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Some of the military rolls may be too large and/or too fragile for photocopying.
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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). These troops were federal (i.e. United States) troops, and their records would be federal records, not held by the Texas State Archives.
Within months of Texas' readmission to the Union under Radical Republican Governor Edmund J. Davis (1870), the 12th Texas Legislature, Called Session, 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. (The first Adjutant General so appointed, James Davidson, absconded with over $37,000 of state funds in 1872.) On November 25, 1871, the 12th Legislature, 2nd Session, added a fifth organization, the Minute Men.
Governor Davis called out six companies of Provisional State Troops for martial law duty in Limestone County during October and November of 1871, when citizens rioted against the State Police.
The 13th Texas Legislature merged the State Guard and Reserve Militia into a simple state Militia on March 19, 1873, and abolished the State Police force on April 22, 1873. The Frontier Forces were replaced in 1873 and 1874 by the Rangers (also known as the Frontier Men), and finally by the Frontier Battalion, organized by an act of the 14th Texas Legislature, 1st Regular Session, 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.
To recap: the Reconstruction era in Texas saw the formation of the
following types of military units:
These records include muster rolls, muster/payrolls, rosters, and lists, dating 1865-1866, 1870-1877, and undated (bulk 1870-1874). They comprise the military rolls maintained by the Texas Adjutant General's Department, of the various units serving in Texas during the Reconstruction era, including Minute Men (1865-1866 and 1872-1877), State Police, Provisional State Troops, State Guard, Reserve Militia, Frontier Forces, and Militia. The amount of information listed for each man on each roll varies considerably depending on the unit and the type of roll.
There are muster rolls, muster/payrolls, and payrolls, for Texas minute men companies, dating 1865-1866. They represent five counties (Montague, Parker, Travis, Wise, and Young). Information given includes: name, rank, age, when and where enlisted, by whom enrolled, number of days served on regular scouts, number of days served on extra calls, total amount due, remarks, and (for Parker County only) signatures.
For the Texas State Police, there are rosters, muster rolls/payrolls
and lists, dating 1870-1873 and undated. One undated roster for the State
Police is arranged alphabetically under each rank. There are 12 combination
muster and payrolls, for five captains of the State Police, arranged by
district (1st through 4th District, plus a sub-district); and 19 rolls without
designation of district. They date 1870-1871. The pre-printed forms contain the
following information: name, rank, date of entry into service, station, by whom
and to what time last paid, remarks, period of service, pay per month, amount
of pay, and voucher number. Also included is one roll designated
The Texas State Guard produced muster rolls for about 59 captains, commanding companies organized into 10 regiments, dating 1870-1872 (mostly 1870-1871). The mostly pre-printed forms usually contain simply name and rank; occasionally, age, color, occupation, post office, and remarks are also given.
The Texas Reserve Militia produced muster rolls for approximately 616 captains, commanding companies organized into 97 regiments of infantry and two companies of cavalry, dating 1870-1872 (mostly 1870-1871). Mostly pre-printed forms, the rolls normally give only name and rank, but sometimes add date of entry into service, station, age, color, residence, and occupation.
There are muster and payrolls for six companies of Texas Provisional State Troops called out for martial law duty in Limestone County during October and November of 1871. Information on these pre-printed forms includes number, name, rank, date of entry into service, station, remarks, period, pay per month, amount of pay, signature, and witness.
The Texas Frontier Forces are listed on muster rolls and muster/payrolls for about 19 captains, commanding companies A through P, dating 1870-1872 (mostly 1870-1871). The preprinted forms include the following information: name, rank, date of entry into service, station, and remarks; in addition, the muster/payrolls also include valuation of horses, number of cartridges due the state, by whom and to what time last paid.
In addition, there are two volumes. One, dating 1870-1873, lists officers of the State Guard, the Reserve Militia and the Frontier Forces, giving date of commission, name, rank, age, regiment and company to which assigned, date of acceptance, post office address (town and county), and remarks. The other is an undated index to the Roster of Reserve Militia, State Guard, and Frontier Forces, letters U through Z only.
