Texas Adjutant General's Department: An Inventory of Ranger Records at the Texas State Archives, 1839-1975, undated (bulk 1854-1918)


Overview
	Creator:	Texas. Adjutant General's Dept.
	Title:	Ranger records
	Dates:	1839-1975, undated
	Dates:	(bulk 1854-1918)
	Abstract:	These comprise the records, dating 1839-1975, and undated (bulk 1854-1918), of the various military organizations known--formally or informally--as "Texas Rangers:" Republic Rangers (1839-1846), pre-Civil War Rangers/Mounted Volunteers/Minute Men (1846-1862, and undated), Minute Men (1865-1866 and 1872-1874, undated), Frontier Forces (1870-1874), Frontier Men (1874), Frontier Battalion (1874-1901), Special State Troops/Special Force (1874-1881), and Ranger Force (1901-1935, thereafter administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety). Records of the Frontier Regiment and Mounted Regiment (1861-1865) are integrated into the Texas State Troops records of the Adjutant General's Civil War records. Among the wide variety of records represented in the Ranger records, the most common include correspondence, monthly returns, scouting reports, records of arrests, and quartermaster records.
	Quantity:	40.94 cubic ft.
	Language	English.

Agency History

Whereas under the Republic the Adjutant General was subservient to the Secretary of War, under statehood the position was elevated to that of head of all military departments. After annexation, the 1st Legislature provided for an Adjutant General to be appointed by the Governor, in "an Act to organize the Militia of the State of Texas" (April 21, 1846). The duties which fell to the Adjutant General included the issuance of all military orders; the maintenance of records of appointments, promotions, resignations, deaths, commissions, etc.; the receipt of monthly and annual returns, and muster rolls from the various military units; the keeping of the records of general courts martial; recruitment and enrollment of Rangers and militiamen; and now, the issuing of all bounty and donation land warrants on the basis of military service to the Republic. This last duty was assumed by the Commissioner of Claims, pursuant to an Act of the legislature passed August 1, 1856; the office of the Adjutant General had been the victim of apparent arson in October 1855, allegedly by persons engaged in land certificate fraud. The position of Adjutant General was itself reestablished by the Militia Law of February 14, 1860, by which act he also assumed the duties of Quartermaster General and Ordnance Officer of the State.

With the Civil War came the reorganization of the office, an act of December 25, 1861 creating an Adjutant and Inspector General, who would also serve as Quartermaster and Commissary General, and Ordnance Officer. Oversight of the 33 Brigades of the Texas State Troops plus the Frontier Regiment fell to this office, just as later Adjutants General would split their time between the Militia and the Rangers (whatever the prevailing terminology). The demands of the Confederate States Army, often conflicting with the needs and desires of the State of Texas, would affect the entire period of the War.

During the Congressional phase of Reconstruction, the military affairs of the State of Texas, and many aspects of civil government, were controlled by the commander of the District of Texas (1866-1868), or of the 5th Military District (1868-1870). Within months of Texas' readmission to the Union under Radical Republican Governor Edmund J. Davis (1870), the Legislature created the Frontier Forces (June 13), the State Guard and Reserve Militia (June 24), and the State Police (July 1), all of which were commanded by a newly restored state Adjutant General. On November 25, 1871, the Legislature added a fifth organization, the Minute Men. The first Adjutant General so appointed, James Davidson, absconded with over $37,000 of state funds in 1872. The State Guard and Reserve Militia were merged into a simple state militia on March 19, 1873, and the State Police force was abolished April 22, 1873.

The place of the Frontier Forces was taken in 1873 and 1874 by the Rangers and the Frontier Men, and finally by the Frontier Battalion, organized by an act passed April 10, 1874. At about the same time one can date the evolution of the Texas Volunteer Guard as the definitive militia organization for the state. On July 22, 1876, "an Act to suppress lawlessness and crime in certain parts of the state" authorized the creation of the Special State Troops, commanded first by Captain Leander McNelly and subsequently by Captain J. L. Hall. In the last year of the operation of this Special Force (1880-1881), it was commanded by Captain Thomas L. Oglesby.

The Frontier Battalion was reorganized as the Ranger Force by an act of the Legislature on March 29, 1901. From time to time this regular force was supplemented by specially commissioned Special Rangers, Railroad Rangers, Cattlemen's Association Rangers, and Loyalty Rangers. Finally, on August 10, 1935, the Ranger Force was transferred to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

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Scope and Contents of the Records

These comprise the records, dating 1839-1975, and undated (bulk 1854-1918), of the various military organizations known--formally or informally--as "Texas Rangers:" Republic Rangers (1839-1846), pre-Civil War Rangers/Mounted Volunteers/Minute Men (1846-1862, and undated), Minute Men (1865-1866 and 1872-1874, undated), Frontier Forces (1870-1874), Frontier Men (1874), Frontier Battalion (1874-1901), Special State Troops/Special Force (1874-1881), and Ranger Force (1901-1935, thereafter administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety). Records of the Frontier Regiment and Mounted Regiment (1861-1865) are integrated into the Texas State Troops records of the Adjutant General's Civil War records. Among the wide variety of records represented in the Ranger records, the most common include correspondence, monthly returns, scouting reports, records of arrests, and quartermaster records.

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Organization of the Records
	These records are organized into twelve series:

		Republic Ranger records, 1839-1846 (bulk 1845), 1.12 cubic ft.
		Pre-Civil War Ranger records, 1846-1862, undated, 2.88 cubic ft. (6 subseries)
		Parker and Wise County Minute Men records, 1865-1866, 0.11 cubic ft.
		Minute Men records, 1872-1874, undated, 0.32 cubic ft.
		Frontier Forces records, 1870-1874, 2.36 cubic ft. (3 subseries)
		Special State Troops/Special Force records, 1874-1881, 0.84 cubic ft. (5 subseries)
		Frontier Battalion records, 1874-1901, undated, 23.61 cubic ft. (11 subseries)
		Ranger Force records, 1901-1962, undated (bulk 1901-1918), 9.27 cubic ft. (6 subseries)
		Transcripts and notes, 1852-1975, fractional
		Records of State claims against the United States, 1871-1890, 0.12 cubic ft.
		Records concerning federal Ranger pensions, 1908-1932, undated, 0.12 cubic ft.
		Ranger reminiscences, 1937, 0.13 cubic ft.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

Letterpress books are extremely fragile; pages are tissue-thin and bindings are either broken already or ready to break. Therefore they may not be photocopied, and must be treated with great care.

