Palmito Ranch - The Final Fury

[J. D. Stevens]

Although the last battle of the Civil War on May 13, 1865 at Palmito Ranch was a Southern victory, it remains relatively obscure in history. Six weeks after General Lee surrendered at Appomattox, the battle had no military significance. It's still unclear why it was fought since a "gentleman's agreement" between local commanders had been made earlier in the year. Colonel T. H. Barrett had recently taken over command of the Federal troops stationed on a sandbar island at the mouth of the Rio Grande called Brazos Santiago. For reasons not clearly known, Colonel Barrett took it upon himself to mount an expedition up the river to Brownsville. The intent of this thread is not to repeat the specifics of the battle since a Forum SEARCH will produce half a dozen previous threads with good information.

Besides being the last battle of the Civil War, there is one other significant fact sometimes overlooked. Colonel John S. "Old Rip" Ford commanded about 300 mostly Texas Cavalry including the gun crews for six field pieces. At least one crew was made up of volunteers borrowed from the French naval commander at Matamoros across the river. These were the only known French Imperial soldiers to serve as active Confederate allies on a Civil War battlefield. They were under the command of Colonel Ford.

In Chapter XIII of "Confederate Military History in Texas" by Oran M. Roberts, a report by Captain L. G. Aldrich, AAG at Brownsville, is quoted: We had some volunteer French cannoneers in charge of the pieces in the front. Colonel Ford galloped past them a short distance above Palmetto ranch and gave them a command to hurry up. After having gone 200 or 300 yards, Ford moved back at full speed and told the Frenchmen "Aliens." They limbered up briskly and went forward with celerity, but the chance of a good shot was missed. The colonel had not known previously of their presence.

For a detailed account about the circumstances leading up to the battle, the battle itself and outcome, I strongly suggest reading "The Final Fury, Palmito Ranch" by Phillip Thomas Tucker.

For your viewing pleasure, I have included a few pictures of a diorama found at the Texas Civil War Museum in Fort Worth.

The French gun crew

View of the entire battle

To me, the most impressive part of this exhibit are the high school students who created the diorama. The story of how the diorama found a home at the Texas Museum is also interesting.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

As much as I love the image of blue and red uniformed French soldiers fighting beside Confederate troops, it may be misleading. From what little I know from ongoing research of the French and Imperial Mexican armies at the time, (I've had pretty tough time nailing down solid info on their uniforms), I believe those French soldiers should probably have blue trousers. Also given the potential political nightmare that would have occurred if Colonel Barrett or other Union troops reported uniformed French soldiers firing on them on Texas soil the French "volunteers" probably took steps to avoid being recognized, the easiest, being simply removing their jackets would have sufficed, especially since a lot of French soldiers, (like many Yanks and Confederates) were noted to have tended to discard their kepis for field duty for and wore sombreros for comfortable reasons, so if they showed up in Texas without their plainly French uniform jackets, and wearing various styles of sombreros or other brimmed hat, they would have been sufficiently disguised to avoid a political incident. Plus the Confederate uniforms are off in that diorama.

Still a great diorama, (except for that boat), I'd like to see it one day. On another note Colonel Barrett did report being fired on by Mexican Imperial Cavalry from the Mexico side of the Rio Grande during his retreat.

 

[archieclement]

In a account of the battle I read it mentioned the CS battery at Palmetto having French guns. Which makes sense it could easily have been guns brought in through Mexico, but what would French guns be? 12 pdr Napoleons or would their have been other varieties?

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

In a account of the battle I read it mentioned the CS battery at Palmetto having French guns. Which makes sense it could easily have been guns brought in through Mexico, but what would French guns be? 12 pdr Napoleons or would their have been other varieties?

If there were French guns at the battle, I doubt they belonged to the Confederacy. Very few, if any, French artillery pieces were imported to my knowledge. Also the report on artillery from June 1, 1865 makes no mention of specifically French imported pieces. As for the artillery at Palmito Ranch, the only reference I've found is of six 12 pounders, which doesn't necessarily mean Napoleons, they could have been any number of the older model 12 pounders.

At the same time I highly doubt the French "volunteers" brought their own cannon. Ford came down from Fort Brown, so I reckon those six 12 pounders were part of the Fort's garrison. They could have been US Napoleons, (some folks called them French guns), but they could have also been US M1841 heavy 12 pounders, or even US M1841 12-pound field howitzers for all I know at this point.

This might be an interesting research subject....

 

[J. D. Stevens]

(except for that boat)

You are probably right about the uniforms and the steamboat is depicted erroneously. It appears to be taking part in the battle in the diorama which it did not, but there was a steamboat nearby owned by Richard King and partner flying the Mexican flag. It was most likely down river, since the Confederates thought it was a Union boat coming to aide or bring reinforcements Col. Barrett.

 

[Pollaco]

Its been reported that Col. Ford was NOT in uniform that day. He was in civilian clothes.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Its been reported that Col. Ford was NOT in uniform that day. He was in civilian clothes.

