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Historic Haven An ecological gold mine and a monument to Texas history, the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge consists of 11,950 acres of land along the Rio Grande River, extending upstream from where the river empties into the Gulf of Mexico. This area is home to more than 20 endangered or threatened species, including ocelots, jaguarundi, peregrine falcons, piping plovers, horned lizards, and the Texas indigo snake. The more than 1,100 plant species found here include the last remaining stand of mangroves in the state. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially acquired the title to the land in January, after a long and complicated process of extricating the tract from an ill-fated real estate venture known as Playa del Rio. That project envisioned a resort area with thousands of homes, a dozen golf courses, several hotels, a theme park, and a marina. "This land is a national treasure," said Nancy Kaufman, director of the southwest region of the Fish and Wildlife Service. "Fish, wildlife, and people will benefit from this acquisition, as will the growing ecotourism industry of South Texas." Even more encouraging, the long-range plan for the refuge is for it to extend at least 120 miles up the river valley, to Falcon Dam, ensuring the preservation of this ecologically significant river corridor. The refuge also includes Palmito Ranch Battlefield. Here, on May 13, 1865, Col. John S. "Rip" Ford, who was leading a large Confederate cavalry unit, arrived just in the nick of time to rescue another Rebel cavalry force from what seemed to be certain defeat. Soon after Ford’s artillery opened fire and his cavalry charged, the Union forces were sent scurrying away in retreat. The Battle of Palmito Ranch, the last battle of the Civil War, was a victory for the South. Unfortunately, after the battle, Ford’s men learned from their prisoners that General Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomatox a month earlier. News traveled more slowly in those days. Today we gripe if our browser takes a couple of extra seconds to download our favorite online news source. A hundred and thirty years ago, there was nothing unusual about a month’s delay -- especially after General Sherman’s troops tore down all the telegraph lines on his infamous march across the south. Two places on the Net where you can find more info on the Battle of Palmito Ranch are: http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/tx005.htm http://www.traveltex.com/Cities/Brownsville/2517.html (3/18/98) |
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