Governor, conditions convinced Federal authorities Plan of San Diego was real

Gov. James Ferguson

From the beginning of the troubles related to the Plan of San Diego, Texas Governor James Ferguson maintained that the problems were a Federal problem. His position was that the raiders were crossing the Rio Grande back to Mexico where General Emilio Nafarrate would provide them with sanctuary.

President Woodrow Wilson countered that the problem was of a local nature and the state was responsible for quashing the “bandits.” Still there were some 17,000 troops in the Valley in August 1915.

The governor wrote to the president asking for a doubling of the number of troops. “Every 12 hours loss of life…of American citizens occurs,” Ferguson wrote. “Citizens murdered, post officials robbed, Rangers and soldiers killed within last week. Offenders mostly Mexicans from across border. Only a few are American citizens.”

Secretary of War Lindley Garrison offered the governor 12,000 more troops if Gen. Frederick Funston at Fort Sam Houston requested them. The general’s position, however, was that “native Texans in satisfaction of a political feud” were directing the troubles.

Gen. Frederick Funston

The general, however, soon received a special report from the Valley convincing him affirming that the raids were in fact part of “Plan of San Diego.” The report indicated that three groups were operational in the Valley. The Raymondville, Lyford, San Sebastian area was seen as a “hotbed” of activity. Another area of revolutionary activity was in the Mercedes–Tiocana section, which provided easy access to the river. A third area of operation was “heading northward.”

General Funston received a report that some 1,000 had pledged loyalty to Plan of San Diego and that a couple hundred were gathering 10 miles below Brownsville and preparing to cross the Rio Grande.

In response to a request from Jim Hogg County Sheriff Oscar Thompson, Gen. Funston sent a detachment of 16 cavalry to Fort McIntosh in Laredo. The sediciosos reportedly had had taken over the Edds Ranch, 50 miles southeast of Laredo. Armed citizens from Hebbronville were ready to join the soldiers.

By September, General Funston believed that the Plan of San Diego support stretched all along the Rio Grande, as far north as Del Rio.