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46-562: Leander H. McNelly was born March 12, 1844, in Follansbee , Virginia (today West Virginia), to P.J. McNelly and his wife Mary Downey. McNelly suffered from consumption as a child, and in 1860 his family moved to Texas in the hope that the climate would improve his health. In Texas, McNelly helped his family raise sheep and regained his health. On September 13, 1861, McNelly enlisted in the Confederate States Army , joining Company F of

92-477: A Texas State Police force, naming McNelly one of its four captains. The new police force had an inauspicious start, as its first director promptly ran away with $ 34,000. Many of the officers were accused of killing prisoners and harassing voters. In his most visible job as part of the State Police, McNelly was assigned to Walker County . An African-American man named Sam Jenkins had been murdered after telling

138-446: A grand jury that he had been flogged. McNelly investigated the crime and arrested four men, one of whom was immediately released. The other three had smuggled weapons, and they opened fire as McNelly was returning them to jail. McNelly was wounded, and in a newspaper interview he later castigated the local sheriff for not finding the weapons. McNelly was also unhappy with Davis, who had promptly declared martial law. The State Police force

184-459: A family was $ 41,066. Males had a median income of $ 31,571 versus $ 22,324 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 17,036. About 14.70% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line , including 24.00% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over. In the 2000 U.S. Census , a portion of San Patricio was indicated as being in Nueces County. As of

230-544: A gunfight with unknown parties six miles from Clinton on the Yorktown Road, which resulted in one missing, one wounded, and two horses killed In April 1875, Coke ordered McNelly to organize a special force and go to Nueces County . In two days, McNelly recruited 41 men. He rejected most native Texans who had applied so that they would not have to face the possibility of shooting at their own relatives or friends. The group became very loyal to him, and called themselves

276-529: A high-ranking Texas Ranger, is loosely inspired by McNelly, and the incidents depicted in the episode have their counterparts in McNelly's actual career in as a lawman. The film Texas Rangers (2001) very loosely portrays the exploits of McNelly, who is played by actor Dylan McDermott . Follansbee, West Virginia Follansbee is a city in Brooke County , West Virginia , United States, located along

322-484: A long bridge that led to the city, shouting as if they were speaking to unseen generals and colonels. At dawn, McNelly and his small force rode into the Union camp under a flag of truce and demanded an unconditional surrender. The Union officers believed that the noise they had heard signified a very large Confederate force and surrendered immediately. McNelly was able to take all 800 Union troops prisoner. In April 1864, McNelly

368-510: A male householder with no wife present, and 35.3% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age in the city was 44.6 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 30.9% were from 45 to 64; and 18.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of

414-575: A member of the Taylor family killed a member of the Sutton family. McNelly and 40 Rangers arrived in Clinton, Texas , on August 1 and remained for four months to ensure that Taylor and the witnesses against him lived through the trial. Following that incident, McNelly was ill, and went home to recuperate on his cotton farm near Burton . There is a contemporary report that six members of McNelly's unit were engaged in

460-471: A plurality of 48.6% to 47.1%, or 1,568 votes, the closest race since 1956. In 2020, Trump won the county again, this time with a slight majority and 2.9% margin, or 3,692 votes, over Joe Biden . Democratic strength is concentrated within the inland portion of the county, with particular strengths in center portion of Corpus Christi whereas neighborhoods that are predominately Hispanic and the city of Robstown . Republicans performed well in areas particularly in

506-514: Is located in the U.S. state of Texas . As of the 2020 census , the population was 353,178, making it the 16th-most populous county in the state . The county seat is Corpus Christi . The county was formed in 1846 from portions of San Patricio County and organized the following year. It is named for the Nueces River , which marks the county's northwestern boundary with San Patricio County before emptying into its mouth at Nueces Bay north of

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552-484: The 1990 U.S. Census , the 2010 U.S. Census , and the 2020 U.S. Census , that particular area is indicated as being in San Patricio County. School districts: Del Mar College is the designated community college for all of Nueces County. Historically, Nueces County leaned Democratic in presidential elections, though in recent years has narrowly voted Republican . Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 became

