By:  Lucio                                       S.R. No. 763
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, Safeguarding our nation's historic sites is an
    1-3  invaluable means of remembering the past and the lessons it holds
    1-4  for the future; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, The citizens of Brownsville have lovingly preserved
    1-6  the Palmito Hill Battlefield, site of the last battle of the American
    1-7  Civil War; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, Nearly five weeks after General Lee surrended to
    1-9  Ulysses Grant, Union and Confederate forces engaged in a spirited
   1-10  skirmish at Palmito Hill; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, Prior to May 12, 1865, Union forces commanded by
   1-12  Colonel Theodore H. Barrett stationed at Brazos Santiago and
   1-13  Confederate forces led by Colonel John S. Ford occupying Brownsville
   1-14  had maintained a truce; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, For unknown reasons, Colonel Barrett ordered his
   1-16  troops to march into Brownsville; a battle ensued at Palmito Ranch,
   1-17  a few miles east of Brownsville, on May 12th; the engagement was
   1-18  indecisive and both sides retired from the field; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, On May 13 Colonel Ford, who had received
   1-20  reinforcements, outflanked and routed the Union forces; this
   1-21  victory for a cause already lost also resulted in the last combat
   1-22  death in a land battle in the Civil War, a member of the 34th
   1-23  Indiana Volunteer Infantry; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, Historians have long theorized and postulated
    2-2  reasons for the battle, which ultimately did little more than
    2-3  ensure the safety of rebel cotton stored at Brownsville; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, One hundred and twenty-eight years later, the
    2-5  Battle of Palmito remains shrouded in mystery, but its place in
    2-6  American historical lore remains undiminished; now, therefore, be
    2-7  it
    2-8        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
    2-9  73rd Legislature, hereby commemorate the 128th anniversary of the
   2-10  Battle of Palmito Hill and commend the City of Brownsville for
   2-11  its preservation of an important link to our past; and, be it
   2-12  further
   2-13        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
   2-14  the City of Brownsville as an expression of deepest gratitude
   2-15  from the Texas Senate for preserving this significant place in
   2-16  our nation's history.
   2-17                                 _____________________________________
   2-18                                        President of the Senate
   2-19                                      I hereby certify that the
   2-20                                 above Resolution was adopted by
   2-21                                 the Senate on April 27, 1993.
   2-22                                 _____________________________________
   2-23                                        Secretary of the Senate
   2-24                                 _____________________________________
   2-25                                         Member, Texas Senate