The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 9, July 1905 - April, 1906 Page: 234
ix, 294 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
234
Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
least five thousand auxiliary volunteers, in addition to the local
volunteers."'
Just as the auxiliary corps was in a great measure due to the
influence of Fannin, so the creation of a cavalry force seems to
have received its first impulse from Travis. On December 3 he
wrote to Governor Smith, saying that a member of the council had
asked him for his views on the organization of the army. He un-
hesitatingly approved the recommendations of Fannin on the sub-
ject of the regular army, he said, and, therefore, confined himself
to a consideration of the volunteers. Among these he thought that
provision should by all means be made for a battalion of cavalry,
commanded by a lieutenant colonel, "subject alone to the orders
of the commander-in-chief for the time being." They ought to be
armed with broadswords, pistols, and double-barrelled shotguns or
yagers, and should be enlisted for twelve months-unless the war
terminated sooner,-"subject to regular discipline & the rules &
articles of war," for, he concluded, "a mob can do wonders in a
sudden burst of patriotism or passion, but can not be depended on
as soldiers for a campaign."2 This letter was passed to the mili-
tary committee on the 4th, and on the 16th Mr. Hanks, the chair-
man, brought in a bill embodying Travis's recommendation. Gen-
eral Austin and General Houston both concurred, he said, in the
belief that cavalry was necessary. The strength of the force was
fixed at 384 mien, rank and file, divided into six companies, and
Travis's suggestion as to arms was so modified that, while all of
them had broadswords and, pistols, one-half of them had in addition
double-barrelled shotguns and the other half yagers. They were
to receive the same pay as cavalry in the service of the United
States and a bounty of 640 acres of land. It is somewhat interest-
ing to note that this was the only force for which the council
prescribed, or, indeed, even mentioned a uniform. It was to be
"'a suit of cadet grey cloth coats, [with] yellow bullet buttons,
and pantaloons for winter, and two suits of gray cottonade round-
abouts and pantaloons for summer, and fur caps, black cloth stocks
and cowhide boots." Travis, who had declined a previous appoint-
1Proceedings of the General Council, 105, 106, 107, 118; Ordinances and
Decrees, 47-50, 85.
'Travis to Smith, December 3, 1835, archives of Texas, D, file 18, No.
1757.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 9, July 1905 - April, 1906, periodical, 1906; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101036/m1/238/: accessed March 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.