1992 0201 Bruce Aiken Special to Saturday Plus - Brownsville Herald

by Bruce Aiken - Brownsville Herald

Here's a story that appeared in the Brownsville Herald's "Saturday Plus" February 1, 1992.

 

Tejano Union soldier.  Courtesy photo _ Valley Morning Star

Maybe Bruce Aiken would have known what to do about that rock. He could not find records for Private Pedro Garcia, Company E. 1st Cavalry so maybe not.  At least we have another story about Washington Park which can be told however you want to tell it.

Here is update:  Article written by Norman Rozeff of Harlingen.  Click title for Valley Morning Star 30 August 2015 link to article or read in-part below:

Part II:  Action & Reaction of Union Soldiers

Civil War Union Hispanics and the Excecution of Private Garcia

"One solution, with which Haynes concurred, was to transfer the unit to Louisiana. Upon hearing of this, turmoil in the camp crested. To emphasize the importance of military discipline the army would need an object lesson and found it in the case of Pablo Garcia, who was part of the Second Texas Cavalry Regiment. Private Garcia was charged with leaving his sentry post at Punta del Monte on May 10, 1864, before being regularly relieved. (This was the Yturria ranch north of what would become Raymondville.) To this he pleaded guilty but not guilty to charges of desertion and to conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline. Captain Edward G. Miller presided at Garcia’s court-martial. Garcia was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to be executed by a firing squad on June 22, 1864.

On the late afternoon of the scheduled execution, fully equipped brigades accompanied by several bands marched to Washington Square. Accompanied by a priest Garcia was apparently then at peace with his Maker. He pushed away the bandage blindfold and bravely faced the 12-man musketry. He was not dead after their action. Two soldiers were called forth, one putting a bullet into his heart and another into his brain. To the solemn tune of the Dead March soldiers of the fort were then paraded by to view the grisly scene of Garcia’s body. They could not help but be stunned by the justice meted for a seemingly minor offense. The citizens of Brownsville also witnessed this sobering scene."


Note:  the two histories dont exactly match but we'll leave that to some future historian to unravel.

Pedro Sanchez

 Pedro Infante

Brownsville Herald's Don Pedro -- "And out he went"