0

Headquarters Department of Texas,          
San Antonio, February 10, 1860.

          SIR: Herewith I have the honor to enclose a communication from Major S. P. Heintzelman, embracing the latest official intelligence from the Rio Grande. It does not clearly appear from this letter why Major Heintzelman has not made use of the three companies of infantry at Laredo, which, in my special order No. 122, of 1859, were placed at his disposal. I have ordered one of these, Captain Jordan’s, company D, eighth infantry, to proceed to Ringgold barracks and report to Major Heintzelman, and I have also ordered Captain Bradfute’s, company G, second cavalry, to proceed from Fort Inge to old Fort Ewell, where it will meet Major McClure, of the pay department, and proceed thence with him as his escort to Brownsville, after which it will be at the disposal of Major Heintzelman. These dispositions, with the three companies of artillery, and one of cavalry already on the lower Rio Grande, will, I think, enable the major to preserve as great a degree of quiet on that frontier of Texas as can be maintained until the military occupation of the opposite bank of the Rio Grande is effected, or at least until our troops are permitted to follow into Mexico the robbers who cross over to our own side for the purposes of pillage and murder.
          I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. Seawell,          
Lieutenant Colonel 8th Infantry, Com’g Department.

          Colonel S. Cooper,
                    Adjutant General United States army, Washington, D. C.

__________
78.a.

Headquarters Brownsville Expedition,          
Font Brown, Texas, February 5, 1860.

          Sir: I have the honor to inform you that last night an express reached me with the information that Cortinas had fired upon the steamboat Ranchero on her way down the river, with a valuable freight at the “Bartone,” a point thirty-five miles above here. At the same time a party of Captain Ford’s men escorting provisions were also fired upon and one man mortally wounded. The fire was immediately returned. The better to protect the boat, Captain Ford crossed with a portion of his men and drove the enemy into the chaparral. Captain Stoneman’s cavalry, fifteen miles above here, advanced last night to his support. We have now some two hundred men at this point.
          An express arrived in Matamoras last nght at 9 o’clock, and by 11, from eighty to one hundred 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 acts, and asking him to co-operate in putting down the marauders. I am now awaiting his answer.
          I have also sent an express to Captain Lee for two of the companies encamped near Loredo. They are very small and cannot join in less than fifteen days. 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. I enclose copies of the two letters received.
          I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. P. Heintzelman,          
Major 1st Infantry, Commanding.

Captain John Withers,
          Asst. Adj’t. Gen. U. S. A., San Antonio, Texas.

          P.S.—I this moment received an answer to my letter to General Garcia. He expresses a strong desire to do all in his power to arrest this bandit, and sent last night about forty men of the rural police, the only force he has. In the course of the afternoon and evening, so soon as they can be organized, more will be sent. At his request I have ordered our troops to return to this side of the river.

S. P. H.          

__________
78b.

Opposite La Balsa, Near Baston, Texas,          
February 4, 1860.

          Sir: Major Ford, commanding the rangers, (who just arrived here, 4 o’clock p. m.,) has requested me to state what occurred before he came, and also to tell you the reason for his crossing into Mexico; which he is now doing, his command being now nearly crossed over.
          Just before we arrived here to-day, while we were at dinner, a man came in and stated that the boat was fired into, (one ball passed through the flag.) On landing we found one ranger mortally wounded; we returned the fire with our gun from the boat, and with our rifles,
          When Major Ford arrived he thought it best, after taking counsel from all on board, to cross the river, the better to protect the freight and the money.
          While I am writing firing is going on.
          Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Loomis L. Langdon,          
2d Lieutenant 1st Artillery, A. A. Q. M.

          Major Heintzelman, U. S. A., Fort Brown, Texas.
          A true copy.

C. W. Thomas,          
2d Lieutenant 1st Infantry.

__________
78c.

La Balsa, February 4, 1860.          

          Sir: At this point, to-day, on the Rio Grande the forces of Cortinas fired on us from the Mexican side, and mortally wounded one of my men. Almost at the same time the steamer Ranchero, then about half a mile above, was fired upon from the same side—one of the balls passing through the American flag at her masthead. Upon this fire i. returned, the enemy retired into the chaparral, on the Mexican side, to capture the boat, or at least attempt it. I do not think it is practicable to protect the steamer with forces upon our side of the river only. I shall pass over this evening afoot, and beat the brush in the neighborhood. To-morrow morning I will pass over my horses, and with the whole force under my command go down upon the Mexican side, keeping, as near as possible, even pace with the boat. I would suggest that you detach a force, to come up on the Texas side, to escort her down. I think that by this co-operation only can the life and property on her be secured.

---

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)]