WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1860
216
will be started in a few days. It will be impossible, however, to send forward bacon, and you will economize it as much as possible. The Executive relies on your command, now that it is strength- ened to give efficient protection to the people and hopes soon to hear of your success in not only killing Indians, but also in recovering stolen property. You will, by virtue of the order sent to you, dated September 26th, make such additional purchases of ammunition as may be necessary to supply the additional force. You will report to the Executive the name of the stations assigned to Lieutenant Barry and Lieutenant Stockton. You will also, after mustering them into the service, make out their complete muster rolls, in due from and forward as required by law. Sam Houston. 1 Executive Records, 1859-1861, p. 264, Texas State Library. For data on L. S. Ross, see Houston to Ross, September 11, 1860. 2 James Buckner (Buck) Barry (December 16, 1821-December 16, 1906) was born in North Carolina. He came to Texas in 1841, applied for and received his headright grant of 640 acres of land, which he located near the town of Corsicana. His occupation, as he himself said, was a "little farming with a great deal of hunting." A short time after his arrival in Texas he became identified with the Ranger service, first with an inde- pendent company at San Antonio, and later with Colonel Jack Hays's com- pany of North Texas Rangers. During the Mexican War he joined Eli Chandler's company, which formed part of the famous regiment of First Texas Rangers. In fact, "Buck" Barry served Texas under three flags-- that of the Texas Republic, of the United States, and of the Confederate States, and was as energetic under the one as under the others. In 1860, Governor Sam Houston commissioned him to raise a company of rangers for the protection of the Texas frontier. This company, inde- pendent of regular troops, he continued to hold, and he retained this commission as captain throughout his life. When Texas seceded from the Union, he paroled his men, read them the news of the secession, and addressed them, asking them to remain with him to protect the Texas fron- tier throughout the war. More than half of them remained; they con- tinued in the ranger service on the Texas frontier throughout the war; their leader rose in rank from captain to lieutenant colonel. "Buck" Barry's headquarters, for most of this time, were at Camp Cooper, and his range extended from the Red River to the Rio Grande. His men were constantly on duty, and they won a just fame. Colonel Barry was elected a member of the 12th Legislature. This body voted him a present of the finest gun that could be bought, in appreciation for "unsurpassed service to Texas in suppressing Indian depredations." James Buckner Barry was twice married. In 1847, he married. Snrah Matticks, daughter of William Matticks, of North Carolina. They hnd six
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