Six Years With the Texas Rangers by James B. Gillett

It seemed like the rangers could go into Mexico, but the U.S. I got the impression there was a core of good captains that stayed on, and kept the organization running. One year rangers were being recruited – the next year they were being let go. A recruit had to supply his own horse, arms, and cooking utensils!įunding from the Texas legislature was erratic.

It also seemed like a recruit’s horse was more important than the man. And yet rangers picked up off the prairie could arrest without warrant anywhere in the state. No exams, no requirements for education in criminal justice, or any other education, and no background checks. The recruitment of rangers was pretty informal. For example, Gillett wrote that “rangers had done much to convert the red devils into good Indians, that is, dead ones.” In another place he wrote “These blacks had associated with white gamblers and lewd women until they thought themselves the equal of white men.” One thing that was really striking was how this book, written a century ago, is so politically incorrect by today’s standards.

He had almost no schooling, but the book is well-written.Īs expected, the book tells about the dangerous work and adventures Gillett had while fighting Indians, criminals and assorted ruffians, but the book also contained various incidentals that were interesting, showing how the world has changed. James Buchanan Gillett (1856-1937) was a Texas law man and rancher who was a Texas ranger during the 1870’s and wrote a book about it in 1921.

Six Years With the Texas Rangers by James B. Gillett