Home > Battle of Palmito Ranch

Early in 1865, both sides in Texas agreed to a gentlemen's agreement that there was no point to further hostilities. Why the needless battle even happened remains something of a mystery—perhaps Union Colonel Theodore H. Barrett had political aspirations. He certainly had little military experience. Barrett instructed Lieutenant Colonel David Branson to attack the rebel encampment at Brazos Santiago Depot near Fort Brown outside Brownsville.

Of note, most Union troops had pulled out from Texas for campaigns in the east. The Confederates were concerned to protect what ports they had for cotton sales to Europe, as well as importation of supplies. Mexicans tended to side with the Confederates due to a lucrative smuggling trade.

Union forces marched upriver from Brazos Santiago to attack a Confederate encampment, and were at first successful. Then the rebels drove them back. The next day, the Union counterattacked, again to initial success and later failure. Ultimately, the Union retreated to the coast.

There were over 115 Union casualties, wounded and missing—four officers and 111 men. Confederate casualites were "a few dozen" wounded, none killed. Nothing was really gained on either side; like the war's first big battle ( First Bull Run to the Union, First Manassas to the Confederates), it is recorded as a Confederate victory. Texas armies formally surrendered on May 26, 1865; Confederate general Kirby Smith surrendered his forces in the Trans-Mississippi DepartmentThe Trans-Mississippi Department also known as the Trans-Mississippi Theater or Trans-Mississippi District was the Confederate military designation for the geographic area of operations west of the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. The Depa on June 2June 2 is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. Events 455 The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks. They depart with countless valuables, spoils of the Temple in Jerusalem brnd.

It is worth noting that private John J. WilliamsJohn James Williams ( May 17, 1904 January 11, 1988) was an American politician from Delaware who served as a U. Senator from 1947 to 1970. John J. Williams (died May 13, 1865) was the last man killed in the American Civil War, at the Battle of Palmito Ra of the 34th Indiana Volunteer Infantry was the last man killed at the Battle at Palmito Ranch, and probably the last of the war. Fighting were white, African, Hispanic and native troops. Reports of shots from the Mexican side are unverified, though many witnesses reported firing from the Mexican shore.