Texas Rangers

[Marc Adamchek]

Could anyone out there recommend a book on these guys? One that covers them right from the get-go, from their wild, grungey beginnings to their solidified trained unit.

A seperate book on Jack Hays would be in this ballpark as well.

I'm just looking for good, historically solid and written so well you hate to put it down.

Not asking for too much, am I?

As always, Many Thanks - Marc

 

[Ted W. Coombs]

Marc, I have 5 books that I would recommend for you. The Highly IRREGULAR IRREGULARS by Frederic Willkins, and The Legend Begins by the same auther.Buck Berry by James K. Greer and Texas Rangers by the same auther. Also Texas Devils by Michael L. Collins. Most all of these books have a notes section that gives reference to other books or articals that have information on the Rangers. Hope this is helpful to ya. Teton Ted

 

[scott taylor]

While they are not exactly Texas Ranger books but may be considered the Holy Trinity of Texas books is: The Evolution of a State by Noah Smithwick, Texas Indian Fighters by A.J.Sowell and Indian Depredations in Texas by J.W.Wilbarger.
They were all written around or before the turn of the last century.

Scott

 

[Marc Adamchek]

Thanks, guys. Looks like I've got a lot of reading ahead!

 

[scott taylor]

After reviewing the book shelf I remembered Six Years with the Texas Rangers 1875-1881 by James B. Gillet and Life of Big Foot Wallace by A.J.Sowell. Both are good reads.

Scott

 

[Marc Adamchek]

Yeah, GST! I came across Bigfoot Wallace in a couple pages of a book not about the TX Rangers, but conectcted.

He most definitely seems like the type of individual you'd like to read a whole book about. BIG Thanks for remembering that one

 

[scott taylor]

John C. Duval also wrote a book on Wallace ca. 1870. It may be a myth but it is rumored that Wallace hated it.
Walter Prescot Web suposedly wrote ultimate Texas Ranger book but I can't vouch for it since I ain't read it yet.

Scott

 

[scott taylor]

Also google "handbook of texas" it is basicly an online encyclopedia. I can get lost in it for hours.

Scott

 

[Geraldo]

While they are not exactly Texas Ranger books but may be considered the Holy Trinity of Texas books is: The Evolution of a State by Noah Smithwick, Texas Indian Fighters by A.J.Sowell and Indian Depredations in Texas by J.W.Wilbarger.
They were all written around or before the turn of the last century.

Scott

If you have an Amazon Kindle, Evolution of a State is available for free download.

 

You can download the Kindle app in either windows PC, or Apple Mac, or iPad. All for free.

Bill

 

[guad42]

There is an excellent book on Hays called "Texas Ranger, Jack Hays in the Frontier Southwest" by James Greer.

The "Savage Frontier" trilogy on Indian warfare in Texas is hard to come by but excellent - covering the 1820s through the 1840s primarily.

Bruce Winders (curator at the Alamo) has also written on the period and you may find some of his books helpful.

Regards,

-Sam Dolan

 

[Sharps1863]

The Men who Wear the Star :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
No one has mentioned this book. Goes from the beginnings up through the modern day Texas Rangers.
If you want one book that best describes the Rangers. This is it. Look for it on amazon.