American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-09-11
Maj1r Gen. John A. Wharton.


The Texas Rangers, of the Eighth
Texas Cavalry, were tile most pecu
liar Southern soldiery of the late
War. They were like no other troops
that we had. They coMbiaGi the
most opposite qualities, ard were
military anomaly. Tliey were ex-
cellent fighters and inveterate strag
glcrs. They were always in the bat
tie, right at the front, and at the
same time never missed the sacking
of wagon train or captured town.
On the march and in the camp,
they were scattered over the whole
country, while il fight drew them un-
erringfy to their places. Gallant as
men can be, they had about as much
camp discipline as Camanchees.
Ever ready tor service, and doing
anything cleerfully that was en-
joined them, Off of service they were
as independent as wood sawyerS,
and as restless and wild as GXpsies.
Our cavalry Of the West had more
service dism0unted than mounted,
but the Ranger could not be induced
by any persuasion to leave his horse,
and he would fight horseback in a
jungle. They all seemed born horse
men. The Centaur never formed a
being more a unit than the Ranger
and his steed. And though the rest
less beings were going night and
day, their horses never appeared i'll
a bad condition. They had the
finest animals in the service, and
rode them harder, longer and faster
than any other troopers. If they lost
their stock i'll battle, OF wore them
down on the march, they had a
knack of right away supplying the
loss, equaled by nothing earthly I'M
less a Bedouin Arab. Their fond
ness for aud attention to their steeds
was sleepless. Rations i'll plenty
they would have if they had to strag-
Gle a dozen leagues to find the nee
esSary corncrib, and if uartermas
ter documents wouldn't bring the
fodder it was q tough bolt and a
strong door that could keep them
out.
Away a thousand or more miles
from their State, and too far off fnl
| a reasonable furlough to take them
more than half way, they made THEN
camp their home, and hence it was
the Inevitable terminus Of THEN
wanderines.
The gayest, most debonnair, rol-
licking OF spirits, they seemed to
have cast off every restraint, and
reyelled in the most reckless of devil
try. Tie majority ef them educated
gentlemen, they were altogether
the sharpest, Widest, bravest an(
smartest set OF soldiers that the wal
afforded. They scattered their wit
ticisms and jokes broadcast. Fear
ing nobody, caring for nobody, the.
didn't hesitate to tackle any body IL
an encounter Of trenchaut humor, o
a volley of downright abuse. Spark
ling in that sort Of practical gibeS
that the war engendered, that foun'
subjects in the gr0teSqueries Of th
service, and lavished its sarcasn
and point on the follies and absul
dities Of the situation, they becam
/ feared alike for their cutting tongue
and dare devil audacitY. They wef
f the terror Of peaceable farmers an
: timid soldiers Their rIeasantrie
/ were mercfless, and their plundel
s ings ingenious, daring, and ofte
. comicai.
[ In a charge they were inimitablt
: Their dash was splendid. The
: rode over beiching cannon, sped upo
e STACKED infantry or crashed again.
e rushing horselnen ftr the sam
i reckless calm and invincible Dol,
g ness that they used in fora gins up
y smeh.
; Their appearance was unique an
L picturesque. Riding always wit
y long stirrBps and a sIngulally grac
4 ful, frm and easy seat in the saddl
m with peculiar immense broad bril-
II med hats, huge jingling spurs, wi
e. trowels Isoafiy as large as saucer
er with the strange and attractive sty
III of saddle known as Mexican, wi
slender, hardly visible hair bride
m and with buckslin garments, ara
st esquely embroidered and fringe
of they made up brigandiSh lOOki
h and bizarre style of warriors. I'll
a had too, that peculiar abandon
on manner, that generally grows trC
il the freedom and absence Of soc
aw restraint IN frontier life. Th
ITS savored of their free woods and W
il prairies Their feats of horsemt
Id ship were beyond the tame poSsib
IN, ty of our more conventional ridil
its They seemed more at home in t
OF saddle than on the ground.
to Jump off and Oh their horses at t
I a speed, to clamp their big rowels il
the cantle of the saddle, and gra
Ia ing their horses maine with {
i'd hand, throw the body over to
nd side and pick up a small object #
ia the ground alta racing gallon; V
se, a common thing.
lp- They we're inimitable fellows in
lth fight. We have frequently had
iu- regiment under ON. command, WI
mt. in charge Of brigade, anr. tn
ed. were no better troopers i'll the me
OF They neveE ilinched, a,ld recei
m and eyecutcd the grim order
The :" Charge" as if i was q posil
MS luxury.
10 General Wharton. rose from
III, taincy to be their Colonel, and
tIl t afterwards ranidly promoted sue
IL! slvely to Bri gadier and Maior-C
eral. He was fine type of IL
l9 dashlng Texans, eXemplitying 4
'.e best traits and peculiar cl.aPactt
"2'' tics. He mingled in a rare deg
my the glee aud playful enthusiasm
u'9 ,,. the boy, with the resolute eoul
'''i- and cool Judgment of the min.
was curious mixture of rrck
hardihood and conSumA!a9e caut
e,. The blending made the most ltS
be type of the cavalry soldier. Y
last the most headlong audacity, he
irn combined the coolest calculation
.old The writer was one day iii
the slone from Corinth TO his camp
sur- miles distant, early in 1868, v
+ IN three or four Texans came IA
the down the road at full speed. 81
T., Il, al,