None.
Some of the military rolls may be too large and/or too fragile for photocopying.
None.
The term
During the lifetime of the Republic of Texas (1836-1845), certain companies of the Republic of Texas militia operated as Ranger units.
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
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 Adjutant Generals would split their time between the Militia and the Rangers (whatever the prevailing terminology).
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), as well as the State Guard and Reserve Militia, and the State Police, 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 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. On July 22, 1876,
The Frontier Battalion was reorganized as the Ranger Force by an act of the 27th Texas 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.
These records include muster rolls, muster-in rolls, muster/payrolls, and payrolls for various Ranger organizations of the State of Texas, maintained by the Texas Adjutant General's Department. They date 1846-1861, 1874-1910, 1913-1914, and undated. These military rolls were compiled at the time, usually by the company commanders. The information contained on the rolls varies considerably. Most of the rolls are in the form of oversize single sheets; many of the rolls are in duplicate, triplicate, or even quadruplicate. They represent five organizational groups: Rangers of the pre-Civil War era, the Frontier Battalion, Special State Troops, the Special Force, and the Ranger Force. For the middle three organizations, there is a chronological overlap.
Texas Ranger (pre-Civil War) military rolls consists of muster rolls and payrolls, dating 1846-1861. The series combines Rangers, Mounted Volunteers, and Minute Men, as the terminology is interchangeable for the decade and a half before the Civil War. The county is included on the item inventory whenever it is known. Many of the payrolls do not indicate the name of the captain, and are therefore listed under the name of the lieutenant or sergeant.
Frontier Battalion military rolls date 1874-1901. Most are
muster/payrolls, each covering a two- or three-month period. Approximately
once
a year the commanders compiled muster or muster-in rolls. Most members of
the
Frontier Battalion during the 1870s, and in most companies those during the
early 1880s, have been included in the search room
Special State Troops military rolls consists of muster/payrolls for
two captains of the Special State Troops, dating 1876-1880. Individuals in
Captain McNelly's company are included in the search room
Special Force military rolls consists of a muster-in roll and three muster/payrolls, for one captain of a Special Force company called out for special service in San Diego, Duval County, 1880-1881.
Ranger Force military rolls consists of payrolls for all four companies of the Ranger Force (A, B, C, and D), dating 1901-1910, 1913-1914, and undated. Each payroll reflects one month's service. In addition, there are four muster-in rolls, one for each company, dated July 8 or 9, 1903. These rolls are interfiled.
The military rolls of other Texas Ranger units are found in other
finding aids, including:
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 five series of military rolls. If you are
reading this electronically, click
The Ranger military rolls subgroup of the Adjutant General's records is organized into five series:
Tony Black, July 1986, April 1988, September 1988
Accession numbers: 1933/001, 1933/003, 1976/048, and unknown others
Although accession records are sketchy, military rolls were probably
the earliest records transferred from the Texas Adjutant General's office
to
the Texas State Archives. 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. On February 21, 1934, the following groups of
military rolls were transferred:
(Identify the item and cite the series), Ranger military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
This series consists of approximately 299 muster rolls and payrolls, for approximately 81 commanding officers, dating 1846-1861. Many of the rolls are in duplicate, triplicate, or even quadruplicate. The series combines Rangers, Mounted Volunteers, and Minute Men, as the terminology is interchangeable for the decade and a half before the Civil War. The county is included on the item inventory whenever it is known; a cross-reference follows. Many of the payrolls do not indicate the name of the captain, and are therefore listed under the name of the lieutenant or sergeant. Information available on these rolls, which are usually pre-printed forms, include: name, rank, age; when, where, by whom, and for what period joined for duty and enrolled; number of miles to place of rendezvous and from place of discharge home; valuation in dollars of horses, horse equipment, guns, and pistols; and remarks.
A cross-reference chart follows, to match the company commander to the county and/or town/city where the company was headquartered (where these are known).
These records are arranged alphabetically by commander, and therein chronologically.