The large volume of General Orders is very fragile. Therefore it may not be photocopied, and must be treated with great care.

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Index Terms
	The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
	Corporate Names:
		Texas. Militia.
		Texas Rangers.
		Texas Rangers--Organization.
		Texas. Militia--Organization.
	Subjects:
		Peace officers--Texas.
		Crime--Texas.
		Military surveillance--Texas.
	Places:
		Texas--Frontier troubles.
	Document Types:
		Correspondence--Texas--Military records--1839-1975.
		Returns (military reports)--Texas--Military records--1839-1975.
		Orders (military records)--Texas--1839-1975.
		Financial records--Texas--Military records--1839-1975.
		Pay records--Texas--Military records--1839-1975.
		Rosters--Texas--Military records--1839-1975.
	Functions:
		Protecting republic.
		Protecting state.

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Related Material


	The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.
	Texas State Archives
		In addition to the records listed, portions of many 19th and 20th century governors' records concern the Texas Rangers and related matters.
		Texas Comptroller's Office, Texas Ranger Pensions, 1917-1938, 1959-1990 (bulk 1959-1990), 0.94 cubic ft.
		Texas Legislature, Joint Committee of the House and Senate in the Investigation of the Texas State Ranger Force, Transcript of proceedings, 1919, 0.74 cubic ft.
		Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Records, 1849-2001, 166.42 cubic ft.
		Texas Secretary of State, Extradition records, 1837-1940 (bulk 1875-1900), 57 cubic ft.
		Copies of Texas Ranger correspondence, 1874-1900, 1932, 0.1 cubic ft. (This 265-page bound typescript bears the internal note: "Texas Rangers Data from the files of Adjutant General commencing with the formation of the Frontier Battalion, by James A. King and Major Coffee--Very Valuable." Much of it is taken from the published reports of the Adjutant General. Arrangement is chronological.)[There is no finding aid available for this unprocessed manuscript collection. Call number is 2-23/963.]
		Declaration for survivor's pension--Indian Wars, [ca. 1917]-[ca. 1972], 3.53 cubic ft. (This collection consists of photocopies of 435 pension applications found in the National Archives.) [There is no finding aid available for this unprocessed manuscript collection, other than index cards in the Texas State Archives search room. However, Stephens' book (listed below) may serve as a kind of index. Call numbers are 1972/140-1 thru 8.]
		Texas Adjutant General's Department, Departmental correspondence, 1846-1943 (bulk 1861-1933), 121.62 cubic ft.
		Texas Adjutant General's Department, Army papers, 1835-1846, 16.28 cubic ft.
		Texas Adjutant General's Department, Military rolls, 1835-1915, 1917, 1935, undated, 131.25 cubic ft.
		Texas Adjutant General's Department, Service records, 1836-1845, 1854-1865, 1870-1935, 179.07 cubic ft.
		Texas Adjutant General's Department, Civil War records, Ranger records, 1861-1865, undated, 0.94 cubic ft.
		Texas Adjutant General's Department, Reconstruction records, 1865-1873, undated, 7.87 cubic ft.
	Publications
		Texas Adjutant General's Department, List of Fugitives from Justice, 1878, 1880, 1891, and 1900 (the 1880 and 1900 reports were bound with the Adjutant General's reports, and the 1878 and 1891 reports were published separately).
		A list of fugitives from justice indicted for felonies in the state of Texas and a descriptive list of escaped convicts, "compiled from official records by John P. Kirk," 1886.
		Texas Ranger Indian War Pensions, abstracted by Robert W. Stephens, Quanah, Texas: Nortex Press, 1975.
		Index to Indian Wars Pension Files, 1892-1926, transcribed by Virgil D. White, 2 volumes, Waynesboro, Tennessee: The National Historical Publishing Company, 1987.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1933/001, 1961/115, 1976/048, 1978/126, 1980/240, and unknown

The majority of these records were transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Adjutant General's Department on February 21, 1934, with additional transfers on February 20, 1962 and December 3, 1975. The Texas Department of Public Safety transferred some Ranger Force records to the Texas State Archives on June 16, 1978, and a box of newspaper clippings on July 15, 1980. Accession records are too incomplete to determine if any other records were transferred.

Processing Information

Tony Black, November 1987, May 1988

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CHART OF TEXAS RANGER ORGANIZATIONS

Rangers:
- Republic Mounted Volunteers, Spies, Mounted Gunmen, etc. (1836-1845)
- Pre-Civil War Rangers, Mounted Volunteers, Minute Men (1846-1861)
- Frontier Regiment/Mounted Regiment of Texas State Troops (1861-1865)
- Frontier Forces (1870-1873)
- Rangers/Frontier Men (1873-1874)
- Frontier Battalion (1874-1901)
- Ranger Force (1901-1935)
Other Organizations (not including militia):
- Minute Men (1841-1842; 1865-1866; 1872-1874)
- Provisional State Troops (1871)
- Special State Troops (1876-1880)
- Special Force (1880-1881)

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Detailed Description of the Records

Republic Ranger records, 1839-1846 (bulk 1845),
1.12 cubic ft.

These records consist of quartermaster records and other accounts: vouchers, receipts, auditor's statements, requisitions for funds, certificates of loss, abstracts of disbursements, accounts current, etc. The last two types of records are generally oversized and therefore are housed separately. As a whole the records date 1839-1846, but the bulk date from 1845; within that year a further breakdown exists, by county (company). The companies represented (and their commanders) include the following: Corpus Christi Ranging Corps (P. Hansbrough Bell and H. Clay Davis); Goliad and Refugio Counties Ranging Corps (John T. Price); Milam County Rangers (Richard S. Teal); Robertson County Rangers (Thomas J. Smith); the Corps of Rangers stationed at San Antonio de Bexar (John C. Hays and R. A. Gillespie); and Travis [and Bastrop] County Ranging Corps (David C. Cady and A. Coleman).

Correspondence concerning Republic Rangers can be found in the Army papers.

Arrangement

These records are arranged roughly chronologically, and alphabetically by county therein. Oversized items are listed separately.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Texas State Archives

Texas Adjutant General's Department, Army papers, 1835-1846, 16.28 cubic ft.

