The Battle of Palmetto Ranch occurred May 12-13, 1865 on the Banks of the Rio Grande in southern Texas. For months Union and Confederate forces there had observed an informal truce, both sides recognizing that any action would have no impact on the war – a sentiment reinforced by the clearly imminent conclusion of hostilities. Nevertheless, on May 12th, Colonel Theodore Harvey Barret, commander of the Union forces garrisoned on Brazos Santiago Island at the mouth of the Rio Grande, ordered the 62nd United States Colored Troops regiment to the mainland. Barret claimed the move was a foraging mission, but it’s likely that he was attempting to seize glory for himself to aid his political aspirations.
Union Advance - Day 1
The 62nd moved north along the river, routing a Confederate garrison at Palmetto Ranch and seizing supplies. Further advance was checked by Confederate cavalry, so the 62nd returned to Palmetto Ranch to camp and await reinforcements from the 34th Indiana regiment dispatched from Brazos Santiago.
Union Advance - Day 2
On the 13th, the bolstered Union forces resumed their march, taking defensive positions on Palmetto Hill around midday. The Confederates had consolidated in the town of Brownsville, and this force of infantry, cavalry and light artillery moved south to confront the Federals. Palmetto Hill is at the bottom of a horseshoe-shaped bend in the river, and the Confederates under Colonel John “Rip” Ford, saw an opportunity to trap the Union troops by taking Palmetto Ranch - cutting the Union’s line of retreat. Ford’s artillery pinned the surprised Federals on Palmetto Hill while his cavalry moved on Palmetto Ranch.
Recognizing his peril, Barret ordered his forces off the hill, and a race to Palmetto Ranch ensued, in which Confederate artillery pounded the Federal rear while cavalry harassed the flanks. The Federals reached Palmetto Ranch first and began a fighting withdraw back towards Brazos Santiago. The grueling pace of the retreat led many Federals to discard their weapons and equipment, and dozens were taken prisoner by Confederates after failing to keep up - including the 34th's color bearer, who was captured with the regimental flag.
The Last Casualty of the US Civil War
The battle ended that night after the Union forces crossed an area of flooded fields along a single exposed causeway. The bottleneck prevented the Confederates from pursuing and allowed the Federals to return to the safety of Brazos Santiago Island. During this final regard action, Private John Jay Williams of the 34th was struck by a sniper’s bullet and became the last person to be killed in combat during the Civil War.
Though a Confederate victory, the battle didn’t produce any tangible results for either side. The Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department surrendered on May 26, 1865. Of the roughly 500 Union soldiers in action 114 were listed as killed, wounded or missing - the majority having been captured during the retreat on the 13th. Lt. Col. Robert G. Morrison, commander of the 34th Indiana, was court-martialed for the debacle but the court found that most of the blame for Palmetto Ranch lay with Col. Barret.
Though tiny by Civil War standards, the Battle of Palmetto Ranch was no less harrowing for the men who fought than any of the larger battles. That it occurred so close to the end of hostilities makes Palmetto Ranch one of the more tragic - albeit minor - battles of the Civil War.
Source:
Hunt, Jeffery WM. The Last Battle of the Civil War: Palmetto Ranch. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2002.
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