Jos. T. Fanning, Texas Ranger Co F, Frontier Battalion.

[rangerider7]

I pick up another nice item this week. It is a more than likely a 2 inch campaign button with the photo of Joseph T. Fanning on it. I was able to find out quite a bit of information on him. Robert Stephens has him listed in his work on the Frontier Battalion of the Texas Rangers and also shows him serving in the Frontier Forces. He was very active later on in his life with the Elk's in Texas and New Mexico. From 1870 to 1871 he was a private in company "C" of the Frontier Forces of the Texas Rangers under Captain John Sansom and later in 1875 in the frontier Battalion under Lt. later Captain Neal Coldwell. Note that in the first document it states approved > signed by Edmund J. Davis. Gov. of Tex. the Reconstruction Governor. Davis was not well like by many of the Rangers and when he was defeated some reenlisted in the Frontier Battalion to serve as Texas Rangers. Also note in the second document what is listed as money owed to the state for a pistol $16.50, Pair of cuffs .60 cents, two pairs of shoes .80 cents, nails 10 cents, 130 cartridges 3 cents each at $3.90. You don't see many documents of the Texas Rangers that list these items. From $120.00 he is subtracted $21.90 for a total of $98.10 in pay. Many of the rangers during this time were in and out of the rangers for different reasons. I have seen many photos of rangers in lace up shoes rather than boots but I don't know if this was because he only had boots and needed some shoes or what. I thought y'all might want to see these. They are quite interesting to me. I also thought y'all might find it interesting that his Colt SAA is called a pistol in the document. Another term that is frowned on by some today. RR7

[JerryB]

Thanks for taking the time to share your new found treasures with us. It always make for good reading.

[Charles]

E.J. Davis was more than disliked, he was dispised by most Texans. He was born in Florida but moved to Texas. He was District Judge here in Brownsville when the War of Southern Independence started, he formed a regiment of cavalry for the Union and went to Oklahoma. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the Union army. During the punitive military occupation of Texas called "reconstruction" he was imposed on the state as Governor.

When he did not win a fair election after the vote was restored to former Confederates, he had to be forced to vacate the Governor's mansion. For generations Texas spat on the ground at the mention of his name.

All decisions handed down by the Texas Supreme Court during this period are considered null and void under current Texas law.

Leander McNelley had to be conjoled into accepting a commission in the State Police under Davis. He did it for the better of the people of Texas. It is interesting to note that while McNelley is considered to be one of the most famous Rangers of the day, he was never a Texas Ranger. His commission was in the hated "Negro Police" of Davis. McNelley was honored by the people of Texas who overlooked the organization behind his Commission. He was a Texas Ranger in the best tradition of that organization even though he was not a member. The Rangers claimed him as one of their own and so did the people of Texas.

Davis is buried in the State Cemetary in Austin and his momument is the highest there. I had the great honor of spitting on his grave when last there. I put a little extra force into it for McNelley and all of the other folks who had to put up with Davis.

His son Britton Davis was born in Brownsville and after graduation from West Point, joined Crook in Arizona in his campaign against the Apache. The book he wrote is one of the chief sources for the history of that time.

P.S. All handguns are called pistol by Texans. That is the way I learned it and what I still say today.

[rangerider7]

Charles, I agree with everything you say about Davis but decided to not bring it up here. I do disagree with you on McNelly. The "Texas Ranger Hall of Fame" in Waco has him as one of the original members. When he was paid by the State of Texas in 1875 as a Captain of the state troops he was considered to be a Texas Ranger. RR7

The Democratic Party regained control of Texas in 1873, and in 1874, to combat massive lawlessness, the newly elected governor, Richard Coke, created two branches of the Texas Rangers, a Frontier Battalion under the command of major John B. Jones, and a designated Special Force, commanded by McNelly, financed by cattle ranchers. McNelly's special group had the specific task of bringing order to the Nueces Strip, a hotbed of cattle thievery and banditry, where Juan Cortina, the Mexican military chief for the Rio Grande frontier, was conducting periodic guerrilla operations against the local ranchers. In July 1874 a thirty-man company of volunteer militia from Washington County was mustered into the Texas Rangers as the seventh company of the Frontier Battalion. McNelly was appointed its captain and assigned to duty in DeWitt County, where the Sutton-Taylor feud was then raging. After four months of attempting to suppress civil violence there, McNelly reported that the presence of his men had been beneficial but that he was sure fighting would flare again as soon as the troops were withdrawn.

[bdhold]

thanks for the history.

[Hobie]

I find all this interesting but want to note one point on semantics...

The Feds now differentiate between pistol (self-loading or singleshot) and revolver (with revolving cylinder) and one must note this on the Form 4473 when processing a firearms purchase. I don't know that this is the source of the current semantic conflicts on the subject or not. Strictly speaking all revolvers are pistols but not all pistols are revolvers. It is inevitable that words will evolve in meaning and implication. If you doubt me I refer you to the word, "gay".

[1894c]

rangerider7 -- as always, you find the most amazing things. I really like the history, going to have to buy a book on the Texas Rangers...again thank you... :)

EDIT: makes me wish i was born and raised in Texas and not in New York, except can you get a good Reuben in El Paso... :)

[tomtex]

Charles, I agree with everything you say about Davis but decided to not bring it up here. I do disagree with you on McNelly. The "Texas Ranger Hall of Fame" in Waco has him as one of the original members. When he was paid by the State of Texas in 1875 as a Captain of the state troops he was considered to be a Texas Ranger. RR7

The Democratic Party regained control of Texas in 1873, and in 1874, to combat massive lawlessness, the newly elected governor, Richard Coke, created two branches of the Texas Rangers, a Frontier Battalion under the command of major John B. Jones, and a designated Special Force, commanded by McNelly, financed by cattle ranchers. McNelly's special group had the specific task of bringing order to the Nueces Strip, a hotbed of cattle thievery and banditry, where Juan Cortina, the Mexican military chief for the Rio Grande frontier, was conducting periodic guerrilla operations against the local ranchers. In July 1874 a thirty-man company of volunteer militia from Washington County was mustered into the Texas Rangers as the seventh company of the Frontier Battalion. McNelly was appointed its captain and assigned to duty in DeWitt County, where the Sutton-Taylor feud was then raging. After four months of attempting to suppress civil violence there, McNelly reported that the presence of his men had been beneficial but that he was sure fighting would flare again as soon as the troops were withdrawn.

Maj J.B Jones was a Capt in the 8th Texas Cav ( Terry' s Texas Rangers ). Before forming the frontier battlion.

[M. M. Wright]

Thanks rr7, I really enjoy your history lessons. Love reading about the Rangers.

[rangerider7]

tomtex, in between Terry's Texas Rangers and the Frontier Battalion, Jones had transferred to the 15th Texas infantry and was promoted to Major by the end of the war.