Where, if I may ask?

 

[Pollaco]

Where, if I may ask?

In the book "Civil War + Revolution on the Rio Grande Frontier" by Jerry Thompson and Lawrence Jones lll. It is stated that Col.Rip Ford was in Civilian clothes during the battle.

 

[FedericoFCavada]

Some info on artillery at Palmito Ranch... Including speculation that two of the 6-pounders were none other than the San Jacinto "twin sisters" from Cincinnati:

Handbook of Texas Online--Twin Sisters

 

[jackt62]

I guess this proves the old saying, you can win the battles but lose the war.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Some info on artillery at Palmito Ranch... Including speculation that two of the 6-pounders were none other than the San Jacinto "twin sisters" from Cincinnati:

Handbook of Texas Online--Twin Sisters

I don't think it can be said with certainty that the "Twins" were there. Personally, I'm a little doubtful.

There's been a LOT of sightings of the Twins in the CW at various battles, but there has also been a lot of myth surrounding them. For example there is some research that says they never left the Houston area after the Texas Revolution, and at the same time a lot of research that says the guns from Louisiana were the Twins. Heck a lot of folks believe they were bronze guns, and a lot of folks believe they were iron. There's so much speculation on what the guns looked like, and so much speculation of there whereabouts during the war I don't think anything can be said for certain. Plus I highly suspect several Texas artillery units who had two 6-pounders would call their guns Twin Sisters as a tribute to the legendary Twins.

On another note, it'd be awesome if they were there at Palmito Ranch.

 

[Pollaco]

In the book "Civil War + Revolution on the Rio Grande Frontier" by Jerry Thompson and Lawrence Jones lll. It is stated that Col.Rip Ford was in Civilian clothes during the battle.

Also in this book is the mention of the court martial of one of Col. Barretts Subordinates. Just who it was and what it was for I'm at a loss right now. The court martial took place several months after the battle of Palmito. One of the witnesses for the defense was Col. Ford.

 

[Randy1944]

I am attempting to find information on a member of the 2nd.Texas Calvary, Co. C, Confederate. He is Corporal John C. Bowie/Boie. I believe he fought at Palmito Ranch in 1865. I believe he was under Col. Ford. I have searched with no luck. I do not yet know birth or death dates for him. I would appreciate any help or guidance.

 

[J. D. Stevens]

I am attempting to find information on a member of the 2nd.Texas Calvary, Co. C, Confederate. He is Corporal John C. Bowie/Boie. I believe he fought at Palmito Ranch in 1865. I believe he was under Col. Ford. I have searched with no luck. I do not yet know birth or death dates for him. I would appreciate any help or guidance.

Pvt John C. Boie enlisted March 1861 at Camp Wood in Uvalde for 3 months temporary state service. Mustered out June 1861 at Ft Inge. Age 20. Colonel Ford's Rgt to take Federal property at Camp Wood and Ft Inge. Source: Tx Muster Roll Cards

4th Cpl John C. Boie enlisted June 1861 at Ft Inge in Company C, 2nd Tx Mtd Vol TST, John S. Ford commanding for 1 year. Residence Uvalde. $50 value of horse & equipment, no arms. Source: Tx Muster Roll Cards

The source of the following records were found on FOLD3:

4th Cpl John C. Boie enlisted June 25, 1861 at Ft Clark in W. C. Adam's company 2nd Tx Mtd Rifles by Lt. Col. Baylor for 12 months.

4th Cpl John C. Boie, Company C, 2nd Tx Mtd Rifles Muster for Nov-Dec 1861. On detached service - Scout.

Pvt John C. Boie, Company C, 2nd Tx Mtd Rifles Muster for Jan-Feb 1862. Present, reduced in rank.

Cpl John C. Boie, age 21, re-enlisted July 16, 1862 at Ft Lancaster in Capt J. H. Read's company 2nd Rgt Tx Mtd Rifles for 2 years or duration of war. Horse and equipment valued at $150. On detached service.

Cpl John C. Bowie, age 21 in Capt John H. Read's company 2nd Rgt Tx Mtd Rifles. Company Muster Roll for Sept-Oct 1862 shows he was paid on Aug 31 for use of horse, $24. This is the last service record for John C. Boie or Bowie.

Under the same records for John C. Boie, there is an Oath of Allegiance for Pvt J. J. Bowie of company C, 2nd Tx Volunteers. It states he was employed as an Acting Assistant Surgeon under contract. He swore not to commit any act of hostility against the United states until he is exchanged or other wise properly released. Dated May 12, 1862. Oath sworn before the Clerk of US District Court in New Mexico Territory.

A simple search at Ancestry did not reveal an identifiable John C. Boie or Bowie born about 1841 in the census or death records.

 

[Randy1944]

Thank you very much for this help. I am not a member of Fold3 or Ancestry and did not have access to their information. I do appreciate your help. Have a great day.