# Red Rovers

The Red Rovers, commonly referred to as the Alabama Red Rovers, was a military volunteer company organized in Courtland, Alabama to support the Texas Revolution.

## Background

Raised by doctor and planter Jack Shackelford in November 1835, the unit took its name from the red jeans of their uniforms and was outfitted with equipment from Alabama state arsenal. Consisting of some 70 men, nearly half the men in Courtland, the unit remained encamped until December 12 before setting out for Texas by way of New Orleans. After arriving at Lavaca Bay on January 19, 1836, and being accepted into Texas service on February 3, the Red Rovers were put under command of Colonel James W. Fannin. They fought in the Battle of Coleto on March 19–20, performing well, but the Texians were overrun and ultimately forced to surrender.

### Goliad Massacre

The Red Rovers are primarily commemorated for their tragic role as victims of the Goliad Massacre. In this devastating event, a substantial majority of the band, as well as approximately 400 men of the Texan army, met their demise following an order issued by Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna which ordered General José de Urrea to execute any Texan he came across. As a result, the majority of the Red Rovers, including two of Shackelford's sons, were killed in the Goliad massacre on March 27, 1836, along with hundreds of others. Shackelford himself was spared execution since his skills as a doctor could be used to treat Mexican soldiers. He would ultimately be released and return to Alabama, where he was thought dead. Four of the men, Zachariah S. Brooks, Dillard Cooper, Isaac D. Hamilton, and Wilson Simpson, escaped the slaughter. The four men traveled together at night to avoid capture and eventually found their way to other Texas forces and safety.

## Legacy

The Red Rovers endure a lasting legacy celebrated through a range of events, festivals, and historical reenactments. Among these, Captain Shackelford's Company of the Alabama Red Rovers stands out as a Texas-based assembly of Living Historians and Re-enactors dedicated to portraying the era of the Texas Revolution. The group not only engages in immersive living history experiences but also pays tribute to the military band's significance. The Red Rovers are also remembered thorough an Historical Marker, established in Courtland, Alabama by the Alabama Historical Association. This marker, erected in 1964, serves as a testament to the unit's contributions, featuring the names of the men who valiantly fought with the militia during that pivotal period.
The Alabama Red Rovers and the Goliad Campaign are noteworthy not only for their historical significance but also for the exemplary demonstration of leadership skills by the commanders, notably Dr. Jack Shackelford. The enduring qualities of 'duty' and 'loyalty' frequently characterize the service of these men, with these themes resonating throughout the battle. The United States military and its officers, in particular, have drawn inspiration from the lessons exemplified in the Goliad Campaign, often referencing the steadfast commitment to duty and loyalty displayed by its commanders and soldiers.

### Known Members

Capt. Jack Shackelford
1st Lt. Francis S. Early
2nd Lt. William C. Francis
1st Sgt. Fortunatus Sydney Shackelford
2nd Sgt. Issac D. Hamilton
3rd Sgt. Arthur G. Foley
4th Sgt. Zachariah H. Short
1st Cpl. Henry Hogue Bentley
2nd Cpl. David Moore
3rd Cpl. John H. Barkley
4th Cpl. Andrew Winter
Pvt. Patrick H. Anderson
Dr. Joseph Henry Barnard
Pvt. John N. Barnhill
Pvt. Joseph H. Blackwell
Pvt. William Procter Bowhay
Pvt. G. W. Brooks
Pvt. Zachariah S. Brooks
Pvt. Thomas Burbridge
Pvt. Benjamin Franklin Burt
Pvt. J. W. Cain
Pvt. Thomas Cantwell
Pvt. Seth Clark
Pvt. John G. Coe
Pvt. Stith Conner
Pvt. Dillard Cooper
Pvt. Harvey Cox
Pvt. Robert T. Davidson
Pvt. George A. Davis
Pvt. G. L. Davis
Pvt. H. B. Day
Pvt. Silas DeWitt
Pvt. Abijah Hogan Dickson
Pvt. Alfred Dorsey
Pvt. Henry L. Douglass
Pvt. William G. Douglass
Pvt. James W. Duncan
Pvt. James E. Ellis
Pvt. Samuel Farney
Pvt. Joseph Fenner
Pvt. Robert Fenner
Pvt. Joseph G. Ferguson
Pvt. Elijah B. Franklin
Pvt. David Gamble
Pvt. M. C. Garner
Pvt. James H. Grimes
Pvt. William Gunter
Pvt. William Hemphill
Musc. John Hiser
Pvt. Milton Irish
Pvt. John Jackson
Pvt. John N. Jackson
Pvt. Henry W. Jones
Pvt. John Kelley
Pvt. E. Laddington
Pvt. Charles W. McKinley
Pvt. Isaac H. Miller
Pvt. David A. Murdock
Pvt. William Quinn
Pvt. W. F. Savage
Pvt. J. M. Seaton
Pvt. William J. Shackelford
Pvt. Wilson Simpson
Pvt. Bennett Strunk
Pvt. Simpson Tennant
Pvt. James Vaughan
Pvt. William E. Vaughan
Pvt. James S. Wilder
Pvt. Robert W. Wilson