Because of their fighting ferocity, they were known by the Mexican Army as the "Diablos" - the Devils. A private of the 1st U.S. Dragoons described the long haired bearded men in "buckskin shirts, black with grease and blood…" Author Frederick Wilkins called them the "Irregular Irregulars." They are icons of Texas history and folklore and one of the more colorful fighting men in American military history. They were the Texas Rangers.
In the 1830s, the Rangers learned the Indian skills of direction finding, horsemanship, and woodcraft. They were also great marksmen. After Texas gained its independence in 1836, Texas needed a fighting force that would be small and inexpensive, available when needed, but inactive when not needed. The Texas Rangers, with no uniforms, or regular pay, and with their own horses, met these requirements. They wore sombreros or hats with large brims which looked cumbersome, but protected them from the sun. They had chaps of leather and long boots for protection against the mesquite thorns and cactus.The Texas Rangers were especially notorious for arming themselves to the teeth with an assortment of pistols, knives, and revolvers tucked into boots, belts, and shirts. The Rangers carried the Colt revolver into battle for the first time during the Mexican War.
During the Mexican War, they were designated as the 1st Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles. The Rangers performed a valuable service as scouts and guerrilla fighters with the American armies in Mexico. Reluctant to take prisoners, the Rangers usually shot Mexicans who could not account for their presence. Innocent people died but the number of Mexican guerilla operations decreased. These random killings appalled General Taylor who referred to the Rangers as a "lawless set."
At the Battle of Monterrey, seven companies of Texas Rangers successfully stormed two heavily fortified hills protecting the city of Monterrey, Federation Hill and Independence Hill. The Mexicans were routed from their fortifications. Two days later, the 3rd and 4th U.S. Infantry Regiments entered Monterrey after being instructed on the tactics of city fighting by the Texas Rangers.
One noted Ranger summarized their qualities in these words: "The Texas Rangers can ride like a Mexican, trail like an Indian, shoot like a Tennessean, and fight like the very devil." |
