A Texas Ranger

by Napolean Augustus Jennings

In 1874, Napoleon Augustus Jennings moved to Texas to become a prominent member of the Texas Rangers tasked with border patrol under the command of L.H. McNelly. South Texas was overrun by thieves and outlaws, and over three thousand Mexican guerrillas raided settlers on both sides of the border. McNelly’s Rangers became famous for their often violent and murderous campaigns. Maintaining strict law in the anarchic area was not easy and they quickly gained a reputation as "fire-eating, quarrelsome daredevils”. During this period they made over eleven hundred arrests and killed many more. McNelly ordered them “to have fun, and to carry out a set policy of terrorizing the Mexicans at every opportunity," Jenning’s memoir includes many accounts of these clashes with Mexican guerrillas and records well-known incidents involving McNelly — his battles with the US government and the fight at Las Cuevas with Cortuna and his raiders. Jennings also provides first-hand accounts of scrapes with King Fisher’s outlaw band, John Wesley Hardin, and the families involved in the Taylor-Sutton feud. In an era of cattle thieving and terror, A Texas Ranger follows Jennings through the southern border of Texas and finds a vivid first-hand portrayal of life in the late 19th century in one of the most lawless and violent places in the United States. “If any time of the past was ever vivid and vital enough to live on through mere reporting… it was the time when McNelly’s rangers rode the bloody border of Texas. Hence it is exceedingly fortunate that a man who was to become a skilled reported rode with them and later saw reason for putting down some of the things he had been part of.” — J. Frank Dobie Napoleon Augustus Jennings was born in Philadelphia, the son of a wealthy merchant, on January 11, 1856, and graduated from St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. He moved to Texas in 1874 and became a ranger, that years chronicled in this book. When his father died in 1878 he returned to Philadelphia and attempted to run the family business, but was smothered by city life. He returned to the West in 1881 as a prospector, miner, stagecoach driver, and sign painter in Colorado. Jennings died in New York on December 15, 1919.

Genres: History, Westerns, Nonfiction

155 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1899

Reviews

[Jim McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific read. I find it fascinating to read something written so long ago and discover that people behaved nearly identically to people of today. it does appear they were much hardier, although the Rangers were a tough breed.

Having lived in South Texas, I recognize many of the areas in which they operated, so that is a bonus to me. I only wish I had known more about the regions recent history when I lived there.

Side note, I did know a real life Texas Ranger to the extent we often had lunch in the same Alice, TX restaurant in the early 1980's, spoke most of those days, and purchased a rifle from him that I have to this day.

[Саша Буль, · Rating 5 out of 5]

Якби інстаграм винайшли наприкінці дев’ятнадцятого століття, то саме з таких історій складалася б стрічка тогочасного техаського рейнджера.

Саме інстаграм, а не FB. У другому було б більше політики та диванної аналітики щодо того, як вплине на економіку США придбання Аляски, зрадою чи перемогою вважати убивство Максиміліана Першого в Мексиці та суперечки щодо прокламації про звільнення рабів.

Це дуже легке чтиво, що не вимагатиме від вас глибоких знань історії. Достатньо вміти візуалізувати в уяві ковбоя у «десятигалоновому» капелюсі, шестизарядний револьвер та кактуси. І можна вирушати в дорогу разом із загоном рейнджерів.

Це оповідки про молодих хлопців, що годинами перестрілювались із мексиканськими головорізами, днями не вилазили з сідла, тижнями спали під зорями та роками вистежували кримінальних селебрітіз на кшталт Джона Уеслі Гардінга. Того самого, що про нього Боб Ділан співав «ніколи не скривдив чесної людини». Рейнджери трішки іншої думки.

Це спогади про часи, коли убивцям дозволяли закінчити пляшку віскі, перш ніж відвести їх до буцегарні, конокради одягалися екстравагантніше за сучасних рок зірок, а скромних статків священника не вистачало на утримання родини. Останнє особливо складно уявити.

Якби я колись взявся писати мемуари з гастролей, то це був би дуже схожий текст. Тільки замініть вінчестери на гітари. Надто вже атмосфера та побут рейнджерівського мандрівного табору нагадали мені про тижні в туровому бусі. Ті ж жарти, підстьобування та вибрики. От тільки нам не доводилось регулярно ризикувати життям і переносити нелюдські навантаження.

Моментами починаєш розуміти, чому Техас був єдиним штатом, який не захопила армія Півночі під час Громадянської війни. Об цих чуваків можна сокири точити. Я не відкидаю, що автор може моментами перебільшувати. Самі згадайте районні історї про розбірки. Із кожним переказом пацанів з сусіднього двору все більше, а вас все менше. Удари все сильніше нагадують сцени з Мортал Комбат. Але ж від цього слухати їх не стає менш цікаво.

