Roll of Honor
Incident
An eighteen man company of Texas Rangers were trailing a band of about 150 Indians driving a herd of stolen horses. First Lieutenant A. B. Vanbenthuysen, Second Lieutenant Alfred H. Miles and 16 ranger privates reached a rock formation in the hills near the headwaters of the West Fork of the Trinity River that was known by the Indians as the “Stone Houses.”
The Indians on horseback charged the rangers who sought protection in a ravine. About 50-60 of the Indians were armed with rifles and the rest with bows and arrows. The combat was at close range and many Indians were killed along with Privates Joseph Cooper, Alexander Bostwick, Dr. William Sanders and William Nicholson.
The Indians set the prairie grass on fire