Las Cuevas War

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The Las Cuevas War was a brief armed conflict between a force of Texas Rangers commanded by Capt. Leander McNelly and an irregular force of Mexican militia that took place in November, 1875, in Las Cuevas, Mexico with the purpose of returning stolen cattle to the United States.

McNelly and his Rangers entered Mexico 20 November. Under cover of brush and scrub oak, they made their way on foot to General Juan Salinas’ stronghold at the Rincon de Cucharras outpost of the Las Cuevas ranch, which in English translates to "the spoon corner." The ensuing shoot-out pitted Rangers against an estimated four hundred of the bandit king’s men. Totally outnumbered and fearing the mounted bandits would surround his men, McNelly ordered his men to pull back to the river to make a stand. At the river, about half the 24th Infantry and the 8th Cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel James F. Randlett had lined up on the Texas side. In the melee that followed, with the aid of the Army firing their Gatling gun on the bandits, General Juan Salinas, Alcalde of Camargo, and eighty of his banditos died on the riverbank.

The fracas wasn’t over. It was a Mexican standoff with the bandits retreating to regroup after their leader’s death, and McNelly refusing to back down from his demands on the return of the stolen cattle. Later that afternoon, Major A. J. Alexander from Ringgold Barracks arrived with a missive from Colonel Potter at Fort Brown, located on the Rio Grande at Brownville:

"Advise Captain McNelly to return at once to this side of the river. Inform him that you are directed not to support him in any way while he remains on Mexican territory. If McNelly is attacked by Mexican forces on Mexican soil, do not render him any assistance. Let me know if McNelly acts on this advice." McNelly carefully read the telegram and then issued four terse words. "The answer is no."

At sundown, another message arrived:

"Major Alexander, commanding: Secretary of War [William W.] Belknap orders you to demand McNelly return at once to Texas. Do not support him in any manner. Inform the Secretary if McNelly acts on these orders and returns to Texas. Signed, Colonel Potter."

In less than a minute, Captain McNelly penned his now famous reply:

"Near Las Cuevas, Mexico, Nov. 20 1875. I shall remain in Mexico with my rangers and cross back at my discretion. Give my compliments to the Secretary of War and tell him and his United States soldiers to go to hell. Signed, Lee H. McNelly, commanding."

During the gunfight, McNlly was shot through both hands

After a rested night’s sleep, Captain McNelly moved his men directly opposite Camargo on the Texas side of the river. It was now Sunday, and the stolen cattle had been moved and penned in a corral, but still on the Mexican side of the border and under guard by plenty of armed horsemen riding herd. Diego Garcia, a Camargo official next in charge to the dead Alcalde, promised to move the cattle across by three o’clock in the afternoon.

McNelly, however, was too smart to trust the Mexicans. He smelled a trap, and in figuring out how to handle it, he pulled his men to Rio Grande City, where they relaxed while he made his plans. At three o’clock, he made his move.

He returned to the ferry landing, took sixteen Rangers, not including himself (the accounts differ), and crossed the river in a rowboat in another invasion of Mexico. He also took along five horses. The "Death Squad," as they have come to be known, were composed of Captain McNelly, Lieutenant Thomas Robinson, Lieutenant Lee Hall (alias Frank Bones), Sergeant George A. Hall, Sergeant John Barclay Armstrong, Sergeant R. P. Orrell, Corporal William L. Rudd, and Rangers Lincoln Rogers Dunnison, Randolph D. Scipio, Robert H. Pitts, William Crump Callicott, Thomas McGovern, Horace G. Mabin, Thomas Sullivan acting as interpreter, George Durham, and Jesus Sandoval, also an interpreter. James R. Wofford is listed in one account as also being along. It is known for certain that the five mounted men were Robinson, Sandoval, Hall, Armstrong, and Orrell.

The "Death Squad" marched up the riverbank to the customs house, demanded the cattle, and when the Mexican Captain stalled by politely saying they didn’t do business on Sunday, the "Squad" promptly took the Mexican Captain prisoner. McNelly then hauled the prisoner to the Texas side and told the captured Mexican leader to get the cattle started within the hour or he would die.

Instead of 250 head returning to Texas, more than 400 were crossed back. Nearly every brand in the Nueces Strip was in the herd, from the King Ranch’s "Running W" up near Corpus Christi to Hale and Parker’s "Half-moon" brand over near Brownsville. Later, at the spot where Juan Salinas died, Mexico erected a stone marker: