The Battle of La Bolsa was a major event in the Cortina War, a series of armed confrontations between the milita of Mexican rancher Juan Cortina and elements of the United States Army and the Texas Rangers. The battle occurred on February 4, 1860, when Cortina's forces attacked the steamboat Ranchero on its way to Brownsville.
La Bolsa, meaning "the pocket," was a northward loop of the Rio Grande, on the border of Hidalgo and Cameron counties. On February 4, 1860, the steamboat Ranchero was on its way to Brownsville, Texas, with soldiers from Ringgold Barracks on board to guard the boat's cargo. Texas Rangers also provided security by riding along the river's north bank. More Rangers and a United States cavalry troop from Fort Brown approached from the east.[1]
Battleedit
As the Ranchero entered La Bolsa, Cortina's milita opened fire from the south bank. Those on board the Ranchero returned fire with their rifles and two cannons. Cortina prepared a second attack, but retreated upon being charged by Rangers from Rio Grande City led by John Salmon Ford, who led the Rangers across the river.[2][1]
Aftermathedit
Although those on board the Ranchero suffered many casualties, the steamboat safely delivered her cargo to Fort Brown. As a result of the incident, the US Army sent Lt. General Robert E. Lee from San Antonio to threaten the Mexican army with American intervention if they did not control Cortina's militas. Cortina retreated into the Mexican interior but later returned as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War to resume fighting with old rivals in the Rio Grande area.[3]
Referencesedit
^ ab"La Bolsa Bend | UTRGV". www.utrgv.edu. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
^"Battle of La Bolsa | BORDER LAND: The Struggle for Texas, 1820–1879". library.uta.edu. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
^"Battle of La Bolsa Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
January 01, 1970
battle, bolsa, major, event, cortina, series, armed, confrontations, between, milita, mexican, rancher, juan, cortina, elements, united, states, army, texas, rangers, battle, occurred, february, 1860, when, cortina, forces, attacked, steamboat, ranchero, brown. The Battle of La Bolsa was a major event in the Cortina War a series of armed confrontations between the milita of Mexican rancher Juan Cortina and elements of the United States Army and the Texas Rangers The battle occurred on February 4 1860 when Cortina s forces attacked the steamboat Ranchero on its way to Brownsville Battle of La BolsaPart of the Cortina WarA marker at the site of the battleDateFebruary 4 1860LocationLa Bolsa Bend near Harlingen TexasResultAmerican victoryBelligerentsCortinista militiaTexas RangersCommanders and leadersJuan CortinaCol John FordCasualties and losses29 dead40 wounded1 dead4 wounded Contents 1 Prelude 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 ReferencesPrelude editLa Bolsa meaning the pocket was a northward loop of the Rio Grande on the border of Hidalgo and Cameron counties On February 4 1860 the steamboat Ranchero was on its way to Brownsville Texas with soldiers from Ringgold Barracks on board to guard the boat s cargo Texas Rangers also provided security by riding along the river s north bank More Rangers and a United States cavalry troop from Fort Brown approached from the east 1 Battle editAs the Ranchero entered La Bolsa Cortina s milita opened fire from the south bank Those on board the Ranchero returned fire with their rifles and two cannons Cortina prepared a second attack but retreated upon being charged by Rangers from Rio Grande City led by John Salmon Ford who led the Rangers across the river 2 1 Aftermath editAlthough those on board the Ranchero suffered many casualties the steamboat safely delivered her cargo to Fort Brown As a result of the incident the US Army sent Lt General Robert E Lee from San Antonio to threaten the Mexican army with American intervention if they did not control Cortina s militas Cortina retreated into the Mexican interior but later returned as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War to resume fighting with old rivals in the Rio Grande area 3 References edit a b La Bolsa Bend UTRGV www utrgv edu Retrieved July 13 2022 Battle of La Bolsa BORDER LAND The Struggle for Texas 1820 1879 library uta edu Retrieved July 13 2022 Battle of La Bolsa Historical Marker www hmdb org Retrieved July 13 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of La Bolsa amp oldid 1177544635, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