There are muster/payrolls, for about 39 lieutenants of Texas Minute
Men companies, dating 1872-1877 (bulk 1872-1874). The counties represented
include: Bandera, Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Cook,
Edwards, Erath, Gillespie, Jack, Kendall, Kerr, Lampasas, Llano, Mason,
Maverick, Medina, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Saba, and Wise. Information
given includes: name, rank, dates from and to, pay per day, total pay, last
paid to include (date), signatures (many of which are not the originals), and
remarks. In addition, there is one volume entitled Roster of Minute Companies,
organized by Company (A through Z), which gives the following information:
county, number, name, and remarks (mostly blank). Most of the companies are
listed as
For Texas Rangers, there are muster/payrolls for eight captains of companies, plus muster/payrolls for 3 lieutenants (for units which were formed after the creation of the Frontier Battalion). They date 1873-1874. Often referred to as Frontier Men, these companies represented the following counties: Brown/San Saba, El Paso, Erath/Comanche, Jack, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Webb, Wise, and Young, plus the region between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. Some of the forms are pre-printed. They include name, rank, dates from and to, total pay, signatures, and remarks.
Finally, there are rolls for five captains of Texas Militia units dating 1874-1877. Most are for Captain McNelly's company from Washington County. In addition, there are two detachments used as escorts to a trial in Indianola County (September, 1874); plus two companies on duty quelling disturbances occasioned by removal of the county seat of Van Zandt County (1877). Including muster-in rolls, muster-out rolls, payrolls, and muster/payrolls, these rolls give name, rank, dates from and to, signatures, remarks, pay, plus various amounts alloted for travel and equipment. These rolls are included in this subgroup despite the fact that they date after the time that Reconstruction was considered complete in Texas.
The men listed in the rolls of four of these series have been included
in the Texas State Archives' search room
Note: Occasionally a researcher knows the name of a company commander,
but does not know which military unit (Ranger or militia or otherwise) he
commanded, or where to search for the appropriate military roll. Researchers
using the finding aid electronically may search for names of captains. For
researchers using a print copy, an alphabetical list of captains is provided in
the Texas State Archives search room, matching the captain with the military
organization. All of the
This finding aid describes nine series of military rolls. If you are
reading this electronically, click
The Reconstruction military rolls subgroup of the Adjutant General's records is organized into nine series:
Tony Black, July 1986
Accession numbers: 1933/001, 1937/004, 1988/130, and unknown
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Adjutant General's Department in 1920 (approximately 800 muster rolls and payrolls, dating 1860-1886); and on February 21, 1934.
Twenty-eight rolls, all of Lt. Henry Schwethelm's company from Kerr
County, dated November 1874 through 1877 (the only rolls dating after
mid-1874), were donated to the Texas State Archives on October 22, 1920 by Mr.
August Fischer, a former member of that company. All bear the stamp
(Identify the item and cite the series), Reconstruction military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
This series consists of six muster rolls (plus copies), two muster/payrolls (plus copies), and two payrolls, for Texas Minute Men companies, dating 1865-1866. They represent five counties (Montague, Parker, Travis, Wise, and Young). Information given includes: name, rank, age, when and where enlisted, by whom enrolled, number of days served on regular scouts, number of days served on extra calls, total amount due, remarks, and (for Parker County only) signatures.
These records are arranged alphabetically by county.
(Identify the item), Minute Men (1865-1866) military rolls, Reconstruction military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: unknown
In 1920, approximately 800 muster rolls and payrolls, dating 1860-1886, were transferred by the Texas Adjutant General's office to the Texas State Archives.
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Tony Black, July 1986
This series consists of rosters, muster rolls/payrolls and lists of Texas State Police, dating 1870-1873 and undated. One undated roster for the State Police is arranged alphabetically under each rank. There are 12 combination muster and payrolls, for five captains of the State Police, arranged by district (1st through 4th District, plus a sub-district); and 19 rolls without designation of district. They date 1870-1871. The pre-printed forms contain the following information: name, rank, date of entry into service, station, by whom and to what time last paid, remarks, period of service, pay per month, amount of pay, and voucher number.
