Terry ' s Texas Rangers The 8th Texas Cavalry , ( 1861 – 1865 ) , popularly known as Terry ' s Texas Rangers , was a group of Texas volunteers for the Confederate States Army assembled by Colonel Benjamin Franklin Terry in August 1861 . Though lesser known than The Texas Brigade , famous for their actions during the Battle of Gettysburg , the " Terry Rangers " distinguished themselves at several battles during the Civil War . In four years Terry ' s Texas Rangers fought in some 275 engagements in seven states . The unit earned a reputation that ranked it among the most effective mounted regiments in the Western Theater of the American Civil War . Organization , loss of commanders . Following the secession of Texas with the rest of the Confederacy , Benjamin Franklin Terry , a wealthy sugar planter , recruited for and organized the Rangers in Houston , Texas , in August , 1861 . Initially bound for service in Virginia and the " eastern theater " , the regiment instead was placed under the command of Confederate General Albert Sydney Johnston for service in the " western theater " . They immediately saw action , with their first skirmish being on December 17 , 1861 , near Woodsonville , Kentucky , when they engaged Union forces while being supported by the 6th Arkansas Infantry . The skirmish , while minor , cost them Colonel Terry , who was killed in action . Colonel Terry was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Lubbock , who received a promotion to colonel . However , Col . Lubbock died from disease before ever actually taking command . John Austin Wharton then received a promotion to colonel , and assumed command . He would hold that position until he was promoted , eventually rising to the rank of Major General . After his first promotion he would be replaced by Col . Thomas Harrison . Major battles , shock troops . By now a part of the Army of Tennessee under General Braxton Bragg , their riding abilities and the versatile weapons they chose to use led to the cavalry regiment often being used as shock troops . Their first full scale battle was at the Battle of Shiloh , in which they performed well . They would then support the cavalry of Nathan Bedford Forrest during the Battle of Murfreesboro . At the Battle of Fort Pillow , the Texas Rangers were credited by Union survivors with refusing to participate in the massacre and with saving prisoners ' lives . Between engagements they were sent behind enemy lines to harass Union forces , and break down communication lines . They would later fight during all three of the Battles of Chattanooga , the Battle of Chickamauga , the Knoxville Campaign , and the Atlanta Campaign . Their abilities in harassing enemy forces were utilized often during the Confederate defense against Sherman ' s March . By July , 1864 , Sherman ' s army had reached Atlanta . On July 30 , " Terry ' s Texas Rangers " met a force commanded by Union Col . E . M . McCook , which they engaged and defeated . They then concentrated on destroying railways , however the Union forces had a sophisticated repair system and the damage done by the " Rangers " had little effect . Following the loss of Atlanta , the cavalry regiment was used to harass the flanks of Sherman ' s force , but it had become obvious to all by this time that the Confederacy did not have the means to stop his advance . Their last battle was at the Battle of Bentonville , where they made their last charge , and during which they lost three of their officers , Colonel Cook , Lt . Col . Christian , and Major Jarmon . They surrendered on April 26 , 1865 , with the rest of the Army of Tennessee .