2014-4 Remembrances Special EditionCity of Schertz
Remembrances Special Edition Article 2014-4
Presented by: Schertz Historical Preservation Committee
The Historic Texas Rangers – Early Beginnings
The Texas Rangers first emerged as participants in Texas pioneer history as the war for Texas
independence ended (Battle of San Jacinto) and the struggle to move the Texas frontier
westward began. The defeat of Mexican General Santa Anna’s Army at San Jacinto gave way to
a Republic but did little to solve its security problems posed by the Mexicans south of the Rio
Grand and the Comanche nation to the west and north. Both the Mexicans and the Comanche
were never going to accept peace on the terms the new republic would offer them. The Texans
had no diplomatic options when dealing with either the Mexicans or the Comanche. The Texas
frontier settlers where subject to recurring Comanche raids that led to thousands of Texan
deaths. In face to face confrontations with Texans the Comanche warriors were unbeatable due
to their archery skills and fighting as a mounted force aboard horses (Mustangs) that were far
superior to slower and less maneuverable military and/or frontiersmen mounts. It appeared the
early Texans were doomed to suffer the same fate (defeat) as had the Spanish and Mexicans at
the hands of the better prepared war fighting Comanche.1
Amidst this dismal security backdrop came a “unique” proposal for enhancing Texas frontier
security. The proposal was made by Texas Daniel Parker, a family relative of one of Texas’ most
famous Indian captives (Cynthia Ann Parker). The proposal was to replace the void created by
the dismissal of the furloughed Texan army that had fought at San Jacinto (1937) with a
volunteer force of some 600 mounted men (never to reach that level) who would be referred to
a “rangers” and who would hunt Indians and defend the frontier. In reality, the legislation
provided neither men, guns, uniforms, provisions, barracks, mounts or a command structure.2
Strangely, against such poor resource enticements there emerged volunteers consisting mostly
of young, reckless, illiterate single men who came to Texas from the East looking for open
space, adventure and danger.3 There was no officer corps appointed and thus rank was
awarded solely on merit and acclaim. San Antonio was the formation headquarters for the
Ranger force. Local home militias were in being but not prepared for service outside their
respective towns and certainly not for service in the frontier for periods of six months at a time
as was required of the Rangers. 4
Ranger exploits during the Republic years were poorly recorded since the officers rarely gave
written reports nor did they bother with journals or letter writing. The Ranger recruits were for
the most part illiterate and there were no journalist to record events as would be the case
during the Indian battles of the 1870s. Attrition/mortality rates were high as reflected by
1 Gwynne, S. C., Empire of the Summer Moon, Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, NY, 2010, pp. 130-131
2 Ibid, p. 134
3 Ibid, p. 135
4 Ibid. p. 136
Ranger John Caperton recorded when he wrote that of the one hundred forty young men
(Rangers) in San Antonio in 1839, “100 of them were killed in various fights with Indians and
Mexicans.” 5 The Ranger Corp was a motley dressed bunch but a group with an impulse toward
fighting and an excellent group of field commanders. One of the most celebrated of those
commanders was a young (23 years of age), Tennessean by the name of John Coffee Hays (aka:
Captain Jack).
Upon arriving in San Antonio in or about 1838, Hays discovered a strikingly beautiful landscape
of flowing rivers, gentle live-oak savannahs, beautiful blossoms of wildflowers and abundant
game of buffalo, bear, antelope, wild turkey coyotes and deer by the tens of thousands.6 Hays
had come to San Antonio for adventure and exploration of the new western frontier. After
working as a San Antonio surveyor Hays joined the Rangers and began what was to be an
outstanding career. According to John S. “Rip” Ford, a Ranger officer under Hays, “The fame of
Colonel Hays rested on a substantial basis: it was acquired by hard fighting, suffering privations,
and by the exhibition of the high qualities adorning a citizen and soldier”.7 Ford further claimed
Hays represented the most popular leader of men in the United States.8 Hays knew his men
well and placed great faith in the judgment of his subordinate officers. According to Ford, he
was “cool, self-possessed, brave, and a good shot and any man who singled him out in a fight
came to grief”.9 Hays distinguished himself as the first great Indian fighter on the plains
frontier. Hays was a commander that emphasized offensive strategies and one who knew how
to keep his men alive. Under Hay’s command the Rangers traveled, fought, and developed
strategy based upon their enemy’s behaviors rather than as their Texan army predecessor had
performed. Hay’s troops performed maneuvers that were unprecedented in American military
history until that time. He taught his troop to ride and shoot just as the Comanche could, which
represented an enormous advance in anti-Indian warfare. Rangers were taught to strike
quickly, often from ambush, and often at night, overcoming the odds with a pure and reckless
charge.10 The fundamental lesson of Plains Indian warfare was either victory or death and Hays
taught his Ranger’s this lesson well.
The Rangers reputation as fearless and brutal warriors spread near and far across the Texas and
Mexican territories. The reputation was well deserved as witnessed by their 1847 execution of
eighty Mexican men in Mexico City in retaliation for the death of one Ranger. 11 Many Ranger
heroic exploits were the subject of record during the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848.
There were periods in the decades of the 1860s through 1900s when the Rangers were
disbanded only to be reconstituted as a need for such a fighting force was recognized. Hays and
his men did great service to Texas by hastening the opening of the frontier for settlement. The
Texas legislature recognized Hays’ contribution by naming Hays County after him.
5 Major John Capertion, Sketch of Colonel John C. Hays, The Texas Rangers, Incidents in Mexico, p. 32
6 Gwynne, p. 139
7 Ford, John Salmon, Rip Ford’s Texas, University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, 1990, p.107
8 Ibid. p. 108
9 Ibid. p. 108
10 Ibid. p. 142
11 Web, The Texas Rangers, p. 120