(Identify the item), Texas Ranger (pre-Civil War) military rolls, Ranger military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1933/001, 1933/003, 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. On February 21, 1934, the Texas Adjutant General's Department
transferred
None.
Some of the military rolls may be too large and/or too fragile for photocopying.
Tony Black, July 1986
This series consists of approximately 1,002 rolls, for about 52
commanding officers (captains, lieutenants, and sergeants) of the Frontier
Battalion, dating 1874-1901. Many are apparently multiple copies. Most are
muster/payrolls, each covering a two- or three-month period, including the
following information: name, rank, inclusive dates, period, pay per month,
amount of pay, signatures, remarks, amount of stoppages, and balance due.
Approximately once a year the commanders compiled muster or muster-in rolls,
which included: name, rank, occupation, nativity, age, color of eyes, hair, and
complexion, height, signatures, and valuation of horse. Note: the years which
appear to be missing (e.g., Company A, 1886-1899) are actually years during
which that company was disbanded. Most members of the Frontier Battalion during
the 1870s, and in most companies those during the early 1880s, have been
included in the search room
In addition, there are two rolls listed at the end of this series,
entitled
Finally, there are two volumes. One is a roughly alphabetical index to a roster of the Frontier Battalion and the militia, dated 1874 (but possibly incorporating later dates as well). This index is to both individuals and to companies, with companies underlined in red ink.
The other volume contains muster rolls for the Frontier Battalion, dated September 1, 1878, arranged by company (A through F); information on these rolls includes: number, name, description (rank, age, height, hair, eyes, complexion, occupation, and nativity), enlistment information (when, where, and by whom), value of horses, and remarks (including dates of discharge, transfer, resignation, etc., with the number of the appropriate General Order or Special Order). The rolls are concluded with a recapitulation, giving name and rank of each member of each company.
These records are arranged by company (Companies A through F), and then chronologically within each company.
(Identify the item), Frontier Battalion military rolls, Ranger 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.
None.
Some of the military rolls may be too large and/or too fragile for photocopying.
Tony Black, July 1986
This series consists of about 31 muster/payrolls, for 2 captains
of the Special State Troops, dating 1876-1880. Many rolls are apparently in
duplicate. The preprinted forms include: name, rank, inclusive dates, period,
pay per month, amount of pay, signatures, and remarks. Individuals in Captain
McNelly's company are included in the search room
These records are arranged chronologically.
(Identify the item), Special State Troops military rolls, Ranger 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.
None.
Some of the military rolls may be too large and/or too fragile for photocopying.
Tony Black, July 1986
This series consists of four rolls, for one captain of a Special Force company called out for special service in San Diego, Duval County, 1880-1881. One is a muster-in roll, and includes: name, rank, age, height, color of hair, eyes, and complexion, occupation, nationality (state and county), where, when, and by whom enlisted. Three are muster/payrolls, and include: name, rank, inclusive dates, period, pay per month, amount of pay, and remarks.
These records are arranged chronologically.
(Identify the item), Special Force military rolls, Ranger 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.
None.
Some of the military rolls may be too fragile for photocopying.
Tony Black, July 1986
This series consists of approximately 474 payrolls, for 9 captains of all four companies of the Ranger Force (A, B, C, and D), dating 1901-1910, 1913-1914, and undated. Each payroll reflects one month's service. Information on each roll includes: name, rank, dates from and to, period, pay per month, amount of pay, signatures, remarks, amount of stoppages, and balance due. Four of these are combination muster/payrolls, and are oversized, but contain the same information.
In addition, there are four muster-in rolls, one for each company, dated July 8 or 9, 1903. These rolls, which are interfiled, include: name, rank, age, height, complexion, eyes, hair, when born, occupation, and married or single.
These records are arranged by company (A, B, C, and D), and therein chronologically.
(Identify the item), Ranger Force military rolls, Ranger military rolls, Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1976/048 and unknown others
Payrolls for 1913-1914 were transferred to the Archives Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Adjutant General's Department on December 4, 1975. Accession information on the other rolls is uncertain.
None.
Some of the military rolls may be too fragile for photocopying.
Tony Black, July 1986