Bandit War facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bandit War
Part of the Border War, Mexican Revolution
Date 1915–1919 Location Texas, United States Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Seditionistas Carrancistas
Commanders and leaders
Frederick Funston	Basilio Ramos Luis de la Rosca Aniceto Pizana Natividad Álvarez Rodríguez Ramírez
Casualties and losses
Unknown	300
Civilians: Unknown but believed to be above 350

The Bandit War was a series of attacks in Texas. These attacks happened between 1915 and 1919. They were carried out by Mexican rebels from the states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Chihuahua.

Before 1914, a group called the Carrancistas caused most of the trouble along the border. But in January 1915, a new group of rebels, known as Seditionistas, created the Plan of San Diego. They then started their own raids. This plan aimed to remove the Anglo-American population from the American border states. It also wanted these states to become part of Mexico. However, the Seditionistas could not launch a full invasion. So, they focused on small raids into Texas. Much of the fighting involved the Texas Ranger Division. The United States Army also fought in small battles against these Seditionista groups.

Seditionista Attacks Begin

The most intense fighting happened in 1915. On January 6, Basilio Ramos and his followers wrote the Plan of San Diego in San Diego, Texas. Their goal was to bring the American border states under the rule of Mexican President Venustiano Carranza.

Calling themselves the Seditionistas, these rebels began attacking small American outposts and towns along the Rio Grande. Many of these places were guarded by US Army soldiers. The first attack was on July 4, 1915. About forty mounted rebels crossed the border and raided Los Indios Ranch in Cameron County.

The first deaths happened five days later, on July 9. An employee of the King Ranch killed one of the raiders near the Norias Ranch. On July 11, two Mexican-American police officers were shot near Brownsville. Both officers died. American officials believed these officers knew about the Plan of San Diego.

Over the next two weeks, there were many reports of raids. Rebels attacked police officers and tried to assassinate local landowners. By the end of July, the raiders tried to cut off communication in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. They also tried to stop railroad transportation. On July 25, they burned a bridge belonging to the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway. They also cut telegraph wires near Harlingen.

A few days later, the Governor of Texas, James E. Ferguson, sent Texas Ranger Captain Harry Ransom to the Lower Rio Grande Valley. He was sent to lead a "pacification campaign." Some historians say Ransom's group used harsh methods against both guilty and innocent Mexicans.

Growing Tensions and Distrust

Some people worried that the fighting would lead to a full war between the United States and Mexico. One person from South Texas wrote about wanting to settle old scores with Mexicans.

On July 29, a Mexican man named Adolfo Munoz was killed near San Benito. He was accused of planning to rob a bank and having ties to the raiders. Cameron County Deputy Sheriff Frank Carr and Texas Ranger Daniel Hinojosa arrested Munoz. But they reported that eight masked men forced them to release Munoz. The next day, Munoz's body was found about two miles from town. He had been shot many times and was hanging from a tree.

This event, whether done by rebels or Texans, made local Mexican people distrust the Texas Rangers and other American police. J. T. Canales said that people accused of crimes refused arrest. They did not believe officers would protect their rights. A lawyer in San Benito, William G. B. Morrison, said Munoz's death "fired the flame among the white people." However, a federal investigator said it showed people's anger at laws not being enforced.

Key Leaders and Attacks

Some of the violence was due to personal disagreements. A good example is Aniceto Pizana, who owned Los Tulitos Ranch. His neighbor, Jeff Scrivener, wanted Pizana's land. In early August, Scrivener told American officials that Pizana was helping the rebels. He claimed Pizana had hidden some raiders during an attack. There is no strong proof that Pizana had close ties to the rebels. However, he was friends with Luis de la Rosca, a known raider who owned a store in Rio Hondo.

Because of Scrivener's claim, about 30 Texas Rangers, US Army soldiers, and deputy sheriffs attacked Los Tulitos Ranch on August 3. During the gunfight, one soldier was killed. Three other people were wounded, including two deputy sheriffs and Pizana's son. Pizana escaped. After the attack, he joined Luis de la Rosca. From then on, Rosca and Pizana became important leaders of the Plan of San Diego.

On August 6, Luis de la Rosca led a raid on the town of Sebastian. They killed A. L. Austin and his son Charles. Austin had been president of a group that had removed "bad men" from the area. So, he was a target for the raiders. In the next few days, several local Mexicans were killed by Texas Rangers or local groups acting on their own. A group led by Texas Adjutant General Henry Hutchings and Captain Ransom killed three people. Meanwhile, the rebels destroyed railroad property. They ripped up tracks, burned bridges, and attacked repairmen.

Norias Ranch and Final Raids

The most daring raid by the Seditionistas happened at the Norias Ranch. This was the main office for the southernmost part of the King Ranch. On the night of August 8, between 45 and 70 rebels attacked Norias. It was defended by American cavalrymen, some police, and a few ranchers. During the two-hour battle, at least a dozen people were killed or wounded. The rebels then retreated back towards Mexico.

Another battle happened the next morning. Mexican raiders met Texas Rangers and soldiers as they tried to cross the Rio Grande. Americans reported that up to twelve more rebels were killed. Very few made it across the river. For the next few weeks, West Texas saw "almost daily killings." The most notable was on October 19. That day, raiders derailed a train six miles north of Brownsville. They killed several white passengers but left the Mexican passengers unharmed. When Captain Ransom arrived, he found four Mexicans nearby and executed them.

On October 21, Rosca and Pizana led 25 to 100 rebels in the last major Seditionista raid. Like most raids, it failed for the rebels. This time, eight army signalmen were surrounded by Mexicans at Ojo de Agua. They were rescued by 12 men from the 3rd Cavalry, led by Captain W. J. Scott. At least seven rebels died, and at least seven others were wounded. The Americans lost one civilian and three soldiers killed, with eight wounded.

By December 1915, the threat from Mexican raiders was slowly decreasing. However, in the summer of 1916, some smaller attacks began near Laredo. That year, Luis de la Rosca tried to recruit his cousin, Jose Morin, to capture San Antonio. But a baker in Kingsville, Victoriano Ponce, told the Texas Rangers. The Rangers arrested both men in May. They were never seen again after their arrest. According to US Army investigators, over 300 Mexicans were killed during the Seditionistas' campaign.

See also

In Spanish: Guerra de Bandidos para niños