Texas State Troops

Just a little bit of information about what Jack County and this part of the world was like in the early 1860's. Texas had to have their own 'Self Defense Force' to prevent its citizens from being attacked by swarms of Indian raiders, hordes of outlaws or even those damned Yankees. These men took the place of the Texas Rangers and helped provide somewhat of a stable time for the settlers. Without these men, I believe that many of the settlers would have been driven from their homes and, therefore, we might not have been born in Texas!

Before the War for Southern Independence, Texans were moving west into lands occupied by some of the most feared warriors on the Frontier. Naturally, these warriors objected to the Texans who began to move into their historical homelands. Raids, attacks and other incidents occurred all along the western settlements. To provide security among these western most settlements, the government of the Republic of Texas and later the "state" of Texas provided for companies of Rangers to be formed. One of these companies formed in 1860 was from Jack County , and was commanded by Captain Lawrence S. (Sul) Ross.

In December 1861, the government of the "state" of Texas had authorized the formation of the Frontier Regiments. Later, in November and December 1863, the subject of frontier defense and the Frontier Regiment was deliberated by the legislature. The result of these deliberations was "An Act to Provide for the Protection of the Frontier, and turning over the Frontier Regiment to Confederate States Service". This act created the "Frontier Organization". The plan called for the governor to divide the frontier counties into three districts and place a suitable Major of Cavalry over each district. This would be the last major modification to frontier defense by the state of Texas during the War for Southern Independence.

William Quayle commanded the First Frontier District. The First was the northern most of the districts and was made up of the present day counties of Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cooke, Foard (not organized until 1891), Hardeman, Haskell, Jack, Jones, Knox, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Shackelford, Stephens, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Wise, and Young.

George Bernard Erath commanded the Second Frontier District. It was the middle district and consisted of the present day counties of Bosque, Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Concho, Coryell, Eastland, Erath, Hamilton, Johnson (west of the road from Fort Belknap to Fort Graham), Kimble, Lampasas, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Mills (not organized until 1887), Runnels, San Saba and Taylor.

James M. Hunter commanded the Third Frontier District. The Third was the southern most district and included the present day counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bee (southwest of the Medio river), Blanco, Burnet, Dawson (which I cannot locate), Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Karnes (southwest of the San Antonio river), Kerr, Kinney, La Salle, Live Oak, Llano, Maverick, McMullen, Medina Real (organized in 1913), Uvalde, and Zavala.

All of these volunteers were meant to do the work once performed by the Rangers. Many men answered the call and helped to defend their homes against the dangers presented by living on the frontier. These men were not members of the Confederate States Army, but were members of the State Troops of Texas. They were organized, supplied and paid by the government of Texas. It was the mission of these men to protect the western most settlements of Texas against attacks from all enemies. Unfortunately, not a lot of publicity has been given to their service.

L.S. Ross' Company

Texas Rangers

L.S. Ross' Company (1860 Roll only)

Men recruited from Jack, Parker and Palo Pinto Counties, Texas

Number of officers: 5

Number of enlisted men: 61

(These men were true Texas Rangers beginning their service to the state prior to the War for Southern Independence. Their enlistment was for a period of one year.)

Ross, L. S. Captain

Kelliher, Thomas 1st Lt

Sommerville, M. W. 2nd Lt.

Sublet, David L. 3rd Lt.

Nedlett, S. L. Surgeon

Duncan, Samuel M. 1st Sgt.

Harris, Richard S. 2nd Sgt., Discharged

Daughney, Andrew J. 3rd Sgt.

Duncan, William E. 4th Sgt.

Cassaday, Lanford N. 1st Corp.

Crafron, Robert W. 2nd Corp.

Garrett, Robert J. 3rd Corp.

Matlock, Charles B. 4th Corp.

Donahoe, Edward P. Blacksmith

Aldridge, J. C. Private

Beverly, A. J. Private

Boren, William A. Private

Carmicus, Silas Private

Coleman, Wade H. Private, Discharged

Dawson, William W. Private

Deary, Silas Private

Dercherd, David M. Private

Dewey, Washington Private

Dragoo, Benjamin C. Private

Dragoo, James M. Private

England, J. L. Private

Fulcher, Berry Private

Givens, William M. Private

Glenn, John Private, Discharged

Gray, Claredon R. Private

Harris, George W. Private, Discharged

Harris, Joseph N. Private

Hays, Joseph G. Private

Hofockert, Phillip H. Private

Hunter, John Private

Hyden, James Private, Diserted

Ireland, James Private, Killed

Jackson, Isaac Private

Kelley, Elijah A. Private, Discharged

Linkenhogen, John W. Private

Long, Benjamin D. Private

Long, Jason Private

Lyard, E. Private

Marion, Francis Private, Discharged

McGarrah, ____ Private

McLeod, Jonathan D. Private, Killed

Morum, Jonathan S. Private, Discharged

Nicholas, John Private, Deserted

Randolph, James P. Private, Deserted

Reeves, Calvin J. Private

Robinson, Jason Private

Rogers, Hiram B. Private

Rogers, Jonathan L. Private

Royle, Andrew J. Private

Russell, William L. Private

Sanders, Jonathan W. Private

Sharp, Ellis C. Private

Smith, Lazarus Private

Soso, John Private

Swim, Duncan E. Private

Tipton, Jonathan E. Private

Turnham, Robert C. Private

Whatley, Edward Private

Williams, Charles Private

Wilson, Hiram Private