Battle of Tres Jacales facts for kids
Company D, Texas Rangers, at Realitos in 1887. Captain Frank Jones is seated third from left.
|
|
| Date | June 30, 1893 |
|---|---|
| Location | Tres Jacales, Chihuahua, Mexico |
| Outcome | 1 killed 2 wounded |
The Battle of Tres Jacales was a gunfight that happened on June 30, 1893, during the time of the Old West. A group of American lawmen, led by Texas Ranger Frank Jones, were looking for a gang of cattle thieves. They were attacked in the Mexican village of Tres Jacales. During the fight, Captain Jones was badly hurt and later died. The other Americans had to go back to Texas.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Outlaws in West Texas
In the late 1800s, West Texas had many outlaws. They were especially common near the Rio Grande river and the border with Mexico. A main spot for these criminals near El Paso was called Pirate Island. This was a 15,000-acre piece of land formed when the Rio Grande changed its path.
Even though Pirate Island was part of Texas, it was hard for police to control. Criminals could easily cross the dry riverbed and escape into Mexico.
The Bosque Gang
A group of outlaws called the Bosque Gang used Pirate Island as their hideout. The island was in a gallery forest, which is why they were called "Bosque" (Spanish for forest). The gang's leader was Jesus Maria Olguin. He became well-known with his three sons: Severio, Sebastian, and Priscellano. Their family became angry after Texas Rangers killed one of their relatives during the San Elizario Salt War.
By 1893, the Bosque Gang was famous for stealing cattle and horses. They would then sneak them across the border into Mexico. They had many members. Captain Jones had asked for more men to fight them, but his request was turned down. He only had four other rangers with him during the shootout.
The Search for the Gang
In June 1893, officials in El Paso County issued a warrant for Jesus Maria and Severio. They were wanted for stealing horses and cattle. Captain Jones put together a team to find them. This team included himself, El Paso Deputy Robert Edwards "Ed" Bryant, and four other Texas Rangers: Corporal Carl Kirchner, Privates T. F. Tucker, J. W. "Wood" Saunders, and Edwin Dunlap Aten. A young Mexican man named Lujan also joined them. He was looking for his own stolen horses.
The Battle of Tres Jacales
The Chase Begins
On June 30, 1893, Captain Jones and his team left El Paso. They rode southeast along the Rio Grande towards Pirate Island. After searching some houses, they were heading back to El Paso. They saw two Mexican men on horseback coming towards them. As soon as the Mexicans saw the Americans, they turned around. They galloped back towards the village of Tres Jacales.
The Americans chased them. When they were about half a mile from the Mexicans, Private Saunders and Corporal Kirchner told them to give up. Instead of surrendering, shots were fired. The gunfire came from a small jacal (a simple hut) along the road and from hidden spots in the bushes nearby.
The Fight
Bullets from the first shots hit Captain Jones in the leg. He fell off his horse. Another bullet hit Kirchner's Winchester rifle. The Americans quickly got off their horses and started shooting back. This forced the Mexicans in the bushes to hide inside the jacal. There were at least five attackers. Some were gang members, and others were villagers who supported the outlaws.
The fight lasted almost an hour. Private Tucker tried to help Captain Jones, but Jones told him to save himself. Soon after, Captain Jones was killed. Then, Lujan told Kirchner that they had accidentally crossed into Mexico. He warned them that the villagers had called the Mexican Army, who would arrive soon.
Kirchner did not want to leave his captain behind. He and his men kept fighting for another 45 minutes. But they realized they would all be killed if the Mexicans surrounded them. So, the Americans fought their way back across the Rio Grande. They reached the small town of Clint. From there, they sent news of the fight to Sheriff Frank B. Simmons in El Paso.
Captain Jones was the only American casualty. On the Mexican side, Jesus Maria and Severio were wounded. Jesus Maria was shot in his right hand, and Severio was hit in one of his arms, breaking the bone.
Corporal Kirchner's Story
Corporal Kirchner wrote about the shootout later. He said they were returning to El Paso when they saw two men. The men ran away, and the Americans chased them. When they were close to a small building, shots were fired at them. Captain Jones was hit first and died. Kirchner realized they were in Mexico and that Mexican soldiers were coming. He decided they had to retreat to avoid being captured or killed.
What Happened Next
After the shootout, the Mexican authorities at first did not want to return Captain Jones's body. However, Sheriff Simmons went to Ciudad Juarez. He convinced the Mexican jefe (leader), Rafael Garcia Martinez, to send the body to San Elizaro. Captain Jones was first buried at his father-in-law's ranch. In 1936, his body was moved and reburied in Ysleta. A state historical marker now stands at his grave.
In a rare team effort, a group of lawmen led by Sheriff Simmons worked with Mexican Army soldiers. They managed to capture some of the outlaws near Pirate Island a day or two after the shootout. All of them were put in jail in Ciudad Juarez. However, the President of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz, was upset. He felt the Americans had entered Mexico without permission. Because of this, he refused to send the outlaws to the United States for trial. The outlaws were never punished and were later released from jail.
The release of the outlaws made many people in Texas very angry. They wanted justice. In the weeks that followed, three of the Olguin family members were found dead.
Captain Jones was replaced by John Hughes. Hughes served as a Texas Ranger captain until 1915. He became known as one of the most effective rangers in the unit's history.
Images for kids
-
Company D, Texas Rangers, at Ysleta in 1894. "Wood" Saunders is sitting third from left, Carl Kirchner is sitting to the right of Saunders and Captain John Hughes is seated in a chair at the far right.
