Terry's Texas Rangers and Clarkson's Independent Rangers

Portales Cemetery, New Mexico

(Wikipedia) The 8th Texas Cavalry, (1861–1865), popularly known as Terry's Texas Rangers, was a regiment of Texas volunteers for the Confederate States Army assembled by Colonel Benjamin Franklin Terry in August 1861. Though lesser known than The Texas Brigade, famous for their actions during the Battle of Gettysburg, the "Terry Rangers" distinguished themselves at several battles during the Civil War. In four years of service, Terry's Texas Rangers fought in about 275 engagements in seven states. The regiment earned a reputation that ranked it among the most effective mounted regiments in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. Continued

(David L. Haimerl) Colonel James J. Clarkson was authorized in late March 1862 to raise a battalion of cavalry, consisting of six companies, for special service. A few days later, Clarkson received instructions that his battalion would be tasked with interdicting the Federal line of communications traversing the Santa Fe Trail. His unit would never accomplish this assignment. A Federal invasion of the Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, loomed on the horizon. By June 16, 1862, Clarkson had raised five companies which were encamped along the Grand River in Indian Territory. Continued