Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Tags
Related Content
Topic
Document Type
  • Ship History
Wars & Conflicts
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
Rio Bravo
(Side wheel Steamer: tonnage 325; complement 44)

The Mexican name for the Rio Grande.

Rio Bravo, a light draft, side-wheel steamer, was purchased by the Navy in 1875 for special service on the Rio Grande as requested by Brig. Gen. E. O. C. Ord, USA, commander of the Department of Texas. For 5 years she operated out of Brownsville, cooperating with the military commandant of that city to protect the American frontier against raiders based in Mexico and to inhibit smuggling into the United States from the free zone in Tamaulipas. She also cooperated with the U.S. consul at Matamoros to protect American citizens during revoluntionary [sic; revolutionary] activities in that vicinity. The steamer was transferred to the War Department in June of 1880.


29 September 2005