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.
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