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