[Bob Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candid 1st Person Memoir


This is a delightful read of the adventures of a (mostly) full_time Texas Ranger in the mid-1800s in South and West Texas when frontier was the only operative adjective applicable to the region. Still sparsely settled, a land of cattle barons like Richard King , a lawless border as porous as tisssue paper that allowed two-way thievery of horses and cattle to flow like mescal and murders night and day to go unpunished, yes, this land cried out for the intrepid band of Captain McNelly's Rangers to straighten it out by law or by forceful persuasion. And straighten it out they did!

I was raised along the border with Mexico in chicken-scratch towns like Freer, Hebbronville, and Cuero. Even now this book gives the feel of the raw, rough, dry, dangerous land I grew up in as the son of an itinerant job-to-job oil field roughneck.

[Rob Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Delightful Read

The author served with the famed Texas Rangers as a young man for approximately three years. Despite the relatively short term of service, it was a very full experience, including some of the most famous exploits of the early days of the Rangers. Told with wit and self-deprecating humor, it is an easy and thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great Autobiography! Jennings is a bit of a novelty as Texas Rangers go. He is from a wealthy Eastern family and is very well educated. Hence, his ability to write and utilize excellent grammar and vocabulary to fully describe his adventures is most unique.
If you like Texana then this is the real deal.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read.

The book is like several old timers I met in my younger years. They were full of stories just like these. You have to read them them like a grain of salt, knowing that most are just made up tales of the good times and none of the bad times or the tales are just made up to hear themselves talk. This book is enjoyable more it you have a western background.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The memoir of N. A. Jennings, who left Philadelphia as a 16-year-old to make his fortune on a cattle ranch in Texas. Mr. Jennings apparently had a hard time hanging on to money, even after he was a mature adult, and the cattle ranch never came to be, so he took a job as a Texas ranger so he would have food to eat and a place to stay. His story is funny, self-deprecating, and, in places, exciting. In places, he is politically incorrect, but his writing is entertaining and he reflects accurately the times he lived in.

[Dr.Husaim · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤠🐎💪🏼
Техас. Дикий степ сполучених штатів. От тільки в цьому степу панують не козаки, а рейнджери, техаські рейнджери.

Часом, можна почути, що американцям "з неба впало" верховенство права чи рівень життя. О ні, це міф який зрощують дилетанти від історії. А коли вам цікаво справжня, жива історія дикого заходу, історія шаленого прикордоння, історія побудови тієї америки якої ми знаємо - то ця книга для вас.

Р.S. Це досить круті мемуари, які в моєму особистому рейтингу книг, даного видавництва, твердо посіли друге місце, відразу за книгою "Чужа війна".

[Георгий Костенков · Rating 4 out of 5]

Почну з одного суттєвого мінуса, який криється в назві і може розчарувати читачів. Ця книга не зовсім про самого Техаського рейнджера, якщо ви бажаєте повністю окунутися у цю професію. Це скоріше про спогади людини, яка опинилася у Техасі і яка прожила там дуже довгий час, про її карколомні пригоди в ході яких вона стала Техаським рейнджером. І якщо ви бажаєте більше дізнатися про особливості життя в Техасі у ті роки, почитати про справжній побут та відносити на Дикому Заході, ця книга точно вас не розчарує.

[Darrell Worthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good read. It was written in 1899 by a man who came to Texas as a foolhardy youth and ended up joining the rangers. It’s invaluable as something written then, rather than by a contemporary author. It starts slow, though. The action heats up around page 60-70. The intro explains the relationship between UT professors Walter Prescott Webb and j. Frank dobie was great.

[Barneysewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A learning curve.

Never considered how effective the Texas Rangers were.
Thought of them as seen in films, but there's no comparison.
A very interesting read enjoyed the history of the Rangers
Yes recommend this book.

[Ed Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rangers tale

A great tale told by the ranger himself. At times exceedingly boring but a good read for the most part. Sometimes the writing is hard to understand, but with some patience, you will figure it out

[Read Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A first hand account of gun battles, camaraderie, and adventure of the Old West in Texas. Very easy to read and always had my full attention. Highly recommended.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Texas history

Nice to read some of the real stories of the Texas Rangers but not quite as exciting as Lonesome Dove.

[Bryan Boswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!

This is an excellent book. First hand account of the life of a Texas Ranger. Very good reading. I highly recommend this book.

[Dennis O'Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

An enjoyable read. A lot good history was covered and enjoyed reading some of the history of the Texas Rangers

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Texas Ranger

An interesting first hand account of life as a Texas Ranger. A young man decides to go West and seek his fortune.

[John R. Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting history of the early Texas Rangers that is well written, a good read.

[Kenneth Costello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed the story and the way it was told ,it entails a tale of a bunch of wild boys both good and bad

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good and fast read. Kept me engaged, regarding the history of the Texas Rangers gaurding the wild southwester borderlands of Texas.

[Joan Lloyd]

Nope

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ranger

The autobiography of a Texas Ranger is interesting but, in this day holds many triggers in language and attitudes. As a record of the late 1870s it is of historical interest.

[Richard Croner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book, reasonably well written and it gives a very good historical perspective of Texas as it was growing up. I enjoyed it.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another memiors of a frontier Texas Ranger. Many of these men had walked both sides of the law.