Title:

Fought Cortina and his Raiders

In November 1859, John Donaldson, a stockman of Live Oak County, got together a party of cowboys to go out to the assistance of Tobin in his effort to rout Cortina. The party consisted of Donaldson, whom we chose as Captain, and the following eighteen cowboys: George Frazier, John Crump, Martin Culver, Nathan Bartlett, Floyd Powell, Cephas Winters, Moses Hill, Jim Wilburn, Zach Wilson, Alf. Robinson (son of the famous Sally Skull), John Futch, William Hubbard, John Ellis, John S. Givens, P.S. Hagy, Van Meter, William Ferrell, and myself.

We got together on the Nueces River and went to Banquette, where we joined a party of men from Corpus Christi, about sixty, in Captain Berry's charge, then on to Brownsville. Tobin was stationed about five miles from Brownsville, and Cortina and his men were entrenched in a corral of brush and fortified with a small cannon, about ten miles above Tobin's camp.

About twenty miles this side of Brownsville this road forked, one road leading to Brownsville and the other to where Tobin was camped. By mistake we took the road to Brownsville and it was fortunate for us that we made that mistake. Cortina had gotten wind of our coming and had prepared an ambush us on the road that led to Tobin. We camped the night in Brownsville. When we failed to reach Tobin when we were expected he sent Lieutenant Littleton and a party four to meet us. They ran into the ambush and three of their men were killed. Littleton was shot through the wrist. Early next morning we arrived at Tobin's camp in time to go out and bury the men that were killed. Among the dead men was one whom I had known, John Fox of San Patricio.

While we were digging the wide grave a very peculiar thing happened. Bill Quinn of San Patricio had a large bandanna handkerchief tied around his neck, with the knot in the back, the handkerchief forming a kind of bib in front. Quinn leaned his double barrel shotgun against a log and was standing near it. By some means a horse that was pawing on account of flies, knocked the shotgun down and discharged it. The entire load of buckshot passed through the handkerchief but didn’t touch him.

Tobin moved his camp up nearer Cortina and prepared to make an attack. When everything was ready he sent a party of his men, under Littleton, to the right. Donaldson and his men went to the left. Tobin was to come up between the two at the first sign of fighting. When we were within thirty yards the Mexicans began firing. Donaldson had his men ready to open fire as soon as the first shot should be fired by Littleton's men, as was arranged. As Tobin's men rushed up a bomb from the cannon passed overhead and exploded right back of Tobin. This excited him so he gave order to retreat. Donaldson was furious. He wanted to fight it out. As it happened, I was at Donaldson's side and we were the last to retreat. Donaldson was retreating very reluctantly. When we got back to camp Tobin and Donaldson quarreled and Donaldson got his men together and brought them home. [END]

COMMENTS FROM JOHN HAWLEY: This is a story of the recruitment of Texas Rangers to fight bandits; although, many believe Cortina was more of a patriot than a bandit. What made this story so interesting is that it conveys the mistakes they made and problems these Rangers encountered. By the way, Richard Brown Wilburn also fought in this skirmish with Donaldson although his name was not mentioned. We have Texas Ranger mustering out documents that showed his participation.

Storys my Grandmother told me.This is the way Mexicans pass on the information. My grandfather Pedro Cortinas was born in Brownsville, so was his father & grandfather. They owned a lot of property. They fought the white people to keep their land, and we were called Banditos. The white people were grabing land left and right which they did leagally by their law. They posted a Tax summit on the outside of the Courthouse with names of landowners mostly Mexicans. They posted this summit in English which the Mexicans could not read. 90 days later the white people were giving land away and guess who's land they were giving away.

The Cortina's Clan and some of there friends fought to keep what was theirs. The Cortinas were the last Mexicans to fight the white people like Geronimo which the Cortinas descend from.

Your brother in Christ, Robert Cortinas.

Note from John Hawley: I thought Robert's email was very interesting and quite factual. Some people will disagree while other will not. Nevertheless, this information warrants being posted to this page. Thank you Robert!