Texian Militia

The Texian Militia was the militia forces of Texian colonists in the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas from 1823 to 1835 and the inaugurate force of the Texas Military.[1] It was established by Stephen F. Austin on August 5, 1823 for defense of the Old Three Hundred colonists against the Karankawa, Comanche, and Cherokee tribes; among others.[2] Its most notable unit, the Texas Rangers, remained in continuous service of Texas Military Forces until 1935.

Texian Militia
Active5 Aug 1823 – 2 Oct 1835
AllegianceFirst Mexican Empire, 1823
Provisional Government, 1823–1824
First Mexican Republic, 1824–1835
Texian Government, 1835
TypeMilitia
RoleDesert warfare
Force protection
Guerrilla warfare
Raiding
Reconnaissance
Screening
Skirmishers
Tracking
Size~300 at peak
Part of
EngagementsGuerilla Conflicts

Insurrection

Texas Revolution

Commanders
Notable
commanders

The Texian Militia sparked the Texas Revolution at the Battle of Velasco and became legendary at the Battle of Gonzales (the "Lexington of Texas") which marked its transition to the Texian Army and Texian Navy. Their legend continued at the Battle of the Alamo as the only relief force to answer the To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World letter. The Texian Militia comprised 22% of the Texian Army service members who fought until the Battle of San Jacinto, helping the Texian Government win independence from the Centralist Republic of Mexico on May 14, 1836 at the Treaties of Velasco.[3]

Authority

The Texian Militia was first authorized on February 18, 1823 by Agustín de Iturbide of the First Mexican Empire who ordered the Empresario Stephen F. Austin to "organize the colonists into a body of militia to preserve tranquility."[1] On August 5, 1823 Austin officially established the Texian Militia:[4][2]

"Since the commencement of this Colony no labor or expense has been spared on my part towards its organization, benefit and security—And I shall always be ready and willing to risk my health, my property or my life for the common advantage of those who have embarked with me in this enterprise. As proof of the reality of this declaration I have determined to augment at my own private expense the company of men which was raised by order of the late Governor José Félix Trespalacios for the defense of the Colony against hostile Indians. I therefore by these presents give public notice that I will employ ten men in addition to those employed by the Government to act as rangers for the common defense. The said ten men will form a part of Lieut. Moses Morrison’s Company and the whole will be subject to my orders. The wages I will give the said ten men is fifteen Dollars a month payable in property, they finding [it] themselves. Those who wish to be employed will apply without delay. Stephen F. Austin 5 August 1823."

Stephen F. Austin

5 August 1823

In 1823, the First Mexican Empire transitioned to the Provisional Government of Mexico which established the First Mexican Republic in 1824. In 1828, the Coahuila y Tejas Legislature order colonists to "form a militia to defend themselves".[1]

Units
See also: Texas Military Forces

Notable engagements
See also: List of conflicts involving the Texas Military
Date Combatant(s) Conflict Type Unit Commander Casualties Outcome Reference
1823 Coco (Karankawa) Skull Creek Massacre Guerilla Mina (Colorado) Robert H. Kuykendall 0 Victory/atrocity [5]
1824 Coco (Karankawa) Battle of Jones Creek Guerilla Randal Jones Unknown Inconclusive [6][7]
1826 Coco (Karankawa) Dressing Point massacre Guerilla Aylett C. Buckner 0 Victory/atrocity [8]
1826 Haden Edwards,

Benjamin Edwards

Martin Parmer

 Fredonian Rebellion Insurrection Mateo Ahumada,

Juan Antonio SaucedoStephen Austin

 0 Victory [9][10]
1832 Juan Bradburn Battle of Anahuac Insurrection Frank W. Johnson 1 KIA Victory [11]
1832 Domingo Ugartechea Battle of Velasco Insurrection John Austin Victory [12]
1832 José de las Piedras

