ORDERS for the Commanding Officer of Rangers 1836

[jamesg]

Advisory Committee to J.W. Robinson
Council Hall San Felipe de Austin Feb 14 1836

The advisory Committee to the executive appointed by the General Council to act in the absence of a Quorum of said council. Having learned with regret the of Indian Depredations and murders committed on our frontiers, and deeming it of the greatest importance that prompt and efficient measures should be taken to organized and to put into active service the Ranging Corps, for this purpose the committee advises that the governor issue the following orders to the Major of the Ranging Corps.

1st That he continue his headquarters in Mina, Stationing one of the subaltern Officers at the place to act as aid or secretary.

2nd That he proceed to frontier and make arrangements for the building blockhouses and fortifications and at such points he deem best calculated for the protection of the frontiers and also adopt prompt measures for enlisting and organizing the full number of men contemplated by law creating the Ranging Corps, Reporting to the Governor and Council any vacancies thee may occur in Officers of said corps.

3rd That he appoint a contractor for supplying said Corps with provisions who shall be appointed from subalterns of the line. The Paymaster and Commissary shall be subject to the same rules and regulations prescribed by law for same Officers of the Regular Army.

4th In Cases of EMERGENCY, or prospect of general engagement, he shall have the power to call on all mounted Volunteers, to call out the Militia of the Country, and to concentrate his command at points as may be necessary for the protection of the frontier.

5th The major shall report his proceedings to the Governor and Council for the Present, as often as may be convenient.

D.C. Barret Chairman

Alexr Thomson

G.A. Portillo

J.D. Clements

[jamesg]

With these orders on hand Major R M Williamson traveled to Gonzales to form the 3rd of 3 authorized Companies of Rangers.. William Arrington
who was elected to be the Company Commander during the Nov Election was not elected by his men and George C. Kimble was elected to Command and Gonzales Ranging Company formed and had 28 men at it formation 24 Feb. 1836.

This is reflected in the Audited Claims of George C. Kimbel

[jamesg]

The Orders also reflects the urgency of trouble with Indian tribes with maybe even Mexican infuence stirring up the tribes in 1836

[Allen Wiener]

Was this the same company that Kimble brought into the Alamo (the Gonzalez 32)?

[sloanrodgers]

Mar 31, 2012 0:59:15 GMT -5 jamesg said:

William Arrington
who was elected to be the Company Commander during the Nov Election was not elected by his men and George C. Kimble was elected to Command and Gonzales Ranging Company formed and had 28 men at it formation 24 Feb. 1836.

I think there were several soldiers that were named as commanders of various units by Smith's provisional government that were never actually appointed or elected to their commands. John J. Tumlinson's brother Littleton was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of rangers after the battle of Bexar, but didn't serve in this capacity for some reason.

[jamesg]

Yep, allot of the Consultation's Nov 28th 1835 elected Folks on Paper didn't become reality holding these positions

Major R. M. Williamson's three authorized company's in Reality during the Revolution would be:

Capt John James Tumlinson's Rangers
Capt Stearling Clack Robertson's Company of Rangers' formed Jan 17th
and Lt George C. Kimbell's Gonzales Rangers

It must have been very Hard on the Maj. of Rangers to have ordered to and Lost one company at the Alamo and then be ordered Back to Bastrop and defend the frontier.

All Through the Revolution Williamson seems to have carried out his orders agmonst the Chaos.

[jamesg]

an Act,
Defining the Pay of Mounted Riflemen, now and hereafter in the Ranging Service on the frontier
Dec 19 1836,

Sec 1. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the Republic of Texas, in congress assembled, That each and every Mounted rifle man, who has entered the Ranging Service, and not other wise provided for, be, and is hereby entitled to twenty five dollars a month as pay and the same Bounty of Land as other volunteers in the field.

Sec 2. Be it further enacted, That the pay of Officers in the above service shall be as follows:
a Captain shall be entitled to seventy five dollars per month, a First Lieutenant shall receive Sixty dollars per month, a Second Lieutenant, fifty dollars per month, and a Orderly Sergeant, Fifty dollars per month; The said Officers shall be entitled to the same Bounties of land as Officers of the Same grade and Rank of the Volunteer Army.

Sec 3. And be it further enacted, That all Officers and soldiers, who have been engaged in the Ranging Service since July 1835, shall be included in this act, and shall receive pay for the time he is in service.

Ira Ingram,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.

[jamesg]

April 6 1836,

Maj. I wish that a company of Spies would range as suggested by you.
The Army increases and the enemy does not advance as yet.
Reinforcements arriving from the east. The army is in good spirits,
and the General Sober.
Sam Houston.Com.in Chief

I attribute this letter to Maj Williamson who was at Washington on the Brazos at the time raising Capt. J. B. Chances Company and having a hard time dealing with drunken citizens who had hanged two Mexican Deserters and Gen Houston knew of this and was Upset with Williamson over the incident.

[jamesg]

Washington April 7th 1836
Since writing this morning by Major Barr, I recollect that I omitted stating to you that one of my spies Daniel Gray returned last night. He gives information of a chase given him by a party of mounted men
in number eight, suposed by him to be Mexicans. I think him mistaken, five men still out in same direction and well mounted and have time to report-- I take them to be a party of your spies tht have given chase--in a few hours we will know the truth.
Yours Obe.....ly RM Williamson Maj.
P.S. Write me immediately upon recipt of this----- a Mr. Henry told me you wished me to come down and see you. I have no acquaintance withHenry and think you would have written to me to that effect, if necessary. Williamson

The Letter clearly states Rangers Roles in Spy /Recon missions in Texas Revolution.
Daniel Gray a Tumlinson Ranger ( my GGG Grandfather) my best guess chased by Seguin's men.
Williamson would be relieved in Washington by James Collingsworth under orders from Gen Houston 8 April and would keep spies out on recon and send Capt Chances Washington Guards to Houston and restore order to Washington Williamson would report to Gen Houston and later serve in Cav. Unit San Jacinto battle.
of Interest of the Washington Guards showing Williamsons following order number" 4."..and some of Chances company would have 4 Tumlinson Rangers in its muster roll.

[jamesg]

Headquarters
Camp West of the Brazos
7th April 1836

Army Orders

To Major R.M. Williamson

Sir,

You are ordered forthwith to report yourself at headquarters. My Aid de camp Maj Jas. Collinsworth will assume command at Washington and control the Men and troops at that point. He has orders to keep the Spies out and to adopt such measures as he may see proper for the safety of the place.
I disapprove the killing of those two mexicans-- they should have been sent to me for examination. I have no idea but that they were deserters from the enemy and important information might have been obtained from them. I order without exception the destruction of all ardent spirits at Washington and wherever it may be found. I have not delegated any power to arrest and try persons for offenses. The discretionary powers given to Maj. Collinsworth are the First issued by me.
I wish Col Pettus to repair to camp and report to me. Maj Collinsworth has power to call all persons into service, and to act to his discretion, saving Life.

By Order of T.J. Risk
Secy of War and Sam Houston
Cndr and Chief