598-606: The Ohio River . The population was 2,853 at the 2020 census, a decrease from 2,986 at the 2010 census . It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area . The city was named after the Follansbee brothers, the proprietors of a local steel mill. Follansbee is located at 40°19′59″N 80°35′39″W  /  40.33306°N 80.59417°W  / 40.33306; -80.59417 (40.332919, -80.594048). According to

644-568: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 2.09 square miles (5.41 km ), of which 1.84 square miles (4.77 km ) is land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km ) is water. As of the census of 2010, there were 2,986 people, 1,302 households, and 842 families living in the city. The population density was 1,622.8 inhabitants per square mile (626.6/km ). There were 1,432 housing units at an average density of 778.3 per square mile (300.5/km ). The racial makeup of

690-574: The "Little McNellys". McNelly's methods had been questioned throughout the years, and although he recovered many cattle stolen from the Texan ranches while aggressively dealing with lawlessness on the Mexican border, he had also gained a reputation of taking part in many illegal executions, and confessions forced from prisoners by extreme means. McNelly also made himself famous for disobeying direct orders from his superiors on several occasions, and breaking through

736-537: The "Red Raid," or the "Second Battle of the Palo Alto," was waged nearly all day in a succession of single hand-fights, which left dead Mexicans and horses covering a swath through the prairie about two miles wide and six miles long. All the Mexican drovers were killed, as well as a gringo, Jack Ellis, who had beaten and mistreated a shopkeeper's wife at Nuecestown. Two hundred and sixty-five head of stolen stock were rounded up and eventually returned to their rightful owners in

782-406: The 110,365 households, 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 15.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were not families. About 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size

828-757: The Fifth Regiment of Texas Mounted Volunteers under General Thomas Green . After the Battle of Valverde during the New Mexico campaign, Green named McNelly his aide. Following fighting in the Battle of Galveston , McNelly was sent to Louisiana , where he was given a commission on December 19, 1863. He led 100 guerrilla scouts, and once carried out a spying mission dressed as a woman. McNelly and his men were tasked with capturing Brashear City, Louisiana (now Morgan City), where 800 Union troops were stationed. After dark, McNelly and his 40 troops marched back and forth across

874-459: The Mexican frontier for self-appointed law enforcement purposes. His actions proved to be effective, however, and he was responsible for putting an end to the troubles with Mexican bandits and cattle rustlers along the Rio Grande that were commonplace during the 1850–75 period. It was in 1875 that McNelly was faced with how to eliminate several Mexican bandit gangs. The first of these gang leaders

920-565: The Rangers and Mexican bandits occurred in June 1875. McNelly's Rangers surprised a group of sixteen Mexican cattle thieves and one American man, driving about 300 head of cattle toward the Rio Grande, and also toward Juan Cortina, and a steamer headed for Cuba. They were Cortina's hand-picked men, who had boasted they could cope with any Rangers or vigilantes. Captain McNelly issued his orders. "Don't shoot to

966-588: The Rincon de Cucharas outpost of the Las Cuevas ranch, which in English means "The Spoon Corner." Later that afternoon, Major A. J. Alexander from Ringgold Barracks arrived with a missive from Colonel Potter at Fort Brown, on the Rio Grande at Brownsville, urging McNelly to retreat. During the gunfight, McNelly was shot through both hands. After a needed night's sleep, Captain McNelly moved his men directly opposite Camargo on

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1012-513: The Texas side of the Rio Grande. Thus, in another invasion of Mexico, twelve or thirteen Rangers, not including McNelly – though accounts differ – crossed the river in a rowboat. McNelly marched up the riverbank to the customs house and demanded the cattle. When the Mexican Captain stalled by politely saying they didn't do business on Sunday, he promptly took the Mexican Captain prisoner, hauling him to

