The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 223

Texas Bounty Land Grants, z835-1888

officers, and empty ranks. Independence was won by volunteers who
came and went largely at their own pleasure, but who were present
in sufficient numbers at San Jacinto."
The various acts, decrees and laws granting bounty lands to men
who would serve in the Texas army made a distinction between
those who joined the regular army and those who went into the
Auxiliary Volunteer Corps.
The act of November 24, 1835, provided that each regular
army non-commissioned officer and private, or his heirs, legal
representative, or assignees, would receive one square mile or
640 acres of land upon being honorably discharged. On Decem-
ber 14 this amount of land was increased by 16o acres making
a total of 800o acres promised to members of the regular army.10
Bounty lands for the "permanent volunteers" or those who
enlisted "for and during the war," were provided for in an act
passed by the council on December 5, 1835. This act promised
the "permanent volunteers" a bounty of 640 acres if they con-
tinued in the service for the duration of the war or were dis-
charged sooner by reason of disability. In the event of a soldier's
death before the war ended, his heirs or legal representatives
would receive the bounty land."1
At first no bounty land was offered to those who volunteered
for less than the duration, but bounty policy was soon expanded.
As early as November 9, 1835, the Consultation had voted to
pay volunteers $2o per month and had adopted an amendment
by R. R. Royall which added that the soldiers "shall receive such
other donations of land as this government shall vote them for
their patriotism."'12 The act of December 5, 1835, offered a bounty
of 32o acres to those who volunteered for three months,3 and on
December 11, 1835, the council authorized a bounty of 640
acres to the heirs of any volunter who was killed in battle or
died as a result of any accident or sickness while in the service.4
8Ralph W. Steen, "Analysis of the Work of the General Council, Provisional
Government of Texas, 1885-1836," Southwestern Historical Quarterly, XLI, 324.
9Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 926.
lolbid., 991.
11Ibid., 952-953.
12Ibid., 528.
1'Ibid., 952-953.
141bid., 982-983.

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