Major Heintzelman to the Adjutant General.
Headquarters Brownsville Expedition,
Fort Brown, Texas, February 5, 1860.
Sir: I have the honor to report that the steamboat Ranchero, on her way down the Rio Grande with a valuable freight, was fired upon by Cortinas from the Mexican side of the river, at the Bartoni, a point thirty-five miles above this. At the same time a party of rangers, escorting provisions, were also fired upon from the same side, and one man mortally wounded. The fire was returned immediately. The fire was continued, when, the better to protect the boat, Captain Ford crossed a portion of his men, and drove the enemy into the chapparal. Captain Stoneman’s company of cavalry, fifteen miles above here, advanced last night to support him. We now have some 200 men at that point.
An express arrived at Matamoras last night at 9 o’clock and by 11 from 80 to 100 men had left, it is supposed, to join Cortinas. He has the active sympathy of the greater portion of the population.
I this morning addressed a note to General Garcia, the Mexican commandant, informing him of these occurrences, and asking him to co-operate in putting down the marauders. I am now awaiting his answer, but fear the steamer will leave before it comes.
There is some alarm of an attack from the other side, though I think there is no danger unless there is a pronunciamento against the liberal party.
More troops are required on this frontier.
Since writing the above I have received an answer to my note to General Garcia. He expresses the strongest desire to do all in his power to arrest Cortinas, and break up his forces. He last night sent 40 men of the rural police, the only force he has, and will, in the course of the afternoon and evening, send more so soon as they can be organized. At his request I have ordered our troops to recross the river.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. P. Heintzelman,
Major 1st Infantry, Commanding.
Colonel S. Cooper,
Adjutant General U. S. A., Washington.
A report in Difficulties on Southwestern Border, House Documents, Volume 126; Volume 128, United States House of Representatives, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1860
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)]