Texas Militia

The Texas Militia descends from the Texian Militia established by Stephen F. Austin in 1823 to protect the Old Three Hundred in the Colony of Texas.[6] Its most notable unit, the Texas Rangers, remained in continuous service of Texas Military Forces until 1935.[7][8] Following the Texas Revolution, the Republic of Texas authorized the Texas Militia, Texas Army, and Texas Navy in the Constitution on September 5, 1836.[9]

On December 6, 1836, the First Congress officially established the militia declaring "Every free able bodied male citizen of this republic, resident therein, who is or shall be...seventeen...and under the age of fifty years shall...be enrolled in the militia." However, no funds were appropriated. In 1837, the Second Congress passed the Militia Act of 1837 with appropriations, which established one division composed of four brigades. It was initially led by Thomas Rusk, who was replaced by Felix Huston in 1839, and Sidney Sherman in 1840.[3]

On March 9, 1838, the Milam Guards were established by Joseph Daniels in Houston, the first new militia unit of the Republic of Texas (after the Texas Rangers).[10] It was followed by the Travis Guards (Rifles) on March 1, 1840,[11] and Galveston Artillery on September 13, 1840.[4]

The Texas Army and Navy were merged with the United States Armed Forces on February 19, 1846 after the Republic of Texas became the 28th state of America, leaving the Texas Militia (including the Texas Rangers) as the only authorized force under the United States Militia Acts of 1792.[3][12][8]

After annexation, the First Texas Legislature passed the Militia Act of 1846, which established five divisions each composed of two brigades. During the Frontier / Antebellum period, notable units included the Texas Rangers, Alamo Rifles of San Antonio, the Galveston Artillery Company, the Lone Star Military Company of Galveston, the Washington Light Guards of Houston, the Milam Rifles of Houston, the Turner Rifles of Houston, and the Refugio Riflemen.[4]

During the America Civil War, the Texas Militia was generally was designated the Home Guard or State Troops and tasked with defense of the frontier against Indian and Mexican incursion, defense of the coast against Union invasion, and suppression of Union loyalists. The Texas Militia was initially disbanded during reconstruction / military occupation, but reestablished as the Texas Volunteer Guard[13] and Texas State Police in 1871.[14]

Following the Militia Act of 1903, the Texas Militia was divided into separate forces:[4]

1. The Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard, subject to Title 32 and Title 10 of the United States Code which legally empowers the United States government to mobilize them when more resources are needed than available in the United States Armed Forces for war, national emergency, or national security.
2. The Texas State Guard, only subject to Title 32 of the United States Code which legally empowers individual states to maintain military forces.

Since 1903, the Texas National Guard designation has remained the same while the Texas State Guard has been designated as the:

• Texas Reserve Militia, 1905-1913[15]
• Texas Home Guard, 1914-1918 (World War I)[16]
• Texas Reserve Militia, 1919-1940[17]
• Texas Defense/State Guard, 1941-45 (World War II)[17]
• Texas State Guard Reserve Corps, 1945-1965[18]
• Texas State Guard, 1965–present[18]

The Texas Militia has undergone many redesignations and reorganizations since 1836.

• Texas Military Forces
• Texas Military Department
• List of conflicts involving the Texas Military
• Awards and decorations of the Texas Military