Texas Rangers Reunion at Austin

Confederate Veteran
Volume 6, Number 8, Page 372-373
August 1898

The twenty ninth annual reunion of Terry's Texas Rangers (Eighth Texas Cavalry) was called to order June 1 in the Driskill Hotel, at Austin, Tex. The officers of the association, all of whom were present, are:
President, George W. Littlefield,
Vice Presidents, Ferg Kyle,
P. C. Hill,
George T. McGhee,
E. M. Phelps,
Secretary, T. U. Lubbock,
Corresponding Secretary, Joe G. Booth,
Treasurer, W. D. Cleveland.

At the roll call the following valiant old comrades answered present:
S. S. Ashe, Houston,
George B. Burke, Austin,
Richard Burger, Bastrop,
J. G. Booth, Austin,
A. P. Browning, Austin,
W. D. Cleveland, Houston,
S. P. Christian, Houston,
J. J. Coulter, Luling,
C. G. and W. H. Caldwell, Austin,
W. R. Davis, Creedmoor,
A. F. Logan, Austin,
Jules Manor, Austin,
J. F. Miller,
W. E. Moore, McDade,
W. C. Moore, Ashby,
William Owens, Elgin,
T. U. Lubbock, Houston,
W. M. Ford, San Antonio,
Steve Gallaher, Seguin,
H. W. Graber, Calvert,
Natt Holman, Lagrange,
D. O. Hill, Bastrop,
W. F. Holcomb, Luling,
W. H. Kyle, Nursery,
Curren Kyle, Kyle,
R. Y. King, Belton,
George W. Littlefield, Austin,
Ferg Kyle, Kyle,
George T. McGhee, San Marcos,
J. T. McGuire, Gatesville,
Fred Nolke, Sherwood,
E. M. Phelps, Austin,
J. T. Pryor, Duke,
J. B. Rogers, Austin,
A. T. Steele, Houston,
C. W. Stone, Lockhart,
S. T. Stone, Austin,
T. K. Thompson, Galveston,
P. J. Watkins, Llano,
Sam Watkins, San Marcos,
George B. Zimpleman, Austin,
W. R. Webb,
P. F. Burris, Cotulla,
Jeff Burleson, Weberville,
W. A. Wrol, Austin,
I. T. Lauve, Austin,
Pete Walton, Austin,
John M. Hill, Smithville.

The minutes of the meeting held at Nashville were adopted. A committee of five was appointed to prepare resolutions on the association's dead. The committee was composed of J. F. Miller, chairman , W. E. Moore, Doc Burris, C. G. Caldwell, S. P. Christian. Messrs. Ashe, Cleveland, and Lubbock were appointed a committee to secure historical data bearing on the life of the association. The hotel was beautifully decorated with the national colors. Intermingling were Confederate flags and streamers.

Maj. "Pat" Christian, the senior living officer of the regiment, was present. He is better known as "Capt. Pat," although promoted to major from captain of Company A. R. Y. King, the only captain present, succeeded Capt. Christian to command of Company A.

Several communications were read bearing on a flag. of the Terry Rangers which is held by the state of Indiana as a trophy of war, and which, it is claimed, was captured , but the correspondence showed it was found after a battle, and not captured at all. A committee was appointed to act in conjunction with Maj. Weiler, of the Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers, to memorialize the Indiana Legislature to have this flag returned to the Rangers. The following were appointed on the committee: Henry W. Graber, George W. Littlefield, S. P. Christian, R. Y. King, and W. D. Cleveland.

After adjournment the members repaired to the Capitol, where the Governor and Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds were to select a site for the monument. The Governor cordially received the veterans. The site selected for the monument is on the west terrace, in front of the Capitol building, and is just opposite the Alamo monument. A vote of thanks was tendered Gov. Culberson and Supt. Mobley.

At the second day's proceedings Comrade E. M. Phelps read the grant made by the state to the Rangers for the monument site. The document was ordered deposited with Col. Littlefield.

Another resolution by Comrade Miller was adopted namely, that a monument committee be instructed to select and adopt a plan for a monument, to cost $10,000, and that they proceed at once to raise the sum to complete the monument according to their plans. W. D. Cleveland and Joe G. Booth were appointed to take subscriptions for the monument fund.

The following committee report was received, read, and adopted:

"The committee appointed to report upon the dead of our organization name the following deaths since last meeting:
L. A. L. Lampkin,
John E. Thornton,
John R. Rector,
Osceola Archer,
W. B. Savers,
Gustave Cook,
W. B. Martin,
P. C. Walker,
R. M. McKay,
I. S. Neal,
R. T. Hill,
W. L. Smith,
William Fort Smith,
Austin Robinson,
C. D. Barnett."

A committee of five was appointed by the President to devise a plan for the permanent organization of the sons and daughters and descendants of the members of the command. The soliciting monumental committee reported $605 subscribed that morning.

Elgin and Victoria were placed in nomination for the next annual meeting, and Victoria was selected.

New officers were elected as follows:
John M. Brownson, President, Joe G. Booth, Ben F. Burke, W. E. Moore, and H. D. Sullivan, Vice Presidents, W. D. Cleveland was reelected Treasurer, T. U. Lubbock. Secretary, W. H. Kyle, Corresponding Sec'ty.

At night the Veterans were given a reception at the palatial residence of Comrade George W. Littlefield. The decorations were artistic and beautiful. Over the entrance to the residence an elaborate design made of electric lights shone out brilliantly. It was a star, with "Texas" spelled out, one letter between each of the star's points, and in the center was an "R," for Rangers, the design worn by members of the regiment on their caps and hats during the war. The reception was a brilliant affair. Among those receiving were : Judge Reagan, Gov. and Mrs. Lubbock, Mrs. D. T. Iglehart, Mrs. Judge Gaines, Mrs. Belvin, Gen. and Mrs. Hamby, Miss Nola Dilworth, and many others. Elegant refreshments added to the evening's pleasures. The dining room was decorated in red, white, and blue.

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