Texas Adjutant General's Department, Military rolls, Texas Revolution military rolls, 1835-1836, 0.27 cubic ft.; United States Volunteers military rolls, 1835-1837, 1842 (bulk 1842), 0.41 cubic ft.; Army of the Republic military rolls, 1836-1842 (bulk 1839-1841), 1.8 cubic ft.; Republic of Texas Militia military rolls, 1836-1845 (bulk 1838-1839), 4.01 cubic ft.; Republic of Texas Minute Men military rolls, 1841-1842, 0.83 cubic ft.; and Campaigns of 1842 military rolls, 1842, 0.27 cubic ft.

Texas Adjutant General's Department, Service records, Army of the Republic service records, 1836-1845, 5.64 cubic ft.

Texas Secretary of State, Extradition records, 1837-1940 (bulk 1875-1900), 57 cubic ft.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Republic Ranger records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1933/001, 1961/115

The majority of these records may have been transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Adjutant General's Department on February 21, 1934, with (possibly) an additional transfer ("some Ranger records") on February 20, 1962.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Processed by

Tony Black, November 1987

Republic Ranger quartermaster records

box

folder

401-1152

Quartermaster records, 1839-1843

2-3.

Quartermaster records, 1844

Quartermaster records, 1845:

4-6.

Corpus Christi Ranging Corps

Goliad and Refugio Counties Ranging Corps

Milam County Rangers

Robertson County Rangers

10-11.

San Antonio Ranging Corps

12-14.

Travis County Ranging Corps

15-16.

Quartermaster records, 1846

Republic Ranger accounts and abstracts

oversize

folder

401-1242

Corpus Christi Rangers, 1845

Goliad Rangers, 1845

San Antonio Rangers, 1843, 1845

Travis County Rangers, 1845

oversize

folder

401-1238

Corpus Christi Rangers, 1845

Travis County Rangers, 1845

map-case

folder

401-1322

Abstract of commissary stores, Corpus Christi Rangers, 1845

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Pre-Civil War Ranger records, 1846-1862, undated,
2.88 cubic ft.

These records include correspondence, powers of attorney, quartermaster records, an index to payrolls, jackets and wrappers, and transcripts, photostats, and notes. They comprise records of the Texas Rangers, Mounted Volunteers, and Minute Men companies which operated between the annexation of Texas and the Civil War. They date 1846-1862 and undated.

The correspondence includes especially letters from Governors Pease and Runnels, and letters to and from Governor Sam Houston, concerning Ranger activities, dating 1846-1861 (bulk 1854-1860). Many were submitted as part of the State claims against the U.S. government in 1871-1872. In addition, a large proportion of the items are things other than traditional correspondence, for example: contracts (for subsistence, for transportation, for services as a surgeon, etc.), affidavits of loss, copies of legislative bills, certificates of death, special orders, appointments of company paymasters, affidavits giving evidence of heirship, letters of credit, bonds, IOUs, certificates of election of officers, lists of wounded (1859), memos of instruction, and monthly company returns (only two items, 1860).

The powers of attorney were made by individual Rangers and also by groups of Rangers, 1852-1862, for the express purpose of collecting pay and other monies owed to them.

The quartermaster records include the following: requisitions, special requisitions, invoices of ordnance, lists of quartermaster stores delivered, receipts, shipping bills, freight vouchers, statements (of disbursements, of expenses, of forage, of arms), abstracts, returns, accounts of auction sales, lists of articles lost/destroyed, claims (signed by the Comptroller and the Treasurer), memos of amounts paid to various companies, vouchers, travel vouchers, officers' pay vouchers (oversized), reports of persons and articles employed and hired, payrolls of extra-duty persons, accounts current, etc. They comprise records documenting the activities of the office of the quartermaster, responsible for the supplies (including provisions, forage, medicines, and ordnance) and the services (payroll, transportation, etc.) required for maintaining a force of Rangers, dating 1850-1862 (bulk 1858-1861).

The "Index to Pay Rolls," contains (pasted on the fly leaf) "an alphabetical list of payrolls of companies serving in defense of frontier, prior to January 28, 1861, and called out by Governor Sam Houston prior to March 2, 1861," which is signed "Auditorial Board, Austin, March 11, 1867."

The annotated jacket covers and wrappers at some time were removed from the documents to which they pertained, mostly quartermaster records and powers of attorney, but also muster rolls and pay rolls, and correspondence. The original documents of which these were jackets and wrappers date 1848-1860. Many have the stamp of the U.S. War Department, dated 1871 or thereabouts, showing them to have been part of the claims files.

The transcripts and photostats are of correspondence, muster rolls, legislation, and miscellaneous documents (such as pages from the 1850 census which included Bexar County Rangers). The records from which these were copied are dated 1850-1861.

Organization

These records are organized into six subseries:

Correspondence, 1846-1861 (bulk 1854-1860), 0.43 cubic ft.

Powers of attorney, 1852-1862, 0.24 cubic ft.

Quartermaster records, 1850-1862, undated (bulk 1858-1861), 2.03 cubic ft.

Index to pay rolls, 1861, 1867, fractional

Jackets and wrappers, 1848-1860, 0.16 cubic ft.

Transcripts, photostats, notes, 1850-1861, fractional

Related Material

The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Texas State Archives

Texas Adjutant General's Department, Military rolls, Texas Ranger (Pre-Civil War) military rolls, 1846-1861, 4.57 cubic ft.

Texas Adjutant General's Department, Service records, Mounted Volunteers service records, 1854-1861, 1.88 cubic ft.; and Regular Rangers service records, 1855-1861, 1901-1935 (bulk 1901-1935), 7.05 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of James Pinckney Henderson, 1846-1847, 0.47 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of George T. Wood, 1847-1848, 0.24 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of Peter Hansbrough Bell, 1849-1853, 1.88 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of the first two terms of Elisha Marshall Pease, 1853-1857, 1.88 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of Hardin Richard Runnels, 1857-1859, 1.41 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of Sam Houston, 1824-1862 (bulk 1859-1861), 2.35 cubic ft.

Texas Secretary of State, Extradition records, 1837-1940 (bulk 1875-1900), 57 cubic ft.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the subseries), Pre-Civil War Ranger records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1933/001, 1961/115

The majority of these records were transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Adjutant General's Department on February 21, 1934, with (possibly) an additional transfer ("some Ranger records") on February 20, 1962.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Processed by

Tony Black, November 1987

Correspondence, 1846-1861 (bulk 1854-1860),
0.43 cubic ft.

