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FORT BROWN, Texas:

The Fort Brown reservation consists of 288 acres, purchased by the United States from Maria Josefa Cavazos for $166,000 which included rent from the time of Taylor's occupation until about 1880. The reservation is enclosed with a brick fence which begins on the river at the foot of 14th and 15th Streets and Levee, and runs northeastward about 1,200 feet; thence a wire fence about 1,200 feet to a corner; from this corner southeast to another point on the river. In the center of the reservation but fronting on the Rio Grande there is an island containing about twenty-five acres. This island was used until about 1908 as a national cemetery. During 1909 Gen. John L. Clem, Q. M. U. S. Army, removed the bones from the 2,800 graves to the National Cemetery at Alexandria, La.

Po1nt Isabel, Cameron County, Texas:

Twenty-one miles east from Brownsville, fronting Lagoon. This was a Mexican village as far back as 1788. Was destroyed by Mexicans upon approach of General Taylor's army. Point Isabel was a summer resort in 1800.

The site occupied by General Zachary Taylor while at Point Isabel is about half a mile northwest from the old brick lighthouse. As late as 1867 some of the houses remained standing and were occupied by the families of soldiers of the Civil War.

The old brick lighthouse at Point Isabel was built during the year 1853. It was abandoned during the year 1006.

Brazos De Sant1ago, Cameron County, Texas:

Twenty-two miles east of Brownsville, fronting Lagoon and Gulf of Mexico. Was a summer resort for Mexicans and Spaniards as far back as 1788. Was washed away many times, the last in 1867.

The lighthouse on Brazos Island was built in 1853.

Abandoned in 1879.

The lighthouse situated at the south point of Padre Island was erected in 1879, the old building which had served for that

purpose so many years having been so enveloped with the sandhills that it was no longer tenable.

The life-saving station was erected and established at Brazos during the year 1880, but during the severe storm that year the building was damaged. However, it continued to be occupied until the year 1908 when it was rebuilt on the bay side of Brazos Island almost directly opposite to the present lighthouse. The quarantine station on Padre Island was erected during 1882.

CLIMATE OF VALLEY

The average annual rainfall in the Valley for twenty years has been 32 inches. In 1875 it was but 17.36 inches, while in 1886 it was 60.06. The greatest monthly rainfall has been during April, June, August, and September, but the rainy season has varied so that no exact time may be fixed. With the exception of a very few years, the monthly averages for the other months have been: October, 4 inches; November, 2 inches; December, 1.75 inches; January, 1.49 inches; February, 1.5 inches; March, 1.27 inches; May, 4 inches; July, 3 inches.

The temperature seldom goes below 32 degrees, the average number of days when it has been below that never being more than seven in any one year. During the months of December and January, during some of the years, the minimum temperature has been as low as 26 degrees and 21 degrees, respectively, but the average lowest daily would be about 52 or 53 during a period of thirty years.

The maximum has gone as high as 98 during July but seldom. Five out of every twenty years have been without frosts. The average date of the first frost being December 24, but during 1911 a severe frost appeared on November 29. The latest day for frost is March 1.

The prevailing wind is from the southeast during the summer months with an average velocity of six miles an hour.

The northers begin about September 15, and continue until about March 31. From November to March the temperature seldom registers above 75.

Odds And Ends:

As has been stated, limited space will not admit a detailed recital of many of the important border incidents. For the same reason it is necessary to omit even a reference to the productive exploits of General MacKensie, General Shatter, Lieutenant Bullis, and others of the U. S. Army who found it necessary to pursue the thieving Kickapoos, Lipanos, Comanches, and Caiguas, Indians who, associated with the worst element of the Mexicans, depredated the border even as late as 1874.

Gen. Joe Shelby:

But we cannot resist the temptation to refer to what is known as "Shelby's Expedition."

After the last gun of the American Civil War had been fired, many of the brave men who had worn the grey, disheartened and, to a certain extent homeless, indifferent as to their future, joined JOE SHELBY'S famous "Brigade" and invaded Mexico at Eagle Pass. Shelby had accumulated a supply of arms, discarded or captured by the soldiers of both armies. Entering Eagle Pass he crossed the Rio Grande into Piedras Negras, visiting the Liberal Mexican Colonel in command at that place, and negotiated with him for the arms. While conferring with the Mexican Colonel, a row broke out between his men and some of the Liberal soldiers over the ownership of some of their mounts. Shelby alleged afterwards that the Mexicans attempted to steal his horses. Quite a battle took place in the very streets of Piedras Negras. With a large white sheet as a flag of truce, Shelby and the Mexican Colonel stopped the firing and upon taking an inventory, found that sixteen Mexican soldiers had been killed, the American loss being three.

At a conference which followed the battle, the Mexican Colonel stated that he had given orders that anyone caught stealing the horses of the Americans should be shot. Shelby laco

nically remarked that such an order from the Mexican officers was unnecessary as he already had given the same instructions to his men, and that he believed that such instructions had undoubtedly stimulated the encounter which had just occurred.

Shelby afterwards offered his services to the Imperialist Chief who, piqued because of the sale of the arms to the Liberals, refused to accept same, stating that he had received orders not to enlist Americans. Notwithstanding, Shelby with his army of about 1,000, proceeded to Mexico City where, after several minor engagements with bandits, he arrived about two weeks later. From Mexico City the men marched to Cordoba, where they disbanded and joined the Confederate Colony which had been organized by Early, Magruder, Governor Harris, and others in the State of Vera Cruz.

On December 10, 1866, the U. S. Man-of-war, Susquehanna, arrived and anchored off of Brazos de Santiago. She brought Minister L. D. Campbell, Gen. W. T. Sherman, and Mr. Plumb, the latter the Secretary of Legation. They visited Matamoros where they conferred with the French Commander relative to the withdrawal of all French troops from the Republic of Mexico in conformity with the expressed request of the Washington Administration. Two days later they sailed to Vera Cruz where they conferred with Marshal Bazaine on the subject.

Shortly after Gen. Phil Sheridan had visited the Border in 1865, one of his trusted scouts, Capt. Harry Young, who had served with him throughout the Civil War, followed his old leader in the expectancy of new activities along the border. Young negotiated with General Carvajal, an Imperialist who had been named as Governor of Tamaulipas. Young engaged to go to New Orleans where, he believed, he might enlist to accompany him, 100 of the veterans of the Southern and Northern armies, then disbanded. Several months later Young returned

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