Also included is one roll designated
In addition, there are three volumes which contain State Police rosters. One volume, dating 1870-1873, contains three different lists:
This volume has an index loose in front.
A second volume of miscellaneous State Police records contains, among other things, a Roster of State Police, March 29, 1873. Finally, there is a Roster of Special Policemen (including Railroad Police and Penitentiary Special Police), 1871-1872, arranged by county, and containing the following information: dates to and from, name, age, race, residence, and remarks (e.g., date removed, refused appointment, returned commission, killed).
These records are arranged by district.
(Identify the item), State Police military rolls, Reconstruction military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 1933/001 and unknown others
These records were transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Adjutant General's Department on February 21, 1934.
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Tony Black, July 1986
This series consists of approximately 87 muster rolls, for about 59 captains of the Texas State Guard, commanding companies organized into 10 regiments, dating 1870-1872 (mostly 1870-1871). The mostly pre-printed forms usually contain simply name and rank; occasionally, age, color, occupation, post office, and remarks are also given.
In addition, there are two volumes. One, dating 1870-1873, lists officers of the State Guard (on pages 1-29 and 198-199), giving date of commission, name, rank, age, regiment and company to which assigned, date of acceptance, post office address (town and county), and remarks. (It also lists officers of the Reserve Militia and the Frontier Forces.) Arrangement is chronological. The other is an undated index to the Roster of Reserve Militia, State Guard, and Frontier Forces, letters U through Z only.
A cross-reference chart follows, to match the company to the county and/or town/city.
These records are arranged by regiment and then by company within each regiment.
(Identify the item), State Guard military rolls, Reconstruction military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 1933/001
These records were apparently transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Adjutant General's Department on February 21, 1934.
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Tony Black, July 1986
This series consists of approximately 652 muster rolls, for approximately 616 captains of the Texas Reserve Militia, commanding companies organized into 97 regiments of infantry and two companies of cavalry, dating 1870-1872 (mostly 1870-1871). Mostly pre-printed forms, the rolls normally give only name and rank, but sometimes add date of entry into service, station, age, color, residence, and occupation.
In addition, there are two volumes. One, dating 1870-1873, lists officers of the Reserve Militia (on pages 212-473), giving date of commission, name, rank, age, regiment and company to which assigned, date of acceptance, post office address (town and county), and remarks. (It also lists officers of the State Guard and the Frontier Forces.) Arrangement is chronological. The other is an undated index to the Roster of Reserve Militia, State Guard, and Frontier Forces, letters U through Z only.
A cross-reference chart follows, to match the regiment to the county.
These records are arranged by regiment, and then by company within each regiment.
(Identify the item), Reserve Militia military rolls, Reconstruction military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 1933/001
These records were apparently transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Adjutant General's Department on February 21, 1934.
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Tony Black, July 1986
This series consists of six muster and payrolls, for six companies of Provisional State Troops called out for martial law duty in Limestone County during October and November of 1871. Information on these pre-printed forms includes number, name, rank, date of entry into service, station, remarks, period, pay per month, amount of pay, signature, and witness.
These records are arranged by company.
(Identify the item), Provisional State Troops military rolls, Reconstruction military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 1933/001
These records were apparently transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Adjutant General's Department on February 21, 1934.
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Tony Black, July 1986
This series consists of approximately 94 muster rolls and
muster/payrolls, plus three folders of duplicate rolls, for about 19 captains
of the Texas Frontier Forces, commanding companies A through P, dating
1870-1872 (mostly 1870-1871). The preprinted forms include the following
information: name, rank, date of entry into service, station, and remarks; in
addition, the muster/payrolls also include valuation of horses, number of
cartridges due the state, by whom and to what time last paid. The men listed in
these rolls have been included in the Texas State Archives' search room
In addition, there are two volumes. One, dating 1870-1873, lists officers of the Frontier Forces (on pages 600-607), giving date of commission, name, rank, age, company to which assigned, date of acceptance, post office address (town and county), and remarks. (It also lists officers of the State Guard and the Reserve Militia.) Arrangement is chronological. The other is an undated index to the Roster of Reserve Militia, State Guard, and Frontier Forces, letters U through Z only.