These records consist of correspondence, especially letters from Governors Pease and Runnels, and letters to and from Governor Sam Houston, concerning Ranger activities, dating 1846-1861 (bulk 1854-1860). Some of the letters are originals, and some are copies certified by either the Adjutant General or by Secretary of State James P. Newcomb and submitted as part of the State claims against the U.S. government in 1871-1872. In addition, a large proportion of the items are things other than traditional correspondence, for example: contracts (for subsistence, for transportation, for services as a surgeon, etc.), affidavits of loss, copies of legislative bills, certificates of death, special orders, appointments of company paymasters, affidavits giving evidence of heirship, letters of credit, bonds, IOUs, certificates of election of officers, lists of wounded (1859), memos of instruction, and monthly company returns (only two items, 1860).

Additional correspondence concerning pre-Civil War Rangers may possibly be found in the Departmental correspondence series of the Adjutant General's records.

Arrangement

These records are arranged roughly chronologically.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Pre-Civil War Ranger records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Correspondence

box

folder

401-1153

1850-1852

1854

3-4.

1855

5-6.

1856

1857

8-9.

1858

10.

1859

11-17.

1860

18.

1861

Oversized items

oversize

folder

401-1242

Adjutant General report on bounty land, 1846-1847

Monthly returns, 1860

Remarks on muster rolls, Minute Companies, [1860]

Certification of paymaster appointments, 1861

Powers of attorney, 1852-1862,
0.24 cubic ft.

These records consist of powers of attorney made by individual Rangers and also by groups of Rangers, 1852-1862, for the express purpose of collecting pay and other monies owed to them.

In addition, there are lists of powers of attorney for 18 companies, 1855-1859 (bulk 1855-1856), arranged alphabetically by the name of the Captain or Lieutenant commanding the company, including the following commanders: Nat Benton, Reading W. Black, Giles S. Boggess, James H. Callahan, Thomas K. Carmack, John H. Conner, J. M. Davenport, Levi English, William Fitzhugh, Thomas C. Frost, William R. Henry, John S. Hodges, P. H. Rogers, John W. Sansom, William G. Tobin, William Tom, C. E. Travis, and John G. Walker. The information in these lists includes: number, from whom, to whom, where proven (county), by whom, and date of approval. At least three of the companies also contain lists of affidavits of lost property, giving number, names, value, by whom, where made, before whom, and date of affidavit.

Many of these powers of attorney and lists are stamped "War Department, 1871," indicating that they were submitted to--and later returned by--the U. S. government as part of the claims that were filed in that year by the State, for reimbursement of the expenses of frontier defense.

Arrangement

These records are arranged roughly alphabetically by the last name of the individual making the power of attorney, followed by multiple powers of attorney for whole companies, arranged by the last name of the company commander.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Powers of attorney, Pre-Civil War Ranger records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

box

folder

401-1185

1-2.

Lists of powers of attorney, 1855-1859 (bulk 1855-1856)

Powers of attorney, 1852-1862

box

folder

401-1185

E-F

10.

J-K

11.

12.

13.

14.

N-O

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21-22.

Multiple Powers of Attorney

Quartermaster records, 1850-1862 (bulk 1858-1861),
2.03 cubic ft.

These records include the following: requisitions, special requisitions, invoices of ordnance, lists of quartermaster stores delivered, receipts, shipping bills, freight vouchers, statements (of disbursements, of expenses, of forage, of arms), abstracts, returns, accounts of auction sales, lists of articles lost/destroyed, claims (signed by the Comptroller and the Treasurer), memos of amounts paid to various companies, vouchers, travel vouchers, officers' pay vouchers (oversized), reports of persons and articles employed and hired, payrolls of extra-duty persons, accounts current, etc. They comprise records documenting the activities of the office of the quartermaster, responsible for the supplies (including provisions, forage, medicines, and ordnance) and the services (payroll, transportation, etc.) required for maintaining a force of Rangers, dating 1850-1862 (bulk 1858-1861).

Arrangement

These records are arranged roughly chronologically, by year. Oversized records are listed separately, by type of document and therein chronologically.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Quartermaster records, Pre-Civil War Ranger records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

box

folder

401-1153

19.

United States vouchers, 1850-1851

Quartermaster records

box

folder

401-1153

20.

1853

21-23.

1854

24.

1855

box

folder

401-1154

1-4.

1856

1857

6-13.

1858

14-22.

1859

23-27.

1860

box

folder

401-1155

1-20.

1860

21-25.

1861

26.

1862

27.

undated

Oversized quartermaster records

oversize

folder

401-1242

Quartermaster returns, abstracts, and lists, 1858-1859

7-9.

Quartermaster returns and abstracts, 1860

10.

Accounts current, 1852-1853, 1858-1861

11.

Accounts, 1856-1860

12.

Vouchers, 1856, 1859-1860

12.

Abstracts of expenditures, 1858-1860

13.

Abstracts of advances, 1854-1859

14.

Ordnance records, 1858, 1860 (bulk 1860)

15-18.

Officers pay vouchers, 1853-1861

19.

Pay rolls of extra-duty men, 1859-1861

19.

Miscellaneous quartermaster records, 1860-1862

oversize

folder

401-1238

Quartermaster returns and abstracts, 1858-1860

Statements, 1855-1860

Ordnance records, 1858, 1860

Miscellaneous quartermaster records, 1855-1861

map-case

folder

401-1322

Return of provisions, 1860

folder

Statements of arms: Captains Tobin and Ford, 1860, undated

map-case

folder

401-1322

4-5.

Quartermaster abstracts, 1858-1860

Quartermaster return, 1860

Index to payrolls, 1861, 1867,
fractional

These records consists of a volume labeled "Index to Pay Rolls," which contains (pasted on the fly leaf) "an alphabetical list of payrolls of companies serving in defense of frontier, prior to January 28, 1861, and called out by Governor Sam Houston prior to March 2, 1861," which is signed "Auditorial Board, Austin, March 11, 1867." This list includes name of commander, rank, inclusive dates of service, time served, and remarks.

The remainder of this volume consists of an alphabetical index of commanding officers of Texas military companies (apparently of the Civil War era--some have the notation "Frontier Regiment"), giving the name of company commander, number of roll, and a notation of either "G, Good" or "B, Bad". It appears that those commanders listed on the introductory sheet--and therefore, presumably, loyal to the Union--were marked "Good", whereas those not on that list were marked "Bad". This volume thus serves a dual purpose: as a record of pre-Civil War Ranger activity, and as a Reconstruction assessment (in 1867) of that earlier activity (and of subsequent Civil War activity).