Francisco Medina

 Battle of Nacogdoches Insurrection James Bowie

James W. Bullock

 4 KIA,

3 WIA

 Victory [13]
1835 Antonio Tenorio Anahuac 1835 Insurrection William B. Travis 0 Victory [11]
1835 Francisco de Castañeda Battle of Gozales Revolution John H. Moore 0 Victory [14][15]
1836 Santa Anna Siege of the Alamo Relief force Immortal 32 George C. Kimble 32 KIA Loss [16]

Legacy
Main articles: Texas Military Forces and List of conflicts involving the Texas Military
"The Settlement of Austin's Colony" by Henry Arthur McArdle, 1879. Commanding Officer Stephen F. Austin portrayed establishing the Texian Militia in 1824 for defense against the Karankawa tribe.[17]

Since 1823, the Texian Militia has undergone many re-designations and reorganizations in the Texas Military Forces:

Following the Militia Act of 1903, the Texas Militia was divided into separate forces:[20]

  1. The Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard, subject to Title 32 and Title 10 of the United States Code which legally empowers the United States government to mobilize it when more resources are needed than available in the United States Armed Forces for war, national emergency, or national security.
  2. The Texas State Guard, only subject to Title 32 of the United States Code which legally empowers individual states to maintain military forces.

Since 1903, the Texas National Guard designation has remained the same while the Texas State Guard has been designated as the:

See also

References
  1. Weber, David J. (1982). The Mexican Frontier, 1821–1846: The American Southwest Under Mexico (Histories of the American Frontier Series). University of New Mexico Press. ISBN 978-0826306036.
  2. Cox, Mike (2008). The Texas Rangers: Wearing the Cinco Peso, 1821–1900. Tom Doherty Associates. ISBN 978-1429941426.
  3. Lack, Paul D. (1992). The Texas Revolutionary Experience: A Political and Social History, 1835–1836. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-0890964972.
  4. "A Guide to the Eugene Campbell Barker Papers, 1785, 1812–1959". Briscoe Center for America History.
  5. Largent, F. B. "SKULL CREEK". TSHA.
  6. Weir, Merle. "JONES CREEK, BATTLE OF". TSHA.
  7. "JONES, RANDAL". TSHA.
  8. "BUCKNER, AYLETT C." TSHA.
  9. McDonald, Archie P. "FREDONIAN REBELLION". TSHA.
  10. Austin, Stephen F. (January 22, 1827). "Military Address to the Inhabitants of the Colony". Texas State Library.
  11. Henson, Margaret Swett. "ANAHUAC DISTURBANCES". TSHA.
  12. "VELASCO, BATTLE OF". TSHA.
  13. McDonald, Archie P. "NACOGDOCHES, BATTLE OF". TSHA.
  14. "MOORE, JOHN HENRY". TSHA.
  15. Hardin, Stephen L. "GONZALES, BATTLE OF". TSHA.
  16. Groneman, Bill. "KIMBELL, GEORGE C." TSHA.
  17. "The Settlement of Austin's Colony". Library of Congress.
  18. "Texas Adjutant General's Department: An Inventory of Republic of Texas Military Rolls at the Texas State Archives, 1835–1846". Texas State Library.
  19. "Texas Adjutant General's Department: An Inventory of Adjutant General's Department Texas Volunteer Guard Military Rolls, 1880–1903". Texas State Archives.
  20. Olson, Bruce A. "TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD". TSHA.
  21. "Texas Adjutant General's Department: An Inventory of Texas National Guard Military Rolls 1902–1913, 1915, 1917, 1935, undated". Texas State Archives.
  22. Stentiford, Barry M. (2002). The American Home Guard: The State Militia in the Twentieth Century. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-1585441815.
  23. "Texas Adjutant General's Department: An Inventory of Texas National Guard Records 1902–1931, 1939, 1941–1945, 1950, undated (bulk 1903–1911)". Texas State Archives.
  24. "Texas Adjutant General's Department: An Inventory of Texas State Guard/Texas Defense Guard/Texas State Guard Reserve Corps Records 1938–1983, undated (bulk 1941–1945)". Texas State Archives.
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