These records are arranged by company.
(Identify the item), Frontier Forces military rolls, Reconstruction military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 1933/001
These records were apparently transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Adjutant General's Department on February 21, 1934.
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Tony Black, July 1986
This series consists of approximately 401 muster/payrolls, for
about 39 lieutenants of Texas Minute Men companies, dating 1872-1877 (bulk
1872-1874). Some of the rolls appear to be in duplicate. The counties
represented include: Bandera, Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman,
Comanche, Cook, Edwards, Erath, Gillespie, Jack, Kendall, Kerr, Lampasas,
Llano, Mason, Maverick, Medina, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Saba, and
Wise. Information given includes: name, rank, dates from and to, pay per day,
total pay, last paid to include (date), signatures (many of which are not the
originals), and remarks. Individuals have been included in the Texas State
Archives' search room
In addition, there is one volume entitled Roster of Minute
Companies, organized by Company (A through Z), which gives the following
information: county, number, name, and remarks (mostly blank). Most of the
companies are listed as
A cross reference by county follows.
These records are arranged by company (Companies A through Z, plus #1 and #4).
(Identify the item), Minute Men (1872-1877) military rolls, Reconstruction military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1988/130 and unknown others
In 1920, approximately 800 muster rolls and payrolls, dating
1860-1886, were transferred by the Texas Adjutant General's office to the Texas
State Archives. Twenty-eight rolls, all of Lt. Henry Schwethelm's company from
Kerr County, dated November 1874 through 1877 (the only rolls dating after
mid-1874), were donated to the Texas State Archives on October 22, 1920 by Mr.
August Fischer, a former member of that company. All bear the stamp
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Tony Black, July 1986
This series consists of 16 muster/payrolls, for 8 captains of
Texas Ranger companies, plus 19 muster/payrolls for 3 lieutenants (for units
which were formed after the creation of the Frontier Battalion). They date
1873-1874. Often referred to as Frontier Men, these companies represented the
following counties: Brown/San Saba, El Paso, Erath/Comanche, Jack, Montague,
Palo Pinto, Parker, Webb, Wise, and Young, plus the region between the Nueces
River and the Rio Grande. Some of the forms are pre-printed. They include name,
rank, dates from and to, total pay, signatures, and remarks. Except for the
three companies formed after May 1874 (commanded by Benavides, Montes, and
Wallace), these individuals have been included in the Texas State Archives'
search room
These records are arranged alphabetically by company commander.
(Identify the item), Texas Ranger (1873-1874) military rolls, Reconstruction military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: unknown
In 1920, approximately 800 muster rolls and payrolls, dating 1860-1886, were transferred by the Texas Adjutant General's office to the Texas State Archives.
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Tony Black, July 1986
(formed after the creation of the Frontier Battalion)
(formed after the creation of the Frontier Battalion)
(formed after the creation of the Frontier Battalion)
This series consists of 24 rolls, for 5 captains of Texas militia
units dating 1874-1877. Many rolls are apparently in duplicate. Most are for
Captain McNelly's company from Washington County. In addition, there are two
detachments used as escorts to a trial in Indianola County (September, 1874);
plus two companies on duty quelling disturbances occasioned by removal of the
county seat of Van Zandt County (1877). Including muster-in rolls, muster-out
rolls, payrolls, and muster/payrolls, these rolls give name, rank, dates from
and to, signatures, remarks, pay, plus various amounts alloted for travel and
equipment. Except for Colonel Bower's contingent, these militia men have been
included in the Texas State Archives' search room
These rolls are included in this subgroup despite the fact that they date after the time that Reconstruction was considered complete in Texas.
These records are arranged by company, roughly chronologically.
(Identify the item), Militia (1874-1877) military rolls, Reconstruction military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: unknown
In 1920, approximately 800 muster rolls and payrolls, dating 1860-1886, were transferred by the Texas Adjutant General's office to the Texas State Archives.
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Tony Black, July 1986