The Texas in the Civil War Message Board - Archive

Re: Palmetto Ranch Wounded
In Response To: Palmetto Ranch Wounded ()

Ms. Flowers:

In response to your posting asking if confederate soldiers returning from Palmetto Ranch would have passed through King Ranch property, the answer is a most probable yes.

From maps of that period, the principle route from the Rio Grande Valley (where Palmetto Ranch was located) across the Nueces Strip was a wagon trail running from Brownsville to San Patricio and thence on to Goliad (the route approximately follows present US highway 77). As you may learn from a quick review of any Texas roadmap, this route would take you directly over King Ranch property, in that day and now. From Goliad, trails lead to San Antonio (Northwest) and Victoria (Northeast). Any trip from the valley to Castroville would certainly have been over the San Antonio road.

While it's not impossible that a more direct overland route could have been taken, it's unprobable for the following reasons:

1. Unlikely that wounded men would have been transported overland.

2. Overland routes would have taken travellers through a perilous frontier still very much plagued with hostile Indians, Mexican Bandits (primarily cattle rustlers), and outlaws.

3. This route would have taken much longer to travel and would really be roughing it - even by the standards of that day.

Hope this answers your questions and gives some validation to the family lore. My ancestors also include Palmetto Ranch veterans (CSA). Good luck.

Keith Brashear

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Palmetto Ranch Wounded
Re: Palmetto Ranch Wounded