One of the most famous battles fought by the Texas Rangers in the Hill Country was the Battle of Walker’s Creek on June 8, 1844. The Rangers had the new Colt handgun and they were led by the brave Capt. John Coffee Hays. Hays and 15 other rangers faced about 75 Comanches. 20 warriors died and another 30 were wounded and one ranger died.
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas. Over the years, the Texas Rangers have investigated crimes ranging from murder to political corruption, acted as riot police and as detectives, protected the Governor of Texas, tracked down fugitives, and functioned as a paramilitary force at the service of both the Republic (1836–45) and the state of Texas.