7. Colonel Lee to the Adjutant General.
Headquarters Fort Brown, Texas,
April 11, 1860.
April 11, 1860.
Colonel: I have the honor to report that I arrived here to-day, having descended the left bank of the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass. I found the frontier on the river quiet, and did not hear of the existence of any bands of armed men on either side. The commerce and intercourse between Mexico and Texas continued, though the feelings of the Mexican and American population seemed much embittered against each other. Most of the ranchos on the river in Texas, between Rio Grande city and this place, have been abandoned or destroyed. Those spared by Cortinas have been burned by the Texans. The occupants have generally taken refuge in Mexico, and no preparation for a crop this spring has yet been made.
On arriving opposite the town of Reynosa, I was informed by Major John Ford, of the Texan rangers, that some of Cortinas’s men were in that place. I demanded their expulsion by the authorities of the city. Copies of the correspondence (marked A) are hereto annexed. They denied the presence of these men, and stated that they had received orders from their own government to arrest and punish any if found. This they pledged themselves to do. . A copy of my orders to Captain Brackett, commanding a squadron of the second cavalry, on the subject, is also appended, (marked B,) agreeably to the tenor of the letters from your office dated the 2d and 3d of March. On my arrival at Ringgold barracks I addressed a communication to the governor of Tamaulipas, a copy of which (marked C) is annexed. To this I have not yet received an answer.
I also forward copies of a letter this day received from the Hon. George McKnight, commissioner of the State of Texas, and my reply (marked D.) from which you will perceive that the two companies of Texas rangers, under the command of Major Ford and Captain Littleton, will be withdrawn from this frontier.
I have, besides these, three companies of artillery, including Major Hunt’s battery, at this post; two companies of eighth infantry at Ringgold barracks, and four companies second cavalry in the field between those points.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
On arriving opposite the town of Reynosa, I was informed by Major John Ford, of the Texan rangers, that some of Cortinas’s men were in that place. I demanded their expulsion by the authorities of the city. Copies of the correspondence (marked A) are hereto annexed. They denied the presence of these men, and stated that they had received orders from their own government to arrest and punish any if found. This they pledged themselves to do. . A copy of my orders to Captain Brackett, commanding a squadron of the second cavalry, on the subject, is also appended, (marked B,) agreeably to the tenor of the letters from your office dated the 2d and 3d of March. On my arrival at Ringgold barracks I addressed a communication to the governor of Tamaulipas, a copy of which (marked C) is annexed. To this I have not yet received an answer.
I also forward copies of a letter this day received from the Hon. George McKnight, commissioner of the State of Texas, and my reply (marked D.) from which you will perceive that the two companies of Texas rangers, under the command of Major Ford and Captain Littleton, will be withdrawn from this frontier.
I have, besides these, three companies of artillery, including Major Hunt’s battery, at this post; two companies of eighth infantry at Ringgold barracks, and four companies second cavalry in the field between those points.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. Lee,
Brevet Colonel, Comdg Department of Texas.
Brevet Colonel, Comdg Department of Texas.
Colonel S. Cooper,
Adjt. General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.
Adjt. General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.
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7 a.
7 a.
Headquarters Ringgold Barracks,
April 2, 1868.
April 2, 1868.
Sir: In consequence of the recent outrages of Cortinas and his followers upon the persons and property of American citizens, I have been instructed by the Secretary of War, of the United States, to notify the authorities of Mexico on the Rio Grande frontier that they must break up and disperse the bands of banditti which have been concerned in these depredations and have sought protection within Mexican territory; and further, that they will be held responsible for thefaithful performance of this plain duty on their part.
I have, therefore, the honor to request that your excellency will cause to be dispersed any bands within the States under your jurisdiction having for their object depredations upon American soil.
I am, with high respect, your obedient servant,
I have, therefore, the honor to request that your excellency will cause to be dispersed any bands within the States under your jurisdiction having for their object depredations upon American soil.
I am, with high respect, your obedient servant,
R. E. Lee,
Brevet Colonel, Comdg Department of Texas.
