Norton, Washington T.

 

Regiment Name:

2nd Regiment, Texas Cavalry (1 year, 1865)

 

Side:

Union

 

Company:

 

Soldier's Rank In:

Second Lieutenant

 

Soldier's Rank Out:

 

Alternate name:

 

Film Number:

M393 roll 2

 

UNION TEXAS VOLUNTEERS

2nd Regiment, Texas Cavalry (1 year, 1865)

 

Overview:

Organized at Brazos Santiago, Texas, March, 1865. Duty at Brownsville, Brazos Santiago and other points in Texas till November, 1865. Expedition from Brazos Santiago May 11-14. Actions at Palmetto Ranch May 12-13, and White's Ranch May 13. Mustered out November 10, 1865.

 

Palmito Ranch

Other Name:

Palmito Hill

 

Campaign:

Expedition From Brazos Santiago

 

Date(s):

May 1865

 

Principal Commanders:

Colonel Theodore Barrett [US] Colonel John Ford [CS]

 

Forces Engaged:

0 total (US ; CS est.)

Estimated Casualties:

148 total (US 30; CS 118)

 

 

Description:

Since March 1865, a gentleman's agreement precluded fighting between Union and Confederate forces on the Rio Grande. In spite of this agreement, Col. Theodore H. Barrett, commanding forces at Brazos Santiago, Texas, dispatched an expedition, composed of 250 men of the 62nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment and 50 men of the 2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment under the command of Lt. Col. David Branson, to the mainland, on May 11, 1865, to attack reported Rebel outposts and camps. Prohibited by foul weather from crossing to Point Isabel as instructed, the expedition crossed to Boca Chica much later. At 2:00 am, on May 12, the expeditionary force surrounded the Rebel outpost at White's Ranch, but found no one there. Exhausted, having been up most of the night, Branson secreted his command in a thicket and among weeds on the banks of the Rio Grande and allowed his men to sleep. Around 8:30 am, people on the Mexican side of the river informed the Rebels of the Federals' whereabouts. Branson promptly led his men off to attack a Confederate camp at Palmito Ranch. After much skirmishing along the way, the Federals attacked the camp and scattered the Confederates. Branson and his men remained at the site to feed themselves and their horses but, at 3:00 pm, a sizable Confederate force appeared, influencing the Federals to retire to White's Ranch. He sent word of his predicament to Barrett, who reinforced Branson at daybreak, on the 13th, with 200 men of the 34th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The augmented force, now commanded by Barrett, started out towards Palmito Ranch, skirmishing most of the way. At Palmito Ranch, they destroyed the rest of the supplies not torched the day before and continued on. A few miles forward, they became involved in a sharp firefight. After the fighting stopped, Barrett led his force back to a bluff at Tulosa on the river where the men could prepare dinner and camp for the night. At 4:00 pm, a large Confederate cavalry force, commanded by Col. John S. "Rip" Ford, approached, and the Federals formed a battle line. The Rebels hammered the Union line with artillery. To preclude an enemy flanking movement, Barrett ordered a retreat. The retreat was orderly and skirmishers held the Rebels at a respectable distance. Returning to Boca Chica at 8:00 pm, the men embarked at 4:00 am, on the 14th. This was the last battle in the Civil War. Native, African, and Hispanic Americans were all involved in the fighting. Many combatants reported that firing came from the Mexican shore and that some Imperial Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande but did not take part in the battle. These reports are unproven.

 

Results:

Confederate Victory

 

CWSAC Reference #:

TX005

 

Barrett, Theodore H.

 

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Bio:

There are few readily available records of Barrett's service, with the exception of his leadership in the Battle of Palmito Ranch. Colonel Barrett received command of detachments from the 62nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment, and 34th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at Brazos Santiago, Texas. After launching an expedition to attack enemy outposts, he was compelled to reinforce his attack. However, he eventually had to order his men to withdraw.

Rank:

Colonel

 

 

Ford, John S.

Bio:

Since March 1865, a gentleman‰s agreement precluded fighting between Union and Confederate forces on the Rio Grande. In spite of this agreement, Colonel Theodore H. Barrett, commanding forces at Brazos Santiago, Texas, dispatched an expedition, composed of 250 men of the 62nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment and 50 men of the 2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel David Branson, to the mainland, on May 11, 1865, to attack reported Confederate outposts and camps. Prohibited by foul weather from crossing to Point Isabel as instructed, the expedition crossed to Boca Chica much later. Although successful at first in his attacks on the Confederate outposts, the following day he was hammered by Confederate cavalry and artillery. To preclude an enemy flanking movement, Barrett ordered a retreat. The retreat was orderly and skirmishers held the Confederates at a respectable distance. This was the last battle in the Civil War. Native, African, and Hispanic Americans were all involved in the fighting.

Rank:

Colonel