Valley consists of the extreme southern and southwestern part of the State of Texas and contains about 5,000 square miles. The Rio Grande (Big River) which divides INIexico from Texas, has created the Valley and its boundary on the south and west. Rio Grande City (adjoining Ringgold Barracks), 105 miles northwest from Brownsville, is the apex of the delta and the Gulf of Mexico its base. A history* of the Valley would be incomplete without a passing sketch of that of the Republic of Mexico of which it and the State of Texas at one time formed a part. In depicting its history, if this book should elaborate on specific incidents and characters, the apology is that the descendents of many of the actors who made the his- tory left descendants who still dwell in the Valley, and in whom these lines may awaken slumbering memories. CHAPTER I EARLY HISTORY OF MEXICO . The authentic history of Mexico began with the year 1325, when the Aztecs (now known as Mexicans) of whose prehistoric career but little is known, ended their wanderings by making a permanent settlement on the site then called Tenochtitlan but now known as the City of Mexico. The ruins of Mitla (150 miles southeast from Mexico City), Palenque, Uxmal, Chin-Chen-Itzia, and others along the Yucatan border in the extreme southern portion of Mexico are mute monuments of their unknown past. The wonder- ful pyramids of San Juan (near the City) and Cholula (three miles south of Puebla) testify to the skill and life currents of the Mayas, Quiches, Toltecs, and Chichimecs otherwise long since forgotten. . , ^ . On April 21, 1519, Hernando Cortez, the Spanish Invasion c- • ^ i ..u u- r • ^ Spanish explorer, with his army of inva- ^ sion, landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico. His convoy consisted of eleven ships carrying 110 sailors, 553 foot soldiers and 16 horsemen, together with 200 Cuban Indians; also ten large and four small cannon. They at once began their march through the unknown land, their progress inland towards Tenochtitlan being one ' of con- quest and spoliation. They battled with the fierce Tlax- calans and the cultured Cholulans and swept everything before them, their vanquished foes becoming their allies. Having learned from the Indians that Tenochtitlan was a city of great wealth, Cortez pressed thitherward, arriving outside of that place (now Mexico City) during November, 1519. There he and his followers were received by the King, Moctezuma, who came out to meet them with all the ceremony and pomp belonging to one of Cortez' fame. However, in spite of the Spaniards' protestations of 8 A Brief History of the Lozver Rio Grande Valley friendship, the Mexicans too soon realized the true object of the quest of the Spaniards — the treasures of the land. This greed for gold, necessary religious intolerance, and haughty and cruel treatment of the natives soon brought on feuds and war. The Aztecs endeavored to drive the Spaniards from the land and became enraged when IMoctezuma allowed himself to be made a prisoner by them. Ciltahuatzin, Moctezuma's brother, was named as the leader and immedi- ately the Aztecs besieged the Spaniards. During the siege, the Spaniards craftily took Moctezuma to a house top overlooking a large park and caused him to implore his people to treat for peace. The people listened in silence and when Moctezuma ceased speaking he was struck on the head by an arrow shot from the crowd of listeners- From this wound he died a few days later. Upon the death of Moctezuma, Cortez began a retreat from Tenochtitlan, and on the night of July 1, 1520, suffered a disastrous defeat. However, he succeeded in evading capture. Later, in the spring of 1521, having been reinforced and his supplies having been recuperated, sup- ported by a thousand or more Indian allies, Cortez again attacked the Aztec stronghold. Cuahtemoc, a nephew of Moctezuma, had become the chief. On August 13, 1521, after having been besieged for eight months, his people starved and shrunken with disease, Cuahtemoc evacuated. He, his wife, who was a daughter of King Moctezuma 11, and his principal warriors were taken prisoners while try- ing to escape over the waters of the lake which lies ad- joining the City of Mexico. It is said that in their flight they carried with them the wonderful 'treasures of Mocte- zuma, of which Cortez had heard and which, it is alleged, he at one time saw under circumstances which forbade even his unscrupulous hand to touch. It alwaj^s has been /] Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valle\ 9 contended that the treasures were cast in the Lake Tex- coco, where even to this day searches are made for them. ***** The Spaniards reigned in Mexico from August. 1521, until the year 1810. The first viceroy of the newly acquired Aztec country was Felix Berenguer de Marquina, chief of the squadron and ex-governor of the Mariana islands. He deserves men- tion chiefly because he was possessed of ideas far ahead of the time, and even at that early date endeavored to* suppress bullfights. As early as 1696, the students of the University of Mex- ico began to oppose ecclesiastical influence in civil affairs in Mexico. During 1767, after many terrible "autos de fe" (public executions by burning) practiced by the church in the burning of Fernando Molina and others, by order of the Marquis de Croix, all the Jesuits in New Spain (Mexico) were imprisoned and subsequently expelled from the country. During the reign of Marquis de Valero, Don Juan de Acuna, Marques de Casafuerte, beginning in 1722 and continuing for twelve years, the town of San Antonio de Bexar (now in Texas) was established. .|^ . The plague swept over Mexico in 1736 and many thousands died. Statistics give the population of the City of Mexico in 1747 as 50,000 Spanish European and Creole families, 40,004 Mestizos, Mulattoes, and Negroes, and 8,000 native Indians. In 1776, Don Antonio Maria de Bucareli y Ursua, of the Order of San Juan and lieutenant-general of the army of Spain, established the Monte de Piedad (National Pawn- shop) which was founded by Pedro Romero de Terreros, Count of Regla, who endowed it with $300,000 capital. The object of this institution was to lower the usurious rates of lO A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley the money-lenders and to enable the poor to borrow money upon personal pledges, at lower rates of interest. There was a general famine and plague in 1784 and 1785, the result of the losses of harvest due to many snow storms. While excavating in Mexico City, in 1790, for the founda- tion of the present cathedral, the wonderful "Calendar Stone" was unearthed, and later in 1791 the "Sacrificial Stone," both of which are now exhibited in the museum of the City of Mexico. • -. . On September 16, 1810, the priest, Miguel , , , Hidalgo y Costilla, since called "The Father Independence .,^.ti j j>ijj of Mexican Independence, headed an upris- ing of the natives against Spanish rule. With General Ignacio Allende, Juan Aldama, Abasolo, and Jimenez, at 2 o'clock on the morning of September 16, 1810, Hidalgo cap- tured the prison of Dolores, near Guanajuato, liberated the prisoners, armed them with swords, and began the war. On March 21, 1811, Hidalgo and Allende were betrayed and captured by a Spanish officer named Elizondo at a place called Acatita de Bajan, and were taken to Monclova. On July 30, 1811, Hidalgo was executed in front of his prison in Chihuahua and later on the same day, Allende Aldama and Jimenez. Their heads were cut off and placed upon pikes at the four corners of the Alhondiga de Granaditas, a stone warehouse for grain in Guanajuato, Mexico. At this date, 1916, the building still stands. The, death of Hidalgo brought forward many leaders, a priest, Morelos, achieving almost as great distinction as Hidalgo. During Morelos' leadership a congress was organ- ized and on the sixteenth day of November, 1813, a declaration of Independence was framed. Morelos was captured and shot on the morning of December 22, 1815, at San Cristo- bal Ecatepec. He was betrayed by one of his men A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley ii and delivered to the Spanish officer. He was tried by the "Holy Office" which though suspended in June, 1813, had been reestablished January 21, 1814, to combat the spread of revolutionary ideas. He was condemned to do penance for being "an unconfessed heretic and abetor of heretics, a profaner of the Holy Sacraments, a traitor to God, the King, and Pope." Mariano Matamoros, a priest who also enlisted in the battle for independence was likewise betrayed and executed on February 3,' 1814, at Valladolid, Mexico. ***** The Inquisition held sway in Mexico until May 31, 1820, when it was declared inoperative by the Spanish Cortes, its last "auto de fe" being on November 26, 1815. sic :)c H< * * _ ,. In April, 1817, Francisco Javier Mina, of Navarro, Spain with a small squadron and a handful of followers, many of whom were Americans, debarked at the mouth of the Sota de la Marina river, 200 miles south of Brownsville, Texas, and marched to the town of that name, 40 miles west. He was met by Mier y Teran, a Mexican refugee, with whom he set out to Bajio de Guana- juato to join the Independent troops against the Spaniards. In May, a number of his men, principally Texas colonists, deserted and he was left with but three hundred followers. The force at Soto de la Marina was compelled to surrender and Padre Mier was taken prisoner. Mina was captured at Venadito, near Guanajuato, on October 27, 1817, and was executed by shooting on November 11, 1817, at San Gregorio, nearby. .-- . In 1818, Vicente Guerrero became the leader of the Independents. Pie was captured and shot on February 14, 1831. 12 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley In 1820, Augustin Itiirbide attached himself to the ecclesi- astics and more politic Spaniards, Creoles, and Mexican lead- ers, and with these agreed on a plan for Mexican Indepen- dence and a separation from Spain. A Mexican representative monarchy was to be created, to be ruled by a king of Spanish blood. Iturbide headed the movement. On February 24, 1821, Santa Anna, Negrete, Cortazar, Fillisola Bravo, and others came to the support of the new leader and soon the whole country was in the hands of the Independents. In July, 1821, General Juan O'Donoju, the sixty-fourth Spanish viceroy of Mexico, landed and took the oath of office at Vera Cruz. Iturbide and he met at Cordoba and agreed on the famous treaty of Cordoba, by which Mexico was declared sovereign and independent; a constitutional representative monarchy was created, and Ferdinand VII of Spain, was called to be king. A provisional government was organized awaiting the arrival of the king. What are known as "Las Tres Garan- tias" (the three guarantees) were adopted. They were: A guarantee to the Mexican people of the Roman Catholic religion, without toleration of any other: the absolute inde- pendence of the country; and the equal rights of the native races with the residents of European descent, or Creoles. The flag of the nation was adopted symbolic of these three guarantees, "religion, independence, and union" — green, white, and red. September 27, 1821, Iturbide with an army of sixteen thousand entered Mexico City, where he was hailed as the "liberator." A regency was forthwith appointed which named him president. Those who claimed to have suffered at the hands of the' church, resented Iturbide's open committal to it and its inti- A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 13 mate relations to the Spanish government, and became suspi- cious of his real motives. A reaction followed. At the first congress of the Mexican nation, convened on February 24, 1822, a disagreement ensued between congress and the regency. Ithurbide, having as his adherents the army, the clergy, and a few of the Spaniards, secured a demonstration in his favor. After various turbulent outbursts of the people he was elected Emperor of Mexico on May 19, 1822. He took the oath of office at once. On June 21, 1822, he was annointed and crowned in the great cathedral at the capital, assuming the title of "Augustin I, Emperor." Iturbide's reign as Emperor was brief. He imprisoned some of the members of congress who had freely expressed themselves regarding him. The spectres of Hidalgo, Allende, Aldama, Morelos, Matamoros, Jimenez, and Abasolo, whose lives had been sacrificed in the battles for freedom, and Mexican Indepen- dence could not be kept down. Hundreds of patriots stood ready to continue the fight for absolute independence. In 1822, opposition to the empire broke out in open rebellion, headed by General Santa Anna. Iturbide who had been for a while idolized by his people, became an object of scorn. On March 20, 1823, he tendered his resignation to Congress which refused to accept it on the ground that it had never volun- tarily elected him Emperor. A provisional government was formed, composed of four revolutionary chiefs, Nicolas Bravo, Guadalupe Victoria, General Xegrete, and Vicente Guerrero. The provisional government, in recognition of the valu- able services rendered to the country by him, granted to Iturbide an annual pension of $25,000 on condition that' he fix his residence in Italy. Iturbide, with his family sailed from Vera Cruz in an English ship, "The Rawlins," Welch commander, on May 11, 1823. bound for Italy. He afterwards left Italy and resided ,14 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley in London from which place he kept in touch with his sympathizers in Mexico. Later he warned the Mexican government of the scheme of the Holy Alliance to restore Spanish rule in Mexico, and believing that his services would be acceptable, sailed from Southampton, England, on May 4, 1824, on the Brigantine Spring, Welch commander. His daughters and older chil- dren remained in England. Some historians allege that upon his arrival at Soto de la Marina he was invited by the commander of the forces in Tamaulipas to land, and was then told that he had but a few hours to live. Written authenticated data establishes that Iturbide arrived at Soto de la Marina on July 14, 1824, accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Beneski, who had been a prominent figure in Iturbide's Empire. Beneski came ashore and represented to the Mexican officials that he and a companion were coming to colonize Mexico. Iturbide landed on July 15, and in spite of his disguise was recognized by the corporal of the guard and a merchant of Durango. Iturbide and Beneski were halted and the com- mandante general, with headquarters at Padilla 80 miles dis- tant was advised. When it was clear that he had been recognized, Iturbide told the Commandante that he had returned to offer his services to the country in anticipation of the threatened invasion by the Spanish, backed by the Holy Alliance. On the morning of July 17, 1824, Iturbide was told of the order for his execution. But Garza the Commandante, sus- pended the order and started with Iturbide to Padilla, where the congress of Tamaulipas was then in session. Congress being advised of Iturbide's arrival, ordered Jose Bernardo Guiterrez de Leon, governor of that state, to have him executed by shooting. Iturbide was brought into Padilla on the nineteenth. He requested permission to appear before congress in his own behalf but was denied the privilege. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 15 Commandante Garza appeared before congress and argued that according to his belief Iturbide should not be subjected to law of proscription of which he had no information before disembarking. Congress disagreed with Garza on this ques-, tion and gave to Commandante Garza the same instructions which it had given to the Governor. At 3 o'clock p. M., Adjutant Gordiano del Castillo informed Iturbide of his sentence to death, and advised him that he should have three hours in which to commune with his God. He was then marched out into the plaza, where he was blindfolded, and his arms were bound. After a few words in which he exhorted his hearers to remain loyal patriots and to txe firm in their religious' faith he kissed the cross. Upon the command, the soldiers fired and Iturbide plunged forward to the ground, a ragged bullet-hole in his forehead and another through his heart. Padilla is about 150 miles southwest of Brownsville on the road to Victoria, Mexico. ***** _, .. In 1526, an exploring expedition left Tampico, , _, traveling northward, following the coast of the Gulf of Mexico until it arrived at the peninsula know as "Florida." A priest by the name of Andres Olmos, who was the Chaplain of the expedition, converted and brought back to what is now Tampico a great number of the Indians called Olives. They come overland. These Olive Indians mixed with Spaniards and soon acquired their customs and civiliza- tion. They occupied the country just North of Tampico. In 1528, Captain Nufio de Guzman was appointed Governor of the province but he committed so many abuses, among others the exiling of the Huaxtecas Indians to the Island of Cuba to be sold as slaves, that his name thereafter was used only with execrations. After Guzman's retirement the prov- 1 6 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley iiice experienced a period of progress and opened up com- mercial relations with the provinces San Luis Potosi and Nuevo Leon. Upon instituting a vice-royalty in this colony of New Spain, the office of Governor was abolished and a Chief Justice substituted. During the year of 1586, while Luis de Carvajal y de la Cueva was Chief Justice, Captain John Hawkins, an English pirate, arrived on his boat with the apparent intention of attacking Tampico for the purpose of ransacking and plunder- ing it. The Chief Justice managed to surprise the sailors and captured Captain Hawkins and fifty-nine of his followers whom he sent to Mexico City. Besides these fifty-nine,' there were fifty-five who escaped from the prison and went into the mountains where undoubtedly they must have been devoured by the Tamaulipas Indians m" nothing was after- wards heard of them. Carvajal was afterwards appointed Governor of Nuevo Leon and later he and his family were subjects of the inquisition, being accused of being heretics and judizers. They were burned at the stake in Mexico City. CHAPTER II ^ , . . r To the end that they might avoid Indian Colonization cf . . , f ,• .1 — .. . uprisings, in order to neutrahze the propo- Tamaulipas and . . . , t- 1 1 • . r t -, sitions of the French colonists of Louisiana, Texas and for the purpose of civilizing the numerous tribes of Indians, who in their savage state wan- dered over Tamaulipas, then called Nueva Santander, the King of Spain finally decided to completely colonize that region. Jose de Escandon was duly appointed on the third day of September, 1746, to undertake the work. On the sixteenth day of November, 1748, with 755 soldiers and nearly 2,515 colonists. Colonel Escandon left Queretaro (about 165 miles north from Mexico City and 650 miles south of Brownsville), bound for the new province, which it was proposed to form in this territory for the purpose of making it a part of New Spain. This great convoy of colonists, soldiers, wagons, stock, loaded donkeys, etc., departed from Queretaro amid great demonstrations of sympathy and enthu- siasm. En route they touched at a number of towns in the provinces of Guanajuato, San Luis y Charcas, at which places additional families were added. During the month of January, 1749, Escandon founded, •among others, the villages of Guemez, about 20 miles east of Victoria, Mexico, 185 miles southwest of Brownsville; and Padilla, the place where Iturbide was afterwards executed, about 150 miles southwest of Brownsville. In February, 1749, Escandon founded what is now known as Jimenez (125 miles south of Matamoros) which he declared to be the capital of the new province, giving it the name of Nueva Santander. During the month of March, 1749, he founded on the Rio Grande what are now known as the villages of Carmargo (108 miles west of Brownsville) and Reynosa (58 miles west of Brownsville). Santander was named after a Spanish port of the same name, from which i8 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Escandon emanated. Carmargo was founded on March 5, 1749, and placed in charge of Bias Maria de la Garza Falcon. Reynosa, which was founded on the fourteenth day of March, was placed in charge of Captain Carlos Cantu who was the Chief Justice and became one of the richest landowners of the frontier. During 1750, Escandon, who had gone back to Queretaro, returned to this province bringing many more colonists with many herds of cattle. During the same year Escandon founded the village of Soto la Marina, 174 miles south of Matamoros, and colonized it with families from Queretaro. During the month of October, 1750, he founded the village of Revilla (now called Guerrero), near the Rio Grande, almost opposite to Zapata, Texas, about 150 miles northwest of Brownsville. During the year of 1752, were founded the villages of Santillana, now called Abasolo, on the Sota la Marina river, 174 miles south of Matamoros. Mier (130 miles northwest of Matamoros), opposite Roma, Texas, was founded in 1753; and Laredo, Texas, on May 17, 1755. Escandon founded twenty towns, fifteen Indian missions with more than 3,000 Christian converts and more than 3,600 Spaniards. During the year of 1768, Attorney Jose Osorio y llamas visited these places and made the surveys and sub- divisions of the different lands which the king had decided to give to the colonists. These grants are what are today known as "Acts of the General Visita" and consist of porci- ones or strips with from half a mile to a mile river front and from eleven to sixteen miles depth at right angles from the river. This province of New Santander was embraced in the jurisdiction of the San Luis Potosi intendencia (general land office) in 1786. During the year of 1792, the colonists suffered frequent invasions from the Apaches, Comanches, Mescaleros, and A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 19 Kickapoos, especially along the border of the Rio Grande, and as late as 1875, some of these Indians depredated on the Texas border counties. At the end of the eighteenth century, there were 15,000 inhabitants in the province of New Santander which province began at Tampico and followed the coast as far as Corpus Christi, thence northwestardly crossing the Medina river, thence southwardly slightly east of Laredo, and thence along the eastern range of the Sierra Madre Mountains, through Linares to Padilla and from Padilla to Tampico. On August 3, 1767, Sr. Palacio, Knight of the Order of St. James, began the laying out of the towns of Mier, Camargo, and Reynosa. With the church plazas as the center, the towns were laid off in squares of 10,000 varas on each side, or say, four square leagues of 4,428 acres each. Then, fixing them as nearly as possible so that there should be an equal number of an equal size on each side of the towns and on each side of the river, 111 porciones of an average width of 1,500 varas and a depth of from 12,500 varas to 20,000 varas were laid off and allotted to the first settlers of Camargo, and 80 porciones of an average width of 1,250 varas and a depth of from 20,000 to 25,000 varas were laid off and allotted to the first settlers of Reynosa. For some reason the territory adjacent to Matamoros (opposite Brownsville) and up to the east line of the Reynosa porciones was not considered for town settlement, and the lands embraced between what is known as the Olmos Creek (100 miles due north from Brownsville) and the Rio Grande, were allotted to wealthy cattle owners and Spaniards of reliability. Some of these grants, notably, the Espiritu Santo, the San Juan de Carricitos, and the San Salvador del Tule, contained from 250,000 to 500,000 acres each. Browns- ville is located on the Espiritu Santo grant. On the Mexican side of the river, a grant containing six hundred forty-two leagues, equivalent to 2,850,000 acres. 20 A Brief History of the Lozver Rio Grande Valley was made to the Count of Cerro Gordo. This was made to the Count in part recompense for the great expenses he had incurred financing Escandon's expedition from Queretaro to the province of Nueva Santander. The Government of Spain had offered him such compensation if he would so colonize Nuevo Santander and would bring to this section priests to teach the gospel of the Holy Cross. This grant embraced about 100 miles river front beginning at the mouth of Rio Grande. In 1784, the Count sold to the first settlers at very moder- ate prices, $10.00 per league, 112 leagues fronting the Rio Grande on the Mexican side and extending from the east line of the Reynosa porciones to the south of the Rio Grande, or say, to the beach of the Gulf of Mexico. At the time of the arrival of the Spaniards east of the range of mountains which exists about 180 miles southwest from Matamoros, vast herds of wild cattle roamed these prairies and thousands of Indians made these lands their winter camping grounds. Matamoros, known as San Juan de los Esteros, was a con- gregation as far back as 1765, but was not given a name until 1796, when it was called Congregation del Refugio. In 1821, it was organized as a village and was given the name, of Matamoros to commemorate the martyr, the priest, Mariano Matamoros, who had lost his life in Mexico's struggle for independence. ***** „ After Mexico attained her independence in 1821, the Tcxa.s State of Tamaulipas was formed out of what was known as the Provincio del Nuevo Santander, and, as soon as her congress began its operations, various land laws were enacted to encourage the colonizing of the vast territory. The Provincio of Nuevo Santander extended north of the Rio Grande to the Nueces River, and southward to Tampico, A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 21 Mexico, as shown on the maps of today. Being sovereign, the State of Tamaulipas controlled its own vacant lands, and in pursuance of laws enacted for the purpose between 1828 and 1836, allotted to prominent Mexican citizens and soldiers who had served in the battles of the country, all vacant lands then found as such between the Rio Grande and the Nueces. Texas and Coahuila was the name of the territory north of the Nueces river, now known as Texas. From the time of Mexico's independence from Spain it was a part of Mexico. About the year 1821, Moses Austin, an American, was granted a large tract of land in Texas under the condition that he should colonize it with not less than five hundred families. This he attempted to do, but the policy of Mexico towards the colonists was one of oppression to which the Americans would not submit. During the year 1832 they revolted against Mexico, and in June of that year disarmed some two hundred Mexican soldiers at Velasco near the mouth of the Brazos river. In the first battle at Gonzales, the Mexicans were defeated. On March 6, 1836, the Alamo, a fort then maintained as such (now in the heart of San Antonio, Texas), was surrounded and captured by an overwhelming army of Mexicans, the few American or Texan survivors who were taken prisoners being massacred under circumstances of atrocity. Among these were David Crockett, Travis, James Bowie, and others who had distinguished themselves. Fannin and a force of nearly 300 had surrendered after an engage- ment near what is now called Goliad. They were later marched out and executed by the Mexicans. Finally, on April 21, 1836, the Texans, commanded by General Sam Houston, annihilated the Mexicans in a battle at San Jacinto, not far from Houston, Texas, and at one blow achieved the freedom of Texas. The Mexicans however, continued to hold the territory between the Nueces and Rio Grande, claim- ing that it had never been a part of Coahuila and Texas, and 22 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley that it had always remained under the name of Nuevo Santander. -goc On April 3, 1835, the American sloop-of-war, Invin- cible, arrived at the port of Brazos de Santiago (22 miles east of Brownsville on the Gulf of Mexico). There she found the Mexican sloop-of-war, General Bravo which was acting as a convoy for the Mexican transport schooner, Correo de Mexico, which was loaded with food supplies intended for the Mexican troops near Copano (near Goliad, Texas), on the Texas coast. The Invincible lowered a boat and sent an American officer, W. H. Livine, to the Bravo. Livine was received by the first lieutenant of the Bravo, a Mexican by the name of Fernando R. Davis. Livine explained the object of his visit to be to demand an explanation relative to certain insults to the American Consul at Matamoros. Davis held him as a hostage and immediately started a Mexican second lieutenant in the boat to the Invincible to invite the commander thereof to go ashore and communicate with the Consul at Matamoros. However, when the commander of the Invincible observed that the approach- ing yawl from the Bravo did not hold Livine he opened fire with artillery and rifles on the Bravo. The fire was returned but the Bravo was unable to pursue owing to the fact, as the Mexican commander claimed, that he had lost his rudder two days before. The Mexicans also opened fire from shore with artillery and the Correo got under sail to pursue the Invincible which in the meantime had hoisted all sail and retreated towards the pass or bar. As soon as the Invincible disappeared, Livine was tried before a court-martial and executed as a pirate on April 6. -j.„^ On April 9, 1837, the American man-of-war Natchez appeared off the port of Brazos de Santiago, 22 miles east of Brownsville, to investigate the detention of the A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 23 American schooners, Champion and Luisiana, which were being held by the Mexican Bark Urrea and the Mexican squadron which patroled the Texas coast, the two schooners having been sent by the Mexicans to Brazos with their papers to be tried. The Champion was anchored inside of the harbor, but the Luisiana was anchored outside near the Urrea. The Natchez drew up within pistol shot distance from the Urrea and after consulting with the Captain of the Luisiana, ignoring the protests of the Mexican com- manders and the request that she should come to anchor, ordered the Mexican soldiers and sailors who were in temporary charge of the Luisiana to disembark, and there- upon towed the Luisiana away. The Natchez returned on the 12th, and after soliciting permission to communicate with the Captain of the Champion, which request was refused by the Mexicans, cleared her decks and threatening the Urrea should she move while the yawls were in, transit to and from shore where they went with a communication to the Captain of the Port, and finally demanded and made the Urrea lower her flag and hoist the stars and stripes. A small sized battle was staged by the Bravo which soon ended when the Natchez opened with her big guns and retired with the Champion in tow. Mexico immediately ordered that all vessels flying the American flag should be detained when found in Mexican waters, but finally agreed that those which had arrived and were engaged in peaceful commercial pursuits should be permitted to go their way. The Texan schooner Indepen- dence, however, having aboard the Commissioner who was to seek a recognition of the Texas independence, was detained. On June 24, 1837, Commodore A. J. Dallas, on the Frigate Constellation, accompanied by four boats of his squadron, appeared at Vera Cruz. Dallas disembarked and in an inter- view with the Port Captain, showed a letter from Gen. Filisola, commander at Matamoros, disavowing the acts of 24 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley the Urrea relative to the Champion and Luisiana, attribut- ing the act to ignorance. Dallas exacled a like communica- tion from the Port Captain who had likewise disavowed the act. The Port Captain alleged that neither he nor Filisola had authority to admit such matters in writing, and referred him to the general government. Then Dallas addressed the Port Captain as follows: ''Having carefully studied your communication, I find that the only point to which it might be necessary to answer is that relative to your lack of power to guarantee that the humbling and outrageous infraction of the existing treaty between the United States and the Republic of Mexico, committed by the naval forces of the latter in the capture of various American merchantmen shall not be repeated. By virtue thereof, it is my duty, and you may rest assured, Sir General, that with profound regret I take this step, to leave sufficient forces on the Mexican coast to protect the commercial interests of the United States against future aggressions." Some lengthy correspondence took place between the two governments which soon brought about a better state of feeling, however, and the matters complained of were soon passed over. CHAPTER III _ Not satisfied with the act of Santa Anna in surrender- ing his forces at San Jacinto, and believing it to have been an act of treachery, leaders of the Mexican army sought to reopen the affair and with that end in view assailed San Antonio, Texas, on the fifteenth day of September, 1842, carrying away with them as they retreated 60 prisoners. The Texans, hastily but poorly organized, immediately followed the Mexicans to Laredo, about 220 miles north- west from Brownsville, and from there marched down the river to a point opposite Mier, Mexico. On December 25-26, 1842, the Texans, some 261 in num- ber, attacked the Mier, Mexico, garrison, and had practically won the battle, according to the statements of Gen. Thos. Green, of the Texan forces, when, after a parley under a flag of truce they, 242 men, surrendered to the Mexicans. This surrender was impelled by a shortage of provisions and ammunition. In the battle of Mier, the Texans lost 16 killed and 8 wounded. The Mexican loss is unknown, but Gen. Green estimated it to be 250 killed and wounded. It was while these 242 prisoners were on the way to Mexico City overland that the Texans overpowered their captors and efifected their escape. Of those who escaped 176 were recaptured. By order of Santa Anna they were made to draw beans, there being one black to every ten white. The person who should draw a black bean was to be shot. Seventeen w^ere executed. Capt. Ewin Cameron, a sturdy Scott who headed the expedition and after whom Cameron County, Texas, was named, drew a white bean and was entitled to his liberty, but by orders of Santa Anna he was executed near the City of Mexico. Some years later, after many had scaled the steep walls of their prison, the Castir 26 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Perote, east of Mexico City, and had escaped, the remnant of the band was released and allowed to return to Texas\ :ic 4c :tc :|c 4: American Invasion Not long after the Mier affair, the of Mexico Texans became restless and sought annexation to the United States. The Mexican governm'^'nt objected and when, in 1845, Texas effected her annexation, the Mexicans repudiated the act and gave the American charge de affairs his passport. This brought about the war which soon followed. Anticipating a rupture with Mexico, the United States sent Gen. Zacariah Taylor from Fort Jessup, La., to Corpus Christi, Texas. In February, 1846, General Taylor started southward with part of his forces from Corpus overland, sending his supplies and munitions by the boat Woodbury, and the remainder by sea to Brazos de Santiago and Point Isabel (about 20 miles east from Brownsville). On his march south the army encamped at Rancho Santa Gertrudis, then occupied by Mexicans but for many years past the home of Mrs. H. M. King, the largest land and cattle owner in the South. Thence southward he traveled parallel with what is now the line of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway to a point on the Arroyo Colorado called Paso Real, about 34 miles north from ^An amusing episode in connection with the IRON HAND in Mexico is the case of a Mrs. Hernandez, wife of a Captain under Gen. Adrian Well. WoU, who had been named as Military Commander of the State of Tamaulipas, with headquarters at Matamoros, sometime during the year 1854, decreed to exile all officers or citizens who had taken part in the adoption of the "PLAN DE AYUTLA" (It is interesting to note that this decree demanded the abdication of Gen. Santa Anna.) Many of the exiles, know^n as "LIBERALS" sought refuge in Brownsville, Texas, and through the medium of a periodical called El Rayo Federal which they circulated freely throughout Matamoros by private means, they violently attacked Woll and his methods. The leading spirit in those denunciatory writings was Mrsi. Hernandez. Upon being apprehended, she was arrested by order of General Woll, and as a punishment her hair was shorn, she was dressed in the costume of a man, placed astride a burro (donkey), and, thus degraded, was led through the streets of Matamoros. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 27 Brownsville. He arrived at a point about 12 miles north of Brownsville on March 24, 1846, and leaving the bulk of his army there, proceeded in person to Fronton (now Point Isabel). There he reenforced his supplies, returned, incor- porated with his entire command and proceeded south to Brownsville, then a part of the town commons of Matamoros. He engaged his army from the date of his arrival, March 28, in constructing what was afterwards named Fort Brown in commemoration of Major Jacob Brown who lost his life in its defense. In the meantime General Arista and General Pedro Ampudia, of the Mexican armies, arrived at Matamoros with a total of 5,200 men and 26 pieces of artillery. On April 10, 1846, Colonel Cross of the U. S quartermaster's department was waylaid and killed just west of what is now the site of the Brownsville waterworks. The murder was laid at the door of Mexican guerrillas. Lieuten- ant Porter with a squad of his men went out to look for the body. They were ambushed. Porter and one soldier killed, and the others taken prisoner. General Arista concentrated the Mexican cavalry to gather at Rancho Solisefio, south of the Rio Grande, 26 miles west from Matamoros, also send- ing the engineer corps and two companies of Light Artillery there. With a view to cut off Taylor's supplies, he crossed from Solisefio on April 24 and took a position on the Point Isabel road near Loma Alta (9 miles north of Brownsville"). Taylor, upon hearing of this move, sent Captain Thornton out with a detachment to investigate. Thornton and his me got as far as the river opposite to Soliseno, where they in turn were ambushed. Here Lieutenant Mason and 16 men were killed or wounded and Thornton and his men taken prisoners. On the twenty-eighth, a part of Walker's Texas rangers also met a force of the Mexicans just north of the Loma Alta and in an engagement several men were killed on each side. 28 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Taylor with his army, except some fifty men left at Fort Brown under command of Major Jacob Brown, left the Fort on th^ fir?t of May destined to Point Isabel where he believed the fresh salt atmosphere would recuperate the sick, and to look after his supplies. He also wished to protect his lin« of communication with the Point. .