1058-465: The Texas side of the border. He told the Mexican leader to get the cattle started back to the U.S. side within the hour or he would die. The operation was successful, and instead of 250 head returning to Texas, more than 400 were crossed back. McNelly suffered from tuberculosis , and retired in 1876 due to deteriorating health. He died on September 4 of the following year in Burton, Texas . In World War II,

1104-641: The United States liberty ship SS L. H. McNelly was named in his honor. In an episode of the radio show, “Inheritance” Captain McNelly (misspelled as McNally) is played by Lloyd Talbott in an episode dramatizing the formation of the Special Forces unit of the Texas Rangers. The Original Radio Broadcast aired June 13, 1954. In the episode of the NBC TV series Tales of Wells Fargo entitled "Sam Bass" (1957)

1150-402: The average family size was 2.86. In the city the age distribution of the population shows 21.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males. The median income for a household in

1196-455: The bandit bands led by Cortina and by Salinas, by repeated actions where McNelly disobeyed orders and took his force across the border into Mexico. King Fisher's gang dispersed; Fisher went into retirement as a rancher, following a Ranger raid on his ranch during which McNelly arrested him. The two came to an agreement that Fisher's over-the-border raids would cease. Fisher later became Sheriff of Uvalde County . The first major gunfight between

1242-468: The character Captain McNelly is played by Ray Teal . In the episode of the TV show Kung Fu entitled "Empty Pages of a Dead Book" (1974) actor Robert Foxworth portrays a fictionalized son of Captain McNelly, Clyde McNelly, who tracks down men who at one time were pursued by the elder McNelly. Don Meredith guest stars as the title character in "Shanklin," an episode of the TV series The Quest . Shanklin,

1288-444: The city was $ 30,818, and the median income for a family was $ 37,679. Males had a median income of $ 36,063 versus $ 19,554 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 16,824. About 11.6% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line , including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over. Nueces County, Texas Nueces County ( / nj u ˈ eɪ s ɪ s / new- AY -siss )

1334-537: The city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 3,115 people, 1,340 households, and 911 families living in the city. The population density was 1,757.9 people per square mile (679.5/km ). There were 1,453 housing units at an average density of 820.0 per square mile (317.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 98.97% White , 0.06% African American , 0.06% Native American , 0.32% Asian , 0.03% from other races , and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.26% of

1380-420: The city was 97.6% White , 0.3% African American , 0.1% Native American , 0.2% Asian , 0.2% from other races , and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population. There were 1,302 households, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had

1426-463: The county and onto ranches, before returning west to Laredo . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has an area of 1,166 square miles (3,020 km ), of which 838 square miles (2,170 km ) are land and 327 square miles (850 km ) (28%) are covered by water. It borders the Gulf of Mexico . As of the census of 2000, 313,645 people, 110,365 households, and 79,683 families resided in

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1472-433: The county. The population density was 375 people per square mile (145 people/km ). The 123,041 housing units averaged 147 units per square mile (57/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 72.03% White, 4.24% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 18.74% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. About 55.78% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of

1518-488: The first Republican candidate to carry the county. Prior to that year, the only times Nueces County did not vote for the national Democratic candidate was in its first presidential election in 1848 for Whig Zachary Taylor , and in 1860, supporting Southern Democratic John C. Breckinridge . Since Eisenhower's election, the only other Republicans to carry the county in the 20th century were Richard Nixon in 1972 and Ronald Reagan in 1984 . So far, Bill Clinton remains

1564-403: The last Democratic candidate to win Nueces County, having done so in 1996 . Since 2000, Nueces County has voted for every Republican presidential candidate, with only George W. Bush in 2004 having carried it by a double digit margin, and his 56.8% of the vote is also the highest for any Republican in the county's history. In 2016 , Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the county with

1610-458: The left or the right. Shoot straight ahead. And don't shoot till you've got your target good in your sights. Don't walk up on a wounded man. Pay no attention to a white flag. That's a mean trick bandits use on green-hands. Don't touch a dead man, except to identify him." Spying the Rangers, the Mexicans took flight, driving the herd before them at a frenzied pace, until they reached a little island in