Brevet Colonel, Comdg Department of Texas.
His excellency Andres Trevino,
Governor of State of Tamaulipas, &c., Victoria, Mexico.
Governor of State of Tamaulipas, &c., Victoria, Mexico.
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7 b.
7 b.
Headquarters Camp at Edinburg, Texas,
April 7, 1860.
April 7, 1860.
Gentlemen: In pursuance of instructions received from the honor able Secretary of War, of the government of the United States, I hereby notify you that you must break up and disperse the bands of banditti within your jurisdiction engaged in committing depredations upon the persons and property of American citizens, and that I shall hold you responsible for the faithful performance of this plain duty on your part.
I have been informed that there are now within your jurisdiction armed followers of Cortinas, who were engaged in the recent outrages committed by him on this side of the Rio Grande, prepared to make similar aggressions.
This state of things cannot longer exist, and must be put an end to.
I am, with high respect, your obedient servant,
I have been informed that there are now within your jurisdiction armed followers of Cortinas, who were engaged in the recent outrages committed by him on this side of the Rio Grande, prepared to make similar aggressions.
This state of things cannot longer exist, and must be put an end to.
I am, with high respect, your obedient servant,
R. E. Lee,
Brevet Colonel, Commanding Department of Texas.
Brevet Colonel, Commanding Department of Texas.
To the Civil and Military Authorities of the city of Reynosa, Mexico.
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7 c.
7 c.
[Translation.]
In an extraordinary session held this day the corporation of this city has made itself acquainted with the contents of your esteemed letter of the 7th of April, addressed to the civil and military authorities of the place, and has decided to reply to you, through me, that if it be, indeed, quite certain that there are, unfortunately, within this jurisdiction any bandits of the Cortinas faction, which has inflicted so much injury on the nation to which you belong—though to the sincere regret of all good Mexicans, who desire to have only the most pleasant relations with a friendly people—such criminals are yet mere skulking vagabonds, who sedulously keep out of the way of the authorities in pursuit of them; for you must know that the authorities of this city have orders from those above them to break up, pursue, arrest, and punish any and every band of men whom the factious Cortinas might attempt to collect on this side of the river, and on no account will any such be permitted to range undisturbed within this jurisdiction, but will, on the contrary, be consigned to a close prison, and turned over to the chief officer of the district, to be dealt with according to their deserts; and to this end, an armed force has for some time past been scouring the district, with the exclusive object of hunting down all such malefactors.
The corporation has also requested me, sir, to call your attention to the fact that certain persons, whether Mexicans or strangers is not known, have not scrupled to assure the authorities of the United States that the followers of Cortinas, or persons at least who are well affected to his cause, have been allowed to reside unmolested in this city, and that with such reports they have succeeded in creating injurious prejudices, and cause this neighborhood to live in the continued fear of an invasion of United States volunteers; whereas, in truth, the whole story is a fabrication, and the inhabitants of this city, and the country around it, have at heart no more sincere desire than to be allowed to live in peace, tranquillity, and harmony with their neighbors across the river. In proof of which, I point to the fact that not one of the many Americans who have come here has ever sustained the slightest injury of any kind, but, on the contrary, whenever with their families they have come over here to invoke the protection of our town authorities, they have invariably received it.