^ , . , Two brigades under Ampudia and Arista crossed Palo Alto ^ T - in -1 ^ r Ayr . ■ rom Longoreno, 10 miles east of Matamoros, on the first of A-ay, and believing that Taylor was about to with- draw were determined to drive him and his army out of the territory. Leaving a great number of men with seven cannon to attack Brown, the bulk of the Mexican army proceeded north to Poma Alta. During the incessant bombardment of Fort Brown, the commander was mortally wounded and the garrison about to surrender. Taylor, anticipating this and having received news of the Mexican movements, departed from Point Isabel on May 7. On the eighth, the Americans and Mexicans confronted each other on the battlefield of Palo Alto, an extensive prairie 9 miles north of Brownsville, just west of Loria Alta. This prairie extends northward from the Resaca Rancha Viejo which is only 6 miles north from Brownsville. Unable to avail himself of the water in the Resaca, Taylor camped near the Palo Alto Resaca, 10 miles north of Brownsville and about two miles southeast from the Los Fresnos townsite, then a mere ranch. Soon after the battle opened, Taylor brought his artillery to within seven hundred yards of the Mexicans and mowed their solid ranks of infantry. The Mexican right rested on the west end of Loma Alto hill and his left on the edge of an impassable marsh, a mile distant from the hill. Taylor endeavored to flank the enemy's left wing and to effect a crossing of the Resaca Rancho Viejo west of the Marsh. At dusk when the battle ceased, honors were about divided. When the battle began there were but 3,000 Mexican soldiers A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 29 present, but soon thereafter Ampiulia came np with his reenforcements and the total number opposed to the Ameri- cans was 5,000. The Mexican loss was 102 killed and 127 wounded. The American loss was 9 killed and 44 wounded, among the killed being Major Ringgold of the 4th U. S. artillery, and Captain Page. During the early hours of May 9, the Mexicans retired southward and made a stand at Resaca la Palma ^ • 1 • i • ^ -d 11 (jruerrero, since known in history as Resaca de la Palma. Here they planted three cannon on the north bank of the Resaca and the greater part of the Infantry, supporting these with four cannon on the south side of the Resaca distributed on each side of the road from Point Isabel, and with the remainder of the infantry protected behind the banks of the Resaca. The cavalry was distributed along the western turn of the Resaca, and a body called Defensores de Tampico were entrenched and hidden in the woods west of the old road which came south from Resaca Rancho Viejo in the direction of Brownsville. In front and to the north of the position taken by the Mexicans tlicre was, and still is, a prairie about three miles in length then covered with sacahuiste (wire) grass, and to the west along the road on both sides, quite a chaparral of mesquite, ebony, and other native woods. Ridgeley's battery was with great difficulty transported over this prairie, the grass impeding progress. After the first discharges, unable to withstand the galling fire of the Mexican cannon, General Taylor ordered Captain May of the dragoons to charge the position. This he successfully did, his men gallop- ing, four abreast along the narrow winding road, and captur- ing General La Vega and routing the 'Mexicans whose army fled in great disorder followed by the Americans. They crossed 9 miles west of Brownsville, 1 mile west, 6 miles east 30 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and 14 miles east, many drowning in their attempts to ford the Rio Grande. The American loss in the battle of Resaca de la Palma was 39 killed and 83 wounded. The Mexican loss on the battlefield, 160 killed and 228 wounded, more than two hundred missing. Both armies rested a few days, the Mexicans at Matamoros and the Americans at Browns- ville and Ramirefio (now within the city limits of Browns- ville). In the exchanges of prisoners, Thornton and his men were delivered to Taylor's army. . By May 17, the Mexican army now consisting of ^ . 4,000 regulars had evacuated Matamoros, and General Taylor crossed with his army on the eighteenth, the first Americans in Mexico. In July, 1846, General Taylor and Staff were transported from Fort Brown (Brownsville) to Camargo (on the Rio Grande, 108 miles west from Brownsville) on the steam- boat Corvette; Capt. Mifflin Kenedy, and the army marched overland arriving there on August 8, 1846. From Camargo, Gen. Taylor and his army began the march to Monterrey. En route they stopped at Cerralvo (140 miles west from Brownsville) where some of Ampudia's soldiers attempted to block the road and to check the advance. On September 21, 1846, Gen. Worth carried the Monterrey heights on which is situated the Bishop's Palace, Monterrey, 206 miles northwest of Matamoros. On the twenty-third, Generals Quitman and Butler assailed the front. Soon the American flag was floating over the Municipal hall in Monterrey, while the Mexicans fle(f in great disorder. Ampu- dia was granted the honors of war on condition that he should vacate the city, and he soon did this. An armistice of eight weeks was agreed on. When it had expired it was found that the Mexicans had mustered a force of 20,000 men in the interior of the Republic. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 31 On November 15, 1846, the Americans under General Saltillo Y^Qj-th captured Saltillo, about 300 miles northwest of Matamoros. Shortly afterwards, Victoria, capital of Tamauli- pas, 220 miles southwest of Matamoros, was taken by Gen. Robert Patterson. In the meantime, Tampico, 335 miles south of Matamoros, on the gulf, had capitulated to Captain Connor of the American flotilla. On February 23, 1847, at Buena Vista, 25 Buena Vista ^.^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ Saltillo, another battle was fought and here again the Americans defeated the Mexican army. This was General Taylor's last battle, and he and his men soon returned to the Texas frontier, . On March 9, 1847, Gen. Winfield Scott, with about Scott m j2^QQQ ^^^^ landed near Vera Cruz. A fierce battle ensued, the batteries of San Juan d'Ulloa resisting for four days. Then the Mexicans surrendered. On April 8, 1847, the Americans set out towards Jalapa (on what is now the Interoceanic railway about 80 miles from Vera Cruz). On April 22, 1847, was fought the battle of Cerro Gordo where the Americans captured two fortified strongholds situated on the top of almost insurmountable peaks. On May 15, 1847, the Americans marched into Puebla about 200 miles west from Vera Cruz. On the twentieth of August, 1847, the Americans captured Contreras, 8 miles from Mexico City, and on the same day they took Churubusco, 3 miles from Mexico City. On September 13, Chapultepec was carried by storm, and on the fourteenth of September the American flag floated from the National Palace in the beau- tiful City of Mexico, 293 miles west from Vera Cruz. CHAPTER IV After the capture of Mexico City by the Americans, a commission was named to negotiate for peace, and on Feb- ruary 2, 1848, it submitted its report, which later, March 16, 1848 was ratified by the President of the United States. This treaty recognized the Rio Grande as the boundary line between the United States and Mexico. ^ Immediately after the treaty became effective, Ameri- Tcx3.s cans began to flock to the border and American troops garrisoned the border towns on the Texas side. In the year 1851, Jose , Maria Carvajal, a prominent Mexican who had been educated in the United States, returning to his native heath, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mex- ico, headed a revolt against the local state government. He insisted that the customs duties on goods destined to points within a certain distance from the Rio Grande (this territory was afterwards called "LA ZONA LIBRE") should be removed and that such goods should be permitted to enter duty free, considering the great distance over rough, bandit-infested roads that merchandise should have to be ■ hauled unless imported from Texas. He enlisted many Mexican ranchmen and more than a hundred Ameri- cans who lived at places along the banks of the river, on both sides. He succeeded in invading the City of Matamoros and with his men surrounded the public plaza held by General Avalos. After a very desultory fight, Carvajal demanded the surrender of the city. Avalos answered that he might have surrendered to Mexicans and fellow-countrymen, but so long as Carvajal had selected to enlist foreigners he would resist. The entire citizen- ship then reenforced Avalos who drove the invaders out with great loss. For their efforts to preserve the integrity of the City, the Local State Congress and the City Council A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 33 conferred upon the City the title "HEROIC," which ever since must be a part of the name on all legal documents. It likewise had issued a letter of commendation conferring upon the City the words "UNCONQUERABLE, LOYAL, and HEROIC." Carvajal and Canales were at once pursued but took refuge in Brownsville. In February, 1862, Carvajal again attempted to head a revolt and with about five hundred dissenters from both sides of the river, Mexicans and Americans, and with an original twelve pounder, crossed into , Mexico with the avowed purpose of successfully carrying out his original plan, called "Plan de la Loba," which referred to the establishment of the aforementioned "Free Zone." He was engaged in battle this time at Rancho Azucar, very close to Camargo, and being defeated, soon disbanded. For their great patriotism and heroic defense of their country, the Mexican officers and troops were decorated with medals and many honors were conferred upon them. During the year 1854, a party of outlaws disguised as Indians, raided the town of Roma and Rio Grande. They looted the churches and did other acts of vandalism. They had also attacked the U. S. troops at various places on the border, entering their camps at night-time and shooting the sentinels. Special orders No. 20, dated Corpus Christi, Texas, May, 1854, issued by Pvt. Capt. Alfred Gibbs, attested by Asst. Adjt. Genl. D. C. Buell, directed and author- ized Col. B. G. Roberts to pursue and chastise the mis- creants. Two of the leaders, notorious outlaws who had terrorized the neighborhood for many years, were captured by Roberts' troops, who after identification immediately hung them on the public highway between Roma and Rio Grande, Texas. 34 ^ Brief History of the Loiver Rio Grande Valley Cortina Not the least in importance of the episodes along the Raid lower Rio Grande border was what has been called "The CORTINA RAID." After the treaty of Guadaloupe, agreed upon between Mexico and the United States in Febru- ary, 1848, some questions arose in the Valley as to the real ownership of various tracts of land theretofore Mexican, but at the time referred to, under Texas jurisdiction. The most notable was that of the present townsite of Browns- ville, some 1,500 acres. The Espiritu Santo grant, some 260,000 acres, had been allotted to Jose Salvador de la Garza in 1782. Upon the death of Garza and his wife it descended to their children and their heirs. Among these were Maria Josefa Cavazos (who though not a direct descendant, nevertheless, inherited through an aunt) and Juan Nepomuceno Cortina, a great- grandson of the original grantee. The present townsite of Brownsville and of Fort Brown is located on that part of the grant which was allotted and set apart to Maria Josefa Cavazos. Before an American invasion was even thought of, the Matamoros congregation had denounced its customary four leagues for a townsite and in so doing had included all the land on the Texas side up to what is now called the Brownsville City limits. The Mexican City of Matamoros controlled and claimed this land as a part of the Matamoros town commons, but, it appeared from testimony afterwards adduced, had never complied with the Mexican law which provided that when land should be taken for such purposes the original owner should be compensated therefor. Con- sequently, upon becoming a part of Texas, a great many squatters, holders of headrights, certificates, bounty war- rants, etc., located on the Matamoros town commons, situ- ated on the Texas side, alleged them to be VACANT or NATIONAL LANDS pertaining to the Republic of Mexico / A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 35 and through conquest, to the United States or Texas, and ,not to individuals. The celebrated lawsuit, PATRICK v' SHANNON VERSUS CAVAZOS, was the result of this contention. When the case was carried to the Supreme court of the United States and there dismissed for want of jurisdiction, the Mexican owners suspected foul play; and then began the first discord between the two races, aside from the natural prejudice which had resulted from the American invasion of Mexico. The 1,500 acres ultimately became the property of a firm of American lawyers. While this litigation was going on relative to the town- site, efforts were being made by the Americans to acquire all of the lands of the grant, and two or three leagues were exacted by the American lawyers for services in striving to straighten out the titles. Cortina's mother who was one of the grandchildren of Garza, the original grantee, ^conveyed a league of her land in order to protect her V vested title and Cortina resented the gradual encroach- fcment of the Americans. As a result, a state of ill-feeling Eexisted between him and the American officials. R Juan Nepomuceno Cortina had borne arms against the Rlndians during his youth, and had belonged to Arista's ■ command at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. ■ On July 13, 1859, Cortina was in the City of Brownsville jjwith some of his ranch companions. A former servant of "his was arrested by the City Marshal for creating a dis- ■^turbance in a cafe. The City Marshal handled the servant Jin a somewhat rough manner. Cortina resented this action, and drawing his pistol fired twice at the marshal, the second shot wounding him in the shoulder. He then mounted his horse, took the rescued Mexican behind him, and ^defying the authorities, galloped out of the City with his ■followers towards his ranch. El Carmen, 9 miles northwest |of the^City. 36 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Later, before daylight on the morning of September 28, 1859, Cortina entered Brownsville with a body of men esti- mated at from fifty to eighty, leaving two small parties on foot outside, one near the cemetery and the other near Ramirefio. Armed men paraded the streets an.d sentinels were placed at every corner. Cries of "Mueran los Gringos!" (death to Americans) "Viva Mexico" resounded through the streets. Cortina stood at a corner near Miller's hotel and avowed his determination to kill the Americans but assured Mexicans and foreigners that they should not be molested. He or his followers killed three Americans and two Mexi- cans and then retired to the Mexican side, keeping an organized force under his control, and also establishing himself on the American side at Rancho El Carmen. Later during October and November, 1859, he had several engagements with American volunteers and Texas Rangers, the Mexican National Guard with its artillery planted on the fortifications of Matamoros standing ready to assist him. Cortina defeated the Americans on both occasions and soon many Mexicans flocked to his standard, regarding him as the man who would right the wrongs of the Mexicans. Major Heintzelman, with United States troops, arrived at Fort Brown, Texas, on December 5, 1859, and joining forces with Tobins' Rangers and the Brownsville citizens he soon drove Cortina from his stronghold at Carmen and following him, defeated him at Rio Grande City on Decem- ber 27, 1859. Cortina then crossed into Mexico and after making one more raid into Texas, interested himself in the affairs of his own country except as shown in the pages hereof. Matamoros, Mexico, was rent with internal disorders and wars from the hour of its creation, it might be said. One of the most sanguinary conflicts was that of 1861. The State elections were held after much bitter feeling on both sides. The candidates were Cipriano Guerrerro and Jesus de la A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 37 Serna. Guerrerro adopted the yellow flag and called his army the CRINOLINOS, while Serna adopted the red flag and called his army the ROJAS. The declared result of the election was in favor of Serna, but on July 8, 1861, the State legislature ordered that a new election should be held alleging fraud on the part of Serna's supporters. The Rojos refused to respect this order, armed themselves and took charge of the machinery of the government, install- ing their candidate, Serna. The Crinolinos armed them- selves, and soon the entire state was involved, many bloody battles occurring. It must be recalled that at this very time Mexico was threatened by the triple alliance, England, France and Spain by reason of the reform laws enacted during the Juarez administration in 1857, whereby the church properties had been declared confiscated and most of the foreign debts repudiated. The Crinolinos took posses- sion of Matamoros early in September, driving out the Rojos, who found a refuge in Brownsville where they openly recruited and organized under their leaders. During the month of October, 1861, a great body of Rojos crossed from the Texas side into Mexico and incorporating with reinforcements sent northward from Victoria, Tamaulipas, they at once besieged Matamoros. In what was then a beautiful and prosperous city, now followed the bloodiest struggle between Mexicans known in the history of Tamaulipas. Houses were burned and destroyed, cannonading, musketry firing, and hand to hand encounters occurred daily on the streets; worthy officers and intelligent leaders were executed without pretense of a trial, and commerce was completely paralyzed from October 21 to the latter part of December. The Crinolinos tri- umphed but their administration was shortlived as three days after the siege was raised. Governor Vidaurri of Nuevo Leon placed his troops in command to restore order. 38 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Brownsville lived in daily dread, the firing in Matamoros being a constant menace. Hundreds of women and chil- dren came across the river, and deserters, common charges -upon our people, robbed and killed with impunity. Hun- dreds of Mexican-Texans, and numeros Americans partici- pated in the battles. Among those killed were Col. William Cameron, a Scotchman who owned many thousands of acres of land in Texas, and Colonel Kinney of Corpus Christi. CHAPTER V 1861-1865 . At the outbreak of the Civil war between the TT • ^c^ ^" states, the Texas border was garrisoned by United States ^^j-ioits companies of the U. S. First Artillery at Fort Brown, Ringgold Barracks and Fort Mcintosh, and Companies C and E of the Third Infantry, the principal offi- cers in command being: Maj. C. C. Sibley, 3rd Infantry, Fort Mcintosh; Major W. H. French, 1st and 2nd Artillery, Fort Brown; Lieut. -Col. E. Backus, 3rd Infantry, Fort Brown; Capt. B. H. Hill, 1st Artillery; Lieut. James Thompson, 2nd Artillery; and 2nd Lieut. G. D. Bailey, 2nd Artillery. E. B. Nichols, Commissioner for Texas, arrived at Browns- ville on February 22, 1861, and immediately requested an inter- view with Capt. B. H. Hill, the purpose of which was to ask that those of the U. S. Army who were not disposed to link their fortunes with the Confederates should embark and leave the State and should turn over to the Texas authorities all government property then in their possession along the Rio Grande. An agreement was reached whereby the Federals should leave the Texas border and coast, but the delivery of the ordnance and other supplies was refused. Some of the stores and arms were burned at Brazos de Santiago but the Texans landed and took possession of a considerable quantity, Maj. Fitz John Porter, Assistant Adjutant General, U. S. Army, Fort Brown, sailed from New York on the Steamer, Daniel Webster, February 15, 1861, with provisions for the troops to embark at Brazoz de Santiago; arrived at Indi- anola, Texas, on March 2 and on the third oi¥ Brazos. With Companies M, Second Artillery and Companies C and E of the 3rd Infantry, he arrived at New York on the thirtieth. When he left Brazos de Santiago the Texas Volunteers immediately took possession of all the garrisons along the border, thus leaving the Confederates in entire control. 40 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley On December 26, 1862, an armed party of Mexicans, some forty in number, crossed the Rio Grande at the Mexican town of Las Cuevas (directly opposite to Los Ebanos, 82 miles west from Brownsville) attacked a train of Confederate wagons with provisions, killed 3 of the teamsters, took the entire contents of the wagon train, and then recrossed into Mexico. On December 26, 1862, a party of Mexicans passed at the place called Clareno (164 miles west from Brownsville) and there killed the Chief Justice of Zapata County, Isidro Vela. Capt. Refugio Benavides of the Confederate army, with about 25 men, pursued the party after it had crossed into Mexico, killing three and dispersing the others. On April 11, 1863, a party of cattle thieves passed over into Mexico near what is now called the town of Zapata, driving quite a herd of stolen Texas cattle. Capt. Santos Benavides of the Confederate Army followed them into the very town of Guerrerro, Mexico. Although he did not capture the thieves, he drove them out of the country. Captain Benavides took with him but 30 men and was ordered by the Mexicans to retire from Mexican soil, it being alleged that he was violating the treaty between Mexico and the United States, but he refused to do so until he should communicate with the Mexican alcalde and obtain assurances of a cessa- tion of the banditti operations on the Texas side. He suc- ceeded in this. On November 1, 1862, the Confederate forces along the Rio Grande were as follows: Rio Grande City (Ringgold Barracks) 3rd Texas Infantry 648 men Corpus Christi, 4 companies infantry 303 men Fort Brown, 4 companies cavalry 404 men Rio Grande, 1 company heavy artillery 62 men Rio Grande, 1 company light battery 52 men Rio Grande, 1 company mounted rifles 76 men A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 41 Rio Grande, 1 company mounted rifles 79 men Corpus Christi, 1 company light battery 87 men Corpus Christi, 1 company heavy artillery 91 men Corpus Christi, 1 company mounted rifles 83 men Corpus Christi, 1 company infantry 120 men 2,005 men From the time that the Confederates first took charge of the Valley territory, they remained under the command of Col. P. N. Luckett and Col. John S. Ford until the arrival of Gen. H. P. Bee on the twenty-ninth day of January, 1863. The aggregate force at Fort Brown and between Fort Brown and Ringgold Barracks (Rio Grande City) was maintained at about 1,200 men. Many hundreds -of supposedly neutrals flocked from the interior of Texas to Matamoros where those who were unable to move forward remained, and from whence many embarked to New Orleans for enlistment in the Union Army. Among others was Col. E. J. Davis and A. J. Hamilton, Union sympathizers. Davis had served as district judge in the Lower Valley for some years before the war. The Federal Steamer Honduras, arrived ofif the mouth of the Rio Grande on March 6, 1863, but owing to rough seas was unable to discharge her cargo or passengers until on the afternoon of March 10. Among those who landed were Col. E. J. Davis and Capt. W. W. Montgomery, then Union offi- cers. On March 15, at three o'clock in the morning, as Davis and others were at Bagdad, Mexico, at the mouth of the river, about to take passage to New Orleans on the Honduras, a number of citizens and confederate soldiers oflf duty, crossed from the Texas side into Bagdad and after a slight skirmish with those who were able to resort to arms, captured Davis, Montgomery, and several others, bringing them to the Texas side. The Mexican Governor, Albino Lopez, immediately 42 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley demanded a return of the prisoners. General Bee, the Con- federate commander, at once had Davis brought in and sent across to the Mexican authorities with apologies, but his men already had hung Captain Montgomery. This promised for a while to bring on complications with Mexico, but was soon passed as an episode of the war. CONFEDERATE EVACUATION OF BROWNSVILLE IN 1863 On October 27, 1863, a number of the Mexican soldiers in the Confederate Army under General Bee, revolted, killed one Dashiel, of the same company, wounded Jerry Litteral, and afterwards, circumventing Fort Brown and Brownsville at a place called Ramireiio, came upon and killed Antonio Cruz and the former sherifif, Jeff. Barthelow. General Bee at once became suspicious of the various Mexican organizations enlisted under his command, and in fact, even of the loyalty of some of the Americans. On the date of the arrival off Brazos de Santiago of the Federal fleet, Fort Brown, Brazos, and in fact, all of the garrisons along the Texas border were occupied by the Con- federates under Gen. H. P. Bee. The company command- ers stationed at the different posts were: Capt. Richard Tay- lor, Company A, 33rd Texas Cavalry; Capt. Henry F. Davis, Company F; Capt. Franklin Cummings, Special Service; Capt. Thomas Rabb, 33rd Texas Cavalry; Capt. J. H. Robinson, 33rd Texas Cavalry; Lieut. James Tucker of Fox's Battery; Lieut. J. R. Vinton; Lieut. Walter L. Mann, 1st Texas Cavalry; Capt. John S. Greer, Ordnance Depart- ment; Major Charles Russell. The total number of men however, did not exceed 1,200. At 6 p. M., November 1, 1863, the Federal command under Maj.-Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks came to anchor off the bar at Brazos de Santiago and on the second at about noon a A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Vallev 43 number of the boats had crossed the bar and anchored in the bay. The force consisted of the Second Division, 13th Army Corps, and the 13th and 15th Regiments of the Maine Volun- teers; First Texas Cavalry, and the 1st Engineers and 16th Negro Infantry, a total of 6,998 men, including the First Brigade Brig. Gen. William Vandever and the Second Brigade, Col. William McE. Dye. The 94th Illinois Volun- teers entered Brownsville on the evening of the fifth of November, and on the next day the First Missouri Light Artillery and 13th Maine Volunteers came in. And within a few days thereafter, the others came in, some from Point Isabel over the old Palo'Alto and Resaca de la Palma battle- fields and others via the river route. General Bee received news at 3 o'clock on the afternoon of November 2, 1863, of the landing of the Federal Expedition at Brazos and at once prepared to evacuate. In the after- noon of the third, after setting fire to all government build- ings, some of the cotton stored in the garrison, two hundred bales at Freeport (near what is now the International bridge), and throwing many bales into the river. Bee and the Confeder- ate army marched northward towards Santa Gertrudis (now Kingsville) where he arrived on the morning of the eighth. Before his departure, however, Captain Taylor, Confederate, who had been reconnoitering near the mouth of the river, was driven back by the Federals. The fire from the garrison spread and soon destroyed an entire block of city property then fronting on the Rio Grande. To add to the disorder and terror with which the unprotected citizens of the town were subjected, 8,000 pounds of powder stored in the garrison, exploded, shaking every building in the town and causing the women and children to become panic-stricken. A great quantity of commissary and quartermaster stores were consumed and for a while everything was chaos. 44 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley A home guard was organized and attempted to restore order and to save as much property as possible, and to them and the assistance rendered by Mexicans from Matamoros, may be ascribed the success in saving anything. Rumors spreading that the confederates were plundering the city, with permission of the city authorities. Gen. Jose Maria Cobos, a refugee from Mexico, then in Brownsville, where he had been since March 1, organized the Brownsville citizens. He remained in charge from the evening of the third until the evening of the fifth, when, with numerous adherents whom he had enlisted in his behalf during his stay in Brownsville, he crossed to Matamoros, immediately imprisoned the Mili- tary Governor, Sefior Don Manuel Ruiz, and all of his offi- cers, and assumed control of Matamoros. He issued a manifesto calling upon his countrymen to unite with him, and began his propaganda to assist the imperialistic cause. On the morning of the seventh, however, General Cortina, who had united with Cobos and pretended to be in hearty accord with his propaganda, having discovered some of his proclamations and suspecting his sincerity, ascertaining that he favored the Imperialistic party, started after Cobos. The latter had been going the rounds early on the morning of the seventh, investigating the prisons and pointing out those who should be executed as traitors. Cortina with a detachment ot his followers came upon Cobos about 9 o'clock a. m., and at once notified him of his arrest and that within an hour he should be executed. Cobos, after pleading for a priest as a confessor and being denied one, calmly knelt and with his chin resting on his cane, met his death undismayed. His aide, Vela, was ordered to run the gauntlet and was killed while doing so. ***** On December 26, 1863, Gen. N. J. T. Dana, in command at Fort Brown, Texas, received a communication from Leonard Pierce, Jr., Consul of the U. S. at Matamoros, A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 45 Mexico, advising him that Governor Serna had invited several merchants of that city to his office, among them Jeremiah Galvan and one or two Americans; that they had been escorted to an anteroom and were being held as prisoners subject to the payment of a forced loan of $5,000.00 each. The Consul appealed to General Dana to interpose his influ- ence in the matter. Dana immediately addressed a letter to Serna informing him that his act in detaining the Americans was illegal; that they were secure from forced loans in their own country and did not know how to submit to them from any other power on earth; that it was his (Dana's) duty to c?re for the entire safety of every loyal man, woman, and child of the United States; that he did not imagine that all profes- sions of friendship from Mexico toward the United States were to be considered merely as complimentary words; that it would be time for the Americans to submit when they might not have the power to protect themselves; that he could not remain an idle or uninterested spectator; that he would now make a peremptory protest against any such action. He demanded that if any such measures had been commenced that they should be forthwith discontinued, and wound up with "I SHALL HOLD MYSELF IN INSTANT READINESS FOR YOUR EXCELLENCY'S REPLY." The staff officer who carried the communication reported that when Serna first read it he was inclined to assume the position that "if American citizens did not like the laws of Mexico, they were at liberty to remain from its soil," and sent that verbal message. But a courier at the very moment arrived in great haste with the report that the Americans had taken possession of the ferryboats. This caused some excite- ment and brought an immediate reply to the effect "It not being the desire of the Government to place any forced con- tributions on the American citizens. I have this moment 46 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley given orders that in this respect, or anything else of the kind, there shall not be molested any citizens of the United States that shall be met with at this port." At the hour of sending the communication to Matamoros, General Dana ordered eight pieces of artillery, two squadrons of cavalry and five battalions of infantry to get under arms with ammunition and two days' rations. CHAPTER VI Matters on the Rio Grande, so far as the territory east of Laredo is concerned, remained quiet until early in June when Col. John S. Ford, having recuperated his forces up to within 1,200, began a systematic guerrilla warfare on all outposts. He was very successful in these operations, so much so, that on June 16 he occupied Rio Grande Cit3% the Federals with- drawing towards Brownsville. * * * * * * Gen. Francis J. Herron arrived and assumed command of the Federals on January 3, 1864. At that time there were in the Lower Valley 6,479 U. S. soldiers with 16 heavy guns and 12 field guns. The forces were as follows: White: 91st Illinois and 94th Illinois; 19th, 20th, and 38th Iowa; 20th Wisconsin, making six companies of Infantry: 1st Missouri Light Artillery, Provisional Battery; 1st Texas Cavalry, three companies under Major E. J. Noyes, Vidal's Partisans, Lieut. Henry Phillips. Negroes: 87 and 95 Infantry. On January 12, 1864, at 10 p. m., American Consul, Leonard Pierce, Jr., of Matamoros, addressed the following to Gen. Francis J. Herron, Commanding U. S. forces at Brownsville, Texas: "General: A battle is now raging in the streets of this City between the forces of Governor Manuel Ruiz and Col. Juan N. Cortina. My person and family are in great danger as the road between here and the ferry is said to be infested with robbers. I have also about $1,000,000 in specie and a large amount of other valuable property under my charge in the consulate, and from the well-known character of Cortina and his followers, I fear the city will be plundered. I therefore earnestly request that you will send a sufficient force to protect myself and property and to transport the money within the limits of the United States at the earliest possible moment." 48 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Almost at the same time, the General received a communi- cation from Governor Ruiz corroborating the above and asking him to send over the troops to protect property. Immediately after the firing commenced, General Herron dispatched Colonel Black, 37th Illinois Infantry, to the Consu- late to inform himself of the true condition of affairs. Upon his report and in view of the above communications. General Herron sent ,over Col. Henry Bertram, 20th Wisconsin Infantry, -with. 40 men to take charge of the ferry; and four companies of the same regiment went to the Consulate. The firing ceased for about an hour after the arrival there of the American troops and, learning there was to be no inter- ference, they started again, taking care not to touch the Consulate. The firing continued until noon next day, the Ruiz party retreating in every direction. About 50 men were killed and 100 wounded on both sides. Ex-Gov. Albino Lopez was one of the killed. Ruiz had 800 men and 4 pieces of artillery: Cortina 600 and six pieces of artillery. Con- siderable damage was done to the buildings by the artillery fire, and lawless bands plundered all that day and night. Cortina immediately proclaimed himself as Governor. On June 23, 1864, the Federals had brought in nearly all of the outposts along the river. On the twenty-sixth. Ford advanced from Rio Grande to Edinburg. On July 12, 1864, General Herron was relieved of the command and sailed two days later for Morganza, La. The 91st Illinois, 1st Texas Cavalry under Capt. P. G. Temple, 1st Missouri Artillery under Lieut. A. Hils, 19th Iowa Infantry, and the 81st Negro Engineers remained at Brazos de Santiago under command of Col. H. M. Day, all others embarking with General Herron. On June 25, 1864, Col. John S. Ford, with a force of from 250 to 400, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Showalter, Captain Refugio Benavides, Captain Cater, Captain Dunn, Capt. Cristo- bal Benavides, Captain Ferrill, Lieutenant Gardiner,, and A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 49 Lieutenant Coulter in action, and Lieutenant-Colonel Fisher, Maj. Felix Blucher, Captain Fry, and Lieutenant Duggan, came upon a force of 100 men of Companies A and C, Davis Texas Cavalry, commanded by Captain Temple, First Texas Cavalry, who were encamped at Las Rucias Ranch (24 miles west from Brownsville), on picket duty. The Federals took refuge in the brick house which is still in good condition, the only brick building there. The Federals who were defeated, lost 2 killed, 5 wounded, and 28 prisoners. The Confederates lost in killed, Capt. James Dunn, an old ranger. Sergeant Ccckferel, and Hijenio Sanchez of Showalter's command and 1 Lieutenant and eleven men wounded. Many of the Federals escaped to the Mexican side of the river. The Confederates also captured 2 wagons, 28 horses, and a number of saddles. After the battle at Las Rucias, Ford pushed to within five miles of Brownsville and attempted to cut off communi- cation between it and Brazos, but failed. He then fell back to Edinburg (now Hidalgo), where he remained awaiting reenforcements. Ford's total forces at that time east of Ringgold Barracks was about 1,800 men scattered over the territory down to within five miles north of Brownsville and over towards Point Isabel. General Slaughter had left San Antonio and was marching toward Ringgold Barracks (now Rio Grande City) with five regiments and one battery. These moved into Brownsville on July 30, 1864, with Colonel Ford, meeting with no resistance, and finding Maj. E. W. Cave and a party of citizens in quiet possession of the town. On August 9, 1864, 75 men from the 81st Negro Engineers went to Point Isabel from Brazos in quest of lumber which had been landed there for their use. They were surprised by a small body of Confederates who attacked them about 2 p. M. The Confederates retreated, but Captain Jordan, in command of the Federals also retreated to the little Steamer Hale which had brought him over. Next day Capt. Wm. M. 50 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Shepherd of the 91st IlHnois with a detachment from that regiment and from the 19th Iowa, returned to Point Isabel and effected a landing, the Confederates retiring. On August 1, 1864, but 1,200 Federals remained in this territory, these being stationed at Brazos de Santiago under Colonel Day. On August 26, 1864, General Cortina appeared before Matamoros. On September 6, 1864, Col. H. M. Day, commanding, with about 300 men composed of the 91st Illinois, 1st Texas cavalry, and one-12-lb howitzer from the 1st Missouri Artil lery, sallied from Brazos across Boca Chica destined to White's ranch where, it had been reported, the Confederates had been herding some cattle to be delivered to the French Imperialists then encamped at Bagdad, at the mouth of the Rio Grande on the Mexican side. This force encountered at Palmito Hill, 12 miles from the mouth, a small detachment of the 33rd Texas Cavalry Confederate, under Capt. Richard Taylor. The Confederates were forced to retire and the Federals captured the cattle. Taylor fell back to Browns- ville. Next day Baird's regiment and Lieutenant-Colonel Showalter, Confederate Army consisting of some 600 men, departed for Palmito to recapture the cattle. On the sixth Gen. J. N. Cortina, commanding the liberal forces along the Rio Grande, made a feint to attack Bagdad which was garrisoned by 400 French soldiers. The French drove Cortina back to the Burrita Hill on the Mexican side nearly opposite White's Ranch, 10 miles from the mouth, and there Cortina's 13 officers and 290 men under Col. Miguel Echarzarreta crossed to the Texas side. The French Com- mander at Bagdad, A. Veron. at once sent his aide, Captain Visconti, to report the incident to Colonel Day. Day com- municated with Cortina and demanded that the refuges should turn all arms over to the U. S. authorities, agreeing to protect A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 51 them as refugees seeking protection. Consequently, Echarzar- reta turned over to Day, 27 muskets, 69 calibre; 195 Enfield rifles, 58 calibre, and 24 Whitney muskets and various accom- panying munitions including a 12-pounder. When Showalter reappeared on the ninth near Palmito, Day released Cortina's men and turned over to them their arms so that they might assist the Federals. A battle then fol- lowed lasting at intervals from the afternoon of the ninth until the morning of the eleventh when the combined Federal and Mexican forces routed the Confederates who retreated to Brownsville. The Mexicans used a piece of artillery that they had brought with them. The Confederates captured 14 of Cortina's men in this battle and upon an official inquiry from the Confederate Com- mander, Ford, to the Federal Colonel, Day, the latter claimed that the Mexicans were regularly enlisted soldiers of the U. S. Army. A careful perusal of the "WAR of the REBELLION" records will show that the crossing by Cortina, his surrender to the Federal authorities, and his participation in the repulse of the Confederates was through preconcerted agreement. It was the original intention however, that Cortina should follow up any victory and enter Brownsville and hold it against the Confederates, which he. did not do. On September 22, 1864, Cortina, who had been in posses- sion of Matamoros, entered into an agreement with the Con federate Commander, Ford, -> allowing unrestricted passage between the two towns, Matamoros and Brownsville. On October 14, 1864, about fifty Confederates appeared off Boca Chica and a fight took place between them and about an equal number of Federals under Day. A 20-pounder used b^^ the Federals and the presence in the offing of several Federal Warships caused the Confederates to withdraw. No casualties. 52 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley ^ 1 n/r •• On September 26, 1864, Gen. Tomas Mejia General Meiia , , ^ • i- . , ^ r^^^ . , . . of the Imperialist army with 2,000 men, arrived 1^-. . ^^ Matamoros, the entire populace turning out in an enthusiastic reception, Brig. Gen. T. F. Drayton, of the Confederate forces, temporarily in command, extending his felicitations. When Mejia arrived at Matamoros on September 26, 1864, he did not fire a shot, and 200 of Cortina's men crossed to Brownsville where they were well received by the Confeder- ates, then in command. At the time of Mejia's arrival, French and Mexican Imperial troops began to come in from San Fernando 90 miles south of Matamoros and Bagdad at the mouth of the Rio Grande. (Here refer to "Sheridan on the Rio Grande" for disposition of Mejia and the French). From October to January, 1865, with the exception of a constant guerrilla warfare carried on between the Liberals and Imperials on the Mexican side and the occasional firing from the Texas side upon steamboats en route from Bagdad to Matamoros, affairs on the Texas side remained at a standstill. Enlisted with the Imperialists were many of the Confederates, especially those of the Catholic faith, while the Liberals counted on as many of the Union sympathisers or Federal deserters. L t B t 1 ^" ^P^^^ ^' ^^^^' ^^"* ^°^^^^ ^- L^^ ^^^ .,-. ^ _. ., the Confederate army surrendered at Appo- U. S. Civil ^ „, JJ ^ U T5 -11 Tir ^^^^ matox. The news did not reach Brownsville War. 1865. .