Palmito Ranch Battlefield National Historic Landmark, TX
On May 12th, 1865, the Union and Confederate forces engaged in what’s widely considered the final battle of the Civil War.
Though it had officially ended with Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House over a month earlier, there would still be one more battle to be had at Palmito Ranch on the Texas-Mexico border.
Even though casualties were extremely low: Union troops counted two killed and 28 wounded, Confederate troops suffered minor losses, and a final victory, the four-hour conflict was seen as a lost cause.
It’s been described by US historian Bruce Catton as a “final, lonely, meaningless little spatter.” Nowadays, the myth is that the two armies didn’t know the Civil War was over, but historians say that it’s questionable.
The site of Palmito Ranch today appears much as it did in 1865. It’s a remote stretch of marshy prairie.
There’s little battlefield interpretation except for a marker, some signage on Boca Chica Highway, and an observation platform that will give visitors a good look at the battlefield.
Most combine a visit with historic sites in nearby Brownsville, a central hub in the international trade flowing out of the Rio Grande.
12 Responses
Thank you for this post. I’m sharing it.
Thank you so much for this informative article. We will be travelling through these areas in the next few months. Will bring this list with us for sure.
Surely, Appomattox is a must visit and would bump Palmito from your list of “to seven”. Anyone reading Lincoln’s words that guided General Grant’s terms of surrender will think long and hard on the struggle this nation faced during Reconstruction and the bitter cost of this war.
Mom was born in Keedysville, just a few miles from Antietam. We went there often when visiting uncles, cousins, and other family. Uncle lived in Boonsboro, just a mile or so from the gates of Antietam. One friend’s house is the backdoor to the battlefield and burial site. Across the street from the cemetery is where most of them are buried now.
You can feel and sometimes see the spirits at all the battlefield sites.
Yes you can.
It was amazing to me how many people and troops lost their lives during the Civil War. Our Country has survived many trail’s and tribulations and our freedoms are not guaranteed and today as a Nation we are going through many hardships a divided Country and in my estimation an identity crisis and basically a spiritual crisis. We must all realize that the sacrifices of past generations is the reason why will still have a Country and our freedoms. Its time for all Americans to come together and understand that this is everybody’s Country and yes its still worth defending as my Dad did in WW11 God Rest his Soul. We all have so much to be thankful for lets stop tearing down our Country and learn to love and respect each other more. America is still the place I want to live the rest of my life no where else and we also need to understand that this Country has many adversaries that want to destroy our Country and our freedoms. Lets not ever let that happen we will endure and will be prosperous because we were created by God to succeed.
Not much left to see in Richmond. Such a shame certain people decided to destroy so much history in such a little time.
And don’t forget about the statues of Confederate Generals in including Robert E Lee. Woops, I forgot they are torn down because we are coming together
how can you say the war is over, when we are still suffering from the republic being destroyed and we are still enslaved to the Den of Corruption’s abuses?
we have all been lied to about this war AND the truth of our first tyrant, mass murderer POTUS Abe Lincoln. In 2016, Hitlery Rotten Clinton stated in the 2nd debate with Trump that “Abe Lincoln told one group of people one thing, and something different to another group”. Admitting that she/it was a two faced liar, just like Lincoln was. My Bible says to be “kind to widows and orphans”. NOT create them, then starve them to death. Abe has been in hell for 164 years
So many errors in just the first paragraph wrecked any desire to read the rest of the article.
First, it was not a “civil war”. It was a war of independence. Civil wars are legally defined as a conflict between two or more parties for control of the government. Wars of independence are self evident.
Second, 13 states comprise the Confederate States of America. Kentucky voted for independence but the voted was ruled invalid by a Judge because the Legislature held the vote away from the State Capital. The Governor had chained the chambers shut to prevent the vote.
Third, despite common belief the firing on the illegal Federal blockade at Fort Sumpter there had been numerous and bloodier incidents in Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas prior to the event.
Fourth, General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court house did not end the Confederate struggle for independence. Battle occurred and soldiers died well into May of 1865 near Brownsville Texas. The last official surrender ended the war when the CSS Shenandoah struck her colors and turned her over to the British Government in November.
If you are going to write about the War of Independence by the Confederate States of America get your facts straight or don’t bother.