The Battle of Rio Grande City was a military engagement during the Cortina War between pro-Mexican Cortinistas and a group of US Army regulars supported by Texas Rangers.

[1]: 275  Major Heintzelman moved up the Rio Grande to Roma while Ford marched to Brownsville forming a new company of eighty-three Texas Rangers.

[1]: 281  On 2 February 1860, Ford and his Texas Rangers were placed under the command of Major Heintzelman and was responsible for clearing "the country of robbing bands" and defending the steamer Ranchero's passage from Rio Grande City to Brownsville from Cortina.

[1]: 282–286  Ford stayed on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande until 6 February when he received assurances the Ranchero would not be attacked.

[1]: 289 Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee relieved Major Heintzelman and the Mexican authorities offered to restrain "their citizens from making predatory descents upon the territory and people of Texas...this was the last active operation of the Cortina War".