Arrangement

These records are arranged alphabetically within each portion of the volume.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Index to payrolls, Pre-Civil War Ranger records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

volume

401-1132

Index to payrolls, 1861, 1867

Jackets and wrappers, 1848-1860,
0.16 cubic ft.

These records consist of annotated jacket covers and wrappers which at some time were removed from the documents to which they pertained, mostly quartermaster records and powers of attorney, but also muster rolls and pay rolls, and correspondence. The original documents of which these were jackets and wrappers date 1848-1860. Many have the stamp of the U.S. War Department, dated 1871 or thereabouts, showing them to have been part of the claims files.

Arrangement

These records are arranged in no particular order.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Jackets and wrappers, Pre-Civil War Ranger records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

box

folder

401-1192

14-18.

Jackets and wrappers, 1848-1860

Transcripts, photostats, notes, 1850-1861,
fractional

These records consist of later copies (both transcripts and photostats) of correspondence, muster rolls, legislation, and miscellaneous documents (such as pages from the 1850 census which included Bexar County Rangers). The records from which these were copied are dated 1850-1861.

Arrangement

These records are arranged chronologically.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Transcripts, photostats, notes, Pre-Civil War Ranger records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Transcripts, photostats, notes

box

folder

401-1192

19.

1850-1859

20.

1860-1861

Return to the Table of Contents

Parker and Wise County Minute Men records, 1865-1866,
0.11 cubic ft.

These records consist of various reports of duty of the 1st and 2nd Parker County Minute Men (Captains L. L. Tackitt and Howard Harteford, respectively) and the Wise County Minute Men (Captain John Teague), 1865-1866. These records are called by a variety of names--regular scouts, reports of extra duty, and extra calls--and each covers one month. In all cases, the information given is uniform: name, rank, and number of days served. In addition, there is one collective power of attorney for the "2nd Parker County Minute Company, Texas State Troops" (September 10, 1866). Housed separately are the oversized quarterly returns of the 1st Parker County Minute Company, 1865-1866; but the information in these returns is identical to the other reports of duty, and each quarter is broken down by monthly totals.

Correspondence concerning Minute Men may possibly be found in the Departmental correspondence series of the Adjutant General's records.

Arrangement

These records are arranged by county/company, and therein chronologically. Oversized returns are listed separately.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Texas State Archives

Texas Adjutant General's Department, Military rolls, Minute Men military rolls, 1865-1866, 0.14 cubic ft.

Texas Adjutant General's Department, Service records, Minute Men service records, 1855-1862, 1872-1874, 0.47 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of Pendleton Murrah, 1863-1865, 1.65 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of Andrew Jackson Hamilton, 1865-1866, 2.35 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of James W. Throckmorton, 1866-1867, 1.18 cubic ft.

Texas Secretary of State, Extradition records, 1837-1940 (bulk 1875-1900), 57 cubic ft.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Parker and Wise County Minute Men records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1933/001, 1961/115

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Processed by

Tony Black, November 1987

Reports of duty

box

folder

401-1156

1st Parker County Minute Men, 1865-1866

2nd Parker County Minute Men, 1866

Wise County Minute Men, 1865

Oversized quarterly returns

oversize

folder

401-1243

1st Parker County Minute Company, 1865-1866

Return to the Table of Contents

Minute Men records, 1872-1874, undated,
0.32 cubic ft.

These comprise the records of Minute Companies that existed between 1872 and 1874, and undated, including mainly the following types of quartermaster records: vouchers, receipts, requisitions, and abstracts of disbursements--mostly for ordnance, but also for payments for services rendered. Pay claims are maintained separately, and include the amounts claimed in aggregate as pay for the privates of each company. Also housed separately are the oversized accounts current, with attached requisitions and abstracts of disbursement.

There are three oversized pre-printed forms, dating April, July, and August, 1872, which are returns of property captured from Indians by Wise County Minute Men, commanded by Lieutenant R. T. Rieger. Information on these returns includes: date, description of property, probable name of owner and residence, where captured, value, and disposition made of said property.

In 1874, when the minute men companies were disbanded, each company reported lists of the men wishing to retain their carbines, with the cost to be deducted from their pay.

In addition, there are several general lists. One is a list of minute companies in the service of the State of Texas during 1873, including: the company letter, county, station, commanding officer, date of entry into service, and notes as to reorganization status. Another is a list of minute companies that were armed (undated). There is also a typescript list of minute men companies between 1860 and 1877, giving letter, county, years, and commanding officers.

Finally, there are two volumes that contain records on the Minute Men. One contains month by month accounts of the members of Minute Men companies, January 1872-April 1874. The other volume, labeled "Ordnance and ordnance stores issued (loaned to State military organizations beginning 1870, No. 1," contains the following information: date, company, name of captain, unit/county, and number of each type of ordnance and ordnance store (Winchester carbine, slings, swivels, screw drivers, etc.) for Minute Companies (1872-1874), Volunteer Minute Companies (1872-1876), and Ranger Companies (1873-1876). The end of the volume contains a list of Winchester carbines as reported on returns of ordnance at the Comptroller's office and on annual returns of the Adjutant General (1871-1872), plus a statement of the actual disposition of Winchester carbines (1874). A note indicates "January 1, 1877 transferred to Ordnance Book No. 3."

Correspondence concerning Minute Men may possibly be found in the Departmental correspondence series of the Adjutant General Department's records.

Arrangement

These records are arranged by type of record. Quartermaster records are arranged alphabetically by county, and therein chronologically; the monthly account book is arranged alphabetically by company.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Texas State Archives

Texas Adjutant General's Department, Service records, Minute Men service records, 1855-1862, 1872-1874, 0.47 cubic ft.

Texas Secretary of State, Extradition records, 1837-1940 (bulk 1875-1900), 57 cubic ft.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Minute Men records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1933/001, 1961/115

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Processed by

Tony Black, November 1987

box

folder

401-1156

Lists of Minute companies, 1860-1877 (bulk 1872-1873)

Reports on retention of carbines, 1874

Quartermaster records, 1872-1874

box

folder

401-1156

General

Blanco County

folder

Brown County

Burnet County

Coleman County

Comanche County

Cook County

Denton County

box

folder

401-1156

Erath County

Kerr County

10.

Gillespie County

folder

10.

Lampasas County

Llano County

box

folder

401-1156

11.

Mason County

folder

11.

Maverick County

Medina County

Montague County

Palo Pinto County

box

folder

401-1156

12.

San Saba County

folder

12.

Wise County

Pay claims, 1872-1875

box

folder

401-1156

13.

