2020-09 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2020
War-date Confederate soldier Autograph Letter, 2pp. folio, Camp near Ringgold Barracks, July 13, 1864, and reads in part: "...Myself and fourteen of my company was in the fight that Old Ford had with the Federals on the Rio Gran River twenty five miles above Brownsville on the 22nd of June in which we captured forty prisoner, 2 wagons 8 mules about 75 head of horses together with all of their camp equipage. We fought them about one hour before they surrendered. It is not known how many Federals was killed. We lost three killed and four wounded. When we began to crowd them they attempted to cross a lake that was near them. I think that we killed several in it. All that was wounded in the lake drowned. I shot nine times and I think I struck some of them. We are doing better than I expected when we came down here...direct your letters to Ringgold Barracks Co. (H) 4th Reg. Arizona Brig. Via San Antonio." Very good condition. John Salmon Ford (1815-1897), better known as "Rip" Ford, was a member of the Republic of Texas Congress and later of the State Senate, and mayor of Brownsville, Texas. He was also a Texas Ranger, a Confederate colonel, doctor, lawyer, and a journalist and newspaper owner. Ford commanded men during the Antelope Hills Expedition and he later commanded the Confederate forces in what was arguably the last engagement of the American Civil War, the Battle of Palmetto Ranch on May 12-13, 1865. It was a Confederate victory, but as it occurred more than a month after Robert E. Lee's surrender it had no effect on the outcome of the war.
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