-, ^^ ,0 i t • .1 1 • until May 18, there being no telegraph wires south of New Orleans. On May 1, 1865, the total Federal forces in Cameron County, Texas, under Brig. Gen. E. B. Brown, consisted of 1,915, as follows; of the 66th U. S, Colored Infantry, 675; 34th Indiana Infantry, 300; 2nd Texas Cavalry (Union), 250, of whom 50 were unmounted; and of the 46th U. S. Colored Infantry, 490. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 53 On May 11, 1865, by order of Col. Theodore H. Barrett, in command, Lieut. Col. David Branson left Brazos Santiago for Point Isabel with 250 men. A severe gale prevented the little steamer from proceeding to the Point, so the troops returned to Brazos and marched southward along the Brazos beach to Boca Chica, a narrow inlet from the Gulf, about 3 miles north of the mouth of the Rio Grande. Fifty men of the 2nd Texas (Union), not mounted. First Lieut. Hancock and Second Lieut. James, joined them with 50 men and the 300, and at 2 a. m.. May 12, surrounded White's Ranch, believing that a Confederate outpost of 65 men were camped there. The Federal forces hid in a thicket on the banks of the Rio Grande about V/i miles above White's Ranch until 8:30 a. m.. Ma}'- 12, when Mexican and French soldiers of the Imperial Army on the Mexican shore gave the alarm and warned the Confederates. The Confederates, 190 men under Capt. W. N. Robinson of Gidding's Battalion, immediately began an attack but were forced to retreat. The Federals captured three prisoners, two horses, four beef cattle, and ten days' rations. That afternoon at 3 o'clock. General Slaughter and Col. John S. (Rip) Ford, with about 600 men commanded by Capt. D. M. Wilson and a section of O. G. Jones' light artillery, arrived on the scene, but very little fighting was done, the Federals retiring to White's Ranch for the night. From White's Ranch, Colonel Branson sent a message to Lieutenant-Colonel Barrett, com- manding the post at Brazos Santiago, who at day-break of the thirteenth, with 200 men of the 34th Indiana Volunteer Infan- try appeared. The Federals succeeded in getting as far as Palmetto Ranch about 12 miles east of Brownsville, where they dug pits. Afterwards they fell back a mile and a half to a bluff then 11 miles from the mouth of the river but which has long since disappeared. 54 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley At four p. M. the Confederates began an active advance and endeavored to get between the hills (a mile back from the river) and the mouth, to flank the Federals. They planted two cannon on Palmetto Hill and with these began the actual battle of the day. The Federals, under Captains Miller and Coffin and Lieutenants Foster and Mead retreated. At about five o'clock, the 34th Indiana broke and retreated at double time. The Federals lost 7 Enfield rifles and accou- terments and some camp and garrison equipage. They also lost four officers and 111 men, 30 of whom were killed and some 'drowned in attempting to swim the river into Mexico. The Federals in full retreat reached Boca Chica at eight p. m, * * * :ic 5|c On May 28, 1865, Brig. Gen. E. B. Brown started all of his force for Brownsville where he arrived on the morning of May 30, 1865, at day-light. The Confederates had left the day before, General Slaughter having turned their artillery over to the Imperialists at Matamoros. Five hundred bales of cotton were captured by General Brown, 'but more than twice this number had been crossed to Matamoros immediately preced- ing his arrival, but after the surrender of Lee. General Slaughter, who was an Imperialist sympathizer, crossed over to Matamoros. Colonel Ford was opposed to moving the artillery out of Texas. BAGDAD, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO, was known as a settlement as far back as 1780, when the Spaniards who had settled along the Rio Grande first realized the beneficial effects of its cool saleric atmosphere. Since 1840, it had existed as a customshouse port of first entry for all goods destined to Mexico through Matamoros. But not until the stirring events of the American Civil War and the French Invasion did it derive any importance. During 1862, '63, '64, '65, and '66 it was at its highest mark. As many as 15,000 per- sons inhabited its sandy townsite, dwelling in houses of every A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 55 description and with a conglomerate citizenship. From 200 to 300 vessels ranging in size from a 20-ton schooner to a 2,000-ton steamship were constantly anchored three or four miles from its beach, while hundreds of laborers engaged as lightermen in bringing merchandize across the bar from the Gulf to the harbor in the river, enlivened the town. Directly across from Bagdad, on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, nestled in the sandhills the little town of Clarksville, another war-time village, but with not more than 500 perma- nent inhabitants. Sandhills were the predominating feature of Clarksville, while Bagdad, on the Mexican side, consisted of a flat sandy, marshy approach running back from the river to the town about 500 yards. Through the courtesy of the Mexican officials, the Ameri- can steamboats plying the Rio Grande were permitted to be hauled out for repairs on this piarshy fiat, and the American carpenters and workmen were permitted to cross the river at will. Before Mejia's entry into Matamoros, Cortina, Escobedo and Canales besieged Matamoros and patrolled the entire river front on the Mexican side up to within some six miles of Bagdad, where the French troops were encamped and where the French men-of-war were arriving almost weekly. During August, 1865, Admiral Bosse, commanding the French squadron, sent to the mouth of the Rio Grande, the ships LE DARIEN, LE COLBERT, and LA DROME, he, in person, afterwards coming on the LA BELLONE. On the twenty-second. of August, 1865, the French landed four hun- dred men and took possession of Bagdad, under Commander Veron. The Admiral believed that his force was insufficient to take Matamoros from Cortina who was there with 400 infantry, 500 cavalry, and 12 cannon; and as he was without information as to Mejia, concluded merely to blockade the mouth of the river and force back up the river some smaller 56 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley vessels of the enemy which were tied along the banks to the mouth. Admiral Dupin on August 12, 1865, moved from Tampico towards Victoria. He had hung five Republican (liberal) guerrillas to the lamp posts at Tampico, and three at Vic- toria, Mexico. He remained at Victoria a short time and then moved towards Matamoros but got no further than San Fernando from whence he retraced his march to Victoria. Dupin was named as provisional Governor of Tamaulipas at Victoria, Mexico, and while there, caused all the records per- taining to the State archive to be destroyed. In the latter part of December, 1865, Admiral de la Bedo- liere (in 1913 ranking admiral in the French Navy) arrived off Bagdad in the warship "TISIPHONE," bringing ammuni- tions, arms, food, and French reenforcements. About August, 1865, the Imperialists purchased two river packets, the Antonia and the Eujenia for use between Mata- moros and the mouth of the river. These boats were fired on from the American side on several occasions by Mexicans and Americans in sympathy with the Liberal cause. One of these occasions was on November 7, 1865, when at a place on the Mexican side of the river, called Ranchita, about 16 miles east of Matamoros, the Antonia, Anderson commanding, having aboard a detachment of French Marines and a battery of artillery, was fired on by Liberals on the Mexican side. These attackers were dispersed by a well-directed fire which dis- mounted one of the Liberal's guns. However, at a point seven miles east of Matamoros the Antonia run aground. Americans and Mexicans from the Texas side began a fierce fire upon' her wounding two of the Marines, one seriously. The Eujenia rushed to her rescue and soon brought her to the boat landing on the Mexican side, about a half mile south from the Fort Brown flag-staff. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 57 During the first days of January, 1866, the French men-of- war referred to had already landed some provisions and quite a number of French marines and Austrian soldiers. The Antotiia had transported a number of these to Matamoros, being fired on in almost every instance. The Liberals having received information of the arrival of the men-of-war, prepared to surprise Bagdad and to prevent the landing of the supplies and reenforcements. Escobedo ordered Cortina to make some demonstrations against Mata- moros in order to hold Mejia there in check. Cortina encircled Matamoros and in person came over to Brownsville and interviewed the Federal Commander, requesting that the latter should assist the Liberals by sending a force of negroes into Bagdad to head ofl the French who already had landed some 80 men, those aboard the steamboat Antonia en route to Matamoros. _. - , Colonel Crawford, then mustered out of the service, _ ., in charge of some three hundred negroes who like- wise had been mustered out, crossed the Rio Grande into Bagdad at 3 o'clock on the morning of January 6, 1866, while Col. Adolfo Garza and Maj. Enrique Mejia of General Escobedo's general stafif attacked the town from the east and south. The negroes quickly overpowered the few Imperial- ist soldiers in charge of Bagdad and then, having partaken of the native drink, Mescal, went wild and started on an expedition of pillage, murder, and rapine. They looted the principal warehouses and moved their pillage to the Texas side. Escobedo had not counted on such a result of his effort to obtain assistance. He immediately rushed to Bag- dad with his troops but arrived just in time to see the negroes with their loot embarking for Texas. 8 Americans were killed in this affair, including 2 respect- able American ladies, while about ten Mexicans were killed. 58 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley A petition was immediately forwarded to Washington by the loyal imperialists of Matamoros, protesting against the outrage. A Commission was appointed to take evidence to fix the responsibility. Its decision was that as the con- stituted Mexican authorities had called upon the Americans to invade their territory to render them assistance, no damages could be recovered. General Sheridan, through correspondence, followed Colonel Crawford as far as Cuba but was never able to intercept him and bring him to trial for his part in the affair. * ^ ^ * * Gen. Godfrey Weitzels arrived at Brazos de Santiago on June 22, 1865, and two days later moved to White's Ranch with four brigades. As soon as General Weitzel, in command of the Federals then at Brownsville, heard of the raid he sent 300 men to suppress the disorder, but many of these united with the invaders and assisted them in disposing of their stolen goods. It was M. Montholon, French Min- ister, who brought the matter to the attention of Minister Hunter through whom the Commission was appointed, as above referred to. Major-General Lew Wallace, U. S. Army, author of Ben Hur, arrived in Brownsville on March 15, 1865, and at once communicated with Gen. J. E. Slaughter and Col. John S. Ford relative to a cessation of hostilities, soliciting their aid in offering terms to Gen. Kirby Smith. Colonel Ford, in temporary command during the absence of Slaughter, stated that it would be impossible for him to comply with the request, but that he would forward the request to the Brigadier commanding. In his letter Ford frankly stated, "You do not mistake when you suppose me willing to make any sacrifice short of honor to restore peace." And in a letter of date March 26, 1865, referring to the same subject, Ford said; "We are at all times. General, ready to soften A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 59 the asperities of the war by an interchange of the courtesies which should exist between all parties prosecuting civilized warfare." Later, on March 30, 1865, General Wallace addressed Maj.-Gen. John G. Walker C. S. Army, at Houston, referring to his communications which had been forwarded by Colonel Ford. General Walker refused to treat on the subject. From a careful study of the communications passing between General Wallace, Gen. U. S. Grant, Gen. E. Kirby Smith and John Slidell, Commissioner to Paris, France, the fears entertained by the Northern leaders of a Confederate intrigue with France and Mexico, were well founded. See reference to Colonization of Confederate leaders at Cordova, Mexico. CHAPTER VII g, . , On May 17, 1865, Gen. U. S. Grant ordered p. P , Maj.-Gen, Phil H. Sheridan to proceed from Washington to Fort Brown, Texas, informing him that he would place at his command 25,000 men under Maj.-Gen, J. J. Reynolds, being the 4th Army Corps then at Nashville, Tenn., and the 25th Army Corps then at City Point, Va. The ostensible purpose of this move was to restore order in Texas and to prevent a renewal of hostilities by the Con- federate, Gen. Kirby Smith. The real purpose was to discour- age any efforts of the Confederates to obtain aid from the Imperialists then operating in Mexico under Maximilian, Grant believing that the efforts to put down secession would never be complete until the French and Austrian invaders of Mexico were compelled to quit Mexico. Generals Price, Magruder, Sterling Price, Maury, Governor Harris of Tennessee, and others equally as prominent in Confederate Military circles already were proceeding to Cor- doba, Mexico, not far from Vera Cruz where a great coloniza- tion scheme was being organized. Grant believed that Maxi- milian desired these sturdy veterans' of the American Civil War to support him on his throne, and that in order to win their assistance he might go as far as to back them up in a renewal of the struggle in the United States. Gen. E. B. Brown, U. S. Volunteers, arrived at Brownsville, May 30, 1865. On June 6 to 9, 1865,. Gen. Frederick Steele arrived with the bulk of the 25th Army Corps. Gen. Phil Sheridan arrived on June 23, 1865. Upon his arrival at Brazos de Santiago, Sheridan at once became acquainted with the difficulties of landing troops at the mouth of the Rio Grande, where Bagdad and Clarks- ville, Texas, at that time were flourishing little war villages, where the average depth of water on the bar was but 2^ feet and that Brazos was the only feasible point, the water A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 6i on the bar there being on an average from 9 to 11 feet. So, one of his first acts was to build a railroad from Brazos along the island 18 miles west and southwest to a point on the river then known as WHITE'S RANCH, long since washed away by the river encroachments. The railroad was duly operated and remained until several years after the close of the war, when it was torn up, but its roadbed still remains intact from the nearest approach to the site of White's Ranch down to Boca Ghica, where the bridge piling still stands. As has been stated in the preceding chapter, General Mejia arrived at Matamoros during September, 1864. From within a month after his arrival there, the guerrilla warfare began and hardl}^ a day passed but that from 1 to 15 men were killed, either of the besieged or the besiegers. Among some of the killed and wounded who were affiliated with the Imperialists were such as J. D. McCaskill, Jacob Sneider, a 16-year old youth, P. G. Hammond. And some of these men were led by Lieutenant Sullivan, Major Gerard, Captain Norris, and J. P. St. Clair. And, among the liberals we find such names as Birch, Gholson, McKinney, Miller, Granger. On several times during the siege which lasted until June, 1866, the besiegers bombarded Matamoros, and on numerous occa- sions the shells were embedded in the brick or abode walls of the City. On June 8, 1866, two battalions of the foreign legion, Belgians and Mexicans, a number of cavalry, and six pieces of artillery left Monterrey en route to Matamoros, Tamaulipas. They marched along three parallel roads. Escobedo learned that the object of the Imperialists was to attack and to take possession of the frontier towns from Mier to Matamoros. When Escobedo ascertained that the most important body Jiad arrived at Cerralvo, about 140 miles west from Matamoros, he placed 600 cavalry in a position where the Imperialists 62 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley might see them and be led to believe that they would attack Cerralvo. Then, in two days, with the greater number of his troops he marched 70 miles to Derramaderos near Camargo where the Imperialists were camped with a large convoy which had marched from Matamoros destined to Monterrey, and whence he might observe their march and attack them at the place where the least water might be found, because in that locality one might not exist many hours without water. The convoy consisted of 200 wagons escorted by 1,000 Mexi- cans, 328 Austrians, and two cannon, all under the Imperialist General, Olvera. On the fourteenth of June, the convoy was seen approaching the Santa Gertrudis hills not far from Camargo, at which place Escobedo had entrenched his army. The convoy advanced unconscious of any contemplated ambuscade. Escobedo had ordered complete silence, but one of the impatient subaltern chiefs sallied out to provoke the enemy, who, observing the danger sent forward a column of cavalry. On the morning of the fifteenth Olvera had placed his wagons so as to serve as a barricade, also placing his troops in battle formation and planting the two cannon. Not seeing the Liberals, as they had hidden in the draws surrounding the hills, Olvera advanced along the road, dis- charging at random to ascertain if the Liberals possessed any cannon. Escobedo's line was protected by four columns of infantry, two of cavalry, and the reserve also infantry. His principal ofificers were Col. Alonso Flores, Colonel Caceres, Col. Miguel Palacios, Lieut. "Col. Emilio Mayer, Col. Narciso Davila, Col. Francisco Naranjo, Col. Adolfo Garza, Gen. Servando Canales, Col. Julian Cerda, Col. Joaquin Garza Leal, Lieut. Col. Higinio Villareal, Lieut. Col. Juan N. Saenz, Col. Salvador de la Cabada, Lieut. Col. Vicente Mariscal, Major Gen. Sostenes Rocha, Brig. Gen. Geronimo Trevino. The entire Liberal army charged simultaneously and the Imperial- ists broke and column by column surrendered, the Austrians 64 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley alone making a stand. Olvera with about 100 horsemen and some officers barely escaped. It resulted in a complete rout, Escobedo capturing the entire convoy in which a great amount of money was being transported to the interior. The Liberals lost 155 killed and 78 wounded. The Imperial loss was 251 Mexicans killed, and 145 Austrians killed; 121 Mexicans and 45 Austrians wounded; 858 Mexicans and 143 Austrian pris- oners. Many of the Austrians were executed. The Imperialists claimed that the success of the Liberals in the battle of Santa Gertrudis was due to the fact that from 1,200 to 1,500 Americans assisted Escobedo. The Liberals denied this, asserting that there were not more than three, and countercharging that the Imperialists had enlisted two companies of Confederates, The author personally knew of more than fifty Americans who handled the Liberal artillery at Santa Gertrudis. After the battle of Santa Gertrudis, the Imperialist Gen- eral, de Tuce, learning that the Liberals were concentrating at Camargo, marched to Mier where he arrived on the seven- teenth of June. But, learning there of the defeat and routing of Olvera and his army, and the number of deserters increasing daily, he retreated to Monterrey, where he arrived on the twenty-eighth. The Imperialists were no longer able to maintain them- selves in Matamoros, so Mejia quickly capitulated to General Carvajal, named governor and military commander of Tamau- lipas, who was at the time a refugee in Brownsville with money and arms to continue the campaign. Mejia evacuated Matamoros on June 23, 1866, leaving there 43 pieces of artillery. The balance of his army were embarked via the mouth of the Rio Grande to Vera Cruz. In August, 1866, Carvajal was deposed and Gen. Servando Canales was proclaimed as governor of Tamaulipas. On the twenty-first of the same month Gen. Juan N. Cortina, then at 66 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Camargo, proclaimed himself as governor and started to Matamoros. In the meantime President pro-tem Juarez had proclaimed Gen, Santiago Tapia as governor, so Cortina did not advance his own claims but congratulated Tapia. Canales, however, who had been acting with Carvajal, declared for Gonzalez Ortega, refused to recognize Tapia and prohibited him from entering Matamoros. As soon as Juarez received information of the deflection of Canales, he ordered Escobedo, who had taken possession of Monterrey, to advance on Mata- moros and subjugate Canales. On November 11, 1866, Escobedo with 1,500 men arrived at the outskirts of Matamoros, reenforcing the besiegers. He at once communicated with his life-long friend and comrade in arms, Canales, from whom, to his surprise, he learned that Canales had enlisted in Ortega's behalf. Upon the refusal of Canales to surrender the town, Escobedo began a general assault. In the meantime, Gen. Thomas L. Sedgwick, in temporary command at Brownsville, realizing the disastrous effect which might result to the Mexican cause at the very time that their entire cooperation was necessary to drive out the French and Austrian invaders, and possibly bearing in mind the real intent and purpose of the American govern- ment in placing so many troops along the border, quietly threw a pontoon bridge across the Rio Grande and, under the pretext that his presence in Matamoros with U. S. troops was necessary to protect foreigners and their property, crossed over to Matamoros. Escobedo, ignoring the true pur- pose of the American invasion, protested against Sedgwick's occupation. Sedgwick refused to evacuate unless assured of the protection of all foreigners. So, on the morning of November 27, 1866, one of the most sanguinary battles was fought in Matamoros between the rival Mexican factions, the Americans remaining inactive in a neutral zone upon which even Escobedo did not fire. Escobedo was repulsed A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 6 with heavy losses. Canales in reality surrendered the plaza to Sedgwick, but on the night of November 30 communi- cated with Escobedo offering to join forces to repel the American invaders. Then Escobedo, having accepted Cana- les* proposition, demanded that Sedgwick evacuate. Sedg- wick had entered Matamoros on November 23, 1866, with two companies of cavalry, two companies of infantry, and four cannon. On the twenty-seventh he surrounded the block upon which the American consulate was located. After the demand by Escobedo that he should evacuate, realizing that the two Mexican factions had united, that firing had ceased, and that there would no longer be danger of injury to for- eigners or their properties, on December 1, 1866, he retired to Fort Brown, immediately dismantling the pontoon bridge. ***** The term of office of President Juarez expired December 31, 1865, but to meet existing exigencies he proclaimed himself in office thereafter. Gen. Gonzales Ortega, then president of the Supreme Court of Mexico, was, by virtue of the Mexican Constitution, the person eligible for the presidency, but in the interest of the Imperialists had absented himself from Mexico. He remained in New Orleans and visited many places in the United States, recruiting refugee Mexicans and many Americans, and finally sailed for Brazos de Santiago, intending to cross into Mexico and assert his claims with arms. Upon his arrival at Brazos on November 3, 1866, he was arrested by Capt. J. Paulson of the U. S. Army and was detained by General Sedgwick until Escobedo had succeeded in establishing order, when he was released. Sheridan, in the meantime, between the date of his arrival at Brownsville in June, 1865, and the final termination of the Imperialistic menace in Mexico, actively prepared the American troops, threatening an invasion of Mexico for 68 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley the purpose of driving out the French. He organized a great number at San Antonio, and then, with a regiment of cav- alry under General Merritt, proceeded to Fort Duncan near Eagle Pass, got into communication with Juarez, and informed the latter that he was prepared to invade. The reports circulated and the demonstrations made by the Ameri- can troops finally discouraged the Imperialists so that the French and Austrians withdrew from the northern border into the interior. Then came the first sign of the tottering of the Maximilian empire, and finally the battle at Queretaro in May, 1867, Maximilian's capture and execution at the Hill of the Bells on the nineteenth day of June, 1867. Great efforts were made by this government through Sheridan to save Maximilian's life, Serg. Richard White, one of Sheridan's scouts, conveying a plea for mercy signed by Secretary Seward, all the way from Tampico overland to Queretaro, but to no avail, ***** During the year 1867, a band of Mexicans accompanied by one or two foreigners, late one evening dashed into Clarksville, Texas, at the mouth of the Rio Grande. They killed three persons, among them William Phelps and Hammond, U. S. Customs inspectors, wounded several others and succeeded in carrying off considerable plunder. They fled to the Mexican side. Their exact identity was never discovered. CHAPTER VIII -, . In 1856, the Congress of Mexico called and held Mexican . . , ... . _ ^ a constitutional convention at which, among other radical reforms 'was one divorcing the State from the Church. On March 11, 1857, the Liberal constitution was pro- posed but was suspended on December 1. Ygnacio Comonfort at once became a dictator. The reaction against the reform laws was backed by the church, most of the army, and many of the conservatives. But Benito Juarez, one of the judges of the Supreme Court, at the head of a party of advanced liberals opposed the reaction. In 1858, Comonfort was deposed by Zuloaga who abdicated in favor of Miramon, general of the Conservative forces. Miramon refused and insisted on Zuloaga remain- ing. In 1859, the U. S. envoy at Vera Cruz acknowledged Juarez as the head of Mexican affairs. During 1860, the Liberals triumphed, and in 1861 Juarez entered Mexico City and immediately upon assuming the chair, introduced many radical reforms, among others being: declaring marriage to be a civil contract; celibacy and ecclesiastical tribunals suppressed; confiscation of church property valued at about $400,000,000.00 and more than a third of the real estate; and the final separation of the Church from the State, and postponing payment of the National debt. At once Spain, France, and England urged claims due for losses occasioned by their subjects through the reform laws. During December, 1861, the three allies mentioned occupied the Port of Vera Cruz. A satisfactory settlement being made, Spain and England withdrew their vessels; but France and Louis Napoleon decided to continue the war, and in consequence did not reembark her troops; France declared war in 1862, placed Maximilian on the throne as PORFIRIO DIAZ A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley yi emperor, and drove Juarez and his adherents to the north- ern states of the Republic of Mexico. Maximilian, archduke of Austria (Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph) and emperor of Mexico, in 1863, at the instance of Napoleon III, accepted the crown as emperor of Mexico at the solicitation of many Mexican notables. He landed at Vera Cruz on May 28, 1864. He was captured May 16, 1867, while trying to escape from Queretaro, was court- martialed, condemned to death, and executed by shooting on June 19, 1867, His body was transported to Vienna where it was buried in the imperial vault a year after his death. After a very spirited resistance, Juarez and the liberals, as has been shown elsewhere herein, succeeded. The French troops which arrived in Mexico on the fifth day of June, 1863, withdrew in February, 1867. After the death of Maximilian, in August, 1867, Juarez was again elected president. / The characteristic spirit of revolt, predominant among the Mexicans, caused ceaseless insurrections, but Juarez reigned until July 18, 1872, when he died in Mexico City from a stroke of apoplexy. Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, secretary of Juarez immedi- ately assumed the reigns of government in Mexico and remained in power for four years, until succeeded by Gen. Porfirio Diaz. p - . This, the most illustrious of all Mexicans, was born p.. September 15, 1830, in Oaxaca, IMexico, a town about 150 miles southeast from Mexico City. He had studied law, but in 1854 took part in the revolutions, and like- wise afterwards participated in the three-years' "War of Reform." In 1863 he was appointed commander of the Mexi- can armies and until Maximilian's downfall and execution in 1867, was leader of the Republican or Liberal party. yi A Brief History of the Lozver Rio Grande Valley While Lerdo de Tejada was in the chair, Diaz started a revolt against him and forced him to flee from Mexico. Iglesias was named president pro-tem. On April 2, 1876, "Don Porfirio," as the entire Mexican population was wont to call him, with a handful of follow- ers who had been with him at Brownsville, Texas, for nearly a month prior thereto, crossed the Rio Grande into Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, at a point just east of the latter city. It had been arranged that the Mexican garrison should renounce its allegiance to the Tejada government and should at once join hands with Don Porfirio. There were about one thousand of the National Guard under Gen. B*altazar Fuentes Farias, and four hundred regulars under Col. Leonides Cristo, in charge of .the garrison. Fuentes Farias immediately pronounced in favor of Diaz but about a hundred of the regulars, commanded by Col. Cipriano Villanueva resisted. Several were killed on both sides, but finally the entire garrison pronounced for Diaz, who was soon after proclaimed as President of the Republic. Don Porfirio ruled until 1880 when he was succeeded by Gen. Manuel Gonzalez who ruled for four years. In 1884, Don Porfirio was reelected and from that time until 1911, 27 years, he ruled Mexico with great wisdom, foresight, and patriotism.^ At the beginning of his administration he caused to be executed all those who in any manner attempted to foment ^During the year 1890, one Catarina Garza, at one time a citizen of Brownsville and afterwards of Matamoros. Mexico, aggrieved over some alleged indignity suffered at the hands of his countrymen, headed a revolt against the Diaz Government in Mexico. He soon gathered about him quite a number of anti-Diaz followers and on the day of 1890, crossed from the Texas side at a point in Zapata County, Texas, to the Mexican side where he raided the place called SAN YGNACIO. This he razed to the ground killing a number of its inhabitants. Later Garza recrossed into Texas and with his men had several encounters with American soldiers who had been sent out to apprehend him. In one of these encounters an American soldier was killed and several wounded, a number of Mexicans being killed by the soldiers. Garza evaded capture and sailed for Central America where he was afterwards killed in a battle at Boca del Toro." A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 73 - an uprising, and even went to the extent of imprisoning those who criticised his administration. But, experience had taught that there was but one way to rule a people of whom 80% were ignorant, uneducated barbarians, and that was WITH THE IRON HAND. Under him the country soon took a place among the nations of the world. Every branch of industry was stimulated. The army was brought up to a high standard of patriotism so that when, during his old age when his enemies sought to depose him, the entire army stood loyal to him preferring death to dis- honor. He granted concessions to foreign capital to build up railroads and kindred institutions of progress, just as the State of Texas had done and was doing at t' time. The indebtedness of the Nation was reduced to a minimum. Religious worship was tolerated by any creed or sect, though restricted in accordance with the reform laws. In fact, during the 31 years in which Don Porfirio administered the affairs of the Republic, every change which took place, was destined to the uplifting of his people. As his age increased and he was proportionately incapaci- tated to attend to minor details, a horde of political and finan- cial leeches thrived under him. These men, many called Cientificos, operating with high officials, withheld from Don Porfirio many subjects of great import, and through a con- certed scheme of grafting were rapidly crushing out the lower or Indian classes and acquiring all real estate or other things worthy of their effort. They despoiled everything upon which their hands touched. They concentrated all power in a few of the higher class, so that, through their advice and counsel, Don Porfirio unknowingly became a party to the system of thieving. During the last years of his life, considerably interested in the future of his beloved country and desirous to intrust 74 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley the administration to one who might carry out his carefully- studied plans, Don Porfirio attempted to select his successor from the many eminent citizens of his acquaintance. With that purpose in view, he brought to his cabinet Bernardo Reyes, Ramon Corral, and one or two others who had distin- guished themselves. The new element in Mexican politics, with no appreciation of the past and practically ignorant of the struggles which had occurred in bringing the Republic to its present state long ago tired of the dictatorship which Don Porfirio necessarily exercised, resented his efforts to name a suc- cessor. Insignificant mobs formed in different parts of the republic and voiced their opposition. The students of the University of Guadalajara, State of Jalisco, promenaded the streets placarding against Corral. Diaz entertained a dele- gation of these and summarily dismissed them from .the University. At Monterrey the rabble marched through the streets proclaiming Reyes to be a fit successor. Reyes had been tried and apparently found wanting. Among those who opposed Don Porfirio's dictatorship was Francisco Madero, a highly educated young Mexican gentleman who had travelled extensively. He openly opposed Diaz. He proclaimed "Mexico for the Mexicans" and advocated laws which would restrict foreign acquisition of properties in the Republic. A street riot took place in Monterrey which was laid at Madero's door. He remained secluded for a while, but finally was arrested and hastened to the penitentiary at San Luis Potosi where he remained incarcerated for some months. Escaping, he made his way in disguise to Texas, and from there at once started a revolution against Don Porfirio. During the latter part of 1910, the anniversary of Mexico's independence, the first battles between the Federals and Madero's army took place. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 75 During March, 1911, President W. H. Taft ordered the mobilization of 25,000 U. S. troops along the border, and in pursuance with that order Fort Sam Houston, Bay City, and Galveston were garrisoned by the army. On May 10, 1911, Cindad Juarez, an important city on the Mexican banks of the Rio Grande opposite to El Paso, surrendered to the Maderistas, General Navarro, the Fed- eral chief, a veteran of many wars under Don Porfirio, being made captive. Immediately an armistice was declared and an agreement entered into by which Don Porfirio should" resign and turn the chair over to a successor to be selected by Madero and supposedly neutral Mexicans of renown. On May 22, 1911, the Maderista army entered Torreon, some distance from the Texas border, and assassinated two or three hundred Chinese. On May 25, 1911, Don Porfirio Diaz, who had then served 31 years as the president of Mexico, resigned. He left Mexico City at once, and on the twenty-sixth of May sailed for France where he died on July 2, 1915. Immediately upon the resignation of Diaz, and on the vei^ day when he departed from Vera Cruz, May 26, 1911, Francisco de la Barra was agreed upon and inaugurated as provisional president of the Mexican Republic. Not long afterwards, Francisco Madero entered Mexico, and in the elections which took place during October, 1911, was elected president of the Republic. He was inaugurated on Novem- ber 6, 1911. During the year 1912, Pascual Orosco, a former Maderista, launched a counter revolution, and later Felix Diaz, a nephew of Don Porfirio, began another. Orosco was soon crushed and sought refuge in Texas. Felix Diaz was captured at Vera Cruz on October 23, 1912, and from there was at once transported to the City of Mexico where he was held a captive until February 9, 1913. 