Brown-Gillespie Counties

14.

Kendall-Wise Counties

oversize

folder

401-1243

Returns of property captured from Indians, Wise County, 1872

Accounts current, 1872-1875 (bulk 1872-1873)

volume

401-1071

Monthly accounts, Minute Companies, No. 1, 1872-1874

volume

401-1072

Ordnance issues, 1870-1876

Return to the Table of Contents

Frontier Forces records, 1870-1874,
2.36 cubic ft.

These records consist of correspondence, monthly returns, and quartermaster records for the Frontier Forces, dating 1870-1874.

The correspondence also includes military orders, reports of scouts, journals of marches, certificates of disability, reports of the sick, certificates of loss, powers of attorney, etc. They comprise the correspondence of the Frontier Forces, dating 1870-1872. The majority consists of letters received by the Adjutant General concerning the Frontier Forces. Besides such letters as those requesting that Rangers be sent to a location, or acknowledging the receipt of a commission, there are such items as reports of scouts, journals of marches, certificates of disability, reports of the sick, certificates of loss, general orders, powers of attorney, etc. In addition, there is a volume (with an index) that is a register of letters received concerning the Frontier Forces, as well as the State Guard and the Reserve Militia, between July 18, 1870 and January 10, 1871. Finally, there are two volumes containing military orders from 1870 through 1912. Besides the Frontier Forces, the entire range of military organizations for this time period is represented. The subject matter of the special orders generally includes individual or company assignments, leaves of absence, boards of survey, etc.

The monthly returns for seven companies date 1870-1871. Each return lists the numbers of commissioned officers and enlisted men present and absent, by status and by rank, alterations since the last return, numbers of horses serviceable and non-serviceable, and number of rifles and rounds of ammunition; the names of all enlisted men on extra duty; the names of all absent enlisted men; the names of all commissioned officers; alterations by name; and remarks (including in a couple of cases a record of scouts). In addition, there are two lists of deserters (two men), for Company B, October 1870.

The records of the quartermaster and of the paymaster for the Frontier Forces, 1870-1874, document the procurement and disposition of government property (quartermaster stores, medical supplies, and ordnance) and services. The types of documents represented include monthly returns, requisitions, receipts, vouchers, claims, bills of lading, statements and abstracts of disbursements, IOUs, accounts current, etc. Besides the loose documents, there are 17 volumes of quartermaster records.

Organization

These records are organized into three subseries:

Correspondence, 1870-1872, 1.09 cubic ft.

Monthly returns, 1870-1871, fractional

Quartermaster records, 1870-1874, 1.21 cubic ft.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Texas State Archives

Texas Adjutant General's Department, Military rolls, Frontier Forces military rolls, 1870-1873, undated (bulk 1870-1871), 0.97 cubic ft.

Texas Adjutant General's Department, Service records, Frontier Forces service records, 1870-1871, 4.23 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of Edmund J. Davis, 1869-1874, 15.51 cubic ft.

Texas Secretary of State, Extradition records, 1837-1940 (bulk 1875-1900), 57 cubic ft.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the subseries), Frontier Forces records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1933/001, 1961/115

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

Letterpress books are extremely fragile; pages are tissue-thin and bindings are either broken already or ready to break. Therefore they may not be photocopied, and must be treated with great care.

The large volume of General Orders is very fragile. Therefore it may not be photocopied, and must be treated with great care.

Processed by

Tony Black, November 1987

Correspondence, 1870-1872,
1.09 cubic ft.

These records include correspondence, military orders, reports of scouts, journals of marches, certificates of disability, reports of the sick, certificates of loss, powers of attorney, etc. They comprise the correspondence of the Frontier Forces, dating 1870-1872. The majority consists of letters received by the Adjutant General concerning the Frontier Forces, usually abstracted on the reverse, with a filing code such as "L[etter] R[eceived] 324 AGO ST 1870." Besides such letters as those requesting that Rangers be sent to a location, or acknowledging the receipt of a commission, there are such items as reports of scouts, journals of marches, certificates of disability, reports of the sick, certificates of loss, general orders, powers of attorney, etc.

In addition, there is a volume that is a register of letters received concerning the Frontier Forces, as well as the State Guard and the Reserve Militia, between July 18, 1870 and January 10, 1871. As with most such registers, the format includes the date the letter was received by the Adjutant General, a file number (in red ink), the name of the correspondent, the disposition of the letter (in red ink), the place, the date, and a brief summary of the purport. An index accompanies the register.

Finally, there are two volumes containing military orders from 1870 through 1912. One enormous, fragile volume contains General Orders from June 24, 1870 through January 8, 1912, some handwritten but most pasted down. Besides the Frontier Forces, the entire range of military organizations for this time period is represented: State Police, State Guard, Reserve Militia, Frontier Battalion, Ranger Force, Texas Volunteer Guard, and Texas National Guard. Another volume contains Special Orders, from August 1870 through April 2, 1897 (mostly handwritten); again, all military organizations are represented. The subject matter of the special orders generally includes individual or company assignments, leaves of absence, boards of survey, etc.

Additional correspondence concerning the Frontier Forces may possibly be found in the Departmental correspondence series of the Adjutant General's records.

Arrangement

These records are arranged chronologically.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Correspondence, Frontier Forces records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

The large volume of General Orders is very fragile. Therefore it may not be photocopied, and must be treated with great care.

Correspondence

box

folder

401-1156

15-17.

1870

18-20.

1871

21.

1872

volume

401-1011

volume

401-984

General Orders, 1870-1872

[Note: Overall date span for this volume is 1870-1912, covering entire range of military organizations in Texas for this time period.]

volume

401-1012

Special Orders, 1870-1872

[Note: Overall date span for this volume is 1870-1897, covering entire range of military organizations in Texas for this time period.]

Monthly returns, 1870-1871,
fractional

These records consist of monthly returns for seven companies (A, B, D, F, G, H, and N), numbering between one and three returns per company, 1870-1871. Each return lists the numbers of commissioned officers and enlisted men present and absent, by status and by rank, alterations since the last return, numbers of horses serviceable and non-serviceable, and number of rifles and rounds of ammunition; the names of all enlisted men on extra duty; the names of all absent enlisted men; the names of all commissioned officers; alterations by name; and remarks (including in a couple of cases a record of scouts).

In addition, there are two lists of deserters (two men), for Company B, October 1870. Information on these includes name, rank, description, birthplace, residence, occupation, and enlistment data.

