Download Battle at Palmito Ranch File

The Battle of Palmito Ranch
May 12-13, 1865
Since March 1865, a gentleman’s agreement precluded
fighting between Union and Confederate forces on the
Rio Grande. In spite of this agreement, Col. Theodore
H. Barrett, commanding forces at Brazos Santiago,
Texas, dispatched an expedition, composed of 250
men of the 62nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment and
50 men of the 2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment under the
command of Lt. Col. David Branson, to the mainland,
on May 11, 1865, to attack reported Rebel outposts
and camps. Prohibited by foul weather from crossing
to Point Isabel as instructed, the expedition crossed to
Boca Chica much later.
At 2:00 am, on May 12, the expeditionary force
surrounded the Rebel outpost at White’s Ranch, but
found no one there. Exhausted, having been up most of
the night, Branson secreted his command in a thicket
and among weeds on the banks of the Rio Grande and
allowed his men to sleep. Around 8:30 am, people on
the Mexican side of the river informed the Rebels of the
Federals’ whereabouts. Branson promptly led his men
off to attack a Confederate camp at Palmito Ranch.
After much skirmishing along the way, the Federals
attacked the camp and scattered the Confederates.
Branson and his men remained at the site to feed
themselves and their horses but, at 3:00 pm, a sizable
Confederate force appeared, influencing the Federals
to retire to White’s Ranch. He sent word of his
predicament to Barrett, who reinforced Branson at
daybreak, on the 13th, with 200 men of the 34th
Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The augmented force, now
commanded by Barrett, started out towards Palmito
Ranch, skirmishing most of the way. At Palmito Ranch,
they destroyed the rest of the supplies not torched the
day before and continued on.
A few miles forward, they became involved in a sharp
firefight. After the fighting stopped, Barrett led his
force back to a bluff at Tulosa on the river where the
men could prepare dinner and camp for the night. At
4:00 pm, a large Confederate cavalry force,
commanded by Col. John S. “Rip” Ford, approached,
and the Federals formed a battle line. The Rebels
hammered the Union line with artillery. To preclude
an enemy flanking movement, Barrett ordered a
retreat.
The retreat was orderly and skirmishers held the
Rebels at a respectable distance. Returning to Boca
Chica at 8:00 pm, the men embarked at 4:00 am, on
the 14th. This was the last battle in the Civil War.
Native, African, and Hispanic Americans were all
involved in the fighting. Many combatants reported
that firing came from the Mexican shore and that
some Imperial Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande
but did not take part in the battle. These reports are
unproven.
“The Confederacy” were
made up of states from
which region of the U.S?
So that’s your
Final Answer?
Yes
No
Northeast
South
Canada
West
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$100
“The Union” was a term
used during the Civil War
period, which represented:
So that’s your
Final Answer?
Yes
No
Southern states
The western
frontier
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The U.S. states not
in the South
Some states in
New England
Which Civil War
battle took place in
May of 1865?
So that’s your
Final Answer?
Yes
No
The Civil War
Palmito Ranch
$1,000,000
$500,000
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Gettysburg
Gettysburg
Ranch
Who was in charge of
Union forces at Palmito
Ranch?
Is this your
Final Answer?
Yes
No
David Branson
Robert E. Lee
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Theodore Barrett
Boca Chica
Where did Union troops
first try to capture rebel
forces?
So that’s your
Final Answer?
Yes
No
Rio Grande river
Palmito Ranch
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$500,000
$100,000
$50,000
$10,000
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Florida
White ranch
Why did Colonel Branson
lead his troops to Palmito
Ranch?
So that’s your
Final Answer?
Yes
For food
To establish
peace
No
$1,000,000
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Mexican told rebels
where they were
No other place to
go
Who won the battle at
Palmito Ranch?
Is this your
Final Answer?
Yes
No
Confederacy
Japan
$1,000,000
$500,000
$100,000
$50,000
$10,000
$5000
$1000
$500
$200
$100
Union
United States