76 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Gen. Bernardo Reyes, for many years governor of the State of Nuevo Leon, with headquarters .at Monterrey, had likewise been an aspirant for presidential honors. He was sent on a diplomatic matter to Europe before Don Porfirio's abdication. Upon his return, Madero having conquered, Reyes moved to San Antonio, Texas. He started from San Antonio sometime in February, 1912, and crossed the Rio Grande between Laredo and Matamoros. Failing of support by those on whom he had relied, he was captured on Feb- ruary 18, 1912, and taken to Mexico City where he was incarcerated and held captive until February 9, 1913. CHAPTER IX On February 9, 1913, the students at the Chapultepec Military Academy, rushed through the streets of Mexico City, headed by Mondragon, an erstwhile professor in the Military school and a man of some note as a soldier. They liberated Felix Diaz and Bernardo Reyes and then attacked the National Palace in which Madero was housed. Through treachery, Madero was taken captive, Bernardo Reyes being killed in one of the melees. On the nineteenth. Gen. Victoriano Huerta, an old comrade of Gen. Porfirio Diaz, was pro- claimed president of the Republic. On the twenty-second, Madero and Pino Suarez, one of his cabinet officers, were assassinated while being taken, as alleged, to the penitentiary for safe-keeping. Immediately the fire of revolt broke out, the reformers anticipating a return to the much hated system of spoils which the party called Cientificos had so successfully main- tained during Diaz' later days. Gen. Venustiano Carranza, at one time the governor of the State of Coahuila, immediately called to arms all those who might believe in a pure constitution and in the reforms as set out by Juarez. His party assumed the name CONSTITUTIONALISTS. Carranza went to Piedras Negras (called Porfirio Diaz) whence he engineered his campaign. On February 16, 1913, the Sunday following the revolt against Madero in the City of Mexico, the garrison of regu- lars at H. Matamoros renounced its allegiance to M'adero, and the partisans of Diaz immediately assumed the reigns of government of that city, pronouncing for Gen. Felix Diaz. At once, those who had been outspoken Maderistas were imprisoned. Four of the prominent youths of the City were arrested and conducted as prisoners to Mexico City to be tried for treason. Gen. Samuel Garcia Cuellar, a most dis- 78 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley tinguished gentleman, a native of Matamoros, interceded and having cautioned them to keep out of politics, they were released and allowed to return home. On February 20, 1913, the Matamoros revolters realizing that funds must be available to pay off the troops became restless and exacting. Major Estevan Ramos and Maj. Fran- cisco Alvarez, in command, appealed to the Citizens of Matamoros for loans, alleging that so soon as a fixed head of the government should give them recognition any such loan would be returned. Up to that time' matters in Mexico City had been quite turbulent and there was no recognized head other than the president himself, Francisco Madero. Among others. Major Ramos appealed to an American house at Matamoros, asserting that unless it and others would extend the courtesy of making the loan, it would be necessary to send the cavalry out of town to pasturage and to allow the others of his force to go uncontrolled, and that he feared in such an event there might be some looting. The loan was not a demand, simply a request. During the; afternoon of February 24, 1913, the County Judge and Sheriff of Cameron County, Texas, in which Brownsville is situated, communicated to Gov. Oscar B. Colquitt that the American Consul at Matamoros had appealed to them for aid, alleging that the Mexicans were about to start on a reign of pillage. This the Consul later denied. However, on the morning of February 25, 1913, a telegram was received from Governor Colquitt stating that units of the State Militia were then entraining and would arrive at Brownsville during that day. He threatened an inva- sion of Mexico should any American subject be molested by the revolters. At about 6 o'clock a. m. on February 26, 1913, Company C, 3rd Texas Infantry from Corpus Christi, Texas; Company A, 3rd Texas Infantry, and Company A, Texas State Cavalry, from Houston, Texas, and Company C, Texas A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 79 State Cavalry from Austin, Texas, arrived at Brownsville. On the same day Company M, 14th U. S. Cavalry, Capt. Kirby Walker in command, and Captain Sanders, and eight State Texas Rangers arrived. The four Texas companies remained until the early morn- ing of July 28, 1913, when they returned to their homes. ***** - Early in April, Lucio Blanco and a party of ^ J followers claiming to be of the reform or Con- -_ stitutionalist party, traversed the State of Matamorcs ,, ^ jr. i- ux 1 • u Nuevo Leon, and after a slight skirmish near Herrerras, about 130 miles northwest from Matamoros on the Mexican National Railway, headed south, appearing near Sota la Marina about a week later. There he recruited and marched to San Fernando, 90 miles south from Matamoros. On April 22, he advanced and took possession of the Solda- dito ranch, about 75 miles south from Matamoros, where he succeeded in taking some five or six hundred horses which the Federal Government had been concentrating for shipment. He then advanced north, and on the ninth day of May, 1913, after a^ short but decisive battle with the small Federal garri- son at Reynosa, 58 miles west from Matamoros, captured the town, sustaining but a slight loss in killed and wounded. The Federals lost 21 killed and those who did not succeed in crossing the Rio Grande to the Texas side were taken pris- oners. On May 10, Blanco appeared at Rio Bravo, now called Colombres, 40 miles west from Matamoros on the National railroad. There he executed twelve of his Federal prisoners who, it is alleged, refused to join his army. He also executed an American citizen, Juan Alamia, who had served with Roosevelt's Rough Riders in the Cuban campaign in 1898. As soon as news was received at Matamoros that Blanco had taken Reynosa, the inhabitants of Matamoros began to cross 8o A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley to the Texas side in great numbers, only the Federal garrison with a handful of volunteers remaining to defend the place. During the latter part of May, 1913, General James Parker arrived from San Antonio. Blanco remained at Colombres (Rio Bravo) forty miles west of Matamoros, until late in May, when he began an advance on Matamoros. He camped at Las Rucias, a ranch about five miles west of Matamoros, concentrating his forces, and on the morning of June 3, 1913, assailed that city. On the morning of the fourth, after a very fierce battle, he cap- tured the city. At 6 o'clock that morning he executed some thirty prisoners, defenders of Matamoros, among them being eight or nine young boys between the ages of 14 and 16. Blanco claimed that these prisoners had raised the flag of truce and had violated it by firing on his men when they had approached. Blanco at once organized an efficient force of intelligent office men and began an active campaign looking to the upbuilding of the cause of constitutionalism. He exacted a tribute in the nature of an export tax on thousands of cattle which were shipped into Texas by the owners, through com- pulsion or fear of loss. He forced others to sell or ship their cattle so that he might avail himself of this export tax. He exacted heavy tribute in the way of ransoms and forced loans, and soon had acquired quite a fund with which, it might be said, the real sinews of war were supplied. As soon as Blanco understood that the attitude of the American government under the Administration then in power would be a change from all precedents, that dollar diplomacy, as it was termed and had been declared by the Secretary of State, should not predominate, and that the gen- eral policy would be one of surrender, one of "peace at any price," his Chief of Staff, Francisco Mujica, a shrewd states- man and scholar, exercising the license thus granted by the A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 81 American government, began a series of reprisals, as he was accustomed to describe them. He directed his shafts of venom and exaction of tribute against all foreigners. Ridicu- lous charges were fabricated against those who were pos- sessed of any capital and a special feature of his administra- tion was the confiscation of the properties of these foreigners. Under the pretext that the State and Federal taxes had not been paid by one American merchant, a sum not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars, U. S. currency, he entered into and looted the American store of more than $100,000, U. S. currency value. At the time, in July, Blanco and the Consti- tutionalists did not hold any territory in Tamaulipas other than Reynosa and Matamoros, a district comprising an ordi- nary Texas county. The State Department made a pretense of protesting and PROTESTING and PROTESTING, and finally declared that Blanco must issue a receipt for such goods as he may have so taken. But no receipt was forthcoming. At one time he denied the looting, but several days later confessed that un- authorized persons had entered the premises and taken the goods, even intimating to the press that he had captured the thief and would execute him on the following day. During this time the stolen goods were stacked in his own head- quarters, and with his knowledge. Blanco's attacking force was estimated at about 1200 with Gen. E. P. Nafarrate, Cesario Castro, Augustin Castro, Luis Caballero, and Francisco Mujica leading the attacks. His losses in killed were estimated at from 250 to 400, but there has been no way in which to verify these figures. The Federals defending the town were commanded by Major Esteban Ramos. Captain Eugenio Cuellar acted with the volunteers. The Federal loss was estimated at about 68 men. Almost at the beginning of the battle, the Federal regu- lars and musicians, passed over the International bridge to 82 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Brownsville and surrendered to the American soldiers, who promptly disarmed and held them in accordance with orders from General Parker then at Brownsville. There were 84 who thus crossed to the Texas side. In the early morning of the fourth, those defenders who had not been killed or had not crossed to the Texas side, escaped and later appeared about six miles west from Brownsville, but on the Mexican side. They were not allowed to cross into Texas. Later, Antonio Echarzarrete, one of the Captains, was captured and publicly executed in Matamoros. Blancho's forces remained at Matamoros until August, 1913, and then marched on Victoria and Linares, some two hundred miles west and southwest from Matamoros. While the Mexicans were battling in Mexico and their forces were in close touch with the border, Governor Oscar Colquitt, in response to numerous requests from citizens along the border, at first requested and then demanded from the Washington Administration that a part of the 25,000 soldiers mobilized in Texas should be sent to the border to relieve the great tension. Upon a refusal of the Administra- tion to send the troops, he at once called out the Texas State troops and among others sent the Dallas Light Artillery, Capt. Fred Logan, and the Third Infantry, Texas State Militia to Fort Brown. Soon thereafter, on April 16, 1914, Major Sedgwick Rice with three troops of the 3rd U. S. Cavalry and a machine gun platoon, arrived at Ft. Brown. Soon afterwards, four companies of Coast Artillery, Major Kephart in command, acting as infantrymen, arrived. Then followed Col. Guy Carlton, and later, about the latter part of July, 1914, Col. A. P. Blocksom, the latter remaining in command at Brownsville until May, 1916, when Gen. James Parker assumed command of the district and division. ***** A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 83 The Carranzistas (Blanco's men reenforced) remained at Matamoros in peaceful possession until March, 1915, but in the interim sanguinary conflicts were almost of daily occur- rence throughout the Republic, the principal scene of battle being northern Mexico. During the periodical combats along the border of Texas and of New Mexico and Arizona, more than twenty Americans on the Texas and American side of the river and boundary line, men and women, were struck by bullets from the Mexican side, and killed. Madero's death occurred on February 22, 1913, just 12 days before President W. H. Taft vacated his chair as president of the United States, so no action was taken by him relative to the recognition of Huerta. He had requested that all Americans should depart from Mexico. When Woodrow Wilson assumed the reigns of the American government he declared that he would not recognize anyone who should have ascended to the presidency through assassination and he, too, ordered all Americans to depart from Mexico. This brought about a feeling of resentment between the old Diazistas and Huertistas who charged that the American president was meddling in Mexico's affairs, favoring the Constitutionalists. American warships under Admiral Fletcher and Badger and Mayo had been sent to the Mexican ports of Tampico and Vera Cruz to protect as far as possible, the larger inter- ests in those sections. The Constitutionalists gradually encircled Tampico and about the third of April, 1914, began a battle with the Huertistas who occupied the City, They already had captured the outskirts and a fierce fire was raging between them when on April 10, 1914, an entire whaleboat's crew of the Dolphin, auxiliary to U. S. fleet in Tampico, was sent ashore for mail. As soon as the marines touched Mexican soil. Col. Manuel Hinojosa, a Federal officer, approached them and stated that they might consider themselves under arrest. He paraded them through the 84 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande i/ alley streets of Tampico en route to the Commandancia. They were soon released. The fact that American marines should have suffered such an insult was resented by Admiral Mayo, then in command of the fleet, who demanded an immediate apology from the Mexican government, and a salute of the flag. The Huerta government refused this. More protests and communications passed between Washington and the Mexican capital, but no apology was forthcoming. Immedi- ately American warships were rushed to Vera Cruz and Tampico. The soldiers mobilized at Galveston and Bay City were ordered to hold themselves in readiness. Trans- ports which had been lying at Galveston were fully provi- sioned. On April 21, 1914, President Wilson was advised that a steamship, the Ipiranga, was approaching Vera Cruz with arms and munitions intended for the Huerta government. President Wilson at once ordered Admiral Fletcher to prevent the landing of the arms and munitions. As the Ipiranga was flying the German flag, no jurisdiction could be taken over her, but Fletcher landed marines and took possession of the Vera Cruz custom house and docks. The American boats, Prairie and Utah landed marines, and these were followed by marines and a battalion of seamen from the Florida, the total forces landed by the three boats being 787 officers and men of whom 502 were marines, all under com- mand of Capt. W. R. Rush, U. S. Navy. The Prairie was compelled to shell certain parts of Vera Cruz to silence a fire which developed from the Naval School and other, por- tions of the city. During the attack and the landing, 4 American marines were killed and 21 wounded, the Mexican loss being ISO killed and unknown wounded. At 9 p. M., the San Francisco landed two companies of seamen. The Chester followed and entered the harbor at midnight. Admiral Badger arrived at 3 a. m, on the twenty- A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 85 second with five battleships and landed the marine and seamen battalions of the Arkansas, Nezv Hampshire, South Carolina, Michigan, and New Jersey. Mexican regulars aided by volunteers, policemen, and prisoners from the famous San Juan de Ulua dungeons, who had been armed by the Mexican General, Mass, resisted the advance, but very feebly. The Ipiranga arrived but later proceeded to Puerto, Mexico, and there landed her cargo. On April 23, 1914, the American flag was flying from Admiral Fletcher's headquarters in the Terminal hotel. The Star Spangled Banner was played while 21 guns fired by the Minnesota heralded the news to the American fleet. The Fifth Brigade of the United States Army under com- mand of Brigadier General, Frederick Funston, arrived at Vera Cruz at daylight on the twenty-eighth. On the twenty- ninth of April the troops were distributed, the 4th U. S. Infantry being assigned to the care of the railroad yards and tracks. The American troops remained at Vera Cruz until November 23, 1914, when they reembarked for Galveston and home. Failing to obtain the recognition of the United States and other countries, Gen. Victoriano Huerta abdicated and sailed from Mexico, via Puerto, Mexico, on the fifteenth day of August, 1914. During the month of October, 1914, Francisco Villa, an erstwhile bandit, trainwrecker, and subsequently general under Carranza, deflected and proclaimed himself an inde- pendent chief, beginning a new revolution. During the month of September, 1915, the United States recognized Venustiano Carranza as the logical head and FIRST CHIEF of the Republic of Mexico. Francisco Villa, whose armies were still in the field in opposition to Carranza, resented this act of the United States, and shortly afterwards ordered the assassination of seventeen neutral Americans 86 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley who were taken from a train at Santa Ysabel, Chihuahua, while en route to their homes. On March 9, "1916, a band of marauders, led by Villa or his officers, swooped down during the late hours of night on the town of Columbus, New Mexico. Eight U. S. soldiers and ten Americans were killed. More than one hundred of the attacking party were killed in the short battle which followed. Maj. Frank Tompkins, with two troops 13th U. S. Cavalry pursued the Mexicans a short distance into Mexico, but fear- ing an ambush and being without sufficient supplies for a long march, returned, his troop "G" having killed eighteen of the marauders. On March 15, 1916, General Pershing entered Mexico with the First Punitive expedition. Since that date he has retraced a part of his road and wath 12,000 men is now (September 22, 1916) at Colonia Dublan, two hundred miles south of the Border, but in Mexico. On March 30, 1916, a squadron of the 7th U. S. Cavalry fought 500 Villistas at San Geronimo, the latter being dis- persed. Losses: Americans, none. Mexicans, unknown. It is claimed Villa was wounded in this attack. On April 13, 1916 Carranzistas and citizens of Mexico attacked the American troops at Parral, but were repulsed upon the arrival of reenforcements. Casualties: One Ameri- can soldier killed and one wounded. Mexicans, 40 killed including a Mexican major. Major Tompkins reported that Carranzistas began the attack. On April 22, 1916, Col. E. Dodds, 10th U. S. Cavalry, encountered 260 Villistas at Tomachi, Chihuahua, Mexico. In the battle which ensued the losses were few, exact number unobtainable. On May 5, 1916, Major Howze, with a detachment of the 11th U. S. Cavalry, surprised and dispersed a large band of A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 87 Villista bandits at Ojos Azules, killing 42. No casualties on American side. On May 8, 1916, Mexicans attacked Glen Springs (in the El Paso district) and in the battle that ensued, killed three American soldiers, and captured two American civilians. An expedition under Major G. T. Langhorne with a few troops of the 8th U. S. Cavalry followed the Glen Springs raiders on May 10, 1916. The Americans returned two days later with- out having encountered the raiders. Later Colonel Sibley crossed with another detachment but returned without results, except that he had captured Lieutenant Colonel Alvarez, one of the supposed raiders. On May 25, 1916, seven men of the 7th U. S. Cavalry machine gun company, two engineers, and an employe of the quartermaster department, engaged in Jooking for cattle and in correcting road maps, were attacked by Villistas not far south from Cruces, Chihuahua, Mexico. Corp. David Marks- bury, killed, and two wounded of American force. Pvt. George O. Hullett, in person, brought down two of the bandit leaders. There were 20 Mexicans of whom 18 escaped. On June 9, 1916, 20 Americans of the 13th U. S. Cavalry under Captain Rethorse, dashed upon a band of Villistas in Santa Clara canyon, north of Pershing's Field Headquarters, Chihuahua, Mexico, and in the engagement killed three of the bandits and dispersed the others. No casualties on the Ameri- can side. On June 11, 1916, Mexican raiders crossed into Texas, near Laredo, Webb County, and in a running fight with members of a posse, three of the Mexicans were killed and two captured. On June 21, 1916, General Gomez, a Carranzista officer, with 150 men attacked a detachment of the 10th U. S. Cavalry, commanded by Captain Boyd at Carrizal, Chihuahua, Mexico. 88 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Boyd and Lieutenant Adair were killed in the battle and Lieutenant Morey badly wounded. Nine of the negro soldiers were killed and 24 taken prisoners, with the guide, Spillsbury. Later the negro prisoners were delivered to the U. S. troops at El Paso. In this battle, General Trevifio, Division Com- mander, reported 24 Mexicans killed and 43 wounded, among the killed being General Gomez. CHAPTER X T -,. On March 27, 1915, Gen. Jose Rodriguez, Lower Rio ,..„. ^ j u ^.7 ^ J TT ,1 a Villista commander, began an attack on Grande Valley: r ^/r . ^ i- -^u the City of Matamoros, lamauhpas, with some 700 men. The City was defended by Gen. Emiliano P. Nafarrate and Col. Procopio Elizondo. The Villistas attempted to charge the trenches which encircle the City of Matamoros. They charged across an open cleared flat and were mowed down by machine guns, suiTering a loss of at least 250 killed, and many wounded. In fact, 232 wounded men were allowed to cross the river at Las Rucias ranch, five miles west of Brownsville, and were housed and cared for by the American citizens, men and women, of Brownsville who attended them until their recovery when they were sent by this government to Laredo and there delivered to the Villistas. Not rpore than twelve of the defenders were killed, and not more than ten wounded. Rodriguez gave up the fight and afterwards boarded the train with his men and went to Monterrey where the Villis- tas were then in charge. General Navarro, one of the Villista commanders, was killed in one of the sallies against Matamoros. During the month of May, 1915, a band of Mexicans estimated to be from twenty to thirty men, were seen by various persons in the vicinity of Rancho Los Ifidios, about 8 or 9 miles east of Sebastian, Cameron County, Texas, and 35 miles north of Brownsville. Thirty deputy sheriffs and many citizens joined in the chase but could never get in contact with the Mexicans. American and Mexican farmers and ranchmen would report, almost daily, the loss of cattle, saddles, etc. On July 17, 1915, Bernard Boley, a young American, was killed near the north line of the County, supposedly by bandits of the party which had been reported. 90 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley On July 12, 1915, eleven Mexicans, heavily armed, forced Nils Peterson, a farmer living about four miles south of Lyford, 40 miles North of Brownsville, to open his store and to supply them with food and ammunition. On July 23, 1915, two brothers, Lorenzo and Gorgonio Manriquez, were killed by deputy sheriffs at the Mercedes headgates and in the town of Mercedes, respectively. They had been denounced as two of four who had robbed a store at Progreso (44 miles west from Brownsville on the Rio Grande) the year before. It is alleged they resisted arrest. On July 25, 1915, bandits set fire to and burned a bridge of the St. L. B. & M. Ry. just south of Sebastian. On July 28, 1915, Deputy Sheriffs Frank Carr and Daniel Hinojosa of San Benito, at ten o'clock at night, while trans- porting Adolfo Muniz in an automobile from San Benito to Brownsville to be placed in the County jail, were stopped 2 miles south of San Benito,- where their prisoner was taken from them by men in another automobile. The man, Muniz, was hung and shot. It was alleged that he tried to commit rape on a young girl of the vicinity, and that he was under indictment for theft. On July 31, 1915, bandits raided Los Indios ranch and killed Joe Maria Benavides, a Mexican. On August 2, 1915, ten soldiers from Troop A, 12th U. S. Cavalry accompanied by deputy sheriffs and civilians, rushed Rancho Tule about twenty-five miles north of Browns- ville, in quest of bandits. Pvt. G. W. McGuire, 12th Cavalry was killed, and Deputy Sheriff Monohan and Joe Longoria, and a civilian were wounded. On August 3, 1915, rangers and deputy sheriffs attacked a ranch near Paso Real, about 32 miles north of Browns- ville, and killed Desiderio Flores and his two sons, Mexicans, alleged to be bandits. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 91 On August 6, 1915, a band of fourteen heavily armed Mexicans appeared at Sebastian. After robbing Alexander's store of various articles, they proceeded to the granary near the railroad track and there picked out A. L. Austin and his son, Charlie Austin. After taking these to their home, they transported them in a wagon driven by a lad named Millard, whom they had also taken prisoner, and at some short dis- tance from the house, made the two Austins get out of the wagon, and then stood them up and shot them, killing both. Millard was released. On August 7, 1915, a band of Mexicans shot at and wounded one Charles Jensen, night watchman, at the gin at Lyford, Texas. On the sixth of August, a band of Mexicans shot at an automobile near Los Fresnos, twelve miles from Browns- ville, wounding Sonny Hufif. On August 8, 1915, a party of bandits, estimated to be about 60, attacked Las Norias flag station, about 70 miles north of Brownsville on the St. L. B. & M. Ry. In the battle which ensued, five outlaws were killed and found on the ground. Others were badly wounded and it was after- wards learned several had died as a result of their wounds. Reports having been received that a band was operating in that vicinity and had been seen thereabouts, eight cavalry- men from Harlingen, Adjutant General Henry Hutchings, State troops, Capt. J. M. Fox and ten rangers, Sherifif Vann and Capt. H. L. Ransom and his rangers had gone to Las Norias to overtake them. While the rangers and others went into the brush to find the bandits, the eight cavalrymen were left at the station. Two civilians, Frank Martin, an old ranger, and a Mr. Forbes lived there. The Mexicans attacked the ranch apparently not knowing of the presence of the troops, Martin and Forbes were 92 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley badly wounded. During the battle Gordon Hill, Sam Robert- son, and three other civilians arrived on a gasoline truck from Harlingen, just in time to assist in the battle. August 9, 1915, at Mercedes Pump, Mexicans fired on a U. S. Cavalry patrol. One> Mexican was killed. On August 10, 1915, after dark, Mexicans fired on Cavalry patrol at Palm Garden, just west from Mercedes, killing Private L. C. Waterfield. On August 15, 1915, a Cavalry patrol was fired on by Mexicans near Progreso, about one mile north of the Rio Grande. No one hurt. On August 17, 1915, the patrol at Progreso having received information that some bandits were in the vicinity, made its way to the river. While on its banks, Mexicans fired on the Americans and Corporal Wellman, Troop C, 12th Cavalry, was killed. Lieut. Roy C. Henry and Private Jackson were wounded. On August 20, 1915, it was reported that a party of nine deserters from the Carranza army in Mexico had crossed to the Texas side above Hidalgo. The Sheriff and deputies of Hidalgo County gave chase and reported that they had killed nine of them, and that the remaining four recrossed into Mexico at Madera (about 62 miles west from Browns- ville). On August 25, 1915, late in the afternoon, at Progreso, Texas, Mexicans on the Mexican side fired on the patrol of Americans on the Texas side. Two American horses were killed. The Mexicans had dug trenches at night time and fired from these. Five Mexicans were wounded. On August 26, 1915, it was reported that twenty heavily armed Mexicans had crossed into Texas a short distance west of Progreso. Immediately a chase began, but the Mexicans succeeded in recrossing without an encounter. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 93 On August 30, 1915, a bridge on the St. L. B. & M. Ry. just 12 miles north from Brownsville, was set on fire and destroyed. On September 1, 1915, a band of about 30 armed Mexicans appeared at the second lift pumping plant of the Fresnos Canal Company about 14 miles north from Brownsville and 6 miles east from San Benito. They set fire to the buildings and destroyed them. They then took as prisoners Mr, Dodd, Mr. Smith, and two Mexicans. They started towards the little village called Fresnos where a few American farmers had settled. En route they met Mr, Donaldson. They took these men to a resaca (old river bed) at the end of one of the lateral canals and there executed Smith and Donaldson by shooting them through the head and body. Mr. Dodd was also taken out to be shot but through the ear- nest pleadings of the two Mexican prisoners and the fact that at one time in the past he had favored a wounded Villista soldier who had been wounded in the battle of Matamoros in March preceding, he was spared. When the wounded Villistas were being brought from Las Rucias to Brownsville, Dodd noticed this man walking and trans- ported him to Brownsville in his automobile. The Mexi- can remembered it. Immediately deputy sheriffs, civilians from San Benito and Brownsville, and several detachments of U. S. Cavalry were rushed to the scene. Just east of Los Fresnos, they came across the camp of the Mexicans and in a skirmish which took place in the heavy chaparral, killed one Mexi- can, the others escaping. On September 3, 1915, at Cavazos crossing, just south of Mission, a party of Mexicans crossed into Texas, looting the village of Ojo de Agua. Capt, Frank R. McCoy with detach- ments of Troops H and G, 3rd U. S. Cavalry, then stationed at Mission, and Sheriff A. Y. Baker and deputies struck the 94 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley trail and followed the Mexicans to the crossing. On Septem- ber 4, the Mexicans fired from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande on to the Americans on the Texas side. In the battle which ensued, one American soldier was wounded and eleven Mexicans killed, and forty wounded. On September 10, 1915, bandits attacked some x\mericans near Lyford, but were repulsed, the bandits leaving two dead on the field. On September 13, 1915, just before daylight, Mexicans surrounded the Galveston Ranch, about 24 miles west from Brownsville. They fired on the 9 sleeping soldiers, killing Pvt. Anthony Kraft of the 3rd U. S. Cavalry, and wounding two others. The Americans, unable to locate their assailants on account of the dark, nevertheless drove them off. During that day the soldiers arrested five Mexicans living at the ranch. They were taken to San Benito, turned over to the deputy sheriff, and placed in jail. That night at about 9:30, the deputy sheriffs took three of them out of jail and started on the Harlingen road. Next morning these three Mexicans were found dead, having been executed. On September 17, 1915, while reconnoitering the river bank within the Brownsville city limits, western extreme, with his troop of the 3rd U. S. Cavalry, Lieut. E. L. N. Glass was fired upon by Carranzistas from the Mexican side of the river. No casualties. On September 17, 1915, near Donna at the "Red House" crossing of the Rio Grande, a patrol of U. S. soldiers was fired upon by Mexicans. Sergeant Llewellyn maintained his ground until Lieut. Milton C. Holliday arrived with reenforcements. Quite a battle ensued, seventeen Mexi- cans being killed or wounded. On September 23, 1915, 12 mounted and armed Mexi- cans visited the La Talpa ranch, about 20 miles north of Mission, Hidalgo County, at about 8 a. m. and stole ranch property, horses, mules, rifles, and ammunition. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 95 On September 24, 1915, the same band referred to above, attempted to raid the ranch of J. B. McAllen, San Juanita, Hidalgo County, Texas. Mr. McAllen happened to be the only man in the house. With his Mexican woman cook to assist in loading the guns, he fired on the 12 men, killed two and wounded three. Of the three wounded, two afterwards died. The fight lasted more than an hour. McAllen's house was riddled with bullet holes. On, September 24, 1915, Lieut. W. King of the 26th Infan- try, returning to the Saenz store at Progreso, Hidalgo County, at about 7:30 a. m., was shocked to find Pvt. Henry Stubblefield dead and Private Kennedy wounded. The alarm was given and Private Kennedy of the company of soldiers rushed to Mercedes Canal headgates for reenforce- ments. Lieutenant King with his 9 men opened fire on a party of Mexicans who were discovered on the American side, estimated to be about 75 men. Four American cavalry horses were killed while en route for reenforcements. At about 8 o'clock a. m.. Captain Anderson and Troop B, 6th U. S. Cavalry, appeared at Progreso. In the battle which lasted from 8 to 10 a. m., Captain Anderson was wounded. After the battle it was found that of the ten men on guard at Progreso crossing, Private Richard J. Johnson was inissing. Johnson with his horse and equipment was taken prisoner by the Mexicans, carried across the river, his ears first cut off and then he was decapitated, his head being displayed on a pike. Private Stubblefield and Private Kennedy had arrived at the Saenz store simultaneously, and after Stubble- field was shot down, Kennedy shielding himself behind a little monument in front of the little church, alone and unaided fought desperately against the bandits until the first rein- forcements arrived. His assailants numbered more than 50 men. It was afterwards learned that Stubblefield unsuspectingly ran into the Mexicans as they were setting fire to the Saenz 96 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley house intending to destroy it. As he entered the door he was riddled with bullets and fell dead. On September 27, 1915, an outpost of Troop M, 6th U. S. Cavalry, was fired upon near the La Feria pumping plant, twenty-eight miles west of Brownsville. No casualties. On September 28, 1915, a lady living near Harlingen was attacked by two Mexicans, and wounded in her forearm. On October 9, 1915, Mexicans fired from the Mexican side on U. S. troops of 6th Cavalry, at the Mercedes pumping plant, 40 miles west from Brownsville. No casualties. On October 18, 1915, the southbound St. L. B. & M. passenger train was derailed six miles north of Brownsville. The Mexican bandits, some sixty in number, had drawn all the spikes and fishplates connecting two parallel rails. With a wire attached to the rail on the west side, just as the train dashed by at a speed of about 30 miles an hour, they pulled the rail from under the moving engine. The engine was ditched lying at right-angles from the main line. The baggage and mail cars were turned onto their sides. In the smoker were seated four soldiers without arms, boys on a trip of recreation; Dr. E. S. McCain, State Health Officer stationed at Brownsville; Harry Wallis, formerly a ranger; John Kleiber, District Attorney of the State Court for the district; and several others. As soon as the train had come to a complete stop, four unmasked Mexicans entered and began shooting at the citizens, and then, seeing the soldiers turned their fire on them. Corporal McBee, Pvt. Claude J. Brashear, and Corp. C. H. Laymond, the three of 3rd U. S. Cavalry, were fired upon, McBee just as he was rising from the floor, being shot and instantly killed. Brashear was approached by the leader and after several words, was shot in the face just to the right of the nose, the ball coming out in the neck. He survived. Laymond was shot in the leg and neck. He survived. Dr. McCain A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 97 and Wallis sought refuge in the toilet. The bandits fired through the toilet door, one of the shots striking McCain in the abdomen. He died next day. Wallis was shot in the arm and hand, but has recovered. The engineer, H. H. Kendall, was pinned beneath his cab, and killed, his hand on the throttle. A great many shots were fired from the brush into the train but other than as stated, none took effect. R. Woodall, fireman, was painfully burned by escaping steam. By ten o'clock next morning, seven suspects had been captured, and later, that same day, the Rangers executed four of these for alleged complicity in the wreck. On October 24, 1915, the Sunday following the wreck, a band of Mexicans attacked the soldier camp at the oil well, about three hundred yards from the scene of the wreck. They approached just about dusk and fired into the camp. One soldier, Herman C. Moore, 4th U. S. Infantry, was shot, and died from his wounds several days later. On October 21, 1915, a party of Mexicans attacked the soldiers at "Ojo de Agua" ranch, about one mile north of the Rio Grande and about one mile south of what is known as Chihuahua, branch line of the St. L. B. & M. Ry., 74 miles west from Brownsville. At the time of the attack there were eight or nine men of the signal corps and seven or eight of Troop G, 3rd U. S. Cavalry, at the ranch. Without the slightest intimation that anything might happen, the soldiers had retired and were sound asleep. Suddenly, at about one o'clock, a terrific volley was fired upon the sleeping men and into the little wooden shack occupied by them. The soldiers soon rallied and although the signal corps possessed only pistols, a stubborn resistance was made. The shooting was heard in the vicinity and reported to Capt. Frank R, McCoy, who ordered all troops in the vicinity to the scene. The wireless plant being out of commission at the hour 98 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley designated for reports, 1:30 a. m., Capt. Frank R. McCoy and Capt. W. J. Scott with a company of 3rd U. S. Cavalry, started from Mission about 8 miles distant, and arrived on the scene just as it was about over. Captain Scott was in bivouac at Penitas, two miles west of Ojo de Agua, and with a small detachment of twelve recruits hastened to the sound of the firing and attacked from the west and was largely responsible for driving the raiders off. In this battle the Americans lost: Killed; Sergeant Shaffer, Troop G, 3rd ,U. S. Cavalry; 1st Class Private Joyce, Company G, U. S. Signal Corps; and 1st Class Private McConnell, Company D, U. S. Signal Corps. Wounded: Pvts. Fred Behr, Paul Langland, Ben Hallenbeck of the 3rd U. S. Cavalry Troop. G, and 1st Class Serg. H. R. Smith; Corp-. Lewis Candalla; and Pvt. L. T. Stewart, U. S. Signal Corps. Two others were slightly wounded. The Mexican loss: Five men killed and found within fifty feet of the ranch house, and nine wounded, two of whom died afterwards. On November 1, 1915, a patrol of Company L, 28th U. S. Infantry, was fired upon at the crossing known as McCon- nell's, 68 miles west from Brownsville. One Mexican was killed. On November 4, 1915, a patrol of Captain Hasson's com- pany, 6th U. S. Cavalry, was fired on from across Rio Grande at Mercedes Canal head gates. No casualties. On November 12, 1915, a Mexican scout in U. S. service at Perdernal ranch, fired upon five Mexicans. No casualties. On November 21, 1915, an Infantry patrol near Mercedes head gates was fired upon by Mexicans. No casualties. On January 26, 1916, Pvts. W. P. Wheeler and Biggo Pederson, Battery D, 4th U. S. Field Artillery, while in swimming in the Rio Grande just south of Progreso, swam A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 99 to the Mexican side. There they were taken prisoners by the Mexicans and carried back from the river. As soon as it was reported to the officers in charge of the commands, believing that it was the intention of the Mexicans to abuse the two soldiers, Lieut. John E. Mort, 2nd Lieut. Bernard R. Peyton and Lieut. Albert W. Waldron, all of Battery D, 4th U. S. Field Artillery, with about twenty men, started across by fording and swimming. All but Sgt. Owen L. Clements, Corporal Michael F. Ring, Private Perry M. Rhode, and Pvt. Charles D. Wilton Best, landed safely, but those named were drowned, their bodies being recovered about three days later. This detachment were unable to find the two soldiers though they searched many houses. Being informed that Carranza soldiers had taken them and would not maltreat them, the expedition returned to the Texas side. On Janu- ary 27, 1916, the Carranzista Commander at Matamoros turned the two men over to U. S. Consul Johnson, and they were soon back on Texas soil. A court-martial was convened to try the offending officers who received some minor repri- mand and were detailed for more onerous duties elsewhere. February 16, 1916, Patrol of Company L, 28th U. S. Infantry at Pefiitas, 75 miles west from Brownsville and not far from Ojo de Agua, was fired on. No casualties. June 15, 1916, Patrol Troop M, 3rd U. S. Cavalry was fired upon between Roma and Arroyo del Tigre (about 125 miles west 'from Brownsville). No casualties. From the date of the killing of Donaldson and Smith in September, thousands of Mexicans and Mexican-Texans crossed from the Texas side to Mexico seeking safety and refuge. Many of these joined the raiders and bandits and organization along the Mexican river front was constant and open. Until finally, about the twentieth day of October, the bandits had organized a substantial army of from 250 to 400 100 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley men, and with impunity they paraded the river front between Reynosa and Matamoros, the Commander of the Mexican army at Matamoros feehng unable to cooperate with the Americans in suppressing the lawless bands, or feeling help- less to deal with the Mexicans, or being indifferent. In October, Gen. Alfredo Ricaut assumed command at Matamoros and promised that there should be no further invasions of American territory from the Mexican side, on the lower border. During his stay at Matamoros from that date until June 14, 1916, there was a total cessation of hostilities on the part of the raiders, though several antici- pated expeditions were nipped in the bud by Ricaut. On June 14, 1916, a band of about 24 Mexicans crossed into Texas 9 miles west from Brownsville at the place called Ranchito, a ranch on the American side just opposite to Rancho Tahuachal on the Mexican side. They were dis- covered about 9 miles northeast of San Benito by Captain Watson and a detachment of the U. S. Army who fired into them. One Mexican was afterwards found dead. Immediately upon receiving information at Ft. Brown, Gen. James Parker, who on May 18, 1916, had taken command of the District of Brownsville, ordered Lieut. A. D. Newman with fifty soldiers of Troop H, 3rd U. S. Cavalry, to go after the marauders. At 12 o'clock midnight, on the sixteenth, Newman and troop left Brownsville; at 4 o'clock on the morning of the seventeenth, coming onto tracks of the bandits and following them to the Rio Grande, at 9 a. m. the Americans crossed the river by swimming their horses. They followed tracks of the Mexicans and at Pedernal ranch, about a mile from the river near the crossing, had a skirmish with some of them, killing two of the Mexicans. No casualties among the Americans. On the seventeenth, at 1:30 p. m. Maj. Edward A. Anderson, with Troops E, Capt. John Read, Jr., and Lieut. George H. Peabody; F, Lieut. E. C. McGuire; G, Capt. William S. Wells. