Cortina Troubles

The Cortina Troubles is the generic name for the First Cortina War, from 1859 to 1860, and the Second Cortina War, in 1861, in which paramilitary forces led by the Mexican rancher and local leader Juan Cortina, confronted elements of the United States Army, the Confederate States Army, the Texas Rangers, and the local militias of Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

Cortina Troubles
DateFirst Cortina War: July 13, 1859 – March 17, 1860
(9 months and 4 days)
Second Cortina War: May 21, 1861 – May 22, 1861
(1 day)
Location
Texas, United States
Tamaulipas, Mexico
Result American–Allied victory
Belligerents
United States
Confederate States
Mexico		 Cortinista militia
Commanders and leaders
Maj. Samuel Heintzelman
Cap. Stoneman
Cap. Tobin
Col. John Ford
Col. Santos Benavides		 Juan Cortina
Strength
United States Army
Confederate States Army
Texas Rangers
Brownsville Tigers
Matamoros militia		 Unknown precisely
Casualties and losses
31 killed and wounded 216 killed

According to author Robert Elman, Juan Cortina and his followers were the first "socially motivated border bandits," similar to the Garzistas and the Villistas of later generations. The fighting took place in the Rio Grande Valley area, which straddles the international border of Texas and Mexico.

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