As to the events which have recently transpired between this community and the force under command of Major John S. Ford, with reference to his entry into this town, I am instructed by the corporation to make known to you that it had received information, on the afternoon of the 3d instant, that a force of volunteers designed making a visit to the town, with what object was unknown, and that our citizens accordingly made preparations for defence; and that on the 4th of the month, somewhere about 11 o’clock, the said force made its appearance, to the number of seventy-odd men, under command of the above-named Major Ford, who, directing himself towards the chief magistrate of the town, informed him that his object was to follow up the partisans of Cortinas who were in the town and its neighborhood; to which reply was made, that no such men would he be able to find in that population, unless, indeed, it should happen that they were lurking there concealed, and that this sudden invasion was a matter for grave surprise, and one which he had no right to make, and that for this reason it was he saw the neighborhood in arms, ready to defend themselves should he fail to respect their municipal authorities; that his force should, therefore, return to the other side of the river by the public ferry, which was immediately done, without the commission of any outrage whatever. That Major Ford subsequently addressed a communication to the corporation of the town, calling upon it to seek out, arrest and deliver over to him the Cortinas men named by him in said official note; to which reply was made, that his reclamation would be submitted to the presiding officer of the district, whose decision would be duly communicated to him, as in due time it was. That during the intervening time the volunteers, encamped just opposite to the town, have repeatedly fired upon the garita, (custom-house outpost,) wounding, yesterday, one of the soldiers on guard there, and have also fired on the men and women who have gone down to the river for water for domestic purposes, and, besides, have slightly wounded a youth who was working at his field, in the immediate vicinity of the town.
The above is a statement of all that has occurred, which I lay before you with regret, as I would gladly be excused from the necessity of occupying myself with matters of such a nature, and which are so well calculated to disturb the harmonious relations between two friendly nations.
Be pleased, sir, to receive, both from myself and the other members of the corporation, the assurances of our particular consideration.
The corporation has also requested me, sir, to call your attention to the fact that certain persons, whether Mexicans or strangers is not known, have not scrupled to assure the authorities of the United States that the followers of Cortinas, or persons at least who are well affected to his cause, have been allowed to reside unmolested in this city, and that with such reports they have succeeded in creating injurious prejudices, and cause this neighborhood to live in the continued fear of an invasion of United States volunteers; whereas, in truth, the whole story is a fabrication, and the inhabitants of this city, and the country around it, have at heart no more sincere desire than to be allowed to live in peace, tranquillity, and harmony with their neighbors across the river. In proof of which, I point to the fact that not one of the many Americans who have come here has ever sustained the slightest injury of any kind, but, on the contrary, whenever with their families they have come over here to invoke the protection of our town authorities, they have invariably received it.
As to the events which have recently transpired between this community and the force under command of Major John S. Ford, with reference to his entry into this town, I am instructed by the corporation to make known to you that it had received information, on the afternoon of the 3d instant, that a force of volunteers designed making a visit to the town, with what object was unknown, and that our citizens accordingly made preparations for defence; and that on the 4th of the month, somewhere about 11 o’clock, the said force made its appearance, to the number of seventy-odd men, under command of the above-named Major Ford, who, directing himself towards the chief magistrate of the town, informed him that his object was to follow up the partisans of Cortinas who were in the town and its neighborhood; to which reply was made, that no such men would he be able to find in that population, unless, indeed, it should happen that they were lurking there concealed, and that this sudden invasion was a matter for grave surprise, and one which he had no right to make, and that for this reason it was he saw the neighborhood in arms, ready to defend themselves should he fail to respect their municipal authorities; that his force should, therefore, return to the other side of the river by the public ferry, which was immediately done, without the commission of any outrage whatever. That Major Ford subsequently addressed a communication to the corporation of the town, calling upon it to seek out, arrest and deliver over to him the Cortinas men named by him in said official note; to which reply was made, that his reclamation would be submitted to the presiding officer of the district, whose decision would be duly communicated to him, as in due time it was. That during the intervening time the volunteers, encamped just opposite to the town, have repeatedly fired upon the garita, (custom-house outpost,) wounding, yesterday, one of the soldiers on guard there, and have also fired on the men and women who have gone down to the river for water for domestic purposes, and, besides, have slightly wounded a youth who was working at his field, in the immediate vicinity of the town.
The above is a statement of all that has occurred, which I lay before you with regret, as I would gladly be excused from the necessity of occupying myself with matters of such a nature, and which are so well calculated to disturb the harmonious relations between two friendly nations.
Be pleased, sir, to receive, both from myself and the other members of the corporation, the assurances of our particular consideration.
Francisco Zepeda, Pres’t.
Vicente Muquerza, Sec’y.
God and liberty.
Reynosa, Mexico, April 8, 1860.
