Alabama Red Rovers

These are more of the  Boot Hill  range of Texan War of Independence figures and despite my poor pictures they have painted up even better than the New Orleans Greys figures I have previously posted.

In November of 1835, urges for help went out to newspapers throughout the United States. In Alabama, Dr. Jack Shackelford. Shortly after reading this plea for help, Shackelford stood in the town square of Courtland, Alabama and made his own plea to the people of Courtland to mobilize and send aid to the suppressed Texans in their aid for independence. 

Before long Shackelford had about sixty volunteers ahead of him, of whom they elected Captain. As a third of Courtland’s population had volunteered, the remaining citizens of the hamlet also mobilized in making the Volunteer company uniforms, the ladies and children of the town made uniforms for their husbands, fathers, sons, nephews, cousins or friends. 

They came to be called the Red Rovers because of the colour of their uniforms.As part of  the command of Colonel James Fannin, they fought in the Battle of Coleto on March 19–20, 1836. The Texians were defeated and forced to surrender. 

Most of the prisoners, including Fannin, were executed in the infamous Goliad massacre, but Jack Shackelford and several other doctors were spared to care for the Mexican wounded. During the Mexicans' retreat after their defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto, Shackelford and Dr. Joseph Henry Barnard managed to escape.

Shackelford was honourably discharged and returned home to Alabama.