The Texas Rangers, the Good and the Bad

By NORMAN ROZEFF, Special to the Star

While many Texas Anglos hold the Texas Rangers in high regard, those Hispanics, who know the history of the Rangers, it is another story. When the acclaimed Texas historian Walter Prescott Webb wrote Texas Rangers, A Century of Frontier Defense he placed the Rangers on a pedestal for all time.

When towards the end of his life criticism of the book’s omissions, he had second thoughts, but he died before he could revise his book. In a recent Wall Street Journal book review, Cult of Glory concerning the Rangers, writer Larry McMurtry is quoted: “the flaw in the book is a flaw of attitude, Webb admired the Rangers inordinately, and as a consequence the book mixes homage with history in a manner that one can only think sloppy.”

“Formed in 1823 (or 1835, depending on how you look at it), the Rangers are one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the country.” There is little doubt that in the 1840s the Rangers were effective in stopping the Indian deprecations of frontier forts and ranches. This was largely brought about by furnishing them six shooter revolvers.

Previously the Indians, mainly superb-riding Comanches, used quick-to-shoot bows and arrows while the Rangers had only single shot rifles that required reloading. The Comanches were largely concerned with raiding Mexico but were opportunistic if encountering largess in the new Republic of Texas.

Thanks to Texas Vice- President Lamar who had purchased the new Walker Colt repeating revolver for the Texas Navy, and later sent them to the nascent rangers, there would be a monumental change. In 1844 led by Jack Hay the Rangers encountered a large force of Comanches west of San Antonio and outshot a greater number than they were, resulting in the death of Comanche leader Yellow Wolf and the vindication of their new repeating revolvers.

Historian T. R. Fehrenbach aptly characterizes the Texas Rangers with this definition: “The Rangers were to be described many times, at first as state troops, later as a police force or constabulary. During most of the 19th century they were neither. They were apart from the regular army, the militia or national guard, and were never a true police force. They were instead one of the most colorful, efficient, and deadly band of irregular partisans on the side of law and order the world has seen. They were called into being by the needs of a war frontier, by a society that could not afford a regular army. Texans passed in and out of the Rangers regularly; in the early years a very high proportion of all west Texans served from time to time.”

In January 1858 that John Salmon “Rip” Ford was commissioned as senior captain in the Rangers. In December 1859, he and a contingent of Rangers were assigned to Brownsville following repeated aggressive actions by Juan N. Cortina. Acting with Major Samuel B. Heintzelman, together they defeated Cortina’s force at Rio Grande City. Cortina then fled into Mexico though his depredations in Texas were to continue.

In about 1883 began a curious episode of South Texas history. Catarino Erasmo Garza, then residing in Brownsville, began fomenting open opposition to the ruler of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz. After residing in several border cities, Garza, through his newspaper articles, took on the role as protector of “La Raza.”

Thoughts were that he might lead a revolution movement organized in Texas into Mexico. When sentiments of this nature persisted into 1890, it was James Wells (the political power in South Texas) who took it upon himself to reason with his ranchero friends to cool any warlike actions. In this he succeeded.

Garza was not through with his actions. On September 15, 1891 a band of about 60 men were said to have entered Mexico from Texas and engaged Mexican troops in battle. Once back on the American side, US troops were sent to apprehend them. They were unable to confront their elusive prey except for one brief skirmish at Retamal Springs. The revolutionary band soon evolved into a bandit hoard. Wells solicited Governor Hogg to create a secret Special Ranger force to wipe out these bandits.

It was made operational and succeeded in its goal. On December 10, 1892 an armed band crossed into Mexico at San Ygnacio, 53 miles below Laredo. They were met by Mexican force and overwhelmed. Thus ended the “Catarino Garza War.”

The number of South Texas Hispanics who died at the hands of the Rangers has long been one of speculation, one reason being their simple disappearance forever. Benjamin Heber Johnson in his definitive “Revolution in Texas” and chapter titled “Repression” suggests that “a number in the low thousands is probable”. Frank Cushman Pierce, a friend of Valley Hispanics, in his “Texas’ Last Frontier” published in 1917 offered this quote “Immediately following the Las Norias Raid, on August 8, 1915 … the Rangers began a systematic manhunt and killed 102 Mexicans, according to a verified list, It is claimed by citizens and army officers who saw many of the bodies, that at least 300 Mexicans were so killed.” Numerous “Special Rangers”, those in power appointed as such, may also have been responsible for unlawful incidents.

Perhaps the worst Ranger action occurred in January 1918. It is known as the Povenir Massacre and involved in the killing of innocent villagers by Texas Rangers, ranchmen, and a number of U. S. Cavalrymen. At least 15 men were killed.

The regional Hispanics used the pejorative term “rinches” when referring to the Rangers. It is an “offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people”. It could mean pigs or even rabid dogs or worse.

Another documented incident occurred in the Valley. In October 1915 following the nightime derailment, three miles south of Olmito, of the train coming to Brownsville. The locomotive engineer was killed due to the incident and a soldier in civilian clothes was murdered by the bandits who boarded the remaining upright passenger cars, along with a doctor who died of his wounds the next day. Rangers then took into custody a number of Hispanics living close to the nearby Tandy Ranch. They were then summarily hung. Later deputies traced the offending bandits from numerous discarded passenger items to the river which they crossed into Mexico. The innocent farm hands had been hastily executed without due process.

“In January 1919, Texas State Representative José Tomás Canales of Brownsville filed 19 charges against the Texas Rangers for misconduct. He submitted a bill before the Texas Legislature demanding an investigation and reorganization of the Rangers. These charges based on years of illegal incursions into Mexico and the deaths of Mexicans and Tejanos by various Texas Rangers.” Canales’ life was threatened after doing so. He bravely stood his ground. While his action didn’t immediately bring results, the Rangers would later be reorganized and then they worked to restore a good reputation.

[For readers who wish to read the original hearing (in a pdf format) in the state legislature go to this link: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/arc/onlinecollections ]

On October 14, 2017 a somber but celebratory gathering took place along Expressway 77/83 south of San Benito. The attendees were there to recognize the unveiling of a Texas Historical Commission marker. It had been awarded without cost to Cameron County as part of the THC’s Undertold Stories award, given annually to a limited number of Texas counties “to address historical gaps, promote diversity of topics, and proactively document significant underrepresented subjects or untold stories.”

The subject of the marker was The Matanza of 1915. Matanza is Spanish for massacre.