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley loi and with Machine Gun Troop of the Srd Cavalry, Capt. Oscar Foley, left Fort Brown, accompanied by 20 men of the 4th U. S. Infantry, Lieut. Floyd R. Waltz, with two small boats loaded on motor trucks, and Lieut. J. H. Muncaster, with a wireless outfit. At about 6 p. m. the cavalry and machine gun troop crossed over at the Tahuachal ranch crossing (Longi- tude 97° 38' Latitude 26°), and marched eastward towards Matamoros, encamping for the night at Rancho Pascuala, three miles east of the crossing and seven miles west from Matamoros. Next morning, Sunday the eighteenth, orders from Washington recalled the Americans from Mexico. After the machine gun troop and all but Capt. Read's troop of Cavalry had crossed back to the American side, Carran- zistas fired on the rear guard of the Americatis. Upon orders from. Colonel Bullard, then at the scene but on the American side in command of his regiment of the 26th Infantry, the cavalry chased the Carranzistas eastward until the dust thrown up by their horses' hoofs shielded them so that it was impossible to locate them. In this encounter two Car- ranzistas were killed, one a subaltern officer. No casualities sufifered by the Americans. On the morning of the eighteenth. Colonel Bullard, then at Harlingen, dispatched a battalion of the 26th to Fort Brown and with the other battalions proceeded to protect Major Anderson's crossing. One boat load of his anxious 26th Infantry had already reached the Mexican shore when the wireless conveyed the orders of withdrawal. During the 24 hours occupancy of Mexican territory by the Americans, the City of Matamoros was thrown into a tumult of fear. General Ricaut evacuated with his entire garri- son and ordered every woman and child out of the city. By one o'clock, Tuesday, excepting a few pickets and a number of citizens who preferred to risk an American bombardment to the loss of their small savings, at the hands of thieves 102 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and looters, the City of Matamoros for the first time in its history was almost completely deserted. General Parker assured General Ricaut that the Americans would under no circumstances bombard the city as long as women and chil- dren might remain in it, and that in any event, due notice would be given in time to allow an evacuation. But, he also insisted that these invasions must stop or there would be a likelihood of American invasion of Mexico; that the Ameri- cans were getting a little petulant over these persistent annoyances. General Ricaut assured General Parker that not a man should pass to the American side excepting at regular crossings, and that he would execute any caught in the acts of banditti. Since then, peace has reigned supreme in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The author believes that to the prompt act of General Par- ker in showing the Mexican authorities that he was here to act, and the elimination of note-writing protests may be attributed the complete change in feeling of the Mexicans along the lower border: he believes that should such a crossing have been undertaken at the outset of the troubles when Blanco assassinated Alamia at Rio Bravo, the American people, American property, and the American flag would always have been respected. On June 15, 1916, about one hundred Mexicans crossed from Mexico into Texas at San Ignacio, forty miles south of Laredo, Texas, and about 180 miles west of Brownsville, at 2 o'clock A. M. and fired upon two troops of the 14th U. S. Cavalry as they lay asleep. The Americans lost three killed: Pvts. Charles Flowers, Edward Katonsh, and James Minaden. Wounded: Pvts. Thomas H. Swing, James E. Rouch, Tony Havelya, Henry Matasof¥, P. W. Minnette, and Corp. William Oberlein. Troop "M" was fired upon, and then Troop "I" a short distance up the river, dashed to its rescue. Major Gray was in command. Capt. Edgar A. Sirmeyer and Capt. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 103 Kyle Rucker company commanders. Lieut. J. B. Coulter, Troop "M." The bodies of six Mexicans were found. No account as to number of escaped wounded. During the bandit troubles between August 4, 1915, and June 17, 1916, one hundred Mexicans have been executed by the Texas rangers and Deputy Sheriffs, without process of law. Some place the figures at 300. Most of these executions, it has been asserted, were by reason of data furnished the Rangers implicating the particular Mexicans in the raids which were occurring. On Sunday, June 18, 1916, the Washington Administration issued a statement referring to the disturbed conditions along the Mexican border, adding that in order to insure complete protection for all Americans, substantially all the militia organizations throughout the United States had been called out and would be sent to the border whenever and wherever Gen. Frederick Funston might determine. On June 21, 1916, the attack on the 10th U. S. Cavalry at Carrizal, Chihuahua, Mexico, by Gen. Gomez, took place. Immediately matters assumed a serious aspect. Excitement reigned throughout the Republic of Mexico where the more ignorant broke out in hostile demonstrations against the Americans, in some places going as far as to order them to leave the Republic entirely. Rumors of the killing of Americans residing in Mexico became common. Carranza demanded the immediate withdrawal of Pershing's troops from Mexican soil. The Washington Administration flatly refused to heed this demand. On the Lower Valley border, General Parker demanded of General Ricaut that he arrest and punish the bandits who had attempted to violate our laws on the 15th of June, and whose names were furnished by the former. On the 22nd General Ricaut answered that he would at once endeavor to 104 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley arrest them.; that he would cooperate with the Americans and that he would punish any who might be found guilty. On June 23, 1916, the first body of militia troops began to arrive in the Valley when Battery "A" Dallas Field Artil- lery, Capt. Frederick A. Logan, arrived at Harlington and proceeded to Ringgold Barracks. On June 24, Gen. Parker ordered traffic over the Inter- national Bridge at Brownsville to be suspended. On June 26, 1916, the Washington Administration demanded the delivery to the representatives of the U. S. government, of the 17 troopers of the 10th U. S. Cavalry who had been captured at Carrizal by the Carranzistas when they attacked the Americans. On June 27, 1916, there were stationed along the Lower Rio Grande Border under command of Gen. James Parker, the following soldiers: 4th U. S. Infantry, Col. E. E. Hatch, 26th U. S. Infantry, Col. R. L. Bullard, 2nd Texas Infantry, Col. B. F. Delameter. 3rd Texas Infantry, Col. Geo. P. Rains. 3rd U. S. Cavalry, Col. A, P, Blocksom, commanding. Colonel Blocksom had been commanding officer of the Lower Valley from June, 1914. Battery "A" 4th U. S. Field Artillery, Battery "A" Dallas Field Artillery. Immediately State Militia from Virginia, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, began to pour into the Valley. (See personnels under MILITARY MOVEMENTS IN THE VALLEY.) On July 12, 1916, the organization of the 36th U. S. Infantry, which had been authorized during April, 1916, was begun at a point in Brownsville between West Brownsville and Brownsville proper contiguous to the main line of the A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 105 St. L. B. & M. Ry. Officers; Col. Almon L. Parmenter, com- manding: Lieut. Col. Paul A. Wolfe, Maj. H. B. Fiske;. Maj. James V. Heidt; Major Edward A. Roche. Capts.: Charles A. Thuis, Thomas C. Musgrave, Jesse Gaston, David P. Wood, Roderick Dew, R. B. Hewitt, H. H. Bissell, M. E. Malloy, Fred H. Baird, W. C. Whitener, M. H. Shute, Fred A. Cook, G. H. Huddleston, E. L. Field; 1st Lieuts.: W. G. Langwill, G. C. Whiting, C. W. Elliott, C. M. Everett, J. G. Thornell, A. W. Wilson, C. F. McKinney, E. G. Sherbourne, M. F. Davis, C. L. Ritchel, N. R. Randolph and Arthur A. White, 1st Lieut. W. J. McConnell, 1st Lieut. Harry Kalman Leow, Surgeons, and later, Lieut. R. R. D. McCullough was attached. On July 13, 1916, Lieut. Col. Edward A. Anderson, recently promoted, Capt. Oscar Foley and Capt. John V. Spring, Jr., recently promoted, left for San Antonio with 125 men to help form a new regiment, 16th U. S. Cavalry. On July 31, 1916, the following troops were in the Valley: At Brownsville: 4th U. S. Infantry 3rd U. S. Cavalry 1st Virginia Infantry 2nd Virginia Infantry 1st Iowa Infantry 2nd Iowa Infantry 3rd Iowa Infantry 1st Illinois Cavalry Battalion Virginia Field Artillery Battalion Iowa Field Artillery 36th U. S. Infantry, organizing. At Mercedes and Llano Grande: 1st Indiana Infantry 162 Indiana Infantry 163 Indiana Infantry io6 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 4th Nebraska Infantry 5th Nebraska Infantry 1st Minnesota Infantry 3rd Minnesota Infantry North Dakota Infantry Battalion Louisiana Field Artillery Battalion Indiana Field Artillery Minnesota Field Artillery Squadron Iowa Cavalry Troop Louisiana Cavalry , 2 Troops Oklahoma Cavalry, At San Benito: South Dakota Infantry Louisiana Infantry Oklahoma Infantry. At Harlingen: 2nd Texas Infantry 3rd Texas Infantry. Gen. Edward H. Plummer, formerly of 28th U. S. Infantry, was designated on March 17, to command all forces at Llano Grande. ***** Gen. James Parker, in command of the Brownsville Dis- trict, with Capt. Frank R. McCoy, Chief of Staff; Capt. Cort- landt Parker, A. D. C; Lieut. W. D. Crittenberg, A. D. C; Lieut. Paul Raborg, A. D. C; Capt. Alfred Aloe, Depot Quar- termaster; Lieut. Col. Fred D. Evans, Adjutant General; Capts. A. L. Conger, A. Moreno, Assistants to Adjutant; Lieut. Col. T. J. Kirkpatrick, District Surgeon; Lieut. Col, Frank Reynolds, Sanitary Inspector; Maj. F. E. Hopkins, District Signal Officer; Lieut. Col. Geo. Howells, District Engineer; Capt, L, D. Gasser, Depot Quartermaster. CHAPTER XI THE TEXAS RANGERS AND THEIR SERVICE ON THE LOWER RIO GRANDE The Texas rangers consist of various groups of what might be called CONSTABULARY. As rangers they have been known since Texas became a Republic, and tradition attributes to them the credit for having, during the early days, procured better results for the peace and security of the State than has any man or body of men. During Taylor's march to Fort Brown and before and during the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, as scouts they rendered valuable service under Walker and McCulloch. Afterwards, under the same leaders they led the American army into Monterrey, Saltillo, and Buena Vista, obtaining the only reliable data upon which Taylor might base his operations. At Monterrey, while the battle raged, they worked their way from house to house, crossed from house-top to house- top, and silenced the chara9teristic snipers who, more than all others, impeded the American advance. It was McCul- loch's Ranger scouts who, far south of Buena Vista, discov- ered the hordes of Santa Anna approaching, and notified Taylor so that he might pick out his own battle ground. From the time of the American invasion of Mexico to the days of our Civil War, they have suffered many encounters and hair-breadth escapes at the hands of the most desperate characters. Among the Rangers were such men as Col. John S. (RIP) Ford; Capt. Sul Ross, afterwards governor of Texas, who single-handed killed a noted Comanche Chief; Capts. Bill McDonald, Hughes, McNelley, McMurry, Rudd, Oglesby, Hall, Shelby, Bill Scott, J. R. Jones, Frank Jones, Brooks, Ira Aten and, not the least, John B. x\rmstrong, who from 1878 to 1914, the day of his death, resided at Armstrong Sta- tion, Cameron County. While their battles and victories have io8 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley been many, we must limit their recitals to those most inti- mately relating to the Lower Border. Mexican and American outlaws have always found an aslyum along the Rio Grande border, where they might escape to either side, according to necessity. Their living has depended chiefly on illegal foraging and marauding. Due to the depredations of these disreputable men, stock raising along the lower border, and even as far north as Corpus Christi, was dealt a severe blow during the period from 1867 to 1876. Several instances of their lawless activities are cited here: During the month of November, 1874, Billy McMahan, a very popular inoffensive American school teacher whose school was several miles North of Brownsville, was waylaid by desperadoes led by one, AGUJO (the needle). These men tortured McMahan by cutting off his fingers, toes, wrists, and ears. They finally severed his legs from his body and left him lifeless. During May, 1875, seven armed Mexicans appeared at what was then known as "Fulton's Store" situated on the Los Torritos grant, about a mile east of the San Juan Sugar Plan- tation and 48 miles west from the city of Brownsville, in the military or river road. They attacked and killed the owner, George W. Fulton, and his Mexican clerk, Mauricio Leal, and mortally wounded another clerk. Fulton put up a good fight killing three of his assailants. About the same time a noted desperado from Matamoros, without provocation, fired into a carriage as it was traveling west on the military road, about 9 miles from Brownsville. The bullet struck a prominent Brownsville citizen, a Mr. Alexander, in the heart. The assailant escaped into Mexico and later was killed in the streets of Matamoros by another character equally as desperate. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 109 Travel along the roads leading into Brownsville became so dangerous, and cow-thieving reached such a stage, that the governor dispatched rangers to the Valley. On June 12, 1875, Capt. J. F. McNelley and his company of twenty-two rangers, guided by H. S. Rock, Lino Saldana, Casimiro Tamayo, ?nd Timoteo Solis of Brownsville, overtook a band of 16 cow-thieves running 300 head of cattle. Fighting commenced just as the thieves emerged from the Reparo thicket, 4 miles north from the present target range on Loma Alta, and 14 miles from Brownsville. Fifteen cowthieves were killed and their bodies brought to Brownsville and displayed on the market square. One ranger, Berry Smith, was killed by the cow-thieves. During the 19th, 20th, and 21st of November, 1875, U. S. Customs ofificers, Albert Dean and John Mix, while patrolling the Rio Grande, near a place called "Los Ebanos," 84 miles west from Brownsville, and 2 miles west from Samfordyce, encountered a band of thieves who were at that time engaged in crossing some stolen cattle from the Texas to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. An engagement took place and Dean fell, feigning death. Mix hurried to Rio Grande, 20 miles distant, and soon returned with McNelley's rangers accom- panied by a troop of the 7th U. S. Cavalry, Capt. John F. Randlett commanding. The Americans crossed into Mexico and attacked the town of San Miguel de las Cuevas, killing several Mexicans who resisted the invasion of Mexican soil. George More, a Brownsville boy, was the first person to reach the Mexican side. He swam the river with his clothing tied around his neck and his pistol scabbard clenched in his teeth, the other rangers and U. S. Cavalry protecting his crossing. The Commandante (chief officer of the town) of Las Cuevas refused to deliver the cattle which had been crossed, claiming that they should first be released by the Mexican customs officials, without whose consent they had no A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley been imported into Mexico. However, the Americans drove the animals back to Texas. Captain McNelley reported five Mexicans killed and one wounded. Afterwards the Mexican authorities cooperated with Capt. Randlett and thereafter, to some extent prevented the crossing into Mexico of stolen cattle. On May 17, 1876, 5 miles from Edinburg, now called Hidalgo, 58 miles west from Brownsville, McNelley's men had a similar encounter with a party of 4 Mexican cattle thieves. Two of the thieves were killed and one badly wounded. The rangers recovered 7 head of cattle and 6 horses with their equipments. On March 12, 1887, Capt. Bill Scott, while searching in the early dawn, for a band of American criminals known as the "Conner Gang," was fired upon. Scott's party of rangers consisted of four men in addition to two others in the near vicinity. In the engagement which took place. Captain Scott fell with a bullet in his lungs; Sergeant Briggs was severely wounded; Private Rogers was dangerously wounded, and Private Moore was instantly killed, there being but one of the rangers unhurt. Scott, with his one unhurt and two wounded comrades, succeeded in killing one and wounding another of the Conners, besides slaying four large ferocious dogs which were kept by them as camp guards. Two months later Scott and Briggs, in a running fight, killed old man Conner, two of his sons, and one grandson, a mere youth, thus breaking up the band of most desperate criminals. On May 17, 1885, Sergt. B. D. Lindsay and six men from Company D frontier battalion of rangers, while scouting near the Rio Grande for escaped Mexican convicts, saw two Mexicans riding along leading a horse, moving towards the Rio Grande. As the horses suited the description of those A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley iii alleged to be in the possession of the convicts, and under the impression that these two were the men he was after, Lindsay called to them to halt, and at once opened fire on them. The elder Mexican fell to the ground with his horse, but the younger, firing from behind the dead animal, shot Private Sieker through the heart, killing him instantly. B. C. Reilly was shot through both thighs and badly wounded. The Mexicans stood their ground until the arrival of men from the ranch of a deputy-sheriff named Prudencio Herrera, who had heard the firing. Herrera insisted that the two Mexicans were well known and highlly respected citizens and refused to turn them over to the rangers, but in person, with an escort, conducted them to Laredo. Ira Aten, Private Baker and Private Grant accompanied the party. At Laredo, after a prelimiinary hearing the Mexicans were released and the rangers arrested. The citizens of Laredo, Webb County, were indignant over the act of the rangers in shooting on Gonzales, claiming that he was a well-known citizen of good repute, and alleging that the rangers would have killed them at the outset but for the fact that they defended themselves. The rangers, on the other hand, claimed that unless they would have proceeded as they did, should the Mexicans have been the criminals they were really after, they, the rangers, would have been fired on first. Afterwards both Mexicans and rangers were acquitted. During the month of November, 1906, the District Judge of the district, which includes Cameron County, was murdered as he lay asleep in his room at Rio Grande City. Politics were hot and the campaign was bitter. Word was falsely published broadcast that the Republicans had murdered the Judge, Stanley Welch, and that they were endeavoring to take control of the affairs of Starr County. 112 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley The Governor rushed Capt. William McDonald and three rangers to Rio Grande City to preserve the peace. About dark, as they were en route from Samfordyce to Rio Grande, they observed a wagonload of Mexicans, shouting and singing, approaching them. The Rangers allege that upon a command to halt, the Mexicans opened fire upon them. After the smoke had cleared, three dead Mexicans were found in the wagon and on the ground. The Mexicans who survived alleged that they were returning from Rio Grande or Garcias where they had been participating in the aftermath of the election festivities and that the whole affair was a mistake. None of the rangers was hurt. Upon the advent of the railroad and the beginning of canal work for the many irrigation schemes along the Rio Grande, the population of the Valley rapidly increased, the newcomers being principally speculators from Northern States with their complement of land-seeking tourists who wished to live in a milder climate, and a large number of Mexican laborers from Tamaulipas, Mexico, and other points further in. Proportionate to the number of new settlers, compara- tively few murders or killings took place, although thieving became a profession so that almost every family of Americans in the Valley suffered the loss of their fine-blooded stock, farming implements, etc. Nevertheless, several Americans were killed at different times, and some Mexicans. As a precaution, and to forestall any attempts to kill, rangers were brought to and stationed at convenient points along the Lower Valley. From 1907 to January, 1913, sixteen Mexicans were killed by rangers and Peace Officers within the limits of Hidalgo and Cameron County. Most of these killings, it was alleged, occurred while the officer would be attempting to make an arrest the Mexican resisting and showing a disposition to injure. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 113 During the month of May, 1910, James Darwin, the engineer in charge of the San Benito Canal Company's pumping plant on the banks of the Rio Grande, was killed by a Mexican named Jacinto Trevino. A week before, Dar- win had slapped a cousin of Jacinto who had insulted his, Darwin's, wife. The entire citizenship of San Benito and its community, were aroused over the affair, A suitable reward was posted. On July 31, 1910, Pablo Trevifio, a boy of 18, a cousin of Jacinto, informed the San Benito people that Jacinto intended to cross from Mexico (where he lived) into Texas, with several of his cousins, for the avowed purpose of killing one of the American authorities of San Benito who had made threats to capture him. Pablo offered to bring his cousins past a certain spot in the brush down near the military highway where he would lag behind and assist the Americans to capture Jacinto. A num- ber of rangers and deputy sheriffs, accompanied by civilians, went to the scene in automobiles. They left the automobiles at a certain place on the road while they proceeded afoot to the designated spot. Hearing some men approaching, the rangers challenged them. The other party repeated the challenge and immediately opened fire, killing Lieut. Capt. George Carnes, of the State Ranger force; Bennie Lawrence, special deputy sheriff, and Pablo Trevino; and wounding Pat Craighead, a ranger, and Earl West, constable of San Benito. Not one of the Mexicans was seen thereabouts afterwards, and the report is that all escaped unhurt — in fact, the com- mon talk among the Mexicans on the Mexican side is that there were no Mexicans in the battle other than Pablo. Capt. George Head, under orders from County Judge John L. Bartlett of Brownsville, immediately proceeded to the place with twenty-five of the Brownsville Rifles, but nothing further occurred. 114 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley During the year 1910 and 1911, rangers killed several Mexicans at and near San Benito who, supposedly, had par- ticipated in the killing of Carnes and Lawrence. On the 19th day of September, 1903, while a detachment of rangers were en route to Brownsville from the Ranger Camp on the Wells place on the north side of the highway on the eastern outskirts of Brownsville, Mexicans in ambush fired upon them, killing Emmett Roebuck and wounding A. Y. Baker. It was believed the Mexicans were the relatives of a Mexican youth who, it was alleged, had been killed by the rangers when caught in the act of branding a calf belonging to others, and who at the time resisted arrest. Immediately following the Las Norias Raid, on August 8, 1915, hereinbefore referred to, the Rangers began a systematic manhunt and killed, according to a verified list, 102 Mexicans. It is claimed by citizens and army officers who saw many of the bodies, that at least 300 Mexicans were so killed. After the wrecking of the train just north of Brownsville, on October 18, 1915, hereinbefore referred to, citizens, sol- diers and rangers were rushed to the scene. Early in the morning of the 19th, the Rangers captured seven suspects. They searched the houses of some of these and claim to have found therein unmistakable evidences that these had participated in the wrecking. For instance, valises, clothing, shoes, etc., which had been taken from the passengers, the dead soldier and the wounded soldier, were found among the possessions of some of the suspects. One man, at the time of his capture, wore a shirt out of which, it is claimed, a piece was missing. This piece was found hanging to a thorn of a bush at the exact place where the wreckers had stood when they pulled the rail which wrecked the train. The bodies of four of A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 115 these men were found that afternoon about a mile from the wreck, riddled with bullets. During the thirty years immediately preceding 1915, although many persons had been caught and tried for cattle thieving, few had been convicted. Political influence had been a prime factor in the trial of many malefactors, and it is alleged that by reason of the inability of a good jury to convict a really guilty man, the inhabitants had become indifferent. When the Rangers came in again, it seems to have been considered cheaper and speedier to intrust to them the cap- ture, trial, and infliction of the penalty upon those who might be suspected. The author cannot let pass this opportunity to say that during the bandit raids of 1915 many evil influences were brought to bear to clear the country of the Mexicans. To his knowledge more than one was forced to flee and to convey his chattels before going. CHAPTER XII INCIDENTS IN BROWNSVILLE HISTORY. LEGAL EXECUTIONS During the year 1867, three Mexicans were tried in the District Court of Cameron County, at Brownsville, for the crime of having murdered a family of Mexicans not far north from Brownsville. They were convicted and late in October of that year were hung on a scafifold erected in the Fort Brown reservation not far from the jail (existing in Sep- tember, 1916) and about 150 feet directly in front of what is known as the gymnasium. At the time it was feared that relatives and sympathizers would attempt to effect their rescue, and as a precaution the execution took place in the garrison. During 1866, a U. S. soldier of those then encamped on the border, murdered an army doctor in the latter's tent outside of the garrison and just east of Block C, City of Brownsville. He v/as captured, tried, and sentenced to be hanged. The temporary jail in which he was incarcerated was the two-story brick building on Lot 1, Block No. 63, west side of 13th Street, between Elizabeth and Washington, being the U. S. jail since the burning of Ft. Brown by General pjee in 1863. The date for the execution was fixed far enough ahead to enable his parents to visit him. After their sorrowful departure, the soldier excavated a subterranean tunnel beneath 13th street, coming out on Lot No. 6, Block 62, just east of 13th, beneath a little wooden kitchen, then about 70 feet southwest from Washington Street. His pres- ence was discovered and Lieut. John S. Mansur, officer of the day, recaptured him. Shortly afterwards he was hanged from the same gallows which served for the three Mexicans before referred to. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 117 During the year 1880, Quirino Caitan, while drunk, at a characteristic fandango, murdered another Mexican. He was captured, convicted, and then duly executed by hanging on July 18, 1882, on a scaffold erected near the present St. L. B. & M. passenger depot. Sometime after the killing of the Austins near Sebastian, ^which occurred on August 6, Jose Buenrostro and Melquiades Chapa were arrested for other offenses. When confronted by persons who had been present at the time when the Aus- tins were taken prisoners on the day of their execution by the Mexican bandits, Buenrostro and Chapa were identified as participants in the killing. They were tried, convicted, and duly hanged in the yard of the new Cameron County jail at Brownsville, on May 19, 1916. LYNCHINGS AND EXECUTIONS WITHOUT PROCESS OF LAW After the defeat of Cortina at Rio Grande city in Decem- ber, 1859 or thereabouts, three Mexicans suspected of having participated in his raid, were captured near Rio Grande City by the American authorities and brought to Brownsville. They were hanged to an old tree which in those days stood on Levee Street, between 10th and 11th. About 1862, a Mexican shoemaker who had just murdered his wife, was arrested by Judge E. P. McLane, then Justice of the Peace. Near the corner of 11th and Washington, directly opposite to Lot No. 12, Block No. 65 while McLane was conducting the prisoner to the Market House, the latter suddenly turned upon him and plunged a long knife into his breast, inflicting a wound which produced death within half an hour. The Mexican was captured by a mob and rushed to the old tree in front of McAllen's on Levee Street, and iiS A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley there strung up. The leaders of the mob compelled every American present to participate in the hanging. While hanging but just before his pulse had ceased to beat, a stranger with flowing cape and slouched hat, embraced the body and lifting his own feet from the ground so as to throw greater weight on the murderer, muttered, "That's the way we used to do them in Californy." Politics and its effect on the ignorant Mexican voter has been productive of much evil on the Rio Grande. In fact, to its door may be laid 80 per cent of the crimes committed since the local county factions appropriated the names "Colo- rados" (Reds) and "Azules" (Blues). The average ignorant Mexican voter never forgets his colors; the thought of them permeates his commercial, domestic, and social life. He is a red or blue every day and every hour of the year. This idea and the spirit of political patriotism stimulated Carlos Guillen, loyal Blue, to shoot and instantly kill Samuel Cobb, Blue jailor, and Felipe Cobb, Blue Constable, on April 5, 1898. The Cobbs had deflected from the Blue path in the local city election and as a result considerable animosity was aroused. Guillen relied on the protection of his party, so did not flee the city. He was arrested and thrown in jail, A mob of citizens. Blues and Reds, rushed the jail and through the iron latticed cage shot Guillen to death. EXPLOSION AND FIRE October 23, 1857, fire broke out in the Phelps and Galvan general store. Lot No. 9, on Levee Street, between 12th and 13th, Brownsville. As the citizens and members of the bucket brigade reached the scene, a terrific explosion took place, killing John North and Mr. Abram Isaacs. The fire crossed the alley and razed everything on lots Nos. 5, 6, and 7, to Elizabeth on the two lots facing the latter street. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 119 Reference has already been made to the fire and explosion on November 3, 1863, when General Bee set fire to Ft. Brown. During 1908, two of the large wooden structures which had served as barracks for the soldiers in Ft. Brown since 1868 were destroyed by fire. The first of these was situated not far from the garrison gate on Elizabeth Street; the second just northeast. No cause for the fire was discovered. It was from the house just east of the gate that the negroes were alleged to have fired into Brownsville buildings in August, 1906. RAIDS ON AND IN BROWNSVILLE Before referring to the raids on the City of Brownsville, we desire to mention an Indian raid which occurred just ten miles north of the city. In December, 1848, and up to May 14, 1849, Indians, or Mexicans disguised as such, depredated in the lower border on .the Texas side of the Rio Grande. On May 10, 1849, Israel B. Bigelow, Judg^ of the County Court of Cameron County, Texas, wrote to Gen. Francisco Avalos, then in command at Matamoros, requesting the latter to send some troops of Mexican cavalry to the Texas side to assist In repelling or capturing a band of Indians who were, at the time of writing, robbing and killing in the vicinity of Palo Alto. General Avalos answered that he would be willing to do so but that consent of the American Federal government should first be obtained. Judge Bigelow answered that the commander of the Federal troops had refused to act. In the meantime, fearing an attack on the city, the few American and Mexkan families moved to Mata- moros, leaving but sixty-two Americans and Mexicans in Brownsville. The Indians, however, came no further south. It was alleged that they were of the Comanche tribe. 120 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley On October 9, 1865, at about 9 o'clock, a mutiny broke out among the negro soldiers in Brownsville. Having noth- ing but tents in which to live, suffering from mosquito pests, and finally chilled by a cold northern which had sprung up on the Saturday following, the negroes first entered a saloon on market square and there killed the proprietor. Then they rushed in parties through the city in quest of clothing, blankets, or lumber with which to protect their bodies from the cold. On the corner of 8th and Elizabeth the Dalzell house was in course of construction. They pounced on the lumber there. William H. Putegnat in an effort to drive them off was attacked and severely wounded by a bayonet thrust on the forehead. Several Mexicans were killed. The negroes, about 60, ultimately returned to their quarters unmo- lested. During the month of October, 1873, while the two political factions, the Reds and Blues, were participating in the cus- tomary vote-catching bailes (dances), one at the Rio Grande Railroad depot %nd the other at the city market square, 32 recruits who had arrived two weeks prior thereto, to fill the gaps in the U. S. Army then stationed at Ft. Brown, crept down the alley between Washington and Adams Streets, Brownsville, to the intersection of 13th. From there they marched to Adams where they at once engaged in a gun fight with about an equal number of Mexicans styling them- selves "Charramusqueros" (vendors of molasses candy). Two of the soldiers were " badly wounded. One of the Mexicans was seriously wounded. No deaths. About a week before the fight the badly mutilated body of a recruit had been found lying in old Washington Square, near what is now the north ^^fng of the Grammar School. The recruits attributed this man's death to the candy vendors who at that time were quite numerous. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 121 On August 13, 1906, several shots were fired into the two- story frame dwelling situated on the southwest corner of the block at the foot of Elizabeth Street where it enters the garrison gate. These shots, it was afterwards proved, had come from one of the two-story barracks inside the garrison, about 200 feet southeast of the gate (one of the buildings which were destroyed by fire in 1908). Immediately after- wards a number of negro soldiers of the 25th U. S. Infantry, then on duty at Fort Brown, jumped the brick fence surround- ing the garrison, ran to the alley between Elizabeth and Wash- ington, thence northward to the corner of 14th and the alley, where they deliberately fired into the Cowen residence on that corner, which, half an hour before had been crowded with merrymakers, little girls aged between 9 and 14. No one hurt at that place. The negroes then proceeded up the alley, firing on Miller's Hotel as they passed, and at a place between 12th and 13th Streets, fired upon and killed a young man named Natus as he was coming out of the alley door of his place of business. They then circled the northeast half of that block, fired into the house of Fred Starck on the northeast sidf of Wa,shington Street where his wife and young children were asleep. Then they turned down 13th Street toward the river and meeting Joe Dominguez, the City Marshal, fired at him, killing his horse and wounding him in the arm so that it was afterwards necessary to amputate same. President Roosevelt ordered a Board of Inquiry, and at the same time, decreed that unless the guilty one should surren- der within thirty days, every soldier in the battalion should be dismissed without honor. The entire command was mus- tered out, but later, several proved an alibi and those who had a good past record, who thus established the alibi, were reinstated. 122 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (Omitted and inserted here out of its chronological order): Laredo, Webb County, Texas: During May, 1876, U. S. Commercial Agent, James J. Haynes, New Laredo, Mexico, opposite Laredo, Texas, reported to Maj. H. C. Merriam, in command of the 24th U. S. Infantry, then stationed at Fort Mcintosh (Laredo), Texas, that he had been informed that one, Benavides, a Mexican, at the head of sixty freebooters, would attack New Laredo, Mexico, to loot the place, and with the avowed intention to kill him, Haynes. Major Merriam requested Haynes to have boats ready on the Texas side at dark that night. At about 8 p. M. Major Merriam, with about 100 U. S. Infantrymen crossed over to New Laredo, where he remained for eight days, until there no longer existed a necessity for him to remain there. No attack was made. During February, 1878, Colonel Alexander of the 7th U. S. Cavalry pursued a band of cow-thieves into Mexico at the place called "Capote" nearly opposite to what is known as Landrum's Las Flores ranch, 19 miles west of Brownsville. Cipriano Flores, Victor Gonzales, and Rafael Riojas, Mexi- cans, were shot, one by Lieutenant Butt of Hagerstown, Me., and the others by U. S. soldiers, as the Mexicans emerged from the river on the Mexican side. Colonel Lozano, the Mexican commander at Matamoros, cooperated with the Americans and afterwards hanged the 3 bodies at Rancho Sierra Mojada, leaving them there as object lessons. NAVIGATION OF RIO GRANDE There is no authentic data of any boats plying the Rio Grande until Taylor's arrival in 1846, although the archives in Mexico show that the Mexican congress on April 28, 1828, granted a concession to John Davis Bradburn and Stephen H. C. T>. Staples to introduce on the Rio Grande boats pro- A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 123 pelled by steam or horse-power. This Bradburn is the same who afterwards was accused of oppressing the Texan Colo- nists to a degree which caused them to rise in rebellion and make the efifort for independence. Bradburn is buried on the hill three miles south of Mission on which is now built the Oblate Fathers' Theological Seminary. During the month of June, 1846, while General Taylor was still encamped on the Lower Border, Maj, John Saunders, an engineer in the U. S. Army, employed Mifflin Kenedy, an experienced seaman, to assist him in his work of selecting suitable boats for Rio Grande river traffic. Major Saunders purchased the steamboats Corvette, Colonel Cross, Major Brown, and Whiteville which, under Captain Kenedy's guidance were brought to the Rio Grande and rendered valuable service in transporting General Taylor and his staff to Ringgold Barracks. Afterwards M. Kenedy & Company, of Brownsville brought out ^the steamboats Comanche, Grampus, Alamo, Rancher 0, Camargo, Paisano, Matamoros No. i, Matamoros No. 2, and numerous others. Later the John Scott, San Roman, Sellers, Alice, Jesse B, Eugenia, Antonia, and others were introduced. All of the boats mentioned served in the Rio Grande, and most of them still lie in the river. The Corvette, which transported General Taylor, lies in the bed of the river about 500 yards west of the International bridge where her ribs may be seen during low water. Three of the old timers were sunk just about where the present St. L. B. & M. Ry. is constructed, and they proved of another and important secondary service in pre- venting the encroachments of the river and serving as a shield for the bank against its fierce floods during high water. These boats were all used as freighters between Brownsville and the mouth of the river; and those of sufficiently light draught as far as Ringgold Barracks. LOUIS COBOLINI LOUIS COBOLINI, whose photograph appears herein, was born on December 13, 1846, in Capodistria, Austria. He landed in the United States and State of Texas, August 17, 1867. Came to Brownsville first in 1874 as Captain of the Schooner Henry Willianus. Moved to Browns- ville June 15, 1907. From the day of his arrival he has been a firm believer in and a conscientious hard worker for deep water on the Brazos de Santiago bar, and has given his best efforts to the attainment of deep water. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 125 During the year 1876, some controversy having arisen with Mexico over the numerous depredations that had been made by Mexicans from Mexico on Texas soil, and an American named Cutting, who had been arrested and thrown into prison at Ciudad Juarez opposite El Paso, Uncle Sam dispatched to Fort Brown, via the Gulf of Mexico and the Rio Grande, the 4th-class TUB, U. S. S. Rio Bravo, converted into a 4th- class warship. Upon her infant trip to Santa Maria, 26 miles west of Brownsville by land but about 100 miles via the crooked river, she blew up one of her boilers (directly beneath the office of the author who was serving as Ship's Yeoman) and unable to proceed, availed herself of the extra- ordinarily high stage of the river and floated back. After remaining tied to the Texas side of the Rio Grande, directly in front of the quartermaster's building in Fort Brown, she was sunk about four hundred yards south, her hull to act as a breakwater. During a low stage of the river her skeleton may yet be seen. For many years prior to 1872, the water on the bar at the mouth of the Rio Grande had been so shallow that all freight had been brought in through Brazos de Santiago Pass, where at all times there has been not less than 9 feet, and sometimes as many as 12 feet. At Brazos all boats drawing more than 5 feet were unloaded and their cargoes transported to Point Isabel from whence they would be shipped by wagon to Brownsville. During the year 1872 the little Rio Grande Railroad was completed and for a while it transported all freight from the Point; but finally, claiming they were compelled to pay excessive rates for such a short haul, enterprising citizens of Brownsville and Matamoros reestablished the old time "FAST FREIGHT" wagon transportation in competition with the railroad. 