1656-491: The middle of a salt marsh. The Mexicans then turned and waited for the Rangers, who were right on their heels, to cross the shallow, muddy lagoon. But McNelly anticipated the ambush and stopped to issue his pep talk, "Boys, across this resaca are some outlaws that claim they're bigger than the law—bigger than Washington law, bigger than Texas law. This won't be a standoff or a dogfall. We'll either win completely, or we'll lose completely." The battle, which has since been called

1702-517: The neighborhood of the King Ranch country. Nine of the fourteen saddles recovered turned out to be Dick Heyes' saddles stolen in the raid on Nuecestown three months earlier. Leander McNelly's most infamous exploit was his invasion of Las Cuevas, Mexico in order to get back stolen cattle. McNelly and his Rangers entered Mexico on November 20, 1875. Under cover of brush and scrub oak, they made their way on foot to General Juan Flores Salinas ' stronghold at

1748-407: The population. There were 1,340 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and

1794-612: The port of Corpus Christi. Nueces County is part of the Corpus Christi metropolitan statistical area . The Indian tribes that lived in and raided the county were the Lipan Apache , Karankawa , Coahuiltecan , Kickapoo , and the Seminole . The final recorded Indian raid in the county happened in April of 1878, when Lipan Apache, Kickapoo, Seminole, Mexicans , and a white man briefly entered

1840-607: The specific task of bringing order to the Nueces Strip , a hotbed of cattle thievery and banditry, where Juan Cortina , the Mexican military chief for the Rio Grande frontier, was conducting periodic guerrilla operations against the local ranchers. One of his unit's first assignments was to travel to DeWitt County and resolve the Sutton–Taylor feud . The feud had begun in March 1874 when

1886-592: The town of Brownsville. Cortina commanded a force in excess of 2,000 armed Mexican outlaws and gunmen . Further north up river, McNelly was faced with a gang led by Juan Flores Salinas. This gang did not have the manpower of the Cortina's gang, but was nonetheless as ruthless. This gang was headquartered at Camargo, Mexico, directly across the border from the US Cavalry outpost of Ringgold Barracks, near Rio Grande City . From among American outlaws, McNelly's greatest rival

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1932-518: Was Juan Nepomuceno Cortina , who had been a General in the Mexican army during the Mexican–American War . For years Cortina had raided settlements in the Brownsville, Texas , area, always retreating across the Rio Grande to avoid Texas law enforcement. Cortina was from a wealthy family that owned more than 260,000 acres (1,100 km) of land in that area, which had once included the location of

1978-401: Was 3.30. In the county, the age distribution was 28.40% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 35,959, and for

2024-518: Was Texas gunman King Fisher and his band of outlaws. Although notable as rustlers, Fisher's band rarely raided US civilian populations, concentrating more on rustling cattle from their Mexican counterparts across the border. This added to tensions among the Mexican population, and gave an excuse for Mexican bandits to raid in the United States. McNelly now moved south to end the bandit gangs that had run unchecked over that area for several years. Within one year's time, McNelly had completely destroyed both

2070-462: Was abolished on April 22, 1873. The Democratic Party regained control of Texas in 1873, and in 1874, to combat massive lawlessness, the newly elected governor, Richard Coke , created two branches of the Texas Rangers , a Frontier Battalion under the command of major John B. Jones, and a designated Special Force, commanded by McNelly, financed by cattle ranchers. McNelly's special group had

2116-446: Was wounded at the Battle of Mansfield . He took no sick leave or furlough in the entire four years of fighting, however. In the last months of the war he led mounted scouts working near Hempstead, Texas , to round up deserters, and his unit was one of the last Confederate Army units to disband. Following the war, McNelly moved to Brenham , where he married and had a son and daughter. On July 1, 1870, Governor Edmund J. Davis organized

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