Tks 🙂
It is unfortunate that we don’t have a detailed account of just what transpired on the Callaghan Epedition. Upon falling back to Piedras Negras across from Eagle Pass either Callahan torched the place on purpose or it caught fire. Texas History Online out of UT states they also looted looted the town which may be possible given the criminal nature of some Rangers at that time.
Although most folks in Texas supported Callahan’s actions, By burning Piedras Negras, he stepped on his Johnson in a Political sense, removing plausible deniability and creating an international incident embarrassing to the Federal Government.
Callahan’s forthright personality would contribute to his death the following year. He became involved in a somewhat sordid dispute with a neighbor, Woodson Blasingame. Callahan and three companions went to the Blasingames’ cabin to deliver an ultimatum, leave the area or face the consequences. In the ensuing shoot out, Callahan and another man were killed and a third man wounded.
https://www.txgenwebcounties.org/blanco/blass.htmBlasingame turned himself in to authorities, feeling confident he would be exonerated. This proved to be a mistake, the following week an armed mob 100 strong, chiefly from Callahan’s old rangering ground at Gonzales, broke into Blasingames’ place of confinement dragged him and his son out, and shot them.
The personality of William R Henry, the other Ranger Captain involved, would also contribute to his demise. May 15th, 1862, feeling he had been passed over for command of a forming Confederate unit, Henry provoked a gunfight with one William Adams and was subsequently shot dead on San Antonio’s main plaza.
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/henry-william-rIn both cases, it seems these men picked on the wrong individuals.