126 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley However, all freight, prior to 1872, would come via Brazos or the mouth of the river, where Clarksville then nestled in the sandhills. After the yellow fever epidemic of 1882 which ravaged Brownsville and Matamoros, the Lower Valley became isolated from the rest of the United States, and became an independent republic in itself. From 1882 to 1904 but little was known of this historical country, though occasionally in the daily press of the State one would read "The Steamship Manteo" or the "Tugboat Luzon" had just arrived from Brazos. These two light draught steamers supplied the Valley with its all. Another factor which assisted to change the tide of trans- portation was the construction of a railroad from Corpus Christi to Laredo and thence to Monterrey where it con- nected with the main line of the Mexican National, running south to Mexico. Up to 1882, Brazos had been the port of entry for not only the Valley supplies but for all goods destined as far northwest and west as the States of Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas. When the new railroads were put into operation, there being no railroad from Brownsville to Monterrey, water traffic to Brazos, except for local supplies for the Lower Valley, became practically dead. Prior to 1882, the Gulf of Mexico, off Brazos de Santiago and the mouth of the Rio Grande was constantly speckled with large and small steamships from all points of the globe. It was not uncommon to see from thirty to forty large steam- ships each month. During the years 1861 to 1867, frequently more than 200 vessels were off the mouth of the river. At Matamoros, large wagons capable of stowing six or eight tons, drawn by from 10 to 20 animals were common sights; while the principal plaza of Matamoros, Arreros, was usually packed with these large wagons. All of this was changed A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 127 when quick railroad transportation cut off Brownsville. So, it was not until 1905, when the Mexican National completed its line to Matamoros from Monterrey that once more Brownsville took her place as a port of entry. In June, 1904, the St. L. B. & M. Railroad completed its line to Brownsville. Not long afterwards it was discovered that in an obscure corner of the U. S. Treasury there remained a small balance due to the Brazos de Santiago Harbor Improvement fund, left' over from an appropriation which had been made and almost all expended in 1882 in an effort to deepen the Brazos bar. This fund was resurrected, the amount, $58,000 was promptly thrown into the pockets of the dredge company which, in turn, excavated $58,000 of dirt and dumped it at other places in the bay from where it (the first) soon found its way back to its original bed. As an additional stimulus to direct the dirt back to its home, the LUZON was permitted to sink at the end of the little wharf, to form a nucleus for a bar from whence the channel might fill. Brazos de Santiago bar and the once-busy little towns within three miles of it, are now deserted. During the year 1876, the Steamship Wm. G. Hughes of the Morgan Line pulled over the bar drawing 11 feet. She struck the bar at first because there were but 10 feet 7 inches, but eventually she worked in. An ideal harbor might be made out of the basin just west of Brazos, Clarks' and Dyers' islands where for a space of three miles north to south, and one and a half miles east to west, exists a natural basin which with dredging would anchor many tons of shipping. CHAPTER XIII With the completion of the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railroad to Brownsville, during June, 1904, the wave of prosperity struck the Valley. The rich fertility of the soil, surplus of river water for irrigating purposes, temperate climate, and wonderfully healthful conditions have proven natural attractions. Lands which fifteen years ago were selling at from one to two dollars an acre are now" selling, with an excess of buyers, at from $100 to $500 per acre. Thousands of homeseekers desiring a milder climate than that of the frozen north, have settled within the terri- tor}'- between Mission and Brownsville, and Kingsville and Brownsville. As these homeseekers became fixed in the Valley, they have built up many towns, some of which are: Kingsville, Kleberg County, Texas: One hundred nineteen miles north from Brownsville, on St. L. B. & M. Ry. First building in 1904. Present popula- tion about 3,000. General ofifices for St. L. B. & M. Ry. and division of railroad. Roundhouse and machine shops. Banks, hotels, numerous commercial houses. Telephone system. Electric light system, water works. Modern school buildings. ALso county site. Santa Gertruuis, Kleberg County, Texas : Three miles west from Kingsville. Palatial Mansion of Mrs. H. M. King, widow of Richard King, who accompanied Taylor's boats in 1846. Great cattle ranch of about 1,250,000 acres under control of Robert J. Kleberg, son-in-law of Mrs. King, and Caesar Kleberg, nephew of Robert J. Modern conveniences. Sarita, Willacy County, Texas: Ninety-seven miles north from Brownsville, on St. L. B. & M. Ry. Established 1904. Present population about 300. Hotel, commercial houses. Telephone. Also county site. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 129 Rancho La Parra, Willacy County (formerly of Cameron CountjO, Texas : Six niiles west from Sarita. This is the home site of The Kenedy Pasture Company, owned and controlled by Mr. John G. Kenedy, surviving son of Mifflin Kenedy, who transported General Taylor and staff from Brownsville to Rio Grande City. Private electric lighting system, water- works, precooling plant, and telephone. The Mexicans built a ranch near La Parra in 1825. Great cattle ranch of about 400,000 acres. Armstrong, Willacy County, Texas: Seventy-seven miles north from Brownsville. Station built in 1904. Population about 15. Named after Capt. John B. Armstrong, deceased, whose ranchhouse is two miles east of station. Stock ranch, about 100,000 acres, under man- agement and control of Chas. B. and Thomas Armstrong, sons of Capt. John B. Armstrong. Raymondville, Cameron County, Texas : Forty-six miles north from Brownsville, on the main line of the St. L. B. & M. Ry. First house built in 1904. Present population about 1000. Dry-farming proposition. Good soil. Has bank, hotel, telephone, and numerous commercial houses. Lyford, Cameron County, Texas : Forty miles north from Brownsville, on main line. First house built 1904. Present population about 1000. Dry-farm- ing proposition. Bank, hotel, telephone, and numerous com- mercial houses. Sebastian, Cameron County, Texas : • Thirty-seven miles north from Brownsville, on main line. First house 1906. Present population about 100. 130 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Harlingen, Cameron County, Texas: Twenty-five miles north from Brownsville, junction for main line and branch line to Samfordyce. First house, 1905. Present population about 600. Irrigation proposition, own- ing its own canal. Bank, three hotels, numerous commercial houses. Telephone system. Sugar-cane and sugar-mill nearby. San BiiMiTC, Cameron County, Texas: Twenty miles north from Brownsville, on main line. Also headquarters for San Benito & Valley Railway which runs to Santa Maria, about 14 miles west on military or river high- way. First house, 1907. Present population about 2,500. Two banks, numerous hotels, and commercial houses. Tele- phone system. Sugar-mill and various factories. Irrigation system, water pumped from river into old resaca (dry river bed) about 200 feet wide, from which, by gravity, immense acreage irrigated. Is a center for commercial traffic — large territory. This town built through energy of Sam Robertson and Alba Heywood. Olmito, Cameron County, Texas: Nine miles north from Brownsville, on main line. First house, 1905. Present population less than SO. Great cotton center. No irrigation except pumping from nearby estero (lake in old river bed). La Feria, Cameron County, Texas : Thirty-two miles northwest from Brownsville, and seven west from Harlingen. First house about 1908. Present population about 800. Bank, hotel, telephone, numerous commercial houses. Irrigation system owned by corporation which owns town site. On Samfordyce branch line. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 131 Mercedes, Hidalgo County, Texas : Forty miles northwest from Brownsville and fifteen west from Harlingen on Samfordyce branch line. First house about 1905. Present population about 2,000. Two banks, numerous hotels, and commercial houses. Magnificent irri- gation system. Electric lighting plant. Its pumping plant, about five miles south on banks of Rio Grande, equal to any in the United States. Most beautiful and sanitary town in Valley and an ideal home during winter and summer. Clean in politics. Good schools. Surrounding country well settled. Llano Grande, Hidalgo County, Texas : Forty-three miles northwest from Brownsville. No town nor improvements other than large commodious two-story building constructed about 1905. At present about 12,000 U. S. soldiers encamped there. No irrigation system, but im.mense lake about two miles south from railroad. Donna, Hidalgo County, Texas: Forty-nine miles northwest from Brownsville on branch line. First house, 1906. Present population about 800. Irri- gation system. Banks, hotels, telephone. Sugar-mill about one mile south, San Juan, Hidalgo County, Texas : Fifty-five miles northwest of Brownsville on branch line. Is junction for short line to Edinburg, nine miles north. First house, 1907. Present population about 500. Irrigation. Bank, hotel, telephone, and modern schools. Edinburg, Hidalgo County, Texas : Nine miles north from San Juan and 64 miles northwest from Brownsville. Established as county site in 1908. Pres- ent population about 900. Courthouse completed 1911. Irri- gation system. Bank, hotel, numerous commercial houses. Telephone. Modern school buildings. 132 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Phakr, Hidalgo County, Texas : Fifty-eight miles northwest from Brownsville, on branch line. First building, 1911. Present population, 600. Irriga- tion system. Bank, hotel, numerous commercial houses, and modern school buildings. McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas : Sixty miles northwest from Brownsville, on branch line. First building, 1905. Present population about 2,000. Irriga- tion system. Banks, hotels, numerous commercial houses. Telephone. Modern school buildings. Hidalgo on the Rio Grande lies seven miles south. Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas : Sixty-five miles northwest from Brownsville, on branch line. First building, 1907. Present population about 2,500. Irrigation system. Banks, hotels, numerous commercial houses. Modern school buildings. 18,000 acres in cultiva- tion. Is supply base for all ranches up to Samfordyce, on the west, and Hidalgo on southeast. Three miles south is old La Lomita mission and Theological Seminary of Oblate Fathers. Hidalgo, Hidalgo County, Texas : Fifty-eight miles from Brownsville by Military or River Highway. A few commercial houses and telephone. Main- tains branches of the immigration and customs service. First inhabited as early as 1774 while Mexico under dominion of Spain. Until county site removed to Edinburg in 1908 Hidalgo was the most important town along the Rio Grande between Brownsville and Rio Grande City. In January, 1852, was county site of Plidalgo County and remained as such until 1908. For many years was maintained as camp for U. S. troops. Present population about 1,000. Modern school building. No bank nor hotel. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 133 Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas : Ohe hundred and five miles northwest from Brownsville, on Military or River Highway. Altitude, 521 feet above sea level. Twenty-one miles west from Samfordyce which is 80 miles from Brownsville. Present population, about 3,000. Is the county site for Starr County. Maintains customs and immigration service. Banks, hotels, and numerous commercial houses. Largest town between Brownsville and Laredo. Is the supply base for the territory west as far as Roma (14 miles) and for most of the country in Tamaulipas, Mexico, adjacent to the Rio Grande. Its east line is but two hundred yards from the west line of Fort Ringgold. Courthouse on high gravel hill and overlooks valley for many miles in all directions. From this hill may be seen the Sierra Madre ridge of mountains even those surrounding Monterrey. The mountains at Cerralvo, Mexico,, 45 miles distant, present beautiful landscape. Rio Grande, sometimes called "Rancho Davis" in honor of Henry Clay Davis, one of the first American settlers in 1845, was a ranch as far back as 1767 when the early settlers of Camargo, directly opposite on the Mexican side of the river, recognized the value of the unusual elevation. No rail communication, but maintains telephone. All freight hauled by ox-wagons. Was incorporated January 10, 1850. Fort Ringgold, Starr County, Texas : One hundred and five miles northwest from Brownsville. Altitude, 521 feet above sea level. Established October 26, 1848, at Davis' landing by Capt. J. H. La Motte, ist U. S. Infantry. Named in honor of Brevet-Major David Ringgold, 4th U. S. Artillery, killed at Palo Alto. On July 16, 1849, name changed to Ringgold Barracks. Troops were withdrawn March 3, 1859, and post remained vacant until December 29, 1859, two days after defeat of Cortina by Heintzelman. Was abandoned in 1861 and reoccupied by U. S. troops in June, 1865. Gen. Robert E. Lee 134 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley was stationed at Ringgold during the Cortina troubles about 1858 and while he was there the old post was built of lumber and logs. Camargo, Tamaulipas, is five miles distant from Ringgold but on the Mexican side. Ringgold Barracks is on a hill overlooking the Valley and the reservation consists of about 150 acres which the government purchased in 1873. The new post where it now stands was begun in 1869 and finished in 1875. Abandoned again in 1907 but reestablished 1912. Roma, Starr County, Texas : One hundred and nineteen miles northwest from Brownsville. Roma was founded in 1848. It is situated just 14 miles west from Rio Grande City, or say 119 miles west from Brownsville. Present population, 500. Before the American occupation it was also known as the Garcia Ranch. On banks of Rio Grande. Nearly opposite to Mier which is on the Mexican side. Zapata, Zapata County, Texas : About 158 miJes west from Brownsville, on Military or River Highway. Sixty miles east from Laredo. First established about 1770. For many years known as Carrizo. No banks or hotels. County site with courthouse. Military telephone to Laredo. Present population about 200. On banks Rio Grande nearly opposite to Guerrero which is on Mexican side. San Ygnacio, Zapata County, Texas : About 178 miles west from Brownsville on Military Highway. First established about 1790. Present population about 500. On banks of Rio Grande. Monte Cristo, Hidalgo County, Texas: About 10 miles north of Mission. First house, 1909. Present population about 100. Terminus of branch railroad line from Mission. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 135 Progreso, Hidalgo County, Texas : About 42 miles west from Brownsville. Mexicans and Spaniards inhabited as early as 1836, under name of Toluca. Present population, 50. Santa Maria, Cameron County, Texas : About 26 miles west from Brownsville. First houses, 1780. First house of new town, 1872. Present population about 200. Terminus of San Benito railroad. Hotel. MEXICAN SIDE OF RIO GRANDE Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Mexico : About a mile south of Rio Grande, opposite to Zapata. Founded in 1750 by Spaniards under name REVILLA. Present population less than 1,000. Narrow streets, houses touching sidewalks. No modern conveniences. MiER, Tamaulipas, Mexico: About three miles west from Rio Grande, and same distance from Roma. Founded 1753 by Spaniards. Present population about 1,500. Typical Mexican town. No modern conveniences. Here was fought the battle between Americans under Ewin Cameron and Thomas Green in 1842, known as MIER EXPEDI- TION. Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico: About three miles from Rio Grande but the San Juan River runs through the city. Is three miles from Rio Grande City. Typical Mexican town. Suffered from great overflows in 1905 and 1910. Present population about 1,000. Mexican National Railroad passes two miles south. Founded 1749 by Spaniards. Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico: On Rio Grande directly opposite to Hidalgo, Texas. Founded in 1749. Typical Mexican town. Present population about 800. Mexican National Railroad passes through town. u < A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 137 Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico : On Rio Grande directly opposite to Brownsville, Texas. A small congregation of loyal Catholic subjects maintained religious services in a ranch house as early as 1765 and called the place San Juan de los Esteros. In 1796 it was given the name "Con- gregation del Refugio." In 1821 it was organized as a village and called Matamoros, in commemoration of the priest, Mariano Matamoros, who had been executed by the Spaniards while serving in the ranks of the Mexicans who were then battling for independence. Present population about 2,000. During "COTTON TIMES" when all the cotton from the Southern States of the United States was being brought to neutral Mexico, while the Federal and Confederate armies were fighting, the population of Matamoros at times was about 40,000. After the Civil War in the United States it gradually diminished, and in' 1882, when the yellow fever swept the border, it decreased to about 6,000, its normal figure. The Catholic church situated on the Plaza La Capilla, on Tenth Street between Morelos and Guerrero, was built in 1842 by private subscription. The Cathedral on Plaza de Armas, was begun in 1825 but not finished until 1831. The Protestant church on Plaza de Arrieros was built by the Society of Friends in 1876. The Protestant church on Morelos between 5th and 6th Streets was built in 1866. The town plat was arranged in 1823, but the fortifications which surround the city were planned by Mejia in 1865. These fortifications were remodeled and reenforced by General Nafar- rate in 1915, when General Jose Rodriguez attempted to storm the city. The street railway was constructed and began operating during the year 1872. The owners and builders, Francisco Armendiaz and brother. 138 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley The first 75 miles of the Mexican National Railway from Matamoros to San Miguel de las Cuevas, was constructed and operated in 1881-1882. During July, 1904, work was begun at Monterrey on the connecting link which later in the same year created a through line from Matamoros to Monterrey. The electric light plant was constructed and put into opera- tion during 1907, Dr. Miguel Barragan being the promoter and builder. The Casamata (casemate or arsenal) was constructed in 1865. It has been used as an arsenal ever since, but against its north walls many political prisoners have been shot to death. The old cemetery at the southwest end of the town was first used in 1832. It is still used by those who have relatives buried there. In its southwest corner is the bone pile wherein are cast the bones of those whose relatives have failed to pay the annual tax or those who have long since been forgotten. The bones taken from the graves and scattered in the bone pile where the sun may shine on them and the vultures strip them of any flesh. The opera house, opposite U. S. Consulate, was built in 1864. VALLEY COUNTIES Immediately after the concluding of the Treaty of Guadalupe, at Queretaro, Mexico, February 2, 1848, the new territory acquired being that from the Nueces River south and south- west and north of the Rio Grande, was made a part of Nueces County, Texas, which had been created in 1846. Webb County : Thereafter, on January 28, 1848, was created and organized out of Nueces County; Starjr County: Thereafter, on February 10, 1848, was created and organized out of Nueces County; named after J. H. Starr. Cameron County : Thereafter, on February 12, 1848, was created and organized out of Nueces County, with an area of 3,308 square miles, with its county site at Santa Rita (near San Benito pumping plant). Named after Ewin Cameron. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 139 Zapata County: Thereafter, in February, 1851, was created and organized out of Webb and Starr Counties; and Hidalgo County : Thereafter, on January 24, 1852, was created and organized, with an area of 2,356 square miles, out of Starr and Cameron Counties. Willacy County: In January, 1912, was created and organized out of Cameron, about 200 square miles; Hidalgo, about 700 square miles; Starr, about 100 square miles. BROWNSVILLE, FORT BROWN. POINT ISABEL, AND BRAZOS DE SANTIAGO Brownsville : When Taylor marched to the Rio Grande he found the ter- ritory embraced in the Brownsville town site, a beautiful garden. The Mexicans had the river front under cultivation and wonder- ful flower gardens bedecked the spot, while the fields flourished with corn and bean crops. After the invasion by Taylor, the Mexicans were timorous and many neglected or abandoned entirely their fields. Shortly afterwards the town of SHANNON- DALE was started just north of the present international bridge. At Shannondale the first house owned by Americans was con- structed. The ever shifting channel of the Rio Grande cut that town site away many years ago. The town site of Brownsville includes the present waterworks plant and runs thence east in a straight line just south of the West Brownsville Lake to a point on the Point Isabel Highway; thence south to the garrison fence. The first house built in Brownsville still stands on the north- east corner of Levee where it is intersected by 12th Street. It was the property of C. Stillman, one of the founders. Brownsville was incorporated by act of January 24, 1850; the act of incorporation repealed March i, 1852, effective April i, 1852. Incorporated again February 7, 1853 ; amended February 3, 1854, and again February 8, i860, and again January 23, 1874. I40 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Federal Building: Corner Elizabeth and loth Streets, was completed and occupied by postoffice and custom-house, Novem- ber I, 1892. The restoration and rehabilitation of Fort Brown, which was destroyed in November, 1863, was begun in 1868 when all of the buildings now in the garrison were constructed excepting the gymnasium and new brick building on the east side of the lake. The gymnasium and brick building were built in 1906. The first telegraphic communication between Brownsville and the outside world was on May i, 1871, when the Western Union wires were brought into Brownsville from Corpus Christi. The little Rio Grande Railroad strung its wires from Brownsville to Point Isabel at about the same time. A line was also built from Brownsville along the Rio Grande to Brazos de Santiago. The old Courthouse, now Masonic Temple, was built in 1886. The new Courthouse was built in 1912. The Rio Grande Railroad from Brownsville to Point Isabel, twenty-one miles distant, was completed in 1872. It is a narrow gauge with a roadbed of mesquite ties, some of the original ties still being used. Until 1882 this little road transported to Browns- ville nearly every pound of freight destined to Monterrey, Zaca- tecas, Chihuahua, and Northern Mexico. The Mexican Catholic Church on 12th Street was first occu- pied in June, 1859, though its construction was started in 1854 by Father Peter Kalum. The Episcopal Church was completed in 1854 but was blown down during the storm of October, 1867. The new building was completed February 11, 1877. From 1856 to 1892, the Methodists held their services in a little box house on the lot now occupied by the Federal Post- office building. The present Methodist Church, corner of loth and Washington Streets, was completed in 1909. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 141 The Presbyterian Church, on EHzabeth Street, corner of 9th, was completed in 1864. The Baptist Church, Elizabeth Street, corner of 8th, was com- pleted in 1908. The Catholic Cathedral, Elizabeth Street, corner of 6th, was completed during 1912. The Convent of the Incarnate Word, St. Charles Street, between 7th and 8th, was completed in November, 1853. The Presbyterian Mission School, Washington Street, between loth and nth, was completed in 1864. The Presbyterian Church for Mexicans, Adams Street, between 6th and 7th, was completed during 1913. St. Joseph's Catholic College for Boys, Elizabeth Street,, between 6th and 7th, was built in 1867. Telephone system introduced into Brownsville, 1904. Electric lighting system and waterworks inaugurated in 1908. Sewerage system established in 1908. Brownsville owns its own electric lighting system, waterworks, and sewerage system. City Market, between Washington and Jefferson Streets, and nth and 12th Streets, was built in 1862. Remodeled, 1912. Block paving laid on principal streets during 1912, Graveled streets, 1916. Grammar school, fronting on 9th and Jefferson Streets, built in 1891. New county jail, on 12th Street, was built in 1912. Old cemetery, directly northeast of new courthouse, between nth and 12th Streets, first used in 1848. Abandoned, 1864. New cemetery, between 4th and 6th, first used in 1863. The International Bridge across the Rio Grande completed in 1909. Prior to its construction, passengers and freight crossed the river in ferry-boats, propelled by poles or oars. First train into Brownsville over St. L. B. &,M. Ry. in June, 1904. 142 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley First newspaper, the American Flag, published by James Barnard in Matamoros, Mexico, in 1846. It was a semi-weekly, about 8 by 10 inches. Old Sentinel newspaper, established 1850, ceased publication 1890. Ranchero established October, 1859, ceased 1876. Daily Herald established 1892. Daily Sentinel established 1910. New High School on Elizabeth Street completed and occupied September 25, 1916. Electric Street Railway first operated as such in December, 1915. Was built and operated with motor cars in 1912. Town site of Brownsville composed of 1,584 acres. Fronts on Rio Grande and extends north about one and a half miles. Block street paving laid during 1912. Cholera epidemics occurred in the Lower Valley in 1843, 1858, and 1866. Yellow fever epidemics occurred in the Lower Valley in 1867 and 1882. Severe storms in 1858, 1867, and 1880. A severe gale visited Brownsville and the Valley in August, 1916. Brownsville experienced very light snow-storms in 1835, 1866, 1881, and 1886. Brownsville now operates under a commission form of government. On January i, 1916, F. H. Williams, the first City Matiager, took charge. Under his administration Brownsville has enjoyed a wave of progressive upbuilding, electric lighting, and water systems made first-class, city sewer taken over by city, streets paved with gravel, and in fact, general improvements. During the mobilization of troops the city was enabled to w^ter and to provide camping sites for 10,000 soldiers. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 143 Fort Brown, Texas: The Fort Brown reservation consists of 288 acres, purchased by the United States from Maria Josefa Cavazos for $166,000 which included rent from the time of Taylor's occupation until about 1880. The reservation is enclosed with a brick fence which begins on the river at the foot of 14th and 15th Streets and Levee, and runs northeastward about 1,200 feet; thence a wire fence about 1,200 feet to a corner; from this corner southeast to another point on the river. In the center of the reservation but fronting on the Rio Grande there is an island containing about twenty-five acres. This island was used until about 1908 as a national cemetery. During 1909 Gen. John L. Clem, Q. M. U. S. Army, removed the bones from the 2,800 graves to the National Cemetery at Alexandria, La. Point Isabel, Cameron County, Texas : Twenty-one miles east from Brownsville, fronting Lagoon. This was a Mexican village as far back as 1788. Was destroyed by Mexicans upon approach of General Taylor's army. Point Isabel was a summer resort in 1800. The site occupied by General Zachary Taylor while at Point Isabel is about half a mile northwest from the old brick light- house. As late as 1867 some of the houses remained standing and were occupied by the families of soldiers of the Civil War. The old brick lighthouse at Point Isabel was built during the year 1853. It was abandoned during the year 1906. Brazos de Santiago, Cameron County, Texas : Twenty-two miles east of Brownsville, fronting Lagoon and Gulf of Mexico. Was a summer resort for Mexicans and Spaniards as far back as 1788. Was washed away many times, the last in 1867. The lighthouse on Brazos Island was built in 1853. Abandoned in 1879. The lighthouse situated at the south point of Padre Island was erected in 1879, the old building which had served for that 144 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley purpose 'SO many years having been so enveloped with the sand- hills that it was no longer tenable. The life-saving station was erected and established at Brazos during the year 1880, but during the severe storm that year the building was damaged. However, it continued to be occupied until the year 1908 when it was rebuilt on the bay side of Brazos Island almost directly opposite to the present lighthouse. The quarantine station on Padre Island was erected during 1882. CLIMATE OF VALLEY The average annual rainfall in the Valley for twenty years has been 32 inches. In 1875 it was but 17.36 inches, while in 1886 it was 60.06. The greatest monthly rainfall has been during April, June, August, and September, but the rainy season has varied so that no exact time may be fixed. With the exception of a very few years, the monthly averages for the other months have been: October, 4 inches; November, 2 inches; December, 1.75 inches; January, 1.49 inches; February, 1.5 inches; March, 1.27 inches; May, 4 inches; July, 3 inches. The temperature seldom goes below 32 degrees, the average number of days when it has been below that never being more than seven in any one year. During the months of December and January, during some of the years, the minimum temperature has been as low as 26 degrees and 21 degrees, respectively, but the average lowest daily would be about 52 or 53 during a period of thirty years. The maximum has gone as high as 98 during July but seldom. Five out of every twenty years have been without frosts. The average date of the first frost being December 24, but during 191 1 a severe frost appeared on November 29. The. latest day for frost is March i. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 145 The prevailing wind is from the southeast during the summer months with an average velocity of six miles an hour. The northers begin about September 15, and continue until about March 31. From November to March the temperature seldom registers above 75. CHAPTER XIV Odds and Ends : As has been stated, limited space will not admit a detailed recital of many of the important border incidents. For the same reason it is necessary to omit even a reference to the pro- ductive exploits of General MacKensie, General Shafter, Lieu- tenant Bullis, and others of the U. S. Atmy who found it necessary to pursue the thieving Kickapoos, Lipanos, Comanches, and Caiguas, Indians who, associated with the worst element of the Mexicans, depredated the border even as late as 1874. Gen. Joe Shelby : But we cannot resist the temptation to refer to what is known as "Shelby's Expedition." After the last gun of the American Civil War had been fired, many of the brave men who had worn the grey, dis- heartened and, to a certain extent homeless, indifferent as to their future, joined JOE SHELBY'S famous "Brigade" and invaded Mexico at Eagle Pass. Shelby had accumulated a supply of arms, discarded or captured by the soldiers of both armies. Entering Eagle Pass he crossed the Rio Grande into Piedras Negras, visiting the Liberal Mexican Colonel in command at that place, and negotiated with him for the arms. While con- ferring with the Mexican Colonel, a row broke out between his men and some of the Liberal soldiers over the ownership of some of their mounts. Shelby alleged afterwards that the Mexicans attempted to steal his horses. Quite a battle took place in the very streets of Piedras Negras. With a large white sheet as a flag of truce, Shelby and the Mexican Colonel stopped the firing and upon taking an inventory, found that sixteen Mexican soldiers had been killed, the American loss being three. At a conference which followed the battle, the Mexican Colonel stated that he had given orders that anyone caught stealing the horses of the Americans should be shot. Shelby laco- A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 147 nically remarked that such an order from the Mexican officers was unnecessary as he already had given the same instructions to his men, and that he believed that such instructions had undoubtedly stimulated the encounter which had just occurred. Shelby afterwards offered his services to the Imperialist Chief who, piqued because of the sale of the arms to the Liberals, refused to accept same, stating that he had received orders not to enlist Americans. Notwithstanding, Shelby with his army of about 1,000, proceeded to Mexico City where, after several minor engagements with bandits, he arrived about two weeks later. From Mexico City the men marched to Cordoba, where they disbanded and joined the Confederate Colony which had been organized by Early, Magruder, Governor Harris, and others in the State of Vera Cruz. On December 10, 1866, the U. S. Man-of-war, Susquehanna, arrived and anchored off of Brazos de Santiago. She brought Minister L. D. Campbell, Gen. W. T. Sherman, and Mr. Plumb, the latter the Secretary of Legation. They visited Matamoros where they conferred with the French Commander relative to the withdrawal of all French troops from the Republic of Mexico in conformity with the expressed request of the Wash- ington Administration. Two days later they sailed to Vera Cruz where they conferred with Marshal Bazaine on the subject. Shortly after Gen. Phil Sheridan had visited the Border in 1865, one of his trusted scouts, Capt. Harry Young, who had served with him throughout the Civil War, followed his old leader in the expectancy of new activities along the border. Young negotiated with General Carvajal, an Imperialist who had been named as Governor of Tamaulipas. Young engaged to go to New Orleans where, he believed, he might enlist to accompany him, 100 of the veterans of the Southern and Northern armies, then disbanded. Several months later Young returned 148 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley with 80 veterans, men who lived for adventure alone. But, during the interim, Carvajal had taken refuge in Brownsville and had been compelled to leave his money behind him in Matamoros. Young and his men hung around Brownsville for about a week, and then started overland up the Rio Grande on the Texas side, destined to San Ygnacio, expecting to cross the Rio Grande there and to be in time to engage in some of the anticipated battles. Being short of fands and being half- starved, they appropriated several head of cattle for food and a number of horses for locomotion. The Mexican ranch owners on the Texas side, accompanied by several Americans, followed Young's party to San Ygnacio and near there fired upon them, killing several and wounding a number. Young was killed as he endeavored to swim the river. He had promised Sheridan that he would not fire on American soil and he faithfully kept his word. Eighteen of the party were captured and on Decem- ber 2, 1866, were sentenced at Brownsville to a year's con- finement in the state penitentiary. Those who escaped into Mexico, assisted the Imperialists at the battle of Santa Gertrudis. Until the completion of the St. L. B. & M. Ry. into Browns- ville during June, 1904, a regular stage route was at first main- tained between Brownsville and Corpus Christi and later between Brownsville and Collins and Alice, stations on the Texas- Mexican Railway between Corpus Christi and Laredo. The old road departed from the City of Brownsville just east of the graveyard ; thence proceeded along the present highway to a point just east of Olmito; thence to the northeast within a mile from Palo Alto monument and through what is now known as the FRESNOS COLONY, ten miles north from Brownsville; from there due north to the Arroyo Colorado ; thence through Rancho El Sauz to a point about ten miles west of the La Parra ranch called Santa Rosa; thence to Paso de la Piedra and Paso Ancho over Los Olmos Creek, through Santa Gertrudis (King's A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 149 Ranch) to Collins or Alice as stated. This road had been main- tained by the Spaniards as a road to Goliad and San Antonio, Texas, for more than 150 years. After the sinking of the Con- federate Alabama, Raphael Semmes, its intrepid commander, passed over this road going north from Matamoros, Mexico, where he had landed in his efforts to keep within neutral or Confederate territory. Naval Actions off the Rio Grande and Brazos de Santiago: About six real engagements in which firing took place, occurred off the mouth of the Rio Grande and Brazos, and as these were of no great importance, this will serve as the only reference thereto. The only incident out of the ordinary being that of the capture of Acting Master Charles T. Chase, com- manding U. S. Gunboat Antona. On July 24, 1863, the Antona anchored off the mouth of the Rio Grande and immediately thereafter Acting Master Chase, in citizen's clothes went ashore at Bagdad, ostensibly to forward a letter to the U. S. Consul at Matamoros. Late in the after- noon he took a Mexican boat called the Margaritd to return to the Antona. In beating out of the river she had to follow the channel which carried her close to the Texas shore. While close, she was hailed by a party of eight or ten men on the Texas side who commanded the boatman to come to them or they would fire. As the boat touched the Texas shore Mr. Chase was taken out and sent to Brownsville. Acting Master S. V. Bennis, the next in command, cruised about until the next day and then, after satisfying himself of the truth of the report of the capture of Chase, proceeded to Galveston. In the report made by Chase on August 13, 1863, he says that upon being presented to General Bee the next morning, the General offered to liberate him under parole, which parole, he, Chase, refused to accept. MIFFLIN KENEDY CAPT. MIFFLIN KENEDY was born in Downington, Chester County, Pa., on June 8, 1818, and died at his ranch, La Parra, Cameron County, Texas, on March 14, 1895. His ancestors immigrated from Ireland. In 1835, young Kenedy shipped before the mast on the ship Star of Philadelphia, on a voyage to Calcutta. In 1846, Capt. Kenedy proceeded to New Orleans and enlisted for the war with Mexico. He afterwards transported Gen. Taylor and his staff and part of his troops from Matamoros to Camarga, Mexico. Capt. Kenedy and Capt. Richard King, during 1850 organized a steamboat company under the name of M. Kenedy & Co., and between 1850 and 1865 purchased and used on the Rio Grande 26 boats. In 1876 Kenedy, King, and Uriah Lott built the Corpus Christi, San Diego, and Rio Grande narrow gauge railroad from Corpus to Laredo, 163 miles. Afterwards Captain Kenedy assisted to organize the San Antonia and Aransas Pass Railway. Captain Kenedy supplied the money and credit for the con- struction of the first seven hundred miles. Captain Kenedy was married on April 16, 1852, to Mrs. Petra Vela de Vidal of Mier, Mexico. They had six children of whom two survive, John G. Kenedy, owner and head of the Kenedy Pasture Company, and Mrs. Sarah Spohn of Corpus. