San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-12
HISTORICAL.
BIRTH AND AGE OF THE TEXAS
MILITIA.
When Organized-The Strength and
Achievements of the Com
panies.

panies.
The First Annual State Encamp-
ment of the Texas Volunteer Guards,
which has been in blast the last few
days, is attended by almost every
militia company in the state. A brief,
concise history of each of the compa-
MES in attendance will be of the
greatest interest to everyone.
The Dewitt Volunteers were organ
lied at Cuero in the early part of 1888.
Their present membership is forty
five, most of whom have never gone
through an encampment before.
The Hillsboro Guards were organ
lied January 1888. Their present
mem bership is forty-eight men, who
are under the command of Captain A.
Aaron. This is their first encamp-
ment.
The Maverick Rifles were organized
at San Antonio, June l 1888, with SO
men. Their first captain was Chas.
Tobin. He was succeeded by Chas.
Leonard, and the latter was succeed
ed by the present captain, Geo. r..
Hines. The company went to the
Galveston drill with q men, in 1889,
and captured the third maiden and
third state prizes.
The Sayers Rifles, company of
forty men, were organized March,
1889 at Bastrop. They attended the
Galveston encampment, were once
called out to guard the Bastrop Jail,
The captain is R. l.. Bats.
The Dilley Rifles, who have one of
the largest companies in camp, were
organized June, 1889 in Palestine.
They have q mem bership of rs men,
and are under command of Capt. W..
Z. Williams. Although this is the
first encampment that they have at
tended, they have been called out
to guard the jail at Palestine.
The Red River Rifles, of Clarkes-
vile, numbering some sixty men,
were organized October Sth, 1889.
Their captain was Chas. Thompson,
but the commander of the company
here in camp is lst Lieut.. B. p.
Lewis. This is their first encamp-
ment.
The Capital City cavalry, of Austin,
was organized In September, 1887.
They have AZ men enrolled and AZ
horses, each member owning, using
and taking care of his own horse.
They have never been called out for
service, and have attended but one
encampment.
The Victoria Rifles, organized April
18th, 1887. The membership rms up
into the forties. Capt j. l.. Shepard
is in command Of them. They have
attended two encampments, taken
two prizes, and have been called out
on two occasions.
The Brownsville Rifles were organ
lied February, 1889, ana attended the
Galveston drill the same year. They
made the trip on a schooner which
singularly proved to carry % soldiers,
% turtles and % tons of bones. They
have 40 men with j. f. Cummings as
Captain.
The Clarity Rifles, of sCorsicana,
were organized in June of 1889. J. F.
Rhea, who is their captain, commands
forty men. They have never attend
ed an encampmentO or have never been
called out
The Fannin Guards, of Bonham, are
the youngest company In the state.
They were organized in 1887 and re-
organized October 1889. Their cap
tain Is John L. Sparger and their
mem bership is 45. They have at
tended the Austin and Sherman en-
campments.
The Ell Paso Light Infantry, another
new company, was organized Jul y Is,
1889. Their enrolled men number SO,
and are under the command of Capt.
A. G. Sterne.
The Llano Light Infantry were
organized July Is, 1889. This is their
first encampment. The company con-
sists of AZ men under Capt. Fred Opp.
Perhaps one of the oldest companies
is the Washington Guards of Calves
ton. They were organized in Febru-
airy, 1871, with ITO men and j. Won
Horton as captain. They have
attended every encampment within,
and q few outside of the state.
In 1874, they were called
out to protect the Jail at Indianola,
and were called out several times
since at Galveston. Their present
membership is IS, and J. B. Aguilo is
captain of the company.
The Lee Guards, of Giddings, have
been in existence ever since June,
1886. Their captain, n. A. Rector,
has AZ men under his command. The
encampments that these boys have
attended were at Houston, Austin
and Galveston. At the second place
they took first maiden prize and at
Galveston, the sixth state.
Bryan Light Infantry were organ
lied January, 1889, under Capt. 7. B.
4 1. Ia m