This book describes the development of the Texas Rangers, from their beginnings in the early 1820s as an irregular force designed to combat the Comanche raids on settlers in Mexican-governed Texas. They played a major part in the fight for independence and in the early history of the Republic, fighting both the Mexicans and the Indian raiders. After Texas joined the Union, the Rangers fought alongside US regulars in the resulting war. As time moved on and the Indians and Mexicans became less of a threat, so they were replaced by new enemies. The Rangers now had a vital role to play in the taming of the West, facing adversaries such as the infamous John Wesley Harding. They have since been called to deal with rustlers, bootleggers and bandits and have developed into a modern and professional law enforcement organization.