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 151 After further discussion, however, General Bee liberated him unconditionally and even offered to return him to the moutii of the river. Chase declined this offer and returned by way of Matamoros. Hereinbefore reference has been made to the CORTINA RAID which occurred in 1859, and to the fact that Major Heint- zelman, U. S. Army, Tobin's Rangers, and Brownsville citizens drove him, Cortina, from his stronghold near Brownsville. As a Recuerdo the names of the civilians are here now given, as follows: Company A, Brownsville Citizens, for service under Major Heintzelman, U. S. Army. Mifflin Kenedy, Captain, R. B. Kingsbury, Dan O'Boyle, Wm. Stalworth, Ruben Norris, Antonio Espinosa, Pedro Reyes, Wm. Smith, Joe L. Putegnat, John F. Clark, E. Jeff Kenedy, Robert L. Dalzell, F. T. Post, Peter Sharkey, Alexander Werbiski, O. S. Seaver, John Flynn, Wm. Stone, Luke Bust, Henry Ligon, Wm. Nelson, T. Johnson, Franklin Cummings, George Ward, George Thompson, Francis J. Parker, G. T. Waugh, John Graham, Idelfonso Martinez, Israel B. Bigelow, Captain Kerr, Gun Can- non, L. A. Neale, Wm. Kepple, Robert Shears, Richard Swenck, Mortimer N. Stevens, John McGloin, H. Manschalk. James George, Lieutenant Langdon, G. T. Johnson, G. Dillard, H. Leget, Joe Hernandez, Howard, Sawyer, Johnson, Stevens, Joe Richards, P. Griffin, Samuel P. Gelston, Jeff Barthelow, Henry Webb, Matthew Kivlen, Hartshorn, Ed Dougherty, J. B. Gray, Nicholas Chano. These civilians were the first to pursue Cortlna's band after his invasion of Brownsville in 1859. With a small cannon presented to them by Gen. Pedro Hinojosa, they-followed Cortina nine miles. There the Civilian Company was ambushed. They brought the cannon to the rescue. It exploded. According to IS^ A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley the statement of the Captain, while it took about a day to make the nine miles in pursuit, it took about half an hour to make the same distance on the retreat. The Monroe Doctrine, 1823: (From an official communication directed to the Emperor of Russia by James Monroe, President of the United States of America.) At the proposal of the Russian Imperial Government, made through the minister of the Emperor residing here, a full power and instructions have been transmitted to the Minister of the United States at St. Petersburgh, to arrange, by amicable negotia- tion, the respective rights and interests of the two nations on the northwest coast of this continent. A similar proposal had been made by his Imperial Majesty to the government of Great Britain, which has likewise been acceded to. The government of the United States has been desirous, by this friendly proceed- ing, of manifesting the great value which they have invariably attached to the friendship of the Emperor, and their solicitude to cultivate the best understanding with his government. In the discussions to which this interest has given rise, and in the arrangements by which they may terminate, the occasion has been judged proper for asserting, as a principle in which the rights and interests of the United States are involved that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers. It was stated at the commencement of the last session, that a great efifort was then making in Spain and Portugal, to improve the condition of the people of those countries, and that it appeared to be conducted with extraordinary moderation. It need scarcely be remarked, that the result has been, so far, very different from what was then anticipated. Of events in that quarter of the globe, with which we have so much intercourse, and from which A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 1 53 we derive our origin, we have always been anxious and interested spectators. The citizens of the United States cherish sentiments the most friendly, in favor of the liberty and happiness of their fellow-men on that side of the Atlantic. In the wars of the European powers, in matters relating to themselves, we have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy so to do. It is only when our rights are invaded, or seriously menaced, that we resent injuries, or make preparations for our defence. With the movements in this hemisphere, we are, of necessity, more immediately connected, and by causes which must be obvious to all enlightened and impartial observers. The political system of the allied powers is essentially different, in this respect, from that of America. This difference proceeds from that which exists in their respective governments. And to the defence of our own, which has been achieved by the loss of so much blood and treasure, and matured by the wisdom of their most enlightened citizens, and under which we have enjoyed unexampled felicity, this whole nation is devoted. We owe it, therefore, to candor, and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers, to declare, that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere, as dangerous to our peace and 'Safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any Europ- ean power, we have not interfered, and shall not interfere. But with the governments who have declared their independence, and maintained it, and whose independehce we have, on great con- sideration, and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of- oppressing them or controlling, in any other manner, their destiny, by any European power, in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition towards the United States. In the war between those new governments and Spain, we declared our neutrality at the time of their recognition, and to this we have adhered, and shall continue to adhere, provided no change shall \ RICHARD KING CAPT. RICHARD KING was born July 10, 1825, in Orange County, New York, and died April 14, 1885 at the Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas. After serving in the steamboat service in various capacities, having begun as a cabin boy, and after having participated in the Seminole War in Florida on one of the U. S. vessels, he came to the mouth of the Rio Grande in June, 1846, and took command of the Colonel Cross. He was associated with Capt. Kenedy until 1868 when he moved to the ranch, Santa Gertrudis, Nueces County, Texas. His widow and children have maintained the ranch since and it is one of the largest in the world. On December 10, 1854, Capt. King was married to Henrietta Chamber- Iain, daughter of Rev. Hiram Chamberlain, a Presbyterian Minister who organized Protestant Mission work in Mexico. Upon his death there survived him, his wife and three daughters, of whom Alice, married Robert J. Kleberg, who ever since has remained at the head of the King estate, which consists of about 1,000,000 acres, about 100,000 graded cattle, and many horses and mule stock. Richard King, a son of Richard King, Sr., is a ranchman and stock raiser near Santa Gertrudis. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 155 occur, which, in the judgment" of the competent authorities of this government, shall make a corresponding change, on the part of the United States, indispensable to their security. Military Movements Along Lower Rio Grande Valley : After February, 191 3, when the Texas State Militia was first sent to the Lower Valley, and at which time Capt. Kirby Walker and Capt. Robert C. Foy arrived with companies of the 14th and 3rd Cavalry, the entire Valley at no time has been without army protection. In the early part of 1914 Major Sedgewick Rice of the 3rd Cavalry commanded. Col. Guy Carleton relieved him. Then Col. A. P. Blocksom arrived and took charge about August, 1914. Colonel Blocksom was in command of the Valley forces during the worst days and was compelled to face trying problems during the bandit raids. Upon the arrival of the 26th Infantry, Colonel Blocksom's command was reduced to Fort Brown, while Colonel Bullard took charge of all west of Harlingen. The 28th, with Colonel Plummer commanding, took charge of the territory west of Mercedes. The Coast Artillery, 91st, 128th, 164th, and 171st under com- mand of Major Kephart, arrived during May, 1914, and remained until January, 1915. The Dallas Field Artillery, Capt. Fred M. Logan, arrived during May, 1914, and remained about two weeks. The 1st Texas Infantry arrived during May, 1914, and remained about two weeks. The 28th U. S. Infantry, 26th U. S. Infantry, 4th U. S. Infantry, arrived between August i and September 15, 1915. The I2th Cavalry arrived in the Valley on Maj'' 14, 1914, and left about a year later. The 6th U. S. Cavalry, Col. Joseph A. Gaston, arrived on August 14, 1915, and departed on April 20, 1916. 156 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley The Field Artillery batteries arrived in the Valley on August 16, 1915- Dallas Field Artillery, Capt. Fred M. Logan, arrived in the Valley June 22, 1916, and immediately went to Ringgold Barracks where it now is. The 2nd and 3rd Texas Infantry arrived in the Valley on May 9, 1916, and remained at Harlingen and Donna until Septem- ber 7, 1916, when they moved to Corpus Christi where they now are. First Illinois Cavalry, unmounted, arrived on July 4, 1916. Departed October 16, 1916. Aeroplanes and Aviation Corps visited the Valley during 1914 and 1915. Wireless Station erected in Fort Brown during September, 1914.. Radio at Point Isabel erected in May, 1916. After the President's call for the mobilizaton of the State Militia and General Funston ordered parts to the Border, troops began to pour into the Valley. So, at this writing, November i, 1916, at least 50,000 men are on duty between. Ringgold Barracks and Brownsville. The Brownsville District was created during June, 1916, and placed under command of Gen. James Parker. Its present roster is as follows : BROWNSVILLE DISTRICT Headquarters, Brownsville, Texas Limits from the Gulf of Mexico to Arroyo del Tigre, inclu- sive — 2y2 miles. Brigadier General James A. Parker, U. S. Army, Commanding. Pi£RSONAL Staff Capt. Cortlandt Parker, F. A., Acting Aid-de-Camp. First Lieut. Paul C. Raborg, Cavalry, Aid-de-Camp. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 157 District Staff Chief of Staff, Captain Frank R. McCoy, 3rd Cav. Dist. Adjutant, Lieut. Col. F. D. Evans, Adjut. Gen. Dist. Quartermaster, Capt. Alfred, Aloe, Q. M. C. Dist. Surgeon, Lieut. Col. T. J. Kirkpatrick, M. C. Dist. Engineer, Lieut. Col. R. P. Howell, C. of E. Dist. Signal Officer, Maj. Frank Hopkins, 8th F. A. Officer in Charge Militia Affairs, Maj. L. F. Kilbourne, Inf. Assistants to District Staff Capt. A. L. Conger, 26th Inf., Assistant to the Dist. Adjutant. Capt. Aristides Moreno, 28th Inf., Asst. to the Dist. Adjutant. Capt. F. W. Glover, 6th Cav., in charge of Motor Truck Transportation. Capt. Sherrard Coleman, Q. M. C, in charge of Brownsville Bakery District. Capt. J. De C. Hall, 4th Inf., Asst. to the Officer in charge ol Militia Affairs. Quartermaster Depot Capt. Lorenzo D. Gasser, Q. M. C, in charge of Depot. On duty in Depot: Capt. Thomas VV. Hollyday ; Capt. Edward H. Andres ; Capt . Louis G. Brinton; Capt. Mark Ireland; Capt. Clyde B. Crusai'. 4th Inf.; and ist Lt. O. H. Saunders, Inf. On duty' at Harlingen : Capt. 'Charles J. Nelson, Q. M. C Thirteenth Provisional Division Headquarters : Llano Grande, Texas. Cornmander : Brigadier General E. M. Lewis. Personal Staff Aid-de-Camp : Second Lieutenant Lew Wallace, Jr. 158 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Division Staff Chief of Staff: Major W. C Babcock. Asst. Chief of Staff: Major Glenn Van Auken. Division Adjutant: Capt. George K. Wilson, 26 Inf. Division Quartermaster: Capt. L. D. Cabell, Q. M. C. Asst. Div. Q. M. : Capt. F. P. Jackson, Q. M. C. Asst. Div. Q. M. : Capt. William E. Carleton, Q. M. C. Asst. Div. Q. M. : Capt. Harold Sorenson, Q. M. C, N. Dak. Ordnance Officer: Major Feodor E. Krembs, Ord. Dept., Minn. Sanitary Inspector: Lieut. Col. Robert B. Grubbs, M. C. Asst. Sanitary Inspector: Major Louis Brechemin, Jr., M. C. Asst. Sanitary Inspector: Major David S. Fairchild, Iowa N. G. First Provisional Brigade Headquarters : Brownsville, Texas. Commander: Colonel Everard E. Hatch, 4th Inf. Personal Staff Aid-de-Camp: Lt*. Albert E. Brown. Brigade Staff Brigade Adjutant: Major John F. Preston, 4th Inf. Iowa Brigade Headquarters: Brownsville, Texas. Commander : Brigadier General Hubert A. Allen. Personal Staff Aid-de-Camp: First Lieutenant Park A. Findley, 3rd Iowa. Brigade Staff Brigade Adjutant: Major Ivan Elwood. Indiana Brigade Headquarters : Llano Grande, Texas. Commander: Brigadier General E. M. Lewis. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 159 Personal Staff Aid-de-Camp : Second Lieutenant Lew Wallace, Jr. Brigade Staff Brigade Adjutant: Maj. Wm. P. Carpenter. Attached Major L. M. Nutman, 4th, Inf., Acting Brigade Adjutant and Senior Inspector-Instructor. Minnesota Brigade Headquarters : Llano Grande, Texas. Commander : Brigadier General Frederick Emil Resche. Personal Staff Aid-de-Camp : First Lieutenant A. E. Wheaton. Brigade Staff Brigade Adjutant: Major Arthur Magnus Nelson. North Dakota-Nebraska Brigade Headquarters : Llano Grande, Texas. Commander : Colonel Augustus P. Blockson, 3rd Cav. Brigade Staff Brigade Adjutant: Capt. William A. Kent, 4th Inf. Louisiana-Oklahoma-South Dakota Brigade Headquarters : San Benito, Texas. Commander : Colonel Robert I. Bullard, 26th Inf. ♦ Attached Capt. Wm. S. Shields, M. C. Sanitary Inspector. Lieut. Col. Campbell B. Hodges, Capt. Inf. U. S. A., Inspector- Instructor, 1st La. Inf. First Lieut. George A. Matile, 26th Inf., Inspector-Instructor, ist Okla. Inf. First Lieut. William G. Langwill, 36th Inf., Inspector-Instruc- tor. 1st So. Dak. Inf. l6o A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Texas Brigade Headquarters : Corpus Christi, Texas. Commander: Brigadier General John A. Hulen. Personal Staff Aid-de-Camp : Lieut. Dexter R. Mapel. Brigade Staff Brigade Adjutant: Major Herbert E. Stevenson; Major Joseph W. Speight, I. S. A. P. Troops Serving in the Brownsville District Engineer: Regimental • Headquarters, Headquarters, First Battalion, Companies A, B, and detachment of Company F, First Regiment U. S. Engineers; i company Iowa; i company Okla- homa. Signal Corps Companies: Company D, U. S. Signal Corps; Company A, Nebraska Signal Corps. Field Hospital Companies: U. S. No. 5; Texas; First Indi- ana ; First Iowa ; Louisiana ; First Nebraska ; and First Okla- homa Field Hospital. Ambulance Companies: U. S. Ambulance Company No. 5; First and Second Indiana; First Iowa. Cavalry: Third U. S. Cavalry; Troops A, B, and C, Colorado; I squadron Iowa; Troop A, Kansas; Tro^ops A and B, First Oklahoma ; i squadron Virginia. Troop A, New Hampshire. Field Artillery: Battery D, 4th U. S. ; Battery D, 5th U. S. ; Battery F, 5th U. S. ; Battery A, Texas; Batteries A, C, and D, Indiana ; First Battalion, Iowa ; First Battalion, Louisiana ; First Battalion, Minnesota. Infantry: 4th U. S. ; 26th U. S. ; 28th U. S. ; 36th U. S. ; Second Texas; Third Texas; First Indiana; Second Indiana; Third Indiana ; First Iowa ; Second Iowa ; Third Iowa ; First Minnesota; Second Minnesota; Third Minnesota; Fourth A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley i6i Nebraska; Fifth Nebraska; First North Dakota; First Okla- homa ; Fourth South Dakota ; First Virginia ; Second Virginia ; First Louisiana. Field Bakery Companies: U. S. Bakery Company No. i ; U. S. Bakery Company No. lo. Truck Companies: U. S. Truck Companies Nos. 3, 58, 15, 25. 29, 35. Pack Trains: U. S. Pack Trains Nos. 17, 18, 20, 25, 8. Base Hospital- No. 3 Headquarters : Brownsville, Texas. Commander: Major Elmer A. Dean. Officers Attached Capt. Norman T. Kirk. Capt Sanford French. Capt. Edward M. Welles. First Lieut. David W. Overton. First Lieut. Paul H. Zinkhan. First Lieut. Malone Duggan, M. R. C. First Lieut. Henry C. Bradford, M. R. C. Capt. Neal N. Wood. First Lieut. Clarence Ketcham, M. R., C. First Lieut. H. R. Carstens, M. R. C First Lieut. Claren E. Pfeifer. First Lieut. John H. Nesbitt. Capt. Charles F. Morris, M. C. Militia Officers Attached Capt. Thomas A. Burcham, Iowa F. H. Capt. Donald Macrae, Iowa F. H. Texas Field Hospital Major John L. O'Reilly; ist Lt. Victor E. Bonelli; ist Lt. Robert Hasskarl. i62 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Louisiana Field Hospital Major Oliver L. Pothier ; ist Lt. Alvin B. Gross; ist Lt. Henry T. Nicelle; ist Lt. James L Peters; ist Lt. Covington N. Sharp; ist Lt. William Love, D. S., R. S. Iowa Field Hospital Major Thomas F. Duhigg; Capt. Donald C. Macrae, D. S., C. H.; Capt. Thomas A, Burcham, D. S., C. H. ; Capt. Edgar Earwood; 1st Lt. James C. Macrae; ist Lt. James N. Fettis. Iowa Ambulance Company Capt. Frank J. Murphy; ist Lt. Roy W. Smith; ist Lt. Fred- erick H. Roost; 1st Lt. Walph M. Waters; ist Lt. Carl E. Bosley. FOURTH U. S. INFANTRY October 31, 1916 Colonels: Hatch, Everard E., commanding; Davidson, Lorenzo P., attached; Finley, John P., attached. Lieutenant-Colonel: Wolf, P. A., attached. Majors: French, Charles G. ; Preston, John F. ; Niittman. Louis M. Chaplain: Chenoweth, John F. Captains: Howell, Willey ; Merry, William T. ; Kent, William A.; Noyes, Samuel W., Acting C. O., First Battalion; Butler, Lawrence P., Regimental Adjutant; Sharon, George B., Regi- mental Supply Officer; Murphy, Ernest V.; Hall, J. DeCamp ; Elliott, Clark R., Acting C. O., Third Battalion; Crusan, Clyde B. ; Herr, Charles F. ; Mills, Willis E., Acting C. O., Second Bat- talion ; Cowan, John K., C. O. Co. "K" ; Scott, John (assigned to Signal Corps); Hardman, Albert, C. O. Co. "I"; Moore, Charles B. ; Robinson, William F., C. O. Co. "B"; Harris, William W. First Lieutenants: Selbie, William E., C O. Co. "M," J. A., G. C. M. ; Taylor, Edward G., Adjutant ist Battalion ; Muncas- ter, John H. ; Griffith, Charles T., Adjutant 2nd Bn. ; Wilhelm, A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 163 Glenn P., C. O., M. G. Co.; Brown, Albert E. ; Lawes, Her- bert J., Adjutant 3rd Bn., C. O. M. C. Detachment; Cole, James P., Act. Adjt., 3rd Bn., attached; Smyth, Roy M., C. O. Co. "C"; Waltz, Floyd R., C. O. Co. "G," Act. Adjt. 2nd Bn., attached;, Harrison, Roger B., C. O. Co. "E"; McNair, Philip K., C. O. Co. "A" ; Duckstad, John B. ; Coffin, William E., Jr., C. O. Co. "H" ; Goodman, John F. TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD The Brigade Brigade Commander: Brig. Gen. John A. Hulen, Houston. Aid-de-Camp : ist Lt. C. C. Wren, Houston. Aid-de-Camp : ist Lt. Dexter R. Mapel, El Paso. Brigade Adjutant: Major H. E. Stevenson, El Paso. Inspector Rifle Practice: Major Jos. W. Speight, Waco. Second Infantry Col. Benj. F. Delameter, Commanding, Caldwell. Lieut. Col. A. W. Bloor, Austin. Major W. E. Jackson, Hillsboro. Major O. E. Roberts, Taylor. Major Preston A. Weatherred, Waco. Captain J. W. Hawkins, Adjutant, Austin. Captain Lon C. Smoot, Quartermaster, Dallas. Captain J. H. Zachry, Commissary, Uvalde. Captain Peter Schramm, Asst. I. S. A. P., Taylor. First Lieut. C. M. Easley, Battalion Adjutant, Waco. First Lieut. Adolph Geue, Battalion Adjutant, Austin. First Lieut. David R. Nelson, Battalion Adjutant, Lytle. Second Lieut. O. L. Baker, Battalion Q. M. & Com., Newton. Second Lieut. Chas. Edward Cade, Battalion Q. M. & Com., Caldwell. Second Lieut. Ralph B. Fairchild, Bn. Q. M. & Com., San Antonio. First Lieut. A. A. Wagnon, Chaplain, Houston. 164 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley N oncommissioned Officers Wm. D. Wear, Reg. Sgt. Maj., Hillsboro. J. F. Toberman, Reg. Qr. Mr. Sgt., San Antonio. P. J. Webb, Reg. Com. Sgt., Hillsboro. Wm. C. Lafield, Reg. Color Sgt., Brownwood. Thos. D. Gambrell, Reg. Color Sgt., Lockhart. Rudolph H. Tausch, Bn. Sgt. Maj., Austin. Knox B. Mc Williams, Bn. Sgt. Maj., Hillsboro. Daniel J. Hallan, Bn. Sgt. Maj., Taylor. Co. A (San Antonio), Captain Claude L. Drennon ; ist Lieut. Earl G. Miller ; 2nd Lieut. Sidney Schraeder. Co. B (Dallas), Captain Geo. A. Robinson; ist Lieut. Ira D. Hough; 2nd Lieut. Forrest L. Towery. Co. C (San Antonio), Captain A. S. Horton ; ist Lieut. J. D. Harris ; 2nd Lieut. Van B. Harris. Co. D (San Antonio), Captain Charles Kuhlman ; ist Lieut. Dudley K. Lansing; 2nd Lieut. Edwin H. McManus. Co. E (Austin), Captain E. G. Hutchings; 1st Lieut. Roger Hilsman ; 2nd Lieut. Grover C. Combs. Co. F (Austin), Captain Wallis J. Moore; ist Lieut. W. S. Birge; 2nd Lieut. H. P. N. Gammell, Jr. Co. G (Waco), Captain W. C. Torrence ; ist Lieut. James M. Kendrick; 2nd Lieut. A. B. Lattimore. Co. H (Taylor), Captain W. H. Overstreet ; ist Lieut. Geo A. Frisch; 2nd Lieut. Graham D. Luhn. Co. I (Laredo), Captain E. M. Matson ; ist Lieut. A. P>. Muller; 2nd Lieut. Walter C. Nye. Co. K (Waco), Captain Benjamin F. Wright; ist Lieut. Oscar F. Washam ; 2nd Lieut. Walter C. Rogers. Co. L (Brenham), Captain Eugene A. Eversberg; ist Lieut. Edward S. Becker ; 2nd Lieut. Legette Tarver. Co. M (Hillsboro), Captain W. L. Culberson; ist Lieut. Cyrus P. Robinson ; 2nd Lieut. Carey S. Blanchard. Band, 2nd Inf. (Brenham), Chief Musician F. J. Navratil. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 165 Third Infantry Col. George P. Rains, Commanding, Marshal. Lieut. Col. J. S. Hoover, Houston. Major Holman Taj^lor, Fort Worth. Major J. D. Jennings, Timpson. Major A. R. Sholars, Orange. Captain H. W. Kinnard, Adjutant, Dallas. Captain Henry D. Hockwald, Quartermaster, Marshal. Captain Edwin R. York, Commissary, Gatesville. Captain C. G. Duff, Asst. I. S. A. P., Hillsboro. First Lieut. Archie Gates, Battalion Adjutant, Dallas. First Lieut C. C. Wren, Battalion Adjutant, Houston. First Lieut. E. B. Clements, Battalion Adjutant, Timpson. Second Lieut. Gordon R. Bell, Battalion Q. M. & Com., Marshal. Second Lieut. Albert E. Devine, Jr., Bn. Q. M. & Com., Houston. Second Lieut. Kenneth C. Perry, Bn. Q. M. & Com., San Antonio. First Lieut. John J. Campbell, Chaplain, Wichita Falls. Noncommissioned Staff Officers L'. A. Whittier, Reg. Sgt. Major, Dallas. Kenneth K. Bullock, Reg. Q. M. Sgt., Corsicana. Earl W. Ellis, Reg. Com. Sgt., Greenville. R. B. Cozart, Reg. Color Sgt., Lufkin. Alexander P. Macdonald, Reg. Color Sgt., Marshall. Martin D. Hipp, Bn. Sgt. Major, Houston. Frank S. Clarkson, Bn. Sgt. Major, Beaumont. Co. A (Houston), Captain Dallas J. Matthews; ist Lieut. C. W. Sears; 2nd Lieut. E. T. Davis. Co. B (Timpson), Captain R. R. Morrison; ist Lieut. J. S. Taylor; 2nd Lieut. B. L. Brown. Co. C (Corpus Christi)-, Captain J. L. King; ist Lieut. H. H. Craig; 2nd Lieut. R. G. Starner. i66 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Co. D (Marshall), Captain W. E. Lake; ist Lieut. Alvin Morgan; 2nd Lieut. R. S. Dilworth, Jr. Co. E (Teague), Captain H. B. Siebe ; ist Lieut. R. M Wagstaff; 2nd Lieut. Herbert L. Isaminger. Co. F (Marin), Captain R. A. Jameson; ist Lieut. Robin W. Hunnicutt ; 2nd Lieut. J. F. Dewberry. Co. G (Bay City), Captain R. R. Lewis; ist Lieut. Vance C. Porter; 2nd Lieut. John C. Willis. Co. H. (Athens), Captain Tim J. Powers; ist Lieut. Barnett B. Yantis ; 2nd Lieut. Geo. R. Bringhurst, Jr. Co. I (Port Arthur), Captain Wilton L. Rutan ; ist Lieut Harold B. Elmendorf ; 2nd Lieut. Thomas M. Boyd. Co, K (Orange), Captain Joe Goodman; ist Lieut. Douglas W. Stakes ; 2nd Lieut. Vernon Lounsberry. Co. L (Port Arthur), Captain Geo. C. Fairbairn ; ist Lieut. Merle E. Davis ; 2nd Lieut. Grover F. Stock. Co. M (Beaumont), Captain W. O. Breedlove ; ist Lieut. Lucian D. Bogan ; 2nd Lieut. Walter S. Lockwood. ROSTER INDIANA INFANTRY BRIGADE Brigadier-General — E. M. Lewis Second Lieutenant, Lew Wallace, Jr., Aid-de-Camp First Indiana Infantry Colonel: Leslie R. Naftzger. * Lieutenant-Colonel: John J. Toffey. Majors: Benjamin E. Wimer, Chester P. Barnett, Joseph C. Clark. Captains: Basil Middleton, Wm. P. Carpenter, Charles B. Calvert, Frank E. Livengood, Raymond P. Chambers, Foster C. Shirley, Paul F. Stutzman, Ray McAdams, Jay A. Umpleby, George R. Hill, Fred. W. Baker, Thomas R. White, Loudon A. Harriman, Wm. S. Huddleston, Walter R. Meyers. First Lieutenants: Francis W. Barlet, Orion Norcross, and Louis J. Koster, Battalion Adjutants. Manford G. Henley. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 167 Ralph K. Perry, Clyde G. Chaney, Fred B. Johnson, Marion O. Reiff, Earl Howard, Thomas P. Riley, Walter Goodrich, Orville W. Nichols, Kenneth P. Williams, High T. St. John, John G. Capouch, Langehorn Motley. Second Lieutenants: Elwood Jenkins, Fred. M. Hickman, Joseph McCurdy, Wm. Kleifgen, Ernest K. Epperly, Guy McGahon, John W'. Leiby, Ernest D. Turner, Humphrey M. Barbour, Wm. Waters, J. R. Bostick, R. H. Hall. Medical Department: Major Frank W. Foxworthy, Captain N. A. Gary, Captain R. H. Richards, ist Lt. L. P. Collins. Second Indiana Infantry Colonel: Thomas B. Coulter. Lieutenant-Colonel: Emmett F. Branch. Majors: Clyde F. Dreisbach, Arthur J. Miller, Howard F. Noble. Chaplain: Elijah A. Arthur. Captains: Dwight M. Green, Neville A. Powell, Walter H. Kelly, Harvey E. Daines, Gorhardt A. Monninger, Edward F. Otto, Levi A. Beem, Emil F. Martin, Charles G. Davis, Paul N. Hanoonn, L. O. Slagle, Sid Cummings, Oscar B. Able, Merle A. Weisinger, Roderick S. Mumford. First Lieutenants: Albert Catlin, Ernest Clark, Emert Shields, Battalion Adjutants. Russell Bond, Wm. E. Livengood, Emil C. Carpenter, Cyrus W. Perkins, Ulysses G. Daly, Edgar A. Casey, Velmar Franz, George S. Green, Ivon Curtis, Ralph S. Tichener. Second Lieutenants: John D. Johnson, Claude Henderson, Hermon A. Collins, Robert E. Vaughn, Fonse Franklin, Archie O. Gilmore, Charles T. Johnson, John M, Hopkins. Medical Department: Major Earle S. Green, Captain George F. Holland, ist Lt. Edwin C. Kvte. i68 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Third Indiana Infantry Colonel: A. L. Kuhlmann. Lieutenant-Colonel: George W. Freyermuth. Majors: Guy J. Shaughniss, George H, Healey, Gustave C. Groll. Chaplain: Fred. F. Thornburgh. Captains: Lester L. Boggs, Orvall B. Kilmer, John C. Lochner, George A. Foote, Jesse O. Covell, Arthur B. Gray, James O. Snyder, Otto E. Deal, Clinton D. Rogers, Ethan A. Fulton, James H. Canan, Alfred L. Moudy, Edward T. Heine- man, Herman Tuteur. First Lieutenants: Arthur T. Tuteur, Clarence E. Clark, Walter L. Clark, Battalion Adjutants. James R. Bird, Ralph W. Ewrey, John F. Cramer, Otto D. Dietl, Herschel W. Cook, Joseph O. Ellis, George B. Dennison, Ernest W. Thralls, Jerry B. Garland. Second Lieutenants: George W. Healey, Ray P. Harrison, Lewis F. Kosch, Floyd O. Tharp, John D. Pfeiffer, Frank E. Calvert, Charles M. Powers, Fred. F. Longfellow, Galeman Dexter, Wilbur C. Miser, Edward L. Watson. Medical Department: Major Frank B. Humphreys, Captain George W. Twomey, ist Lt. Burton A. Thompson, ist Lt. Leonard Ostroski. Absent — Capt. Carl F. Beyer, ist Lt. Louis B. Hershey, ist Lt. Llewellyn A. Turneck, 2nd Lt. Omar C. Bates, 2nd Lt. Hous- ton Merriam. ROSTER— IOWA BRIGADE OF INFANTRY Brigadier-General — Hubert A. Allen, Commanding First Lieutenant, Park A. Findley, 3rd Iowa, 'Aid-de-Camp Brigade Staff Major Ivan Elwood, Brigade Adjutant A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 169 First Iowa Infantry Colonel: John E. Bartley. ^ Lieutenant-Colonel: George W. Ball. Majors: Elza C. Johnson, Harry G. Utley, John F. Ready. Captains: Edward A. Murphy, Herman E. Shipley, Herbert G. Higbee, Clyde L. Ellsworth, George Weilin, John F. Rau, Charles B. Robbins, Thomas A. Beardmore, Joseph W. WiHmek, Carleton Sias, William F. Grossman, Clyde H. Stephens, Earl Lee, Roy Hout, Frank L. LeBron, William C. Smith. First Lieutenants: Frederick S. Nichols, Roy A. Carnegie, Henry A. Woellhaf, Chester B. Myers, Battalion Adjutants. Charles R. Willey, Frank F. Grimm, Allen Lown, Walter A. Meyer, J. Clarence Grinde, Frank N. Meade, Fred L. Fisher, Frederick W. Miller, Guy Eaton, Leigh Bell, Edward Chase, Robert L. Fulton. Second Lieutenants: Albert G. Ketelson, Douglas U. Van Metre, Fred. E. Dickinson, Charles H. Leik, Charles O. Johnson, Harry P. Donovan, Robert L. Norton, Olaf H. Simonsen, Gus Julien, Thomas D. Wilson, Edward J. Hoffman, Harold M. Putnam, Harley L. Moore, Roy D. Erickson. Second Iowa Infantry Colonel: Norman P. Hyatt. Lieutenant-Colonel : Winfred H. Bailey. Majors: Sheppard B. Philpot, Frank J. Lund, John C. Bradbury. Chaplain: Major Ebenezer S. Johnson. Captains: Verne E. Hale, Charles G. Dunn, Harold J. Smith, Ory W. Garman, Albert C. Johnson, Arthur M. Martin, McKee J. Heffner, Henry G. Geiger, Robert H. Heath, Fred. R. Frost, Robert B, Pike, Walter L. Moore, Jacob G. Koenig, Gordon C. Holler, Forrest E. Collins. First Lieutenants: Conrad F. Helbig, Ralph J. Laird, Thomas E. Murphy, Battalion Adjutants. Philip C. Langenbach, Hanford 170 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley MacNider, Edwin Lindsey, Charles J. Jennings, Harry W. Odle, Edward C. Starrett, Elmer R. Apple, James F. Barton, Gus. E. Lindberg, f^alph E. Patterson, John C. Peterson, Mark E. Bige- low, Lewis Totman. Second Lieutenants: Walter W. Johnson, George W. Shamice, Eugene S. Bondinot, John Mann, James R. Murphy, Nels L. Soderholm, Arthur C. Eihternach, Edward A. Swatosh, Theodore B. Munson, Hans Fredrickson, Ira L. Storm, Walter B. Thompson, William R. Rothaermel, Preston B. Waterbury, Ralph S. Geiger. Third Iowa Infantry Colonel: Ernest R. Bennett. Lieutenant-Colonel: Mathew A. Tinley. Majors: Emory C. Worthington, Claude M. Stanley, Guy S. Brewer. Chaplain: First Lt. Thomas S. Humphrey, Captains: Paul I. VanOrder, Edward O. Fleur, George R. Logan, Jr., Charles W. Aikins, William A. Graham, Arthur J. Horton, Ellis A. Pitley, Howard W. Ross, Charles J. Casey. Clarence E. Schamp, Claire B. Arnold, Rollin B. Humphrey, Benjamin J. Gibson, Clifford Powell, Lloyd D. Ross. First Lieutenants: Charles Tillotson, Jr., Roy B. Gault, Ralph B. Ericcson, Battalion Adjutants, Park A, Findley, Jack L. Meyer, James C. Ferguson, Harry B. Peavey, Merle W. McCunn, William A. Kelly, Frank B. Younkin, Jonathan D. Springer, Frank D. Logan, Walter H. Nead, Charles O. Briggs. Second Lieutenants: Roy Maxey, Clarence R. Green, Harry C. McHenry, Charles L. Heflen, George Bever, Jr., Roy H. Cleaveland, Howard D. Peckham, Oscar B. Nelson, George W. Hoar, William C. Rathke, Ralph W. Roland, Percy A. Lainson, John C. Christopher. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 171 ROSTER— MINNESOTA BRIGADE OF INFANTRY Brigadier-General — Fredrick Emil Resche First Minnesota Infantry Colonel: Erie D. Luce. Lieutenant-Colonel: Hugh H. McGee. Majors: Edson J. Andrews, Clifton T. Smith, Matt L. Higbee. Captains: Frank E. Reed, Arthur H. Conary, Perdy L. McClay, August E. Anderson, Thomas E. Parkhill, Harland E. Kelty, Allie A. Berg, Robert K. Alcott, Carl J. West, Guy A. Hopkins. First Lieutenants: Battalion Adjutant, Daniel Pettigrew, Carl A. Russell, Owen J. Trainor, Bernhardt M. Pederson, Nels E. Stadig, Frank B. Wittbecker, William Graupman, Charles S. Hendrickson, Edward H. Slater, Barndt A. Anderson. Second Lieutenants: Roy M. Robinson, Roland E. Gillesby. Joseph J. Goffard, Edward W. Budy, Silas M. Lewis, Albert M. Cassiday, Joseph M. Glasby. Medical Department : Major Ruben Pederson, Capt. Arnt. G. Anderson, ist Lieutenants Olaf I. Sohlberg, and Ralph J. Sewall. Second Minnesota Infantry Colonel: Wm. T. Mollison. Lieutenant-Colonel: Charles H. Danforth. Majors: Alfred Pfaender, Oliver J. Quane, Wm. F. Brandt, Ezra C. Clemans, Chaplain. Captains: Alfred J. Hill, M. J. Brown, Frank J. Hubbard, Baptiste Groebner, Wm. P. Townsend, Joseph L. Garmon, Henry W. Leudtke, John P. Markee, Peter Johnson, Jr., Arthur C. Scott, Harold S. Nelson, Francis Magner, Myron W. Hings- ley, Martin L. Larson. First Lieutenants: Herbert G. Hubbard, Lawrence H. Mealin, Herbert F. Leurs, Battalion Adjutants. John H. Gam- iy2 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley mell, Adolph Klause, James M. Tawney, Carl D. Hibbard, James H. Clark, Guy M. Borst, Fredrick E. Craegert, Herbert M. Hauck, Melvin S. Williamson, Alphonso Weisgerber, Wm. B. Clement, Otto Ronninger. Second Lieutenants: Clifford W. Pickle, Alfred Puhlman, Malcome C. Sims, Floyd Cunningham, Wm. R. Boyce, Henry I. Church, Burton F. Hood, Burton R. Cosgrove, John W. Lauter- bach. Medical Department: Maj. James E. Merrill, Capt. Adolph G. Liedloff, and ist Lieutenants Samuel Schaeffer and Eager M. Babcock. Third Minnesota Infantry Colonel: Hubert V. Eva. Lieutenant-Colonel: Albert F. Pratt. Majors: Arthur A. Caswell, Carl C. Weaver, Franklin W, Matson. Captains: Wm. S. Emery, Chaplain; Walter O. Fladin, Fred. C. Ormond, Thomas L. Chisholm, Elmer W. McDevitt, Earl P. Hyatt, Reginald C. Nelson, Chris Nessith, George W. Stiles, Robert C. Murray, Alfred H. Johnson, Anthon N. Nelson, Wm. Woelk, Chester S. Wilson, Otto F. Ruebke, Dave O. Williams. First Lieutenants: Wm. A. Brown, Anthon C. Jenseen, Battalion Adjutants. Benjamin A. Hawkins, Harris A. Trux, Edward B. Cutter, Roy K. Carpenter, Peter R. Foscum, John Harrison, Milo C. Cooper, Claude S. Morton, Alfred R. Ross- berg, Thomas Stanek, Harvey M. Johnson, Gustave A. Korht. Second Lieutenants: Harry Babcock, Lawrence W. LaPlant, Earl E. Marse, Alfred C. Ott, Louis Larson, Albert W. Gasper, Olaf Lund, John W. Signer, Anthony J. Van Buskirk, Eugene C. Kalkman, Royal W. Warner, John A. McKinnon, Carl E. Soder- holm, Ulrich E. St. Julien. Medical Department: Maj. Clyde E. Prudden, and ist Lieu- tenants W. A. Schwartz, John A. Andres, F. W. S. Raiter, and Elmer J. Sundby. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 173 ROSTER— FOURTH NEBRASKA INFANTRY Colonel: George E. Eberly. Lieutenant-Colonel: Wm. E. Baehr. Majors: Tver S. Johnson, Henning F. Elsasser, Robt. G. Douglas. Captains: John F. Poucher, Wm. E. Kelso, E. T. Harris, C. W. Hamilton, Irvin V. Todd, Frank C Yates, Archer L. Burnham, Cris L. Anderson, H. B. Hobbs, C. J. A. Steele, I.ynn J. Butchart, George H. Holderman. First Lieutenants: Hans M. Anderson, Clarence A. Rush- land, Ralph R. Heald, Battalion Adjutants. Wallace E. Fellers, Thomas R. Kerscher, Leo J. Crosby, James H. Pile, Reed O'Hanlon, William N. Orris, Jesse G. Facs, Fred F. Sturdevant, Thom.as V. Hamilton, Wint E. Harper, Edwin E. Newbold. Second Lieutenants: George S. Hefner, Don E. Camerson, August W. W. Loerke, Edward L. Wilbur, Wm. F. Bruett, Ezra C. Mahaffey, Henry Otterpohl, Jesse G. Beard, Wilbur F. Jack- son, Frank G. Tracy. Medical Department: Maj. John M. Birkner, Capt. Herbert H. Smith, and ist Lieutenants G. W. Pugsley, and Russell H. Morse. ROSTER— FIFTH NEBRASKA INFANTRY Colonel: H. J. Paul. Lieutenant-Colonel: A. H. Hollingworth. Majors: C. E. McCormick, R. E. Sterricker, R. E. Crosson. Captains: Charles L. Burmester, J. D. Paul, H. C. Stein, M. E. Lum, J. M. Holmes, L. E. Jones, O. E. Davis, P. R. Halligan, F. E. Crawford, J. F. L. Hanlon, J. A. Lillie, A. A. Clements, J. R. Hogate, M. S. Moore. First Lieutenants: C. C. Vaughn, J. P. Madgett, Battalion Adjutants. C. E. Gardner, C. F. Miller, J. E. Dulin, H. A. Austin, C. H. Davis, M. L. Abbott, J. A. Allison, H. J. Kram_er, C. S. Watson, R. Ails, M. E. Kraxberger, E. Allan. 174 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Second Lieutenants: E. W. DeFratis, G. W. Sternberg, J. V. Bulger, A. W. Culver, D. G. Hull, I. W. Evans, C. B. Ranney. Medical Department: Maj. F. S. Nicholson, Capt. G. A. Harris, and ist Lieutenants R. B. Stratton and S. B. Hall. ROSTER— FIRST OKLAHOMA INFANTRY Colonel: Roy Hoffman. ■• Lieutenant-C olonel : Elta H. Jayne. Majors: John Alley, William A. Green, Willis Stephenson. Captains: Mark W. Tobin, Gus Hadwiger, A. L. Emery. L. T. Wyllis, H. B. Gillstrap, A. J. Niles, C. W. Richards. C. H. Johnson, J. L. DeGroot, W. S. Key, Walter Veach, J. r^. Berry, R. R. Jarboe, B. D. Locke, O. H. Lee. First Lieutenants: C, H. Barnes, Chaplain ; Samuel J. Foster, Milton H. Taulbee, Earl Patterson, Battalion Adju- tants. James McGreager, Earnest S. Reach, Arthur J. Matheney, Edward W. Lachmiller, Moses Belmardt, Carl Ual, Charles Bolaver, E. W. Whitney, Highland Mitchell, Carter C. Hanner, Harry A. Richards, Benjamin H. Hicks, Raymond S. McLain. Second Lieutenants: Emmett C. Choate, Jean C. Thompson, Paul M. Brewer, Ernest W. Merrifield, James A. Embiy, James B. Carroll, William F. Lively, Hobart L. Carle, George L. Templeton, Richard Harrison, Louis Paulin, Harry D. Hilde- brand, George A. Barnes, Carl Edmond, Arthur W. Root. ROSTER— FOURTH SOUTH DAKOTA INFANTRY Colonel: Boyd Wales. Lieutenant-Colonel: William A. Hazle. Majors: Edward A. Beckwith, James McNenny, Myron L. Shade. Captains: Lawrence H. Hedrick, Lockwood E. Smith, John H. Balmat, Jr., Otto B. Linstad, Eugene I. Foster, Clarence P. Evers, Charles F. Hackett, Edw. T. Enboe, Earl B. Rowley, Geo, A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 175 W. Hurst, Walter L. Vercoe, Earle L. Lewis, Arthur W. Phelps, Perry Peters, Joseph Mills Hanson. First Lieutenants: Guy P. Squires, Chaplain; William W. Spain, Maurice A. Hockman, Charles H. Jones, BattaHon Adju- tants. Geo. C. Pilkington, William A. Grebing, Martin G. Sebiakin-Ross, Geo. F. Weber, Geo. E. Sperbeck, Verne C. Kennedy, George W. Shipton, Al. J. Mayers, Desire L. LaBreche, Walter G. Miser, Robt. T. Houlihan, Lester E. Kirkpatrick, Jesse F. McCoun. Second Lieutenants: Door M. Hushaw, James W. Spry, Leslie Jenson, Guy F. Barnes, Victor R. Woodruff, Arthur H. Rogers, Harold W. Roach, Harvey Coacher, Vincent L. Knewell, Robt. Tackaberry, James P. Murphy, Robt. H. Limberger, Max Stokes, Howard Warren. Attached : Medical Officers: Maj. W. S. Bentley, Capt. Jacob G. Chi- chester, and 1st Lieutenants Roy F. Sackett and Harry T. Kenney. ROSTER— FIRST LOUISL\NA INFANTRY Colonel: Frank P. Stubbs, Jr. Lieutenant-Colonel: Campbell B. Hedges. Majors: Louis E. Duvall, Louis F. Guerre, Brett W. Eddy. Captains: Wm. D. Shaffer, Wm. C. Flourney, Percy S. Prince, Herbert S. Ford, Friend C. Quereau, Morton M. Bilbo, Richard A. Young, Leslie A. Fitch, John H. Kendall, Paul O. LeBlanc, George C. Carruth, Stanley F. Davis, W. Work Cockrell, Walter B. Randall Beuford D. Vance. First Lieutenants: Gilmer J. Buskie, Chaplain; John B. Thornhill, Tom B. Martin, John B. Johnston, Battalion Adju- tants. John S. Harrison, WilHam L. Stone, Phillip S. Pugh, George C. Collier, Tabor E. Utley, Levi A. Himes, John Leslie Taylor, Millard M. Foust, Emmett L. Irwin, George H. Burnham, James O. Dolby, Lionel L. Meyer, Oliver C. Clark. iy6 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Second Lieutenants: Kenneth C. Banfield, Cecil A. Beu- hauser, George B. Buchel, Leonard P. Palmer, M. M. Bernard, George W. Cline, Frank B. Mays, John G. Borg, Stephen G. Henry, Newton A. Sanders, Francis A. Woolfley, Joseph H. Redding, Allen V. Hundley. ROSTER— FIRST VIRGINIA INFANTRY Colonel: William J. Perry. Lieutenant-Colonel: Robert E. Craighill. Majors: John F. Bright, Thomas P. Peyton, Stanley W. Martin. Chaplain: Capt. Cleveland J. Hall. Captains: Samuel S. Pitcher, Headquarters Co.; George W. Hutchinson, William E. Tribbett, Harry A. Howell, William A. Stack, James R. Sheppard, Elmer L. Johnson, Jesse E. Moon, Alvah B. Cousins, Conrad Johnson, Richard F. Beirne, Heirome L. Opie, William V. Smiley, George M. Alexander, Howard W. Raines. First Lieutenants : Leroy E, Brown, Jr., Foster King, Albert S. Burnham, Battalion Adjutants. James E. Peters, Luther T. Matthews, James F. Dunn, John O. Shakelford, George M. Bell, Charles A. Rady, James D. McLean, Henry M. Somerville, Ewarts W. Opie, Elliott V. Peaco, Alfred D. Barksdale, Kirk- wood D, Scott, Daniel L. Porter. Second Lieutenants : Hugh C. Minton, Thomas B. McDowell, Albert B. Carter, Lester E. Dellinger, Charles Chapman, Beverly Wilkes, John A. Wells, James H. Phillips, Wyatt Carneal, Jr., Clinton F. Knight, Francis H. Hill, Charles P. Serrett, George B. Fretwell, Richard C. McGhee, George M. Gilkerson. Attached: Major Giles B. Cook, Capt. Harry F. White, Capt. Acalphar A. Marsteller, ist Lt. Alexander F. Robertson, Medical Corps. Capt. John Scott, 4th Infantry, Inspector- Instructor. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 177 ROSTER— SECOND VIRGINIA INFANTRY Colonel: Robert F. Leedy. Lieutenant-Colonel: Samuel A. Miller. Majors: George O. Leach, Benjamin Harrison, Edwin L. Slaughter. Chaplain: Capt. Benjamin Dennis. Captains: Carson G. Mason, Headquarters Co., Joseph P. Ast, Charles L. Kindervater, Harry H. Hunt, James W. Green, Lew Wood, Samuel G. Waller, Charles E. Geohegan, Linwood G. Figgatt, Winston B. Davis, Joshua F. Bullitt, Robert Y. Conrad, Gunyon M. Harrison, James L. Bosang, James W. Wright. First Lieutenants: Samuel R. Miller, Wise Worrell, John R. Kerrick, Battalion Adjutants. Arthur A. Grove, John H. Cocks, Herbert H. May, Thomas E. Bartenstein, Harold R. Dinges, Bernard F. Roberts, Raymond E. Lightner, Calvin C. Crowder, William J. Painter, Fred. S. Anderson, Thomas N. Brent, James E. John, Eliot H. Howe. Second Lieutenants: James N, C. Richards, Ewart Johnson, Walter E. Morrison, Melvin T. Smith, Jonathan C. Gibson, William G. Bartenstein, William D. Leach, Goode D. Reynolds, Vernon H. Speese, Joseph W. G. Stephens, Garnett G. McFerron, Robert T. Barton, Jr., Alexander H. Stone, Charles T. Holtz- man, Jr., Will P. Nye. Attached: Major Adam T. Finch, ist Lt. James W. Knepp, 1st Lt. Marshall Sinclair, Medical Corps; ist Lt. John McGuire. Capt. Harry H. Bissell, 36th Infantry, Inspector-Instructor. ROSTER— THIRD U. S. CAVALRY July 31, 191 6 Colonel: Augustus P. Blocksom. Majors: Jesse McI. Carter, Francis H. Beach, John D. L. Hartman. lyS A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Captains: James H. Reeves, Frank R. McCoy, Robert C. Foy, Frederick C. Johnson, Paul T. Hayne, Daniel Van Voorhis, Walter S. Grant, William S. Wells, William A. Austin, Philip Mowry, James D. Tilford, Frank L. Case, Philip, W. Corbusier, William R. Taylor. First Lieutenants: John H. Read, Jr., George Grunert, Henry W. Hall, John B. Johnson, Clarence C. Culver, Ralph N. Hayden, E. Kearsley Sterling, Oscar Foley, Leon R. Patridge, Troup Miller, Harold B. Johnson, John V. Spring, Jr. Second Lieutenants: Cuthbert P. Stearns, Frank L. Van Horn, Harold M. Rayner, Paul R. Davison, Willis D. Critten- berger, Arthur D. Newman, Edward L. N. Glass, John F. Davis, Alfred B. Johnson, George H. Peabody, Edward C. McGuire. Veterinarians: Frederick Foster, Olaf Schwarzkopf. [Note — During September and October, those whose names are designated, were advanced. John D. L. Hartman is now Colonel of the First Provisional Cavalry Regiment at Browns- ville. James H. Reeves is Major on detached service at Fort Sam Houston. John V. Spring, Jr., has been transferred to the 1 2th.] FIRST PROVISIONAL CAVALRY REGIMENT Brownsville District, Brownsville, Texas Roster oe Officers Lieutenant-Colonel : J. D. L. Hartman, U. S. Cavalry, Com- manding Captain: John H. Read, Jr., 3rd Cavalry, Inspector-Instructor First Lieutenant: George H. Peabody, U. S. Cavalry, Asst. Inspector-Instructor First Squadron Virginia Cavalry Field and Staff Major Edgar W. Bowles. First Lt. and Adjt. James C. Earnest. