Battle of Spencers Ranch
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (May 2024) |
| Battle of Spencers Ranch | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Confederate States | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Captain French |
 Captain Skillman | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| 1st California Cavalry Regiment | Texan Confederates | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 25 | 10 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| none | 4 killed, 1 wounded, 4 Captured | ||||||
The Battle of Spencers Ranch was a short battle fought in West Texas between Texas Confederates and California Volunteers on April 15, 1864.
Battle
On April 3, 1864, a detachment of 25 troopers of Company A of the 1st California Cavalry led by Captain French left San Elizario, Texas and moved down the Rio Grande.[1] It took 12 days for the unit to arrived at Spencers Ranch (near Presidio Del Norte). On the 15th, the soldiers ambushed a group of 10 rebels on the ranch. They opened fire, killing Captain Skillman and one other rebel, while two others were mortally wounded. Two rebels ran for the river. One was wounded, but both successfully crossed the river and escaped. Four more rebels were taken prisoner. None of the Californians were wounded during the battle.[1] The volunteers also located the Rebels' camp and took their muskets, ammunition, and horses. The skirmish over, Captain French decided to depart. The detachment and their prisoners arrived in San Elizario on April 24, having covered 499 miles.[1]
References
- ^ a b c California, Adjutant General's Office (1890). Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867. State office. p. 73.