Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-11-19
rINssURG VIRGINIA, MORNING. NOVEMBER 1876


Since the opening Of the campaign. the reg
imeni Of Texas Rangers. under the command
of Col ]. G. HAYS, o. San Antonio de Bexar,
Texas, have been gradually earning high
place not only in the estimation Of Gen TAy-
TORS army, as appears from numerous letters
from the camp, bat IN the hearts OF the people
of the United States, until their exploits at the
battle Of Monterey have created perfect en-
thusiasm in the popular mind 10 know who
and what this famous JACK HAYS aid his
men" really are. la reply TO our inquiries, a
friend from Western Texas presents us with
the following sketch Jiaioa.
Joua c. HAYS, a native of Middle Tonnes
see. came to Texas early IN the year 1889. |
believe, and setting al san Antonio, commen-
ced business as land locator and surveyor
This calling was then exceedingly dangerous,
for il was rare indeed that surveying party
went beyond the settlements without arencon-
tire with either Mexlcans. Camanches, Beedis,
Wacoes, Towackanies, keechies, orstragglng
bands of some other hostile tribe intestiug the
western frontier OF fexas. IN these encoun-
tiers, HAYS, though hardly a man in age, soon
obtained reputation for GOODNESS, judgment,
courage, energy, and knowledge OF frontier
life and Indian and Mexican character which
induced the Government OF Texas 10 tender 10
him the command Of its first company of ran
gers, which was organized III the winter of
1910 and Al. Some time afterwards, when
il was found necessary TO raise two more ran
gng companies, Capt. HAYS was invested
with the command OF the battalion, with the
rank Of Major, and he and '.his men" contin-
ued TO serve as rangers until the annexation
He is not more that thirty years Of age, Of so
old } and weighs from 1870 TO lao pounds. j
need say nothing 10 you concerning his re-
lnarhable soldierly qualities, for the pens and
voices Of such men as Babe PEYroN and
Gen. WoRTn have already toldlhe world that
it holds few such warriors as JACK HAYS.
In western Texas, where from habit all men
are good Indian and Mexican fighters modesty
is his most remarkable trait; for il is no un-
common thing 10 hear an over-modest man
characterized as beng almost as bashtul as
JACK HAYS Indeed, question whether there
is man IN TAYLoR's army who has as poor
an opinion of his merits and services OF III. as
he himself He thinks much and speaks lii
tie, and that little always to the purpose
There never lived commander more idolzed
by his men, his word is their law. Now, as
they are regular frontier mea, and, OF course,
VIGOROUSLY restless under any other restraint,
his perfect control OF them attracted much Gu
riosty and many inquiries IN Texas before ITS
annexation. Their experience with him as a
soldier has given him then confidence; but his
rigid and exact Justice 10 them, his habits OF
living and iaring as roughly as any private in
the regiment when on duty, and OF treating
each comrade in arms as in all respects his
equal when not on duty, are probably the rea-
son why the boys, one aud all, are so willing,
without murmur. tolive on parehed corn,
ride seventy OF eighty miles without dismount-
ing for FIVE minutes at lime, or to light Mex
leans with pick axes, when HAYS deems eth
er necessary.
His men. who, in the estimation Of Gen.
Worm, are the best light troops in the world,
are lust the men to be led by such an officer.
Out of the four bundled, | presume at least
three hundred and fifty are farmers and stock
lraisers in a small way on the Colorado, Navl-
dad, Lavacca, Gaudaioupe, and san Antonia
rivers in western Texas
From the time Of the battle of San Jacnto
up 10 forty one, when formed into regular
ranging companies, they defended the frontier
ON their own hook, without pay, emolument,
provision, or even Ammunition at the expense
of the Government. Whenever Indians or
/ Mexicans approached the settlements, runners
were dispatched up and down the rivers |
! have before named TO sound the ALARM, and
on such notice those now composing HAY $
First eeiment of Texas Rangers" rarely re-
qured more than six hours 10 prepare for a
campaign ofthree months for, alter all, catch
| ing their horses, running fifty bullets, and
parching a hall bushel OF corn for cold Hour,
! or pall0i, as the MeXlcans term II, were the
only preparations necessary. Hot or cold,
wet OF dry, they carried no tents, and required
no other provisions than flesh beef, which
was usually driven with them. Once IN
while a green horn, on his first campaign,
would pack little sugar, coffee, and salt; but
I he would soon learn that boys who had 70
! fight for nothing and find their own horse
! flesh and ammunition, could do 1t about as
.'enni" solus. In fact. after a little experience
with such life, few at least Of those men
would be troubled with the care Of any other
provision than beef, or any other equipment
/ than shooting irons, bowie knife, par Of
/ blankets, Mexican saddie-tree, and good
horse; which, with leather breeches, lntomi-
table perseverance, an extra shifl, hghl
heart, great capacity for endurance, and sworn
hatred 10 Mexicans and Indians, make up the
Texan ranger.
/ When the Government Of Texas organized
these men into regular companies, they iifsi
( began to receive pay, and perhaps halt OF those
now with HAYS gave up thelf laIuls ana tooh
to soldering for livelihood.
/ Capt Ben. MoCuLLocH, who commands
the FIRST company Of this regiment, (to which
KENDALL, Of the Picayune, is attached y G.
IN. HowARp, who was lately dispatched 10
Santa Ee by the President, and has since join
ed WooL's force. to which he will soon be
what McCULLocH is to the main army; poor
GILLESPIE, who was killed 10 the late battle,
and HANcocK CHEvALLIE, originally OF Rich
mond, Virginia, were HAYs's right hand men
IN the frontier campaigns Of Texas. McCuL-
LocH is a native OF Tennessee, near the Ala
bama line, and came TO Texas from the latter
State. settling in Gonzales county as survey
or. He served one OF the two field pieces IN
the battle of San Jacinto, ''the twin sisters,
as the Texans dubbed them, and there, for the
first time, distinguished himself. He is the
hero of what is known as the Plum creek fight
with the Indians who burnt Linnyile. How
ARD is native of this city, and commanded
in the famous courthouse fight in the town Of
San Antonio, when he found II necessary to
close the door, and, with nineteen men, 10
fight thirty-seven Camanches, both parties be-
ing completely armed. In this melee, be him
sell received four wounds, and lost nine men
killed, all the rest OF the command being more
~