Red Rovers on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The Red Rovers, commonly referred to as the Alabama Red Rovers, was a military volunteer
The Red Rovers endure a lasting legacy celebrated through a range of events, festivals, and historical reenactments. Among these, Captain Shackelford's Company of the Alabama Red Rovers stands out as a Texas-based assembly of Living Historians and Re-enactors dedicated to portraying the era of the Texas Revolution. The group not only engages in immersive living history experiences but also pays tribute to the military band's significance. The Red Rovers are also remembered thorough an Historical Marker, established in Courtland, Alabama by the Alabama Historical Association. This marker, erected in 1964, serves as a testament to the unit's contributions, featuring the names of the men who valiantly fought with the militia during that pivotal period.
The Alabama Red Rovers and the Goliad Campaign are noteworthy not only for their historical significance but also for the exemplary demonstration of leadership skills by the commanders, notably Dr. Jack Shackelford. The enduring qualities of 'duty' and 'loyalty' frequently characterize the service of these men, with these themes resonating throughout the battle. The United States military and its officers, in particular, have drawn inspiration from the lessons exemplified in the Goliad Campaign, often referencing the steadfast commitment to duty and loyalty displayed by its commanders and soldiers.
company
A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether Natural person, natural, Juridical person, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members ...
organized in Courtland, Alabama
Courtland is a town in Lawrence County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The population was 609 at the 2010 census, down from 769 in 2000.
...
to support the Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution (October 2, 1835 – April 21, 1836) was a rebellion of colonists from the United States and Tejanos (Hispanic Texans) against the Centralist Republic of Mexico, centralist government of Mexico in the Mexican state of ...
.
Background
Raised by doctor and planter Jack Shackelford in November 1835, the unit took its name from the red jeans of their uniforms and was outfitted with equipment fromAlabama
Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...
state arsenal. Consisting of some 70 men, nearly half the men in Courtland, the unit remained encamped until December 12 before setting out for Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
by way of New Orleans
New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
. After arriving at Lavaca Bay
Lavaca Bay () is a northwestern extension of the Matagorda Bay system found mostly in Calhoun County, Texas, Calhoun County, Texas, United States. The ports of Port Lavaca, Texas, Port Lavaca and Point Comfort, Texas, Point Comfort have been esta ...
on January 19, 1836, and being accepted into Texas service on February 3, the Red Rovers were put under command of Colonel James W. Fannin. They fought in the Battle of Coleto on March 19–20, performing well, but the Texian
Texians were Anglo-American immigrants to Mexican Texas and, later, citizens of the Republic of Texas. Today, the term is used to identify early Anglo settlers of Texas, especially those who supported the Texas Revolution. Mexican settlers of tha ...
s were overrun and ultimately forced to surrender.
Goliad Massacre
The Red Rovers are primarily commemorated for their tragic role as victims of the Goliad Massacre. In this devastating event, a substantial majority of the band, as well as approximately 400 men of the Texan army, met their demise following an order issued by Mexican PresidentAntonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language–speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 400 most popular ...
which ordered General José de Urrea
José Cosme de Urrea y Elías González (full name) or simply José de Urrea (March 19, 1797 – August 1, 1849) was a Mexican general. He fought under General Antonio López de Santa Anna during the Texas Revolution. Urrea's forces were never d ...
to execute any Texan he came across. As a result, the majority of the Red Rovers, including two of Shackelford's sons, were killed in the Goliad massacre on March 27, 1836, along with hundreds of others. Shackelford himself was spared execution since his skills as a doctor could be used to treat Mexican soldiers. He would ultimately be released and return to Alabama, where he was thought dead. Four of the men, Zachariah S. Brooks, Dillard Cooper, Isaac D. Hamilton, and Wilson Simpson, escaped the slaughter. The four men traveled together at night to avoid capture and eventually found their way to other Texas forces and safety.
Legacy
The Red Rovers endure a lasting legacy celebrated through a range of events, festivals, and historical reenactments. Among these, Captain Shackelford's Company of the Alabama Red Rovers stands out as a Texas-based assembly of Living Historians and Re-enactors dedicated to portraying the era of the Texas Revolution. The group not only engages in immersive living history experiences but also pays tribute to the military band's significance. The Red Rovers are also remembered thorough an Historical Marker, established in Courtland, Alabama by the Alabama Historical Association. This marker, erected in 1964, serves as a testament to the unit's contributions, featuring the names of the men who valiantly fought with the militia during that pivotal period.
The Alabama Red Rovers and the Goliad Campaign are noteworthy not only for their historical significance but also for the exemplary demonstration of leadership skills by the commanders, notably Dr. Jack Shackelford. The enduring qualities of 'duty' and 'loyalty' frequently characterize the service of these men, with these themes resonating throughout the battle. The United States military and its officers, in particular, have drawn inspiration from the lessons exemplified in the Goliad Campaign, often referencing the steadfast commitment to duty and loyalty displayed by its commanders and soldiers.
Known Members
Source: ''Capt. Jack Shackelford'' ''1st Lt. Francis S. Early'' 2nd Lt. William C. Francis 1st Sgt. Fortunatus Sydney Shackelford 2nd Sgt. Issac D. Hamilton 3rd Sgt. Arthur G. Foley 4th Sgt. Zachariah H. Short ''1st Cpl.'' Henry Hogue Bentley ''2nd Cpl.'' David Moore ''3rd Cpl.'' John H. Barkley ''4th Cpl.'' Andrew Winter Pvt. Patrick H. Anderson Dr. Joseph Henry Barnard Pvt. John N. Barnhill Pvt. Joseph H. Blackwell Pvt. William Procter Bowhay Pvt. G. W. Brooks Pvt. Zachariah S. Brooks Pvt. Thomas Burbridge Pvt. Benjamin Franklin Burt Pvt. J. W. Cain Pvt. Thomas Cantwell Pvt. Seth Clark Pvt. John G. Coe Pvt. Stith Conner Pvt. Dillard Cooper Pvt. Harvey Cox Pvt. Robert T. Davidson Pvt. George A. Davis Pvt. G. L. Davis Pvt. H. B. Day Pvt. Silas DeWitt Pvt. Abijah Hogan Dickson Pvt. Alfred Dorsey Pvt. Henry L. Douglass Pvt. William G. Douglass Pvt. James W. Duncan Pvt. James E. Ellis Pvt. Samuel Farney Pvt. Joseph Fenner Pvt. Robert Fenner Pvt. Joseph G. Ferguson Pvt. Elijah B. Franklin Pvt. David Gamble Pvt. M. C. Garner Pvt. James H. Grimes Pvt. William Gunter Pvt. William Hemphill Musc. John Hiser Pvt. Milton Irish Pvt. John Jackson Pvt. John N. Jackson Pvt. Henry W. Jones Pvt. John Kelley Pvt. E. Laddington Pvt. Charles W. McKinley Pvt. Isaac H. Miller Pvt. David A. Murdock Pvt. William Quinn Pvt. W. F. Savage Pvt. J. M. Seaton Pvt. William J. Shackelford Pvt. Wilson Simpson Pvt. Bennett Strunk Pvt. Simpson Tennant Pvt. James Vaughan Pvt. William E. Vaughan Pvt. James S. Wilder Pvt. Robert W. WilsonSee also
* Foote, H. S., & Harris, J. (1987). ''Alabama Heritage Issue 5, Summer 1987''. Alabama Heritage. * John Crittenden Duval, ''Early Times in Texas, or the Adventures of Jack Dobell,'' Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1986.References
{{reflist American filibusters (military)