Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-11-07
SLACK HAYS AND HIS MEN"

"JACK HAYS AND HIS MEN,"
Since the opening Of the campaign, the regiment Of Texas
Rangers under the command Of Col j. G. Hays Of San An
ono do Bexar, Texas. have been gradually earning
high place not only in The estimation Of Gen. Taylofs army,
appears from numerous letters from the camp, but the
hearts Of the people Of the United States, until their
exploits at the battle Of Monterey have created perfect
enthusiasm the popular mind know who and what this
famous Jack Hays and his mem really are In reply to
our inquiries friend from western Texas presens US with
the following skech.--Uaim,. ysE
John c. Hays, native Of Middle Tennessee, came TO
Texas early the year 1889, believe, and. seng San
Antonio business land locator and surveyor
This calling then exceedingly dangerous, for it was
indeed that surveying party went beyond the settlements
without rencontre with either Mexicans, Camanches, Bee
dis Wacoes Towackanics Keeches struggling bands Of
some other hostile tribe nesg the western frontier Of Texas
In these encounters Hays though hardly man in soon
obtained reputation for GOODNESS, Judgment courage ener
w. and knowledge Of frontier life and Indian and Mexican
character which induced the Government Of Texas tender
70 him the command Of its first company Of rangers which
organized in the winter Of $40 and A. Some timo al
terward when found necessary TO raise two more rang
ing companies Capt Hayswas invested with the command Of
the battalion with the rank of major and he and his
continued to rangers until the annexation Heis not
than 30years Of age f old, and weighs from 100
40 pounds need say nothing to you concerning his
markabe sodery qualities for the pens and voices Of such
Bale Peyton and Gen. Worth have already told the
world that il holds few such warriors Jack Hays.
In western Texas, where from habit all good In
dian and Mexican fighters, modesty is his most remarkable
trait for is thing to hear over-modest
characterized being almost bashfu Jack Hays
Indeed, question whether there is in Tayors army
who has poor opinion Of the merits and services Of H.
he HIMSELF He thinks much and speaks le and that
little always to the purpose There never lived commander
doIized by his men, for his word their law Now
they regular frontier men, and Of course notorousy
restless under any other restraint his perfect control Of them
attracted much curiosity and many inquiries in Texas before its
annexation. Their experience with him soldier has given
him their confidence but his rigid and justice hem
his habits of living and ang roughly any private in the
regiment when duy and Of treating each comrade in
in all respects his equal when not du probably the
why the boys, and all willing, withouta
murmur live parched corn ride seventy eighty miles
without dsmountng for five minutes at time, to fight
Mexcans with pckaxe when Hays deems either necessary
His men, who, in the estimation of Gen. WORTH are the
best light troops in the world, just the to be led by
such officer Out of the four hundred presume least
three hundred and fifty farmers and stock rasers small
way the Colorado, Navdad, Iavacca Guadaoupe, and
San Antonio rivers, in western Texas
From the time OF the battle Of San Jacnto up to ory-one
when formed into regular ranging companies they defended
the frontier their hook, without pay emolument pro-
vision, ammunition at the expense of the Government
Whenever Indians Mexcans approached the settlements
dispatched and down the have before
named to sound the ALARM and such notice those
posing Hayss first regiment Of Texas Rangers rarely requr
cd than six hours to prepare for campaign Of three
months for after al catching their horses running fifty
bullets, and parching and grinding half bushe Of for
cold four panoi the Mexicans it, the only
preparations necessary. Hot cold dry, they carried
TENTS and required other provisions than fresh beef
which usually driven with them. Once in while
green horn his first campaign, would pack little sugar.
Coffee and salt but he would learn that boys who had
fight for nothing and find their horse flesh and
nition could do about well cay,i solus In fact
after little experience with such life, few least of those
would be troubled with the of any other provision
han beef with any other equipment than shooting rons
bowie knife, pair Of blankets Mexican saddle tree, and
good horse which, with leather brceches ndomabe perse
serance, extra shirt light heart great capacity for
luance, and sworn hatred to Mcxicans and Indians make up
he Texan ranger.
When the Government of Texas organized these into
regular companies they first began to receive pay and per-
maps half Of those with Hays gave up their farms and
ook to soldering for q livelihood.
Capt. Ben McCuoch, who commands the first company
Of this regiment Ito which Kendall, Of the Picayune,
achcd D g. Howard who was lately dispatched to Santa
Fe by the President and has since joined Woods force,
which he will be what McCulloch the main army
Gillespie, who killed in the late BATTLE and Hancock
Chevaie, originally of Richmond, Virginia, Hayes
hight hand men in tho frontier campaigns Of Texas McCu
och is native of Tennessee, the Alabama line, and
to Texas from the latter State settling in Gonzales
county, surveyor He served Of the field pieces
the battle of San Jacnto the twin sisters the Texans
dubbed hem and there for the first tme distinguished him
ef He the hero of what is known the Plum creek
light with the Indians who burnt Linnve Howard is
i've of this city, and commanded in the famous courhou
light in the of San Antonio when he found it necessary
close the door, and with nineteen men, fight thirty
Camanches, both parties being completely armed In this
nelee he himself received four wounds and lost nine
killed. all the rest Of the command being less wound
ID But Of the Indians got out of the alive and
II these, SIX subsequently killed in the street. Gillespie
either native of Virginia Tennessee and being the
lieutenant Of the first company of rangers chosen its
apan when Hays promoted to the command Of the original
battalion. Indeed, all these gentlemen distinguished from
officers having long since their way fame in Texas,
n may almost wre hundred welLfought battles. s. H.
Walker, The Captain Walker of the beginning of this CAM
,aign, who, bythe-by, is from this city also, is the
lieutenant colonel of the regiment having fairly earned his
lection in the of the month prior the battles of the
'h and 9th Of May last Ever the organization Of the
angling corps he has been of their number though,
heretofore do not know that he distinguished beyond
lis comrades generally Before the annexation of Texas
ection for lieutenant of the company (Glespes took
,ace and Edward Radcliffe brother Of Daniel Radcliffe Esq
# this city, chosen, Walker being his competitor Rat
life, poor fellow, killed in the little fight between nine
men, under Walker, and party Of Mexcans, which took
place few days prior to the battle Of the 9Th of May
But when think OF these facts crowd fast my
memory that might write you about them until daybreak
PERSONAL knowledge Of hreefourhs Of men the
egmentcaches that Col Bale Peyon has otpraised them
,eyond their deserts saying that amongs the volunteers
have shone conspcuousy than the LIST Regiment
II Texas mounted emen commanded by that Chevalier
Bayard Col j. O. Hays, better known Jack Hays This
,orps from the Colonel to the private has fully sustained its
omcr reputation. In the first affair in which Gen. Worh's
vislon engaged the morning Of the 2ls Col Hays,
With several companies of his mounted femep thrown
onward to open the ball. which he did beautifully,
ounterng and shooting in the of the General the