Battle of La Ebonal

Battle of La Ebonal
Part of the First Cortina War
Date December 13, 1859 Location Near Brownsville, Texas, United States Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexican Paramilitary Forces Cortinistas
Commanders and leaders
Samuel P. Heintzelman	Teodoro Zamora
Strength
290[1][2]	~400[3]
Casualties and losses
2 killed 5 wounded	~16 killed

The Battle of La Ebonal was fought in December 1859 near Brownsville, Texas during the First Cortina War. Following the Brownsville Raid, on September 28, and a few skirmishes with the Texas Rangers, rebel leader Juan Cortina led his small army into the hills outside of town and dug in near a series of cattle ranches. The United States Army responded by sending an expedition into the area, under the command of Major Samuel P. Heintzelman, with orders to pacify all resistance. A minor battle began on December 13, at a ranch called La Ebonal, and continued for a few hours as the Americans routed and then pursued the retreating Cortinistas.^[4][5]