Terry's Texas Rangers.
Monument to that Gallant Cavalry Regiment.

Confederate Veteran
Volume, Number 11, Page 498
November 1907

Soon after the State of Texas seceded in 1861 B. F. Terry and T. S. Lubbock, prominent citizens of Texas, went to South Carolina and thence to Virginia, where, becoming attached to the staff of General Beauregard, they participated in the first battle of Manassas. Shortly after that battle they received a commission to organize a "cavalry regiment of skilled horsemen for immediate service." They returned to Texas and issued their call for volunteers. Responding to the call, the 8th Texas Cavalry, better known throughout the war as "Terry's Texas Rangers," enlisted and were sworn into service at Houston early in September, 1861.

The regiment was soon ordered to Bowling Green, Ky., where it formally organized and elected officers: B. F. Terry, Colonel, T. S. Lubbock, Lieutenant Colonel, Thomas H. Harrison, Major, B. A. Botts, Quartermaster, R. H. Simmons, Commissary, M. Royston, Adjutant, Dr. J. M. Weston, Surgeon, Dr. R. E. Hill, Assistant Surgeon, W. B. Sayers, Sergeant Major. The regiment was attached to the command of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, and immediately began rigid discipline, drilling, etc., to prepare for battle.

On December 17, 1861, the regiment engaged in severe battle at Woodsonville, Ky. In leading a gallant charge Colonel Terry was mortally wounded. In his official report of the battle General Hardee says: "The conduct of the Rangers was marked by impetuous valor. In charging the enemy Colonel Terry was killed in the moment of victory. His regiment deplores the loss of a beloved and brave commander and the army one of its ablest officers." Lieutenant Colonel Lubbock was immediately elected colonel of the regiment, but he was lying seriously ill of typhoid fever at Nashville, where he died shortly afterwards, and Col. John A. Wharton was then elected colonel and Capt. John G. Walker lieutenant colonel.

When in February, 1862, General Johnston evacuated Bowling Green, falling back to Nashville, the Rangers formed the rear guard of his army, going with him to join Beauregard at Corinth.

On April 6, 7, and 8 they participated in the great battle of Shiloh, one of the greatest battles of the Civil War. In the three days' struggle the Confederates lost in killed and wounded nearly 10,000 men, while the Federal loss in killed, wounded, and missing was over 12,000, many officers of high rank falling on both sides. In that great battle Terry's Rangers fought bravely, making many desperate charges, and they lost many brave men. Clint Terry, the younger brother of Colonel Terry, was killed. Colonel Wharton and Lieutenant Colonel Walker were seriously wounded, as was Capt. Rufus Y. King, the only man now living who held rank as high as captain in the original organization of the regiment. Colonel Wharton remained in command of the regiment until forced to retire by complete exhaustion. During the remainder of the battle the regiment was under the command of Major Harrison, who led a desperate charge on the morning of the 8th. In the retreat which followed the battle of Shiloh the regiment assisted in protecting the rear of the army. After this the regiment was attached to the forces under command of Gen. Bedford Forrest. In July near Murfreesboro Forrest's command captured a battery of which it stood greatly in need, and among others Capt. Sam Ash was detailed to man the battery.

In September, 1862, the Rangers went with Bragg into Kentucky, and when he was afterwards forced to retreat from Kentucky, the Rangers with Wheeler's Cavalry protected his rear, contesting almost every mile of Buell's advance. In the battle of Bardstown the Rangers were cut off from the rest of Wheeler's command, and, making a desperate charge upon an overwhelming force of the enemy, cut their way up through his lines and rejoined Wheeler's forces.

At Perryville Bragg gave the enemy battle, and on the 8th of October the Rangers were in one of the great cavalry charges of the war. In this battle Mark Evans, who had been made lieutenant colonel, while leading the regiment, was killed. For brave conduct in this battle the regiment was again highly complimented by General Bragg.

From Perryville Bragg retired and massed his army at Murfreesboro. The Rangers were actively engaged in the five days' battle around Murfreesboro, which ended January 3, 1863, and their loss in men and officers was large.

In the summer of 1863, under Forrest, who had become a major general, they scouted and fought almost daily in North Georgia and Tennessee until September 19, when they engaged in the terrible battle of Chickamauga, and were in constant action, making many desperate charges. After the first day of the battle, they were dispatched with Wheeler and Wharton to protect Bragg from the advancing Federal cavalry; and for several days, almost without sleep or rest, were constantly riding, scouting, and fighting around Chattanooga.

From Chickamauga they were sent to Knoxville, and were with Longstreet in his campaign against Burnside, which lasted throughout the winter, making many desperate charges in the battles around Knoxville and in upper East Tennessee.

At Strawberry Plains Major Jarmon and Lieutenant Dilworth were seriously wounded; and in the battle of Mossy Creek Maj. G. W. Littlefield, still but a boy, while acting as lieutenant colonel of the regiment, received a severe wound from a shell which tore practically all the flesh from his left hip. He returned to his command in 1864, but was by his wound forced to retire from the army.

From the summer of 1864 until the close of the war the Rangers were with Wheeler, Joseph E. Johnston, and Hood in North Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The Rangers were in many of the battles of the memorable Atlanta campaign, which embraced ninety days of continuous fighting. The last battle in which the Rangers fought was at Bentonville, N. C., March 21, 1865, in which battle just before they made their last charge the young son of General Hardee, a mere boy, who twice before had proposed to join the Rangers, but because of his youth had been dissuaded, enlisted and entered into the charge, and was by the first volley instantly killed within a few years of his father, who was in command.

For valor in battle many officers were promoted. Wharton became a major general, Harrison a brigadier, Gustave Cook a colonel, G. W. Littlefield and Pat Christian majors, and W. B. Sayers a captain and assistant adjutant on General Harrison's staff. All of them were several times seriously wounded in battle. Phelps was made a lieutenant, and at the close of the war was acting adjutant of the regiment. The Rangers did much service in Tennessee, and were much esteemed by those whom they defended.

It would be impossible now to recount the entire history of this remarkable regiment. It was organized with a membership of 1,173 men; they received many recruits, more than 1,700 men being enrolled during the war. At the surrender at Greensboro, N. C., April 24, 1865, there were less than one hundred and fifty of the regiment in line. Many of them died from exposure and disease, many were killed in battle, many were seriously wounded and forced to retire from the service, and many became prisoners of war; but it is said that no one of them ever deserted the cause. They were the safest and swiftest horsemen, the surest and best shots, and of the coolest and bravest men that ever charged a battery.

Early in their enlistment Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston said to them: "With a little more drill you are the equals of the old guard of Napoleon." General Hardee, who was with them in many battles, said: "I always feel safe with the Rangers in front." General Bragg also said: "There is no danger of a surprise when the Rangers are between us and the enemy."

At the close of the war President Davis pronounced upon them the highest eulogy. He said: "The Terry Rangers have done all that could be expected or required of soldiers."

"Their shivered swords are red with rust,
Their plumed heads are bowed;
Their proud banner, trailed in dust,
Is now their martial shroud."

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