30 The End of the Civil War and Juneteenth
This was one of the U.S. Army’s final combat reports during the Civil War. This is an account of African American soldiers’ actions at the battle of Palmito Ranch (or Palmetto Ranch in this source), often regarded as the final battle of the Civil War.
Report of Lieut. Col. David Branson, Sixty-second U.S. Colored Troops. HDQRS. Sixty-Second REGT. U.S. COLORED INFANTRY
Brazos Santiago, Tex. May 18, 1865
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following detailed report of the operations of the troops under my command on the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th of this month:
On the morning of the 11th, in pursuance of instructions from Colonel T. H. Barrett, commanding post, I reported at 4 a. m. at your headquarters at the landing with 250 men, properly officered, ready to cross to Point Isabel. A storm coming, and steamer intended to be used for ferry breaking her machinery, I returned, as ordered, to camp, and prepared to cross at Boca Chica, with 100 rounds of ammunition and seven days’ rations (afterward five days’ only, by Colonel Barrett’s verbal order). Owing to a severe storm the crossing was with great difficulty effected by 9. 30 p. m., with 250 of the Sixty-second U. S. Colored Infantry, and 50 men of Second Texas Cavalry, not mounted, under First Lieutenant Hancock and Second Lieutenant James. Two six-mule teams were taken to haul surplus rations, ammunition, &c.
At 2 a. m. of the 12th, after making a long circuitous march, we surrounded White’s Ranch, where we expected to capture a rebel outpost of sixty-five men, horses, and cattle, but they had been gone a day or two. Owing to the exhausted condition of the men I could not reach Palmetto Ranch before daylight to surprise it, and therefore hid my command in a thicket and among weeds on the banks of the Rio Grande one mile and a half above White’s Ranch, where we remained undiscovered until 8:30 a. m., when persons on the Mexican shore seeing us started to give the alarm to the rebels. At the same time soldiers of the Imperial Mexican Army were marching up that bank of the river. I immediately started for Palmetto Ranch, skirmishing most of the way with the enemy’s cavalry, and drove them, at noon, from their camp, which had been occupied by about 190 men and horses, capturing 3 prisoners, 2 horses, and 4 beef-cattle, and their ten days’ rations, just issued. Halted on the hill at Palmetto Ranch to rest and feed men and animals. While there at 3 p. m. a considerable force of the enemy appeared, and the position being indefensible, I fell back to White’s Ranch for the night, skirmishing some on the way, and had one man of Second Texas Cavalry wounded. At the latter place sent a message to Colonel T. H. Barrett, commanding post Brazos Santiago, who joined me at daybreak of the 13th with 200 men of the Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. I at once started forward by Colonel Barrett’s order, and skirmishing soon commenced; continued all the morning. A halt was made at Palmetto Ranch and the remaining supplies of the enemy that had escaped the flames the day before were now burned. Moving two miles forward a sharp fight took place in the thicket on the river bank; one man severely wounded therein.
Afterward, by Colonel Barrett’s order, fell back one mile and a half to a bluff on the river, about twelve miles from Boca Chica, to get dinner and rest for the night. Here at 4 p. m. a large force of the enemy’s cavalry was observed endeavoring to gain our rear. I was ordered with the regiment to form line obliquely to the rear, faced toward them. As soon as formed, and while awaiting expected cavalry charge, the enemy from a hill up the river (one mile and a half farther on) opened with artillery, doing no damage and creating no panic in my command, when I moved off, as ordered by Colonel Barrett, in retreat, furnishing 140 men for skirmishers, under Captains Miller and Coffin and Lieutenants Foster and Mead. They kept the enemy at a respectful distance at all times and did their duty in the best possible manner. Some temporary confusion was created by a portion of the Thirty-fourth Indiana breaking through my regiment at double-quick while I was marching in quick time, but order was immediately restored. The retreat was conducted by the right flank, for the reason that the nearest body of the enemy, 250 strong, with two pieces of artillery, were evidently trying to gain our rear and a favorable opportunity to charge, which was each time prevented by halting my command and coming to a front, thus facing him with the river at our backs. The force engaged with our skirmishers up the river was not immediately feared by the battalion, being so much farther distant and their fire, both of artillery and cavalry, very inaccurate. Owing to this same flanking force of the enemy our skirmish line could not be relieved without exposing the men and our colors to capture while rallying. Our losses of ordnance, seven Enfield rifles and accouterments of camp and garrison equipage light. Casualties, two men missing, supposed to be in the hands of the enemy.
The men did their duty nobly. Lieutenant Kantrener, my acting adjutant, was especially gallant, assisting in every part of the field. Captain Dubois and Lieutenants Stewart and Franzman stuck to their places and kept their men in order under very trying circumstances. First Sergeants Shipley, Company E, and Brown, Company D, proved themselves, as far as field duty is necessary, fit to command companies. We reached Boca Chica at 8 p. m. and crossed at 4 a. m. of the 14th, having at the time four men missing, two of whom afterward escaped from the enemy. The entire operation demonstrated the fact that the Negro soldiers can march; also that this regiment can keep order in the ranks and be depended upon under trying circumstances. Great skill in skirmishing was exhibited by Captain Miller and Lieutenant Foster and the men under their command. The Texas cavalry, not yet mounted, officers and men, while under my command, behaved splendidly.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
DAVID BRANSON,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Sixty-second U. S. Colored Infty.
United States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Official records of the Union and Confederate armies. Govt. Print. Off. Washington. Series I, 1-53; Series II, 1-8; Series III, 1-5; Series IV, 1-4 (1880 – 1901)
On June 19th 1865, U.S. Army General landed at the port of Galveston, taking possession of a final stronghold for the Confederate forces. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation there, an event commemorated as “Juneteenth.
General Order No. 3:
The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.
United States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Official records of the Union and Confederate armies. Govt. Print. Off. Washington. Series I, 1-53; Series II, 1-8; Series III, 1-5; Series IV, 1-4 (1880 – 1901)