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley lyg Second Lt. Q. M. Lewis H. Gates. Second Lt. Asst. Vet. Patrick H. Hudgins. First Lt. Surgeon Walter N. Mercer. Capt. John A. Cutchins. First Lt. Bradley 7. Bossieiix. Second Lt. George L. Parsons. Capt. Marion S. Hewitt. First Lt. Charles P. Bigger. Second Lt. Sheppard Crump. Cai5t. Matthew F. James. First Lt. John A. Augustine. Second Lt. Herbert E. Featherstone. Capt. Raleigh W. Hicks. First Lt. James B. Puller. Second Lt. James J. Burke, Jr. Second Squadron Colorado Cavalry Field and Staff Major Harry D. Smith.' First Lt. and Adjt. Alpha M. Chase. Second Lt. Asst. Vet. J. D. Paxton. First Lt. Asst. Surg. Robert E. Talbot. Capt. Johrf Finch. First Lt. John G. Cook. Secofid Lt. Willis B. Lightbourn. Capt. Gerald S. Lawrence. First Lt. Harold D. Bartlett. Capt. Julian G. Dickinson. First Lt. James A. Force. Troop A, New Hampshire Cavalry Capt. Harry F. Smith. First Lt. John D. McQuillen. Second Lt. Daniel P. Mahoney. iSo A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley First Illinois Cavalry Colonel: Milton J. Foreman. Lieutenant-Colonel: Wallace H. Wigham. Majors: Charles A. Walz, Robert R. McCormick, Walter J. Fisher. Captains: Frank R. Schwengel, Walter A. Rosenfield, Albert E. McEvers, Joseph W. Mattes, John D. White, Leroy E. Nelson, John P. Snigg, Wyman Williams, Don M. Phelps, Thomas J. Simpson, William A. Peterson, Samuel T. S. Slawitsky, Edward D. Schottler, John A. Holabird, Harold P. Goodnow. First Lieutenants: Arthur C. Marriett and J. Leland Bass, Squadron Adjutants; Paul M. O'Donnell, George W. Faugsted, Wilbur J. Carmichael, Robert E. Myhrman, Herbert W. Styles, Gerard L. Fossland, William F. Wendell, Lanson H. Pratt, Leon E. Cutter, Frank O. Wood, Harry Hill, George M. Hepple, Wil- liam H. Young. Second Lieutenants: Jewett B. Matthews, William G. Rosier, Rollin C. Gere, Joseph W. Gastreich, Francis A. Gibson, Francis J. Ryan, Walter C. Wallace, Edwin H. Fiebig, Harold E. East- wood, Frank P. Stretton, Harold S. Fielder, Boyden R. Sparkes, Lloyd L Vrooman, Otto M. Frank. Veterinary Surgeons: George E. McEvers, and George T. Harz. (This Company departed from Valley October i6, 1916, for home.) Oklahoma Field Hospital No. i Major Floyd J. Boland, Capt. Lewis E. Inman, Capt. Rex G. Boland, ist Lt. Frank B. Sorgatz, ist Lt. Albert C. Hirsch- field, 1st Lt. Jesse M. Pemberton. United States Ambulance Co. No. 5 Major Robert L. Carswell, M. C; ist Lt. Charles G. Hutter, M. C; ist Lt. Michael J. Sheehan, M. C. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley i8i Field Hospital No. 5 Major. P. L. Boyer, Capt. G. W. Cook, Capt. Jesse R. Harris. Company D, United States Signal Corps Major F. A. Hopkins. Battery D, 4TH United States Field Artillery Capt. E. S. Wheeler, ist Lt. J. M. Eager. Battery F, 5th United States Field Artillery Capt. J. R. Davis, 1st Lt. Carl Greenwald, ist Lt. Herbert S. Struble. Roster of 28th United States Infantry Ringgold Barracks, Rio Grande City, Texas May 31, 1916 Colonel: Elmore F. Taggart. Lieutenant-C olonel : Majors: George H. Jameison, Walter S. McBroom. Captains: Moor N. Falls, Hilden OHn, Jesse M. Cullison, Robert D. Carter, William O. Smith, Francis H. Burr, Merrill E. Spalding, Joseph L. Topham, Hugh A. Parker, A. Moreno, Ned M. Greene, N. W. Hadull. First Lieutenants: Cary L Crockett, Samuel H. Houston, George E. Arnemann, Hamilton Templeton, Percy E. Van Nostrand, George L. Hardin, Willis J. Tack, Harrison Herman, Harlan L. Mumma, M. R. Wainer, Jere Baxter. Roster 26th United States Infantry Harlingen, Texas, May 31, 1916 Colonel: Robert L. Bullard. Lieutenant-Colonel: Wilson Chase. Majors: Frank B. Watson, William W. Burnside. Captains: John W. French, Alfred C. Arnold, Goodwin Compton, Bruno T. Scher, Harry S. Adams, Garrison McCaskey, i82 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Edward Croft, A. L. Conger, George K. Wilson, Bowers Davis, G. A. Matile, C. J. King, Jr. First Lieutenants: Emmert W. Savage, Douglas J. Page, James A. O'Brien, Robert K. Whitson, Joseph D. Patch, Walter R. Wheeler, Dabeney C. Rose, Agard H. Bailey, Harry J. Maloney. "TREATY OF GUADALUPE" Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits, and Settlement between the United States of America and the United Mexican States, concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848; Ratification advised by Senate, with amendments, March 10, 1848 ; Ratified by President, March 16, 1848; Ratifications Exchanged at Que- retaro, May 30, 1848; Proclaimed, July 4, 1848. In the name of Almighty God : The United States of America and the United Mexican States, animated by a sincere desire to put an end to the calami- ties of the war which unhappily exists between the two Republics, and to establish upon a solid basis relations of peace and friend- ship, which shall confer reciprocal benefits upon the citizens of both, and assure the concord, harmony, and mutual confidence wherein the two people should live, as good neighbours, have for that purpose appointed their respective plenipotentiaries, that is to say: The President of the United States has appointed Nicholas P. Trist, a citizen of the United States, and the President of the Mexican Republic has appointed Don Luis Gonzaga Cuevas, Don Bernado Couto, and Don Miguel Atristain, citizens of the said Republic ; Who, after a reciprocal communication of their respective full powers, have, under the protection of Almighty God, the author of peace, arranged, agreed upon, and signed the following: A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 183 Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits, and Settlement Between the United States of America and the Mexican Republic Article I There shall be firm and universal peace between the United States of America and the Alexican Republic, and between their respective countries, territories, cities, towns, and people, without exception of places or persons. Article II Immediately upon the signature of this treaty, a convention shall be entered into between a commissioner or commissioners appointed by the General-in-chief of the forces of the United States, and such as may be appointed by the Mexican Govern- ment, to the end that a provisional suspension of hostilities shall take place, and that in the places occupied by the said forces, constitutional order may be reestablished, as regards the political, administrative, and judicial branches, so far as this shall be permitted by the circumstances of military occupation. Article III Immediately upon the ratification of the present treaty by the Government of the United States, orders shall be transmitted to the commanders of their land and naval forces, requiring the latter (provided this treaty shall then have been ratified by the Government of the Mexican Republic, and the ratifications exchanged) immediately to desist from blockading any Mexican ports; and requiring the former (under the same condition) to commence, at the earliest moment practicable, withdrawing all troops of the United States then in the interior of the Mexican Republic, to points that shall be selected by common agreement, at a distance from the seaports not exceeding thirty leagues ; and such evacuation of the interior of the Republic shall be com- pleted with the least possible delay; the Mexican Government 184 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley hereby binding itself to afford every facility in its power for rendering the same convenient to the troops, on their march and in their new positions, and for promoting a good under- standing between them and the inhabitants. In like manner orders shall be despatched to the persons in charge of the custom-houses at all ports occupied by the forces of the United States, requiring them (under the same condition) immediately to deliver possession of the same to the persons authorized by the Mexican Government to receive it, together with all bonds and evidences of debt for duties on importations and on expor- tations, not yet fallen due. Moreover, a faithful and exact account shall ,be made out, showing the entire amount of all duties on imports and on exports, collected at such custom- houses, or elsewhere in Mexico, by authority of the United States, from and after the day of ratification of this treaty by the Government of the Mexican Republic; and also an account of the cost of collection; and such entire amount, deducting only the cost of collection, shall be delivered to the Mexican Government, at the City of Mexico, within three months after the exchange of ratifications. The evacuation of the capital of the Mexican Republic by the troops of the United States, in virtue of the above stipulation, shall be completed in one month after the orders there stipulated for shall have been received by the commander of said troops, or sooner if possible. Article IV Immediately after the exchange of ratifications of the present treaty all castles, forts, territories, places, and possessions, which have been taken or occupied by the forces of the United States during the present war, within the limits of the Mexican Republic, as about to be established by the following article, shall be definitively restored to the said Republic, together with all the artillery, arms, apparatus of war, munitions, and other public property, which were in the said castles and forts when captured, A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 185 and which shall remain there at the time when this treaty shall be duly ratified by the government of the Mexican Republic. To this end, immediately upon the signature of this treaty, orders shall be despatched to the xA.merican officers commanding such castles and forts, securing against the removal or destruction of any such artillery, arms, apparatus of war, munitions, or other public property. The City of Mexico, within the inner line of intrenchments surrounding the said city, is comprehended in the above stipulation, as regards the restoration of artillery, apparatus of war, etc. The final evacuation of the territory of the Mexican Repub- lic, by the forces of the United States, shall be completed in three months from the said exchange of ratifications, or sooner if possible; the Mexican Government hereby engaging, as in the foregoing article, to use all means in its 'power for facilitating such evacuation, and rendering it convenient to the troops, and for promoting a good understanding between them and the inhabitants. If, however, the ratification of this treaty by both parties should not take place in time to allow thft embarcation of the troops of the United States to be completed before the com- mencement of the sickly season, at the Mexican ports on the Gulf of Mexico, in such case a friendly arrangement shall be entered into between the General-in-chief of the said troops and the Mexican Government, whereby healthy and otherwise suit- able places, at a distance from the ports not exceeding thirty leagues, shall be designated for the residence of such troops as may not yet have embarked, until the return of the healthy season. And the space of time here referred to as comprehend- ing the sickly season shall be understood to extend from the firs' day of May to the first day of November. All prisoners of war taken on either side, on land or on sea, shall be restored as soon as practicable after the exchange of ratifications of this treaty. It is also agreed that if any Mexicans iS6 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley should now be held as captives by any savage tribe within the limits of the United States, as about to be established by the following article, the Government of said United States will exact the release of such captives, and cause them to be restored to their country. Article V The boundary line between the two Republics shall commence in the Gulf of Mexico, three leagues from land, opposite the mouth of the Rio Grande, otherwise called Rio Bravo del Norte, or opposite the mouth of its deepest branch, if it should have more than one branch emptying directly into the sea; from thence up the middle of that river, following the deepest channel, where it has more than one, to the point where it strikes the southern boundary of New Mexico; thence westwardly, along the whole southern boundary of New Mexico (which runs north of the town called Paso) to its western termination; thence northward, along the western line of New Mexico, until it inter- sects the first branch of the river Gila (or if it should not inter- sect any branch of that river, then to the point on the said line nearest tO' such branch, and thence in a direct line to the same) ; thence down the middle of the said branch and of the said river, until it empties into the Rio Colorado; thence across the Rio Colorado, following the division line between Upper and Lower California, to the Pacific Ocean. The southern and western limits of New Mexico, mentioned in this article, are those laid down in the map entitled "MAP OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES, AS ORGANIZED AND DEFINED BY VARIOUS ACTS OF THE CONGRESS OF SAID REPUBLIC, AND CONSTRUCTED ACCORDING TO THE BEST AUTHORITIES; REVISED EDITION; PUBLISHED AT NEW YORK, IN 1847, BY J. DISTUR- NELL" — of which map a copy is added to this treaty, bearing the signatures and seals of the undersigned Plenipotentiaries. And, in order to preclude all difficulty in tracing A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 187 upon the ground the limit separating Upper from Lower Califor- nia, it is agreed that the said limit shall consist of a straight line drawn from the middle of the Rio Gila, where it unites with the Colorado, to a point on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, distant one marine league due south of the southernmost point of the port of San Diego, according to the plan of said port made in the year 1782 by Don Juan Pantoja, second sailing master of the Spanisli fleet, and published at Madrid in the year 1802, in the atlas to the voyage of the schooners Siitil and Mexicana; of which plan a copy is hereunto added, signed, and sealed by the respective Plenipotentiaries. In order to designate the boundary line with due precision upon authoritative maps, and to establish upon the ground land- marks which shall show the limits of both republics, as described in the present article, the two Governments shall each appoint a commissioner and a surveyor, who, before the expiration of one year from the date of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty, shall meet at the port of San Diego, and proceed to run and mark the said boundary in its whole course to the mouth of the Rio Bravo del Norte. They shall keep journals and make plans of their operations: and the result agreed upon by them shall be deemed a part of this treaty, and shall have the same force as if it were inserted therein. The two governments will amicably agree regarding what may be necessary to these per- sons, and also as to their respective escorts, should such be necessary. The boundary line established by this article shall be religi- ously respected by each of the two republics, and no change shall ever be made therein, except by the express and free con- sent of both nations, lawfully given by the General Government of each, in conformity with its own constitution. Article VI The vessels and citizens of the United. States, shall, in all times have a free and uninterrupted passage by the Gulf of i88 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley California and by the river Colorado below its confluence with Gila, to and from their possessions situated north of the boundary line defined in the preceding article; It being understood that this passage is to be by navigating the Gulf of California and the river Colorado, and not by land, without the express consent of the Mexican Government. If, by the examinations which may be made, it should be ascertained to be practicable and advantageous to construct a road, canal, or railway, which should in whole or in part run upon the river Gila, or upon its right or its left bank, within the space of one marine league from either margin of the river, the Government of both Republics will form an agreement regarding its construction, in order that it may serve equally for the use and advantage of both countries. Article VII The river Gila, and the part of the Rio Bravo del Norte lying below the southern boundary of New* Mexico, being, agreeably to the fifth article, divided in the middle between the two repub- lics, the navigation of the Gila and of the Bravo below said boundary shall be free and common to the vessels and citizens of both countries; and neither shall, without the consent of the other, construct any work that may impede or interrupt, in whole or in part, the exercise of this right; not evtn for the purpose of favoring new methods of navigation. Nor shall any tax or contribution under any denomination or title, be levied upon vessels or persons navigating the same, or upon merchandise or effects transported thereon, except in the case of landing on one of their shores. If, for the purpose of making the said rivers navigable, or for maintaining them in such state, it should be necessary or advantageous to establish any tax or contribution, this shall not be done without the consent of both Governments. The stipulations contained in the present article shall not impair the territorial rights of either republic within its estab- lished limits. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 189 Article VIII Mexicans now established in territories previously belonging to Mexico, and which remain for the future within the Hmits of the United States, as defined by the present treaty, shall be free to continue where they now reside, or to remove at any time to the Mexican Republic, retaining the property which they possess in the said territories, or disposing thereof, and remov- ing the proceeds wherever they please, without their being sub- jected, on this account, to any contribution, tax, or charge whatever. Those who shall prefer to remain in the said territories may either retain the title and rights of Mexican citizens, or acquire those of citizens of the United States. But they shall be under the obligation to make their election within one year from the date of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty; and those who shall remain in the said territories after the expiration of that year, without having declared their intention to retain the character of Mexicans, shall be considered to have elected to become citizens of the United States. In the said territories, property of every kind, now belonging to Mexicans not established there, shall be Inviolably respected. The present owners, the heirs of these, and all Mexicans who may hereafter acquire said property by contract, shall enjoy with respect to it guarantees equally ample as if the same belonged to citizens of the United States. Article IX The Mexicans who, in the territories aforesaid, shall not preserve the character of citizens of the Mexican Republic, conformably with what is stipulated in the preceding article, shall be Incorporated Into the Union of the United States, and be admitted at the proper time (to be judged of by the Congress of the United States) to the enjoyment of all the rights of citi- zens of the United States, according to the principles of the 190 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Constitution; and in the meantime, shall be maintained and protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty and property, and secured in the free exercise of their religion without restriction. Article X (Stricken out.) Article XI Considering that a great part of the territories, which, by the present treaty, are to be comprehended for the future, within the limits of the United States, is now occupied by savage tribes, who will hereafter be under the exclusive control of the Government of the United States, and whose incursions within the territory of Mexico would be prejudicial in the extreme, it is solemnly agreed that all such incursions shall be forcibly restrained by the Government of the United States whensoever this may be necessary; and that when they cannot be prevented, they shall be punished by the said Government, and satisfaction for the same shall be exacted — all in the same way, and with equal diligence and energy, as if the same incur- sions were meditated or committed within its own territory, against its own citizens. It shall not be lawful, under any pretext whatever, for any inhabitant of the United States to purchase or acquire any Mexican or any foreigner residing in Mexico, who may have been captured by Indians inhabiting the territory of either of the two Republics ; nor to purchase or acquire horses, mules, cattle, or property of any kind, stolen within Mexican territory by such Indians. And in the event of any person or persons, captured within Mexican territory by Indians being carried into the territory of the United States, the Government of the latter engages and binds itself, in the most solemn manner, so soon as it shall know of such captive being within its territory, and shall be able so A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 191 to do, through the faithful exercise of its influence and power, to rescue them and to return them to their country, or deliver them to the agent or representative of the Mexican Government. The Mexican authorities will, as far as practicable, give to the Government of the United States, notice of such captures; and its agents shall pay the expenses incurred in the maintenance and transmission of the rescued captives ; who, in the mean- time, shall be treated with the utmost hospitality by the American authorities at the place where they may be. But if the Govern- ment of the United States, before receiving such notice from Mexico, should obtain intelligence, through any other channel, of the existence of Mexican captives within its territory, it will proceed forthwith to effect their release and delivery to the Mexican agent, as above stipulated. For the purpose of giving to these stipulations the fullest possible efficacy, thereby affording the security and redress demanded by their true spirit and intent, the Government of the United States will now and hereafter, pass, without unnecessary delay, and always vigilantly enforce, such laws as the nature of the subject may require. And, finally, the sacredness of this obligation shall never be lost sight of by the said Government when providing for the removal of the Indians from any portion of the said territories, or for its being settled by citizens of the United States ; but on the contrary, special care shall then be taken not to place its Indian occupants under the necessity of seeking new homes, by committing those invasions which the United States have solemnly obliged themselves to restrain. Article XII In consideration of the extension acquired by the boundaries of the United States as defined in the fifth article of the present treaty, the Government of the United States engages to pay to that of the Mexican Republic the sum of fifteen millions of dollars. 192 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Immediately after this treaty shall have been duly ratified by the Government of the Mexican Republic, the sum of three millions of dollars shall be paid to the said Government by that of the United States at the City of Mexico, in the gold or silver coin of Mexico. The remaining twelve milHons of dollars shall be paid at the same place and in the same coin, in annual instal- ments of three millions of dollars each, together with interest on the same at the rate of six per centum per annum. This interest shall begin to run upon the whole sum of twelve millions from the day of the ratification of the present treaty by the Mexican Government, and the first of the instalments shall be paid at the expiration of one year from the same day. Together with each annual instalment as it falls due, the whole interest accruing on such instalment from the beginning shall also be paid. Article XIII The United States engage, moreover, to assume and pay- to the claimants, all of the amounts now due them and those hereafter to become due, by reason of the claims already liqui- dated and decided against the Mexican Republic, under the con- ventions between the two Republics severally, concluded on the eleventh day of April, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine and on the thirtieth day of January, eighteen hundred and forty-three; so that the Mexican Republic shall be absolutely exempt for the future, from all expense whatever on account of the said claims. Article XIV The United States do furthermore, discharge the Mexican Republic from all claims of citizens of the United States not heretofore decided against the Mexican Government, which may have arisen previously to the date of the signature of this treaty; which discharge shall be final and perpetual, whether the said claims be rejected or be allowed by the Board of Commissioners provided for in the following article, and whatever shall be the total amount of those allowed. A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 193 Article XV The United States, exonerating Mexico from all demands on account of the claims of their citizens mentioned in the pre- ceding article, and considering them entirely and forever can- celed, whatever their amount may be, undertake to make satisfac- tion for the same to an amount not exceeding three and one-quar- ter millions of dollars. To ascertain the validity and amount of those claims, a Board of Commissioners shall be established by the Government of the United States, whose awards shall be final and conclusive ; provided that, in deciding upon the validity of each claim, the Board shall be guided and governed by the principles and rules of decisions prescribed by the first and fifth articles of the unratified convention concluded at the City of Mexico on the twentieth day of November, one thousand, eight hundred and forty-three ; and in no case shall an award be made in favor of any claim not embraced by these principles and rules. If, in the opinion of the said Board of Commfssioners, or of the claimants, any books, records, or documents in the posses- sion or power of the Government of the Mexican Republic, shall be deemed necessary to the just decision of any claim, the Com- missioners or the claimants through them, shall, within such period as Congress may designate, make an application in writing for the same, addressed to the Mexican Minister of foreign affairs, to be transmitted by the Secretary of State of the United States ; and the Mexican Government engages, at the earliest possible moment after the receipt of such demand, to cause any of the books, records, or documents specified, which shall be in their possession or power (or authenticated copies or extracts of the same) to be transmitted to the said Secretary of State, who shall immediately deliver them over to the said Board of Commissioners; provided that no such application shall be made by or at the instance of any claimant, until the facts which it is expected to prove b> such books, records, or documents, shall have been stated under oath or affirmation. 194 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Article XVI Each of the contracting parties reserves to itself the entire right to fortify whatever point within its territory it may judge proper so to fortify for its security. Article XVII The treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation concluded at the City of Mexico on the fifth day of April, A. D. 1831, between the United States of America and the United Mexican vStates, except the additional article, and except as far as the stipulations of the said treaty may be incompatible with any stipulation contained in the present treaty, is hereby revived for the peri'od of eight years from the day of the exchange of ratifi- cations of this treaty, with the same force and virtue as if incor- porated therein ; it being understood that each of the contracting parties reserves to itself the right, at any time after the said period of eight years shall have expired, to terminate the same by giving one year's notice of such intention to the other party. - Article XVIII All supplies whatever for troops of the United States in Mexico, arriving at ports in the occupation of such troops pre- vious to the final evacuation thereof, although subsequently to the restoration of the custom houses at such ports, shall be entirely exempt from duties and charges of any kind; the Gov- ernment of the United States hereby engaging and pledging it? faith, to establish and vigilantly to enforce all possible guards for securing the revenue of Mexico, by preventing the importa- tion under cover of this stipulation, of any articles other than such, both in kind and in quantity, as shall really be wanted for the use and consumption of the forces of the United States during the time they may remain in Mexico. To this end it shall be the duty of all officers and agents of the United States to denounce to the Mexican authorities at the respective ports any attempts at a fraudulent abuse of this stipulation, which they A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 195 may know of, or may have reason to suspect, and to give to such authorities all the aid in their power with regard thereto; and every such attempt, when duly proved and established by sen- tence of a competent tribunal, shall be punished by the confisca- tion of the property so attempted to be fradulently introduced. Article XIX With respect to all merchandise, effects, and property what- soever, imported into ports of Mexico, whilst in the occupation of the forces of the United States, whether by citizens of either Republic or by citizens or subjects of any neutral nations, the following rules shall be observed: (i) All such merchandise, effects, and property, if imported previously to the restoration of the custom houses to the Mexi- can authorities as stipulated for in the third article of this treaty, shall be exempt from confiscation although the importation of the same be prohibited by the Mexican tariff. (2) The same perfect exemption shall be enjoyed by all such •merchandise, effects, and property, imported subsequently to the restoration of the custom houses, and previously to the sixty days fixed in the following article for the coming into force of the Mexican tariff at such ports, respectively; the said merchan- dise, effects, and property being, however, at the time of their importation, subject to the payment of duties, as provided for in the said following article. (3) All merchandise, effects, and property described in the two rules foregoing shall, during their continuance at the place of importation, and upon their leaving such place for the interior, be exempt from all duty, tax, or imposts of every kind, under whatsoever title or denomination. Nor shall they be there sub- jected to any charge whatsoever upon the sale thereof. (4) All merchandise, ett'ects, and property, described in the first and second rules, which shall have been removed to any place in the interior whilst such place was in the occupation of the forces of the United States, shall, during their continuance 196 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley . therein, be exempt from all tax upon the sale or consumption thereof, and from every kind of impost or contribution under whatsoever title or denomination. (5) But if any merchandise, effects, or property described in the first and second rules, shall be removed to any place not occupied at the time by the forces of the United States, they shall, upon their introduction into such place, or upon their sale or consumption there, be subject to the same duties which, under the Mexican laws, they would be required to pay in such cases if they had been imported in time of peace, through the maritime custom houses, and had there paid the duties conformably with the Mexican tariff. (6) The owners of all merchandise, effects, or property, described in the first and second rules, and existing in any port of Mexico, shall have the right to reship the same, exempt from all tax, impost, or contribution whatever. With respect to the metals, or other property, exported from any Mexican port whilst in the occupation of the forces of the United States, and previously to the restoration of the custom house at such port, no person shall be required by the Mexican authorities, whether general or state, to pay any tax, duty, or contribution upon any such exportation or in any manner to account for the same to the said authorities. Article XX Through consideration for the interests of commerce gen- erally, it is agreed that if less than sixty days should elapse between the date of the signature of this treaty and the restora- tion of the custom houses, conformably with the stipulation in the third article, in such case all merchandise, effects, and prop- erty v.-hatsoever, arriving at the Mexican ports after the restora- tion of the said custom houses, and previously to the expiration of sixty days after the day of signature of this treaty, shall be admitted to entry; and no other duties shall be levied thereon, than the duties established bv the tariff found in force at such A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 197 custom houses, at the time of the restoration of the same. And to all such merchandise, effects, and property, the rules estab- lished by the preceding article shall apply. Article XXI If unhappily any disagreement should hereafter arise between the governments of the two republics, whether with respect to the interpretation of any stipulation in this treaty, or with respect to any other particular concerning the political or commercial relations of the two nations, the said Governments, in the name of those nations, do promise to each other that they will endeavor, in the most sincere and earnest manner, to settle the differences so arising, and to preserve the state of peace and friendship in which the two countries are now placing themselves, using, for this end, mutual representations and pacific negotiations. And if, by these means, they should not be enabled to come to an agreement, a resort shall not, on this account, be had to repri- sals, aggression, or hostility of any kind, by the one republic against the other, until the Government of that which deems itself aggrieved shall have maturely considered, in the spirit of peace and good neighbourship, whether it would not be better that such difference should be settled by the arbitration of com- mir.sioners appointed on each side, or by that of a friendly nation. And should such course be proposed by either party, it shall be acceded to by the other, unless deemed by it altogether incom- patible with the nature of the difference, or the circumstances of the case. Article XXII If (which is not to be expected, and which God forbid) war should unhappily break out between the two Republics they do now, with a view to such calamity, solemnly pledge themselves to each other and to the world, to observe the following rules, absolutely, where the nature of the subject permits, and as closely as possible in all cases where such absolute observance shall be impossible: 198 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (i) The merchants of either Republic then residing in the other, shall be allowed to remain twelve months (for those dwelling in the interior), and six months (for those dwelling at the seaports), to collect their debts and settle their ajffairs ; during which periods they shall enjoy the same protection, and be on the same footing in all respects as the citizens or subjects of the most friendly nations ; and, at the expiration thereof, or at any time before, they shall have full liberty to depart, carrying oft all their effects without molestation or hindrance, conforming therein to the same laws which the citizens or subjects of the most friendly nations are required to conform to. Upon the entrance of the armies of either nation into the territories of the other, women and children, ecclesiastics, scholars of every faculty, cultivators of the earth, merchants, artisans, manufac- turers, and fisherman, unarmed and inhabiting unfortified towns, villages, or places, and in general all persons whose occupations are for the common subsistence and benefit of mankind, shall be allowed to continue their respective employments, unmolested in their persons. Nor shall their houses or goods be burnt or otherwise destroyed, nor their cattle taken, nor their fields wasted, by the armed force into whose power by the events of war, they may happen to fall; but if the necessity arise to take anything from them for the use of such armed force, the same shall be paid for at an equitable price. All churches, hospitals, schools, colleges, libraries, and other establishments for chari- table and beneficent purposes, shall be respected, and all persons connected with the same protected in the discharge of their duties and the pursuit of their vocations. (2) Tn order that the fate of prisoners of war may be alleviated, all such practices as those of sending them into dis- tant, inclement, or unwholesome districts, or crowding them into close and noxious places, shall be studiously avoided. They shall not be confined in dungeons, prison-ships, or prisons ; nor be put in irons, or bound, or otherwise restrained in the use of their A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 199 limbs. The officers shall enjoy liberty on their paroles, within convenient districts, and have comfortable quarters; and the common soldier shall be disposed in cantonments, open and extensive enough for air and exercise, and lodged in barracks as roomy and good as are provided by the party in whose power they are, for its own troops. But if any officer shall break his parole, by leaving the district so assigned him, or any other prisoner shall escape from the limits of his cantonment after they shall have been designated to him, such individual, officer or other prisoner, shall forfeit so much of the benefit of this article as provides for his liberty on parole or in cantonment. And if any officer, so breaking his parole, or any common soldier so escaping from the limits assigned him, shall afterwards be found in arms, previously to his being regularly exchanged, the person so offending shall be dealt with according to the estab- lished laws of war. The officers shall be daily furnished by the party in whose power they are, with as many rations and of the same articles as are allowed, either in kind or by commutation, to officers of equal rank in its own army ; and all others shall be daily furnished with such rations as are allowed to a common soldier in its own service; the value of all which supplies shall at the close of the war, or at periods to be agreed upon between the respective commanders, be paid by the other party on a mutual adjustment of accounts for the subsistence of prisoners; and such accounts shall not be mingled with or set off against any others, nor the balance due on them be withheld, as a com- pensation or reprisal for any cause whatever, real or pretended. Each party shall be allowed to keep a commissary of prisoners, appointed by itself, with every cantonment of prisoners in pos- session of the other; which commissary shall see the prisoners as often as he pleases ; shall be allowed to receive, exempt from all duties or taxes, and to distribute, whatever comforts may be sent to them by their friends; and shall be free to transmit his reports in open letters to the party by whom he is employed, 200 A Brief History of the Lozvcr Rio Grande Valley And it is declared that neither the pretense that war dissolves all treaties, nor any other Avhatever, shall be considered as annul- ling or suspending the solemn covenants contained in this article. On the contrary, the state of war is precisely that for which it is provided ; and, during which, its stipulations are to be as sacredly observed as the most acknowledged obligations under the law of nature or nations. Article XXIII This treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United States of America, l)y and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof; and by the President of the Mexican Republic, with the previous approbation of its general Congress ; and the ratifications shall be exchanged in the City of Washington, or at the seat of Government of Mexico, in four months from the date of the signature hereof, or sooner if practicable. In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this treaty of peace, friendship, limits, and settlement, and have hereunto affixed our seals, respectively. Done in quintuplicate, at the City of Guadalupe Hidalgo, on the second day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight. N. P. Trist, (L. S.) Luis P. Cuevas, (L. S.) Bernardo Couto, (L. S.) MiGL. Atristain. (L. S.)