Col. R. E. Lee,
Colonel Commanding the Department of Texas, Edinburg.
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7 d.
7 d.
Headquarters Camp at Edinburg, Texas,
April 9, 1860.
April 9, 1860.
Sir: In reply to your communication of the 8th instant, which you did me the honor to present in person, I have to express my pleasure at learning that you had received orders from the superior authorities of Mexico to pursue, apprehend, and punish all persons on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande engaged in committing depredations on this, and that such persons will not be permitted to remain within your jurisdiction.
This is in exact accordance with the letter I had the honor to address to the civil and military authorities of the city of Reynosa on the 7th instant, and corresponds with the assurances you gave me yesterday. If this is faithfully performed, it may be the means of preserving peace between the two countries.
Relying upon your strict execution of the orders of the superior authorities of Mexico, and the assurance you give me that the followers of Cortinas, and all persons engaged in committing aggressions upon the persons and property of American citizens, shall not be permitted within your jurisdiction, I will give orders to the commanders of the United States troops on the Rio Grande to await your action, which I expect will be prompt and efficient.
I have learned this morning, with great regret, from Captain John Ford, commander of the Rio Grande squadron of Texas rangers, that last night two shots were fired from his camp into Mexico, contrary to his orders, and by persons to him unknown. That he is now engaged in discovering the offenders, and will have them punished.
I am, with high respect, your obedient servant,
This is in exact accordance with the letter I had the honor to address to the civil and military authorities of the city of Reynosa on the 7th instant, and corresponds with the assurances you gave me yesterday. If this is faithfully performed, it may be the means of preserving peace between the two countries.
Relying upon your strict execution of the orders of the superior authorities of Mexico, and the assurance you give me that the followers of Cortinas, and all persons engaged in committing aggressions upon the persons and property of American citizens, shall not be permitted within your jurisdiction, I will give orders to the commanders of the United States troops on the Rio Grande to await your action, which I expect will be prompt and efficient.
I have learned this morning, with great regret, from Captain John Ford, commander of the Rio Grande squadron of Texas rangers, that last night two shots were fired from his camp into Mexico, contrary to his orders, and by persons to him unknown. That he is now engaged in discovering the offenders, and will have them punished.
I am, with high respect, your obedient servant,
R. E. Lee,
Brevet Colonel, Commanding Department of Texas.
Brevet Colonel, Commanding Department of Texas.
Hon. Francisco Zepeda,
President of the Council of the City of Reynosa, Mexico.
President of the Council of the City of Reynosa, Mexico.
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7 e.
7 e.
Camp Below Edinburg,
April 9, 1860.
April 9, 1860.
Captain : I have received assurances from the authorities of the city of Reynosa that no persons belonging to the band of Cortinas, or engaged in committing aggressions upon the persons or property of American citizens, shall be permitted to come or remain within their jurisdiction.
I desire you to see that these assurances are fulfilled, and to aid the authorities, if necessary, in carrying them into effect. Should you find that they are not fulfilled, and that any parties of men are collected for the purpose of depredating on this side of the Rio Grande, you will act according to the orders already given you.
Captain Stoneman’s squadron will remain in this vicinity for some days, and if necessary will co-operate with yours. In this event, the senior officer for duty will of course take command.
I have been informed that threats have been uttered by citizens of Reynosa against residents of Edinburg and Tobasso. I desire you to inform the authorities of Reynosa of these menaces, and give them to understand that they will be held responsible for outrages committed by their citizens on American soil. You will also give all the protection in your power to the citizens of the places named, and all others within the line of your operations.
I desire you to see that these assurances are fulfilled, and to aid the authorities, if necessary, in carrying them into effect. Should you find that they are not fulfilled, and that any parties of men are collected for the purpose of depredating on this side of the Rio Grande, you will act according to the orders already given you.
Captain Stoneman’s squadron will remain in this vicinity for some days, and if necessary will co-operate with yours. In this event, the senior officer for duty will of course take command.
