Heritage, 2007, Volume 3 Page: 6
31 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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By Kelly A. Rushing
Who is your favorite character in Texas
history? There are many choices. Recently,
I was asked that question and after some
thought, I answered, "John Coffee Hays."
Captain Jack Hays was the right man at the
right time as much as anyone in our state's
storied history. One thing that distinguishes
Hays from other well-known Texas characters
is that no one had a bad word to say
about him, except perhaps the people he
was trying to kill. Volumes could be written
on the harsh criticisms and sometimes
uttered hatred that some had for men like
Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, and William
Travis. Jack Hays might be compared to Jim
Bowie in terms of courage and determination,
but Hays also had the moral character
and humble nature that commanded respect
off the battlefield-something that Bowie
often lacked. Author T.R. Fehrenbach says
of Hays, "For almost a century, every Texas
Ranger wanted to be like Jack Hays"-a
monumental epitaph for a man who ended
his service at the age of 34. He was an exceptional
Texas hero except for one character
flaw.
Like so many early Texans, Hays came
here from Tennessee; his parents died of
yellow fever when he was 15. Relatives took
him in, but young Jack quickly learned the
surveyor's trade and after two years earned
enough money to pay for a year's schooling
at Davidson Academy. Soon after, Hays left
for Texas, having been attracted after hearing
of the heroic stand at the Alamo.
In Texas he resumed his surveying activities
and enlisted in the Texas Rangers, led at
that time by the famous scout Deaf Smith.
Hays quickly established himself as an especially
capable Ranger due to his shootingskills, his remarkable bravery, and his ability
to anticipate the Comanche's next move.
In this last endeavor, Hays was aided greatly
by his friend Lipan Apache Chief Flaco who
had a special dislike for the Comanches and
who was able to explain their battle tactics
in great detail as he accompanied Hays on
many missions. In 1840 at the Battle of Plum
Creek, 200 Texans challenged 500 Comanches
who had devastated the communities
of Victoria and Linnville. The bravery and
tactics that Hays employed earned him such
recognition from his peers that the 23-yearold
was commissioned a captain by Republic
of Texas President Mirabeau Lamar.
Numerous successful battles against superior
forces added to Hays' reputation as
an extraordinary leader. In 1844 at Nueces
Canyon, 200 Comanche warriors charged
Hays and his 15 Rangers. Hays ordered his
men to dismount and hold their fire until
the Comanches were at close quarters. Their
volley decimated the Comanche line and sent
the hostiles reeling back. Hays then ordered
his men into their saddles to counterattack,
totally surprising and routing his adversaries.
The fame that this victory brought Hays
embarrassed him. He gave the credit to his
men and the .36 caliber Colt handgun.
Hays was known to be totally impervious
to the weather and the basic need for food
and rest. He expected a lot of his men but
more of himself. He was not known for a
quick smile and clever conversation. He focused on duty and the safety of the community
he was charged with protecting.
A great deal has been written about the
appearance and mannerisms of Jack Hays
and the dress of his men. His reputation
suggested a tough looking, bigger-than-life
character. Samuel Reid wrote of first seeing
Hays in Monterrey during the war with
Mexico, "...we tried to single out the celebrated
partisan chief, and were much surprised
when we were presented to a delicate
looking young man, of about 5 foot 8 inches
and was told he was our colonel....so great is
his reputation among the Mexicans that he
is everywhere known as 'Captain Jack'...the
men familiarly call him 'Jack', though there
is that about the man which prevents one
from taking the slightest liberty with him."
The appearance of Hays' men drew surprise
and sometimes ridicule from regular
army observers. Lt. Brackett of the Indiana
Volunteers wrote: "They certainly were
an odd looking set of fellows, and it seems
to be their aim to dress as outlandishly as
possible...(They) had a thorough coating of
dust over all, and covering their huge beards
gave them a savage appearance."
In the years after the Mexican War, Hays
was intrigued by the discovery of gold in the
new state of California, revealing the one
flaw in our hero's character. A better man
would have stayed in Texas and died there.
Hays became the surveyor general of California,
founded the city of Oakland, became
well known for his charity, and died a
wealthy man in one of the lesser states.
Send comments to Kelly Rushing, P.O. Box
50314, Austin, TX 78763.HERITAGE / Volume 3 2007
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Texas Historical Foundation. Heritage, 2007, Volume 3, periodical, 2007; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth45361/m1/6/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Historical Foundation.