I have not yet discovered exactly what happened to Thomas Inghenuett after the battle. I recently received his service record and I have his pension records on order.

He was initially reported as missing in action at Rancho Las Rinas, TX, with full equipment. Most of the 1st Texas had already sailed for New Orleans, and the survivors of his company soon followed. On the July-Aug. muster roll, however, he is listed as "deserted from battle field june 25, 1864, Rancho Las Russias," and on Aug. 31 is dropped from his company role as a deserter.

He did not rejoin his regiment until May 22, 1865, when his return is noted with the comment: "but whether deserter in question yet." On May 23 he is "Ordered for duty by order of Maj. Gen. E. R. S. Canby pardoning certain Deserters on condition of serving their term lost by Desertion." July 2 he is reduced in rank from sgt. to pvt. Finally he is mustered out at San Antonio, TX, on Oct. 31, 1865, with a note that he was missing in action at Rancho Las Russias, and listed as a deserter, but "Rejoined May 23/65 under President's proclamation, but found not guilty of desertion, is restored to duty with full allowances."

His file does include a "Memorandum From Prisoner of War Records" filled out in 1889. It has nothing filled in but his name and unit and some cryptic notes on the back about "Pension case 655.415", almost all of which is unintelligible.

I have no idea where he was from June 25, 1864, until May 22, 1865. From the meager information above, and info I have culled from the O.R., I suspect that he may have been captured, then escaped and crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico. For one reason or another he failed to return to his unit for almost a year. Their was evidently dissention in the 1st Texas over a promise to new recruits that they would only serve in Texas.

What is your source for the information on the prisoners from Las Rucias? I'd love to have a copy of the exchange list or any other information about them. Have you come across any other sources on the engagement?

Thanks,

Bill Fannin