Texas Ranger John B. Jones and the Frontier Battalion, 1874-1881

Rick Miller

University of North Texas Press, 2012 - Biography & Autobiography - 401 pages

Winner of the Wild West History Association Best Book Award

In 1874, the Texas legislature created the Frontier Battalion, the first formal, budgeted organization as an arm of state government of what historically had been periodic groups loosely referred to as Texas Rangers. Initially created to combat the menace of repeated raids of Indians from the north and from Mexico into frontier counties, the Battalion was led by an unusual choice: a frail, humorless Confederate veteran from Navarro County, John B. Jones. Under Jones's leadership, the Battalion grew in sophistication, moving from Indian fighting to capturing Texas's bad men, such as John Wesley Hardin and Sam Bass. Established during the unsettled time of Reconstruction, the Rangers effectively filled a local law enforcement void until competency was returned to local sheriffs' and marshals' offices.

Numerous books cover individual Texas Rangers of note, but only a few have dealt with the overall history of the Rangers, and, strangely, none about Jones specifically. For the first time, author Rick Miller presents the story of the Frontier Battalion as seen through the eyes of its commander, John B. Jones, during his administration from 1874 to 1881, relating its history--both good and bad--chronologically, in depth, and in context. Highlighted are repeated budget and funding problems, developing standards of conduct, personalities and their interaction, mission focus and strategies against Indian war parties and outlaws, and coping with politics and bureaucracy. Miller covers all the major activities of the Battalion in the field that created and ultimately enhanced the legend of the Texas Rangers. Jones's personal life is revealed, as well as his role in shaping the policies and activities of the Frontier Battalion.

Based largely on primary documents, especially the actual correspondence generated by the various actors in the Battalion's drama that best tell the tale, this book is a major contribution to understanding the early development and growth of what became the institution celebrated in legend today. And John B. Jones at last has a definitive biography that recognizes him as one of the most important men who actually laid the groundwork for that legend.

Contents

• 1 Irresistible on Horseback: 1
• 2 Daring Gallantry: 16
• 3 The Right Man: 29
• 4 No CarpetKnight: 49
• 5 A Heavy Task: 64
• 6 The Abominable Legislature: 82
• 7 Kill All the Dutch: 102
• 8 Gallant and Untiring: 119
• 9 Terribly TongueLashed: 132
• 10 A Bedouin in the Saddle: 151
• 11 Here Comes the Rangers: 167
• 12 A Manly and Vigorous Effort: 186
• 13 Agin My Profession: 202
• 14 Stately as a Queen: 221
• 15 Scared on Our Arrival: 238
• 16 Promptness and Fidelity: 255
• 17 Sober Steady and Respectable Man: 271
• 18 Pangs of Sorrow: 285
• 19 The Best Officers and Men: 298
• Notes: 309
• Bibliography: 371
• Index: 383

About the author

RICK MILLER is the author of Bloody Bill Longley: The Mythology of a Gunfighter (UNT Press). He has also written biographies of Sam Bass (Sam Bass & Gang), Jack Duncan (Bounty Hunter), and Eugene Bunch (The Train Robbing Bunch). Raised in Dallas, Texas, Miller is a former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, and served in law enforcement as a Dallas policeman, as well as chief of police in both Killeen and Denton, Texas. Currently he is the elected County Attorney of Bell County, Texas. He holds a bachelor of arts from the University of Texas at Arlington, a master's degree in public administration from Southern Methodist University, and earned his juris doctorate at Baylor University School of Law. He lives in Harker Heights, Texas.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Texas Ranger John B. Jones and the Frontier Battalion, 1874-1881; Issue 9 of Frances B. Vick series; Number 9 in the Frances B. Vick series
• Author: Rick Miller
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: University of North Texas Press, 2012
• ISBN: 1574414674, 9781574414677
• Length: 401 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Law Enforcement; History / United States / 19th Century; History / United States / State & Local / Southwest (AZ, NM, OK, TX)