To protect the new Texans, Ranger companies patrolled the frontier as well as the border with Mexico. This increased settlement led to conflicts with American Indians who already occupied the territory and a renewed desire to send the Texas Rangers out on patrol. Though this force was reorganized after Texas won its independence from Mexico, it continued to function in much the same way: groups of volunteers were organized as they were needed to patrol and protect the frontier, then disbanded when their specific missions were done.Īfter the 1836 Texas Revolution, a wave of new settlers headed to Texas enticed by acres of land offered for little money.

Some were also motivated by the desire to take revenge on American Indians for past raids.ĭuring the Texas Revolution in 1836, the provisional government authorized the first official, government-sanctioned Ranger force to patrol the Texas frontier and protect settlers from raids by American Indians. Austin tasked the Rangers with patrolling the roads and wilderness around the colony for “errant thieves united with Indians.” Many of the men who volunteered as Rangers lived in Austin’s colony and hoped their service would help protect their own families from attacks by American Indians. Austin created his own force of “rangers” to protect the men and women living in his colony. Unsatisfied with the protection the Mexican government provided, Stephen F. Austin announced he would supplement the Mexican government’s militia patrols with his own force of ten men, whom he paid out of his own pocket.

North texas battle group