San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-11-09
TIRRY'S TEXAS RANGERS.
A B,iJ OF Crsiy That Became Famous :" the
Iair MaT.

Late War.
h. F. Terry, native OF Todd county
Ky., but Texan by long residence
lett his sugar and cotton plantation
on the Brazos, AT the first drpm-beal
Of the war. and, as volunteer stat
officer, won his spurs in the battle
Of Bull Run. He was mentioned III
general orders for his intrepldlty ana
sur, rising exploits in that action. 1t
was said of him that he captured a
number of groups of infantry men by
his audacity, bouncing down upon
them as he did with his bridal relns
il his teeth and six-shooter cracking
from either hand. President Davis
commissioned him Oh the spot to re.
turn TO Texas and raise regiment OF
bis own liking, TO fight his own way.
The flower of the State rushed to him
in response to his call. i'll Numbers
more than wanted, self-eqmpped-
each man with two "navy-siX" pistols,a
bowie and a double barrel shotgun,
and everything ready for action, from
spurs to the larat tethered to the
horn OF the saddle. Such was the
arior for the position of high private
III this command, embracing eX-Gov-
ernor Mobiles son, a son and nephew
OF Sam Houston, ,Iaj. Thornton and
J. 4. Mckenzie present member OF
congress from the Second district OF
Kentucky, that the cry as made by
Texas Unionists of "a rich mans war
and poor mans fight" was quickly
silenced. and, al i'll all, from Flag
bearer Jones, with 10000 acres OF
land NJ his back, to Elan, who had
fourteen of his own horses shot under
him, there was makeup about the
regiment exceptional and strong.
TLer were sworn in at Houston, Tex
IS, not for 80 days or other limited
period, as troops were then being re-
ceiyed, but for the war, as they IN
sisted the oath should be administered.
How well they kept that oath, let facts
attest. They were ITO strong,
rank and file when organized. The
muster rolls show that they lost in
Killed and wounded and by deaths
from sickness, 625 men, besides 100
for disease. Twenty-three
were transferred to other commands
under act of the Confederate congress.
Fortv-six are reported missing; two,
only two, as having deserted. The
total survivors at the end of the war,
recruits received from time
to time, were 248 men. War-worn
to this fragment they were averse to
the surrender in North Carolina, par
ticuIarly after the first terms agreed
upon had been openly disregarded, land
obtained permission from Wheeler to
cut their way out and go to Kirby
Smith in the trans-ALississippi depart
meut. He advised them Of the diff
eulties in the way, and counseled
against the undertaking, but finally
Welded his authority longer to hold
them. and, after shaking hands, with
many tear trembling III eyes unused
to tears, the general and rangers part
ed. They succeeded i'll getting out
Of tie tactical Enclosure, rs the whole
rmy might have done, but Forrest
surrendered before they reached him
in Georgia, and the surrender Of Kirby |
Smith soon followed, and the Confed |
eracv was no more. The color bearer
snatched of. what remained of the
buIlet-1iddled flag, and folding it up
in saddest silence, its history closed,
the regiment disbanded, and after
nearly four years, its remaining he
roes. submissive but unvanquiShed, !
to their sunny homes between
the Sabine and Rio Grande.
OF the eight commanders from first |
to last, Terry was killed on the field (
in tie first engagement, Lubbock died, /
Wharton was several times wounded .
and promoted TO major general, Har /
risCl was wounded 4 number OF times .
and promoted to bligadier general, |
Terrell was wounded and died, Walker /
was wounded and died, Evans, splen- /
did Evans, was killed at Peryville, .
and Gustave Cook, the last colonel, .
with tie scars Of Shiloh, Griswoldville /
and Harrington on his person, fell |
severely wounded Al Bentonville.-I
.t,it 2. HayraUt.