The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926 Page: 23
330 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Federal Indian Policy in Texas, 1845-1860
fourths of the troops in Texas were infantry, unsuited to Indian
warfare.
It must be said in justice to the Government that the total army
of the United States was not over 10,000 or 11,000 men, until
1853, when it was 13,821; and that the actual number in service
was not materially increased until 1855, when it was 15,732.22
This meant that between a fourth and a third of the National
army was stationed in Texas; for the force increased up to 1856,
when there were fifty-four companies or an aggregate of 3684 men
actually in Texas.23 If the figures are correct, this is noteworthy;
the Federal Government increased the number of troops in Texas
by over 350, while her whole army had decreased by almost 200.24
The charges of neglect and indifference brought against the
National Government, which have been discussed and petitions
from Texas, an account of which follows, all bore testimony to
the utter inadequacy of the Federal troops to give the state the
protection that it sorely needed and to which it was entitled.
Texas, therefore, looked to the state to augment the military force,
the result of which was the reorganization of Texas ranger com-
panies.
2. The Ranger Service
The Origin and Character of the Rangers.-King defines the
rangers as "the volunteer companies of citizens raised frequently
to repel Indian attacks and to suppress domestic commotion.25
Before Texas became a republic, the Texans held a "General Con-
sultation" at San Felipe, November, 1835, at which provisions
were made for raising a company of a hundred and fifty "rangers"
who were to be placed in detachments on the frontier. The officer
in command was Captain Robert M. Coleman.26 During President
Lamar's administration, the Republic provided for a force of eight
hundred and forty mounted men to be drawn from the frontier set-
tlers, to serve for a period of three years in the protection of the
22Ibid., p. 3; 33rd Cong., 1st Sess., Senate Doc. No. 1, p. 3; 34th Cong.,
1st and 2nd Sess., House Doc. No. 1, p. 3.
2832nd Cong., 2nd Sess., Senate Doc. No. 1, pp. 58-59; 34th Cong., 1st
and 2nd Sess., House Doc. No. 1, pp. 136-137; 34th Cong., 3rd Sess., Sen-
ate Doe. No. 5, pp. 242-243.
2434th Cong., 1st and 2nd Sess., House Doc. No. 1, pp. 3, 136-137; 34th
Cong., 3rd Sess., Senate Doc. No. 5, pp. 3, 242-243.
"Wooten (Ed.), A Comprehensive History of Texas, II, 329.
"Ibid., p. 336.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926, periodical, 1926; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117141/m1/31/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.