HEADQUARTERS STATE OF TEXAS, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, AUSTIN, TEXAS, August 3, 1870. GENERAL ORDERS ) No. 3 ) I. AN ACT.
TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE FRONTIER.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the Governor of the State be and is hereby authorized to raise and muster into the service of the State, for the protection of the northern and western frontier, twenty companies of Texas Rangers, to be raised as hereinafter prescribed, and to consist of one captain, one lieutenant, one medical officer, three sergeants, four corporals, one bugler, one farrier, and fifty privates each, entitled to pay as follows, to wit: The captains and medical officers to receive one hundred dollars per month, lieutenants eighty dollars per month, sergeants fifty-four dollars per month, corporals and farriers fifty-two dollars per month, and privates and buglers fifty dollars per month; and the pay herein provided shall be full compensation in lieu of all other pay and commutation for clothing for both officers and men. SEC. 2. That the requisite number of men for said company shall be raised, if possible, in the frontier counties of the State. SEC. 3. That the Governor is required, immediately after the passage of this act, to appoint competent persons as captains of companies, to enroll, as set forth in this act, the requisite number of men for the companies, and when as many as fifty men shall have been enrolled for any one company, said company shall proceed to organize by holding an election for lieutenant, after which the captain so previously appointed shall return the muster-roll, together with a full report of the condition of the company, to the Governor, who shall thereupon commission the officers of said company, supply said company as under the provisions of this act he may deem proper and necessary, and order them upon duty in accordance with the provisions of this act. SEC. 4. Said men shall be furnished by the State with the most effective and approved breach-loading cavalry arms, and for this purpose the Governor is hereby authorized, on the passage of this act, to contract, in behalf of the State, for fifteen hundred stands of arms, together with a full supply of ammunition; each company, on its organization, to be supplied with its full quota of arms and ammunition. The same so furnished to be all of the same make and calibre, and each member of the company to be furnished with the arm to be used by him, at the price the same shall cost the State, which sum shall be retained out of the first moneys due him. SEC. 5 That each member of said company shall be required to furnish himself with a suitable horse, six-shooting pistol (army size), and all necessary accoutrements and camp equipage, the same to be passed upon and approved by the enrolling officer before enlistment; and should such member at any time fail to keep himself furnished as required above, then the officer in command shall be authorized and required to purchase the articles of which he may be deficient, and charge the cost of the same to the person for whom the same shall be provided; provided, that all horse killed in action shall be replaced at the cost of the State; and the cost of horses so killed in action shall be determined by a board of officers to be composed of the captain, lieutenant and medical officer of the company to which such animals belong. SEC. 6. That said officers and men shall be furnished, at the expense of the State, with provisions and ammunitions, and forage for horses when practicable. SEC 7. That the men shall be enrolled for the term of twelve months, unless sooner discharged, and at the expiration of their term of service others shall be enrolled to supply their places, in case the Governor deem such action necessary for the protection of the frontier. SEC. 8. That no enlisted man shall be discharged from the service without special order from the Governor, nor shall any member of said company dispose of or exchange their horses or arms without the consent of the commanding officer of the company while in the service of the State. SEC. 9. That the Governor of the State shall be required to divide into convenient districts the several frontier counties of the State, and that all officers shall take rank, when acting together, according to seniority and date of commission. SEC. 10. That the commanders of companies, when acting independently, shall use their own judgment and discretion as to the manner of their operations, selecting as their base the most unprotected and exposed settlements within their respective districts, and shall keep up weekly communication at least. SEC. 11. That the troops raised under and by virtue of this act shall be governed by the rules and regulations of the army of the United States, so far as the same may be applicable, but shall always be and remain subject to the authority of the State of Texas for frontier service. SEC. 12. That the Governor shall designate the ranking officer of each district, who shall be the senior officer of said district, and in order to secure the effective co-operation of the several companies, said officer shall be given a general supervising authority over the companies of his district, and shall have authority when, in his opinion, the public defense shall require it, to concentrate the whole or any portion of the force within his district for the purpose of following and chastising any marauding bands of hostile Indians, or for the purpose of carrying out any other measures that may contribute to the better security of the frontier; said several companies to be as thoroughly subject to the authority of said senior officer in said district (when such officer deems proper to exercise such general authority) as they would have been under a regular battalion organization. SEC. 13. That the entire force raised under the provisions of this act shall be at all times under and subject to the orders of the Governor, and shall be exempt from all militia or other service, and that the Governor shall direct all the arrangements necessary to carry out the intentions of this act, with full power to remove any officer or agent for incompetency, neglect of duty, or disobedience of orders. SEC. 14. That the Governor, in case he deems it necessary at any time to make a campaign against the Indians, may nominate the command of the whole or any part of said forces, without regard to previous ranks or date of commission; he may also assign any officers to any special duty or service; may convene court martial for the trial of officers and men, all findings whereof shall be approved by him before being carried into effect. SEC. 15. That the Governor shall appoint a paymaster, whose duty it shall be to draw from the proper authorities the necessary funds for the purchase of supplies and for the payment of officers and men, and to disburse the same; payment to be made to officers and men at least once in three months; said officer to rank as captain, and to receive as pay one hundred and forty dollars per month. Said officer shall also give good and sufficient bond to the Governor for the faithful discharge of his duties. SEC. 16. That the Governor shall be authorized to appoint a special agent or agents, who shall give bond and security for the faithful discharge of their duties; which said agents shall be authorized to purchase all necessary pack mules to be furnished each company for transportation purposes; to purchase all necessary supplies, to be delivered by contractors at the place designated by the commanding officers of companies; and all accounts and certificates of such agents shall be examined and allowed by commanding officers of companies before the same become binding as a claim against the State. SEC. 17. That the Governor shall have power to disband said companies, or any portion thereof, when, in his opinion, their services shall no longer be necessary for frontier protection. SEC.18. That the present Legislature shall make all necessary appropriations to enable the Executive to carry out the provisions of this act. SEC. 19. That no portion of said troops shall become a charge against the State until organized and placed under orders. SEC. 20. That this act take effect and be in force from and after it passage.
II. The following appointments are hereby made to frontier companies:
TO BE CAPTAINS.
Franklin Jones Company A. A.H. Cox Company B. John W. Sansom Company C. John R. Kelso Company D. H.J. Richarz Company E. D.P. Baker Company F. Cesario Falcon Company G. J.J. Richardson Company H. J.M. Hunter Company L. Jacob Harrel Company K. Henry R. Von Bieberstein Company L. H.H. Ribble Company M. Gregoria Garcia Company N. Peter Kleid Company O. James M. Swisher Company P.
TO BE CAPTAINS.
Kleber Jones. J.H. McMahon, G.H. Oliver, James Odiome, A. White, G.J. McFarland, James C. Nowlin, Edward F. Norman, M.S. Stahl, By command of the Governor and Commander-in Chief: (Signed) JAMES DAVIDSON Adjutant General State of Texas.
Adjutant General Ranger Records Box 401-1156-15 Archives Division - Texas State Library