Arrangement

These records are arranged alphabetically by company.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Monthly returns, Frontier Forces records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

oversize

folder

401-1243

Monthly returns, 1870-1871

Descriptive list of deserters, Company B, October 1870

Quartermaster records, 1870-1874,
1.21 cubic ft.

These comprise the records of the quartermaster and of the paymaster for the Frontier Forces, 1870-1874, documenting the procurement and disposition of government property (quartermaster stores, medical supplies, and ordnance) and services. The types of documents represented include monthly returns, requisitions, receipts, vouchers, claims, bills of lading, statements and abstracts of disbursements, IOUs, accounts current, etc.

Besides the loose documents, there are 17 volumes of quartermaster records. Two volumes itemize appropriations for the Adjutant General during Radical Reconstruction, giving the date approved, an explanation of each item, and the amount. Each volume is divided into sections: Adjutant General, clerks, telegraphing, printing, books, stationery, contingent expenses, postage, porter hire, wood, State Police, enrolling the Militia and State Guard, arming both, paymaster, arsenal, furniture, and--in the second volume (1872-1874), Minute Companies and Ranger Companies. There is a table of contents inside the front cover of each volume.

Another volume records requisitions of funds from January 1873 through January 1874, largely relating to pay, which includes militia companies as well as Rangers.

A volume labeled "Blotter--all entered in new Cash Book," plus a corresponding volume labeled "Frontier Cash Book, 1870-1871," contain a variety of records for the Frontier Forces, 1870-1871, including: quartermaster vouchers, commissary's vouchers, ordnance vouchers, medical vouchers, paymaster's vouchers, certificates of indebtedness for Companies D and I, and stoppages of sundry companies.

There is a "Frontier Cash Book, 1872" containing a record of vouchers filed in the State Treasury by Adjutant General James Davidson, and on which money was drawn from the Treasury in payment. Information includes columns for date, company, name, amount due for services, cash stopped, balance due, certificate of indebtedness, cartridges, and remarks.

Another volume is also labeled "Frontier Cash Book," and contains two sections. The first (pages 8-52) is a record of pay of Minute Men, by company; information includes date of enlistment, number, name, rank, and (for Companies A through C but not D through V) the monthly amount of pay (January-December, 1872). The second section (pages 102-183) records disbursements of the Frontier Defense Fund by Colonel Frank L. Britton, Adjutant General (November 1872-January 1874); information here includes: date of payment, number of check, on whom drawn, in whose favor, dates of services, amount, and the total paid to each company, with periodic summaries (accounts current). Pages 1-7 constitute an index.

A volume labeled "Ordnance and ordnance stores issued (loaned to State military organizations beginning 1870, No. 1" contains the following information: date, company, name of captain, unit/county, and number of each type of ordnance and ordnance store (Winchester carbine, slings, swivels, screw drivers, etc.) for Minute Companies (1872-1874), Volunteer Minute Companies (1872-1876), and Ranger Companies (1873-1876). The end of the volume contains a list of Winchester carbines as reported on returns of ordnance at the Comptroller's office and on annual returns of the Adjutant General (1871-1872), plus a statement of the actual disposition of Winchester carbines (1874). A note indicates "January 1, 1877 transferred to Ordnance Book No. 3."

A volume of Frontier Forces accounts, 1870-1871, contains the following columns: favor of whom, presented by whom, on what account, dates from and to, amount, and comments (e.g., rations, ordnance, freight, hire of team, etc.). It contains two indexes: one to companies (A-P), and one to names.

A series of volumes include accounts for each of seven companies (A, C, D, E, F, K, and P) of the Frontier Forces, 1871-1872. The information listed includes date, name, rank, term (months and days), and amounts in a series of accounts that vary from company to company (e.g., carbine, government sale, C. G. Falcon, Holt & Levy, certificate, etc.), plus total pay.

A volume labeled "Frontier Claims, Private Accounts," 1870-1871, contains columns for date, company, favor of whom, on what account, dates from and to, amount, and remarks. Arrangement is by the 15 private firms to whom the accounts were due; an alphabetical index to these firms is included.

Finally, there is one letterpress book that contains copies of the outgoing correspondence from Captain Alfred D. Evans, Paymaster (March 14, 1871-March 14, 1872), primarily concerning the Frontier Forces, but also a few letters concerning the State Police, State Guard, and Reserve Militia. There is an index attached to the inside front cover of the volume.

Arrangement

For most groups, the records are arranged by type of record, and therein chronologically. The Frontier Forces accounts book dating 1870-1871 is arranged alphabetically by company.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), , Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

Letterpress books are extremely fragile; pages are tissue-thin and bindings are either broken already or ready to break. Therefore they may not be photocopied, and must be treated with great care.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Quartermaster records, Frontier Forces records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Quartermaster records

box

folder

401-1156

22-29.

1870

box

folder

401-1157

1-10.

1871

11-13.

1872

14-15.

1873

16.

1874

Oversized quartermaster records

oversize

folder

401-1243

1870

6-8.

1871

1872

10.

1873

oversize

folder

401-1238

1871-1872

Appropriations

volume

401-1066

1870-1872

volume

401-1065

1872-1874

Frontier cash books

volume

401-1142

1870-1871

volume

401-1069

1872

volume

401-1070

1872-1874

Frontier Forces accounts

volume

401-1073

Frontier Companies accounts, 1870-1871

volume

401-1074

Companies A and P, 1871

volume

401-1075

Company C, 1871-1872

volume

401-1076

Company D, 1871-1872

volume

401-1077

Company E, 1871-1872

volume

401-1078

Company F, 1871-1872

volume

401-1143

Company K, 1871-1872

Other Frontier Forces quartermaster records

volume

401-1067

Requisitions of funds, 1873-1874

volume

401-1068

Frontier Forces, blotter, 1870-1871

volume

401-1072

Ordnance issues, 1870-1876

volume

401-1079

Frontier claims, private accounts, 1870-1871

volume

401-1104

Letterpress book, Paymaster, 1871-1872

Return to the Table of Contents

Special State Troops/Special Force records, 1874-1881,
0.84 cubic ft.

These records consist of correspondence, monthly returns, statements of arrest, certificates of service, and quartermaster records for the Washington County Volunteer Militia, the Special State Troops, and the Special Force, which operated to suppress lawlessness between 1874 and 1881.