I have been informed that threats have been uttered by citizens of Reynosa against residents of Edinburg and Tobasso. I desire you to inform the authorities of Reynosa of these menaces, and give them to understand that they will be held responsible for outrages committed by their citizens on American soil. You will also give all the protection in your power to the citizens of the places named, and all others within the line of your operations.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. Lee,
Brevet Colonel, Commanding Department.
Brevet Colonel, Commanding Department.
Captain A. G. Brackett,
Commanding Squadron 2d Cavalry,
Commanding Squadron 2d Cavalry,
Camp at Edinburg, Texas.
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7 f.
7 f.
Miller’s Hotel, Brownsville,
April 11, 1860.
April 11, 1860.
Sir: I have the honor to deliver to you a communication from his excellency the governor of Texas, which, with the accompanying documents, will explain the object which induces me to address your department.
It is the desire of the government that the rangers now on the Rio Grande shall remain under your orders, provided the general government will assume their payment and subsistence. Texas can furnish men almost ad libitum, but the exigencies of our Indian frontier will more than exhaust the limited pecuniary resources within the reach of executive and entail a heavy liability upon the State.
You will please to inform me what disposal you wish to have made of the rangers now in this service.
I have the honor to be your most obedient servant,
It is the desire of the government that the rangers now on the Rio Grande shall remain under your orders, provided the general government will assume their payment and subsistence. Texas can furnish men almost ad libitum, but the exigencies of our Indian frontier will more than exhaust the limited pecuniary resources within the reach of executive and entail a heavy liability upon the State.
You will please to inform me what disposal you wish to have made of the rangers now in this service.
I have the honor to be your most obedient servant,
Geo. McKnight.
Colonel R. E. Lee.
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7 g.
7 g.
Headquarters Fort Brown,
April 11, 1860.
April 11, 1860.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your letter of this date, transmitting a communication from his excellency the governor of Texas, and expressing his desire that the rangers now on the Rio Grande shall remain under my orders, provided the general government will assure their payment and subsistence. I have received no authority from the Secretary of War to receive into the service of the United States any portion of volunteers; and though sorry to part with troops that have performed good and efficient service in the disturbances on this frontier, I am yet unable to retain them on the conditions you propose.
Under these circumstances, I am happy to inform you, for the information of his excellency the governor, that upon referring the subject of your letter to Major Heintzelman, who has conducted with much ability the military operations on the Rio Grande, he concurs with me in the belief that in the present condition of affairs the United States troops on the river will be sufficient to preserve order, provided the Mexican authorities are disposed to maintain peaceful relations with the United States, and will perform their duty. The services, then, of the rangers may at this time be more important on the Indian portion than on this.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Under these circumstances, I am happy to inform you, for the information of his excellency the governor, that upon referring the subject of your letter to Major Heintzelman, who has conducted with much ability the military operations on the Rio Grande, he concurs with me in the belief that in the present condition of affairs the United States troops on the river will be sufficient to preserve order, provided the Mexican authorities are disposed to maintain peaceful relations with the United States, and will perform their duty. The services, then, of the rangers may at this time be more important on the Indian portion than on this.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Brevet Colonel, Commanding Department of Texas.
Hon. George McKnight,
Commander of the State of Texas, Brownsville.
Commander of the State of Texas, Brownsville.
Troubles on Texas Frontier, Letter from The Secretary of War (John B. Floyd), Communicating, In compliance with a resolution of the House, information in relation to the troubles on the Texas frontier, May 5, 1860; House Documents, Otherwise Publ. as Executive Documents: 13th Congress, 2d Session-49th Congress, 1st Session, Volume 12
“During the 12 years following the Mexican-American War, there were present on the frontiers of Texas and Mexico many factors that tended to create disturbances. The topography of the country, the sparsity and general character of its population, the lack of an extradition treaty and of sufficient national authority, wild Indians of uncertain abode, the Mexican tariff system, all caused friction and gave encouragement to lawlessness which not only retarded the development of the region but often threatened to interrupt friendly relations between the two republics.” [Border Troubles along the Rio Grande, 1848-1860, The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. 23, No. 2 (OCTOBER, 1919)]