[rustbucket]

The piece this morning led off with something about Juan Cortina, but then focused on the Mexican War. Here is some info about Cortina: (Cortina War). The Cortina story includes Robert E. Lee, who threatened the Mexican governor the US Army would invade Mexico if Cortina did not stop coming over from Mexico (See: More Cortina).

For a while in 1860, Lee stayed at Ringgold Barracks at present day Rio Grande City. Ringgold Barracks was named after Major Ringgold, mentioned in your history of the Mexican War in the Valley.

My great-great-grandfather was stationed at Ringgold Barracks in 1864-65 while in the Confederate Army under Colonel RIP Ford. My ancestor's unit fought Cortina in 1864, as well as Federal troops on the coast.

RIP Ford was something else. While leading a Ranger Company in 1859 and again in the Civil War, he went across the Rio Grande in pursuit of Mexican invaders and defeated them on their own soil.

[snippy_about_it]

Great information at those links you provided rustbucket, thank you. It is nice you know your family history, it must be very interesting.

Good to see you 'Fall In' at the Foxhole today.

[SAMWolf]

RIP Ford was something else. While leading a Ranger Company in 1859 and again in the Civil War, he went across the Rio Grande in pursuit of Mexican invaders and defeated them on their own soil.

Too bad we don't have men who are willing to do that today.

Thanks for the links and background on the "Cortina War". I seem to recall some border problems in the early 1900's with Pancho Villa.

I guess every once in a while we need to show Mexico that we do have a border.