CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: JOHN S. FORD

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Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@charter.net
26 January, 2002 
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson 
JOHN S. FORD

John S. Ford, the celebrated commander of the Texas Rangers, was 
born in Greenville district, South Carolina, May 26, 1815.  Two 
years later the family removed to Tennessee, where the subject of 
this sketch resided until 1836, when inspired by the deeds of 
the Texans in their struggle for independence, he recruited a 
company and set out for the Lone Star Republic.  The long toilsome 
march landed him in Texas too late for the battle of San Jacinto, 
but he and his command were mustered in the army and were in 
numerous engagements during the following two years.  He took up 
his residence in San Augustine and became its official surveyor.  
In 1844 he was elected to the Congress of the Republic of Texas, 
where he did all in his power for the defense of the frontier, 
and by resolution and vote urged the annexation to the United 
States.  It is a well known fact that Texas could have remained 
a republic with every assurance of support from both France and 
Great Britain, but the heroic Americans who had succeeded in 
maintaining under the Lone Star flag a republican form of 
government now wished to add an empire to the United States.  In 
the year 1845 Col. Ford removed to Austin and established the 
"Texas Democrat" which he ably edited.  Volunteering in the 
Mexican War in 1846, he was made adjutant of Col. John C. Hay's 
regiment.  He commanded the front guard on the advance to the C
ity of Mexico, and was in all of the battles in the valley.  In 
1849 he was made captain of the Texas Rangers and stationed 
between the Nueces and Rio Grande where during the next two 
years he had many thrilling engagements.  In 1852 he was elected 
to the Senate to succeed Gen. Edward Burleson, where he served 
until called again in 1858 to the command of the rangers, and for 
the succeeding four years his feats of war read more like fiction 
and romance than sober history.  The official records in 
Washington and Austin have embalmed it all and already numerous 
books are out containing some part of the daring story.  Col. 
Ford was a member of the secession convention in 1861, and then 
became colonel in the Confederate army and was in many battles.  
On the 12th day of May, 1865, he commanded in the battle of 
Palmito, and with less than three hundred mounted men and one 
battery of six pieces, he defeated the Federal commander Gen. 
Barrett, who had three regiments.  This is believed to have been 
the last engagement of the war.  When hostilities ceased Col. 
Ford again turned to journalism and was until his death one of 
the most influential citizens of the state.