The correspondence of the Special State Troops/Special Force, dating 1876-1880, consist primarily of telegrams, mainly from J. L. Hall, concerning the activities of the Special State Troops between 1876 and 1879. Other items include reports of T. L. Oglesby's detachment (September and October, 1879); proceedings of an examining court investigating murder charges against G. W. Talley, a private in the Special State Troops (1878); and oaths of the members of the Special Force (1879). Also included are transcripts of correspondence concerning the Special State Troops, especially from 1878.

The monthly returns, dating 1874-1880, are for the Washington County Volunteer Militia, the Special State Troops, and the Special Force. Each return gives the following information: station; date; numbers of commissioned officers and enlisted men present and absent, by status and by rank; alterations since the last return; a return of property (quantity, description, and condition); and a record of scouts. Beginning in August 1879, the returns also give statements of arrests, including: date, names of parties arrested, charge, where arrested, by whom, and result.

The 10 monthly "Statements of Arrest and Attempts to Arrest; also other duties performed in guarding prisoners and jails, scouts, etc., etc.," are for J. L. Hall's company of Special State Troops, dated February-August and October-November, 1877, and February-March 1878. They contain the following information: date, name of person arrested, charged with what crime, where arrested, and result of arrest as far as known; date, name of person to be arrested, and charged with what crime; and other duties performed.

The certificates of service are documents certified by Captain J. L. Hall concerning individual men in his company of Special State Troops (from late 1877 through 1878). Each certificate indicates the date of muster, the amount of pay due, and any amount owed.

The quartermaster records of the Special State Troops/Special Forces are mainly vouchers for supplies and services, dated 1874-1881. Maintained separately are monthly ration returns for the Special Force commanded by Hall and Oglesby, stationed at San Diego, Texas (August 1879-December 1880).

Organization

These records are organized into five subseries:

Correspondence, 1876-1880, 0.12 cubic ft.

Monthly returns, 1874-1880, 0.24 cubic ft.

Statements of arrest, 1877-1878 (bulk 1877), fractional

Certificates of service, 1877-1878 (bulk 1878), 0.12 cubic ft.

Quartermaster records, 1874-1881, 0.28 cubic ft.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Texas State Archives

Texas Adjutant General's Department, Military rolls, Special State Troops military rolls, 1876-1880, 0.14 cubic ft.; and Special Force military rolls, 1880-1881, fractional

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of Richard Coke, 1873-1877, 2.35 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of Richard Bennett Hubbard, 1870-1878 (bulk 1877-1878), 3.06 cubic ft.

Texas Office of the Governor, Records of Oran Milo Roberts, 1861-1883 (bulk 1878-1883), 8.46 cubic ft.

Texas Secretary of State, Extradition records, 1837-1940 (bulk 1875-1900), 57 cubic ft.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the subseries), Special State Troops/Special Force records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1933/001, 1961/115

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Processed by

Tony Black, November 1987

Correspondence, 1876-1880,
0.12 cubic ft.

These records comprise the correspondence of the Special State Troops/Special Force, dating 1876-1880. They consist primarily of telegrams, mainly from J. L. Hall, concerning the activities of the Special State Troops between 1876 and 1879. Other items include reports of T. L. Oglesby's detachment (September and October, 1879); proceedings of an examining court investigating murder charges against G. W. Talley, a private in the Special State Troops (1878); and oaths of the members of the Special Force (1879).

Also included are transcripts of correspondence concerning the Special State Troops, especially from 1878. Some of the originals of these items appear above, but much of them are from the Departmental correspondence series of the Adjutant General's records.

Arrangement

These records are arranged roughly chronologically, to the year. Transcripts are filed separately.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Correspondence, Special State Troops/Special Force records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Correspondence

box

folder

401-1157

17.

1876-1877 (bulk 1877)

18.

1878

19.

1879

20-21.

Transcripts, 1877-1880 (bulk 1878)

Monthly returns, 1874-1880,
0.24 cubic ft.

These records consist of oversized monthly returns, dating 1874-1880, for the following companies:


DESIGNATION:	COMMANDING OFFICER:	DATES:
Washington County
Volunteer Militia	Leander H. McNelly	October 1874-
		June 1876
Special State Troops	Leander H. McNelly	August, 1876-
		December, 1876
	J. Lee Hall	February 1877-
		December 1878
Special Force	J. Lee Hall	August 1879-
		May 1880
	Thomas L. Oglesby	June-December,
		1880

Each return gives the following information: station; date; numbers of commissioned officers and enlisted men present and absent, by status and by rank; alterations since the last return; a return of property (quantity, description, and condition); and a record of scouts. Beginning in August 1879, the returns also give statements of arrests, including: date, names of parties arrested, charge, where arrested, by whom, and result.

Arrangement

These records are arranged chronologically.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Monthly returns, Special State Troops/Special Force records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Monthly returns

oversize

folder

401-1244

1874-1875

1876

1877

1878

August-December 1879

1880

Statements of arrest, 1877-1878 (bulk 1877),
fractional

These records consist of 10 monthly statements of arrest for J. L. Hall's company of Special State Troops, dated February-August and October-November, 1877, and February-March 1878. These pre-printed, oversized forms, labeled "Statement of Arrest and Attempts to Arrest; also other duties performed in guarding prisoners and jails, scouts, etc., etc.," contain the following information: date, name of person arrested, charged with what crime, where arrested, and result of arrest as far as known; date, name of person to be arrested, and charged with what crime; and other duties performed.

Arrangement

These records are arranged chronologically.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Statements of arrest, Special State Troops/Special Force records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

oversize

folder

401-1238

Statements of arrests, 1877-1878

Certificates of service, 1877-1878 (bulk 1878),
0.12 cubic ft.

These records consist of documents certified by Captain J. L. Hall concerning individual men in his company of Special State Troops (from late 1877 through 1878). Each certificate indicates the date of muster, the amount of pay due, and any amount owed.

Arrangement

These records are arranged alphabetically by last name of the man, and chronologically therein.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Certificates of service, Special State Troops/Special Force records, Ranger records, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Certificates of service

box

folder

401-1157

22.

A-G, 1877-1878

23.

H-L, 1877-1878

24.

Mc-M, 1877-1878

25.

P-T, 1877-1878

26.

W, 1877-1878

Quartermaster records, 1874-1881,
0.28 cubic ft.

These comprise quartermaster records of the Special State Troops/Special Forces, mainly vouchers for supplies and services, dated 1874-1881. Maintained separately are monthly ration returns for the Special Force commanded by Hall and Oglesby, stationed at San Diego, Texas (August 1879-December 1880).

Arrangement

These records are

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