Texian_Militia
Texian Militia
1823–1835 militia of American colonists in Mexican Texas
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 | |
|---|---|
| Active | 5 Aug 1823 – 2 Oct 1835 |
| Allegiance | First Mexican Empire, 1823 Provisional Government, 1823–1824 First Mexican Republic, 1824–1835 Texian Government, 1835 |
| Type | Militia |
| Role | Desert warfare Force protection Guerrilla warfare Raiding Reconnaissance Screening Skirmishers Tracking |
| Size | ~300 at peak |
| Part of |
|
| Engagements | Guerilla 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]
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]
- Bexar
- Goliad
- Rangers
- San Felipe
Since 1823, the Texian Militia has undergone many re-designations and reorganizations in the Texas Military Forces:
- Texian Militia, 1823–1835 (Colonist era), 1835–1836 (Texas Revolution)
- Texas Militia, 1836–1845 (Republic era), 1845–1861 (Frontier era)[18]
- Texas Home Guard/State Troops, 1861–65 (American Civil War)[19]
- Texas Volunteer Guard, 1871–1904 (Reconstruction era)[19]
Following the Militia Act of 1903, the Texas Militia was divided into separate forces:[20]
- 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.
- 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:
- Texas Reserve Militia, 1905–1913[21]
- Texas Home Guard, 1914–1918 (World War I)[22]
- Texas Reserve Militia, 1919–1940[23]
- Texas Defense/State Guard, 1941–45 (World War II)[23]
- Texas State Guard Reserve Corps, 1945–1965[24]
- Texas State Guard, 1965–present[24]
- 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.
- Cox, Mike (2008). The Texas Rangers: Wearing the Cinco Peso, 1821–1900. Tom Doherty Associates. ISBN 978-1429941426.
- Lack, Paul D. (1992). The Texas Revolutionary Experience: A Political and Social History, 1835–1836. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-0890964972.
- "A Guide to the Eugene Campbell Barker Papers, 1785, 1812–1959". Briscoe Center for America History.
- Largent, F. B. "SKULL CREEK". TSHA.
- Weir, Merle. "JONES CREEK, BATTLE OF". TSHA.
- "JONES, RANDAL". TSHA.
- "BUCKNER, AYLETT C." TSHA.
- McDonald, Archie P. "FREDONIAN REBELLION". TSHA.
- Austin, Stephen F. (January 22, 1827). "Military Address to the Inhabitants of the Colony". Texas State Library.
- Henson, Margaret Swett. "ANAHUAC DISTURBANCES". TSHA.
- "VELASCO, BATTLE OF". TSHA.
- McDonald, Archie P. "NACOGDOCHES, BATTLE OF". TSHA.
- "MOORE, JOHN HENRY". TSHA.
- Hardin, Stephen L. "GONZALES, BATTLE OF". TSHA.
- Groneman, Bill. "KIMBELL, GEORGE C." TSHA.
- "The Settlement of Austin's Colony". Library of Congress.
- Olson, Bruce A. "TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD". TSHA.
- Stentiford, Barry M. (2002). The American Home Guard: The State Militia in the Twentieth Century. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-1585441815.