Retrieving the Cattle

A Ranger captain was determined to get rustled cattle back, no matter what.

Texas Ranger Captain Lee McNelly was tough and no-nonsense. In November 1875, he went after some Mexican bandits who had rustled Texas cattle. To do so required an extra-legal invasion of Mexico, just off the furthest southern tip of Texas. For a couple of days, McNelly’s force fought a much larger Mexican group at Las Cuevas. U.S. military finally arrived to provide support—cannons and Gatling guns—and at least 80 Mexicans died. Finally, word came from Washington, ordering McNelly to come back to American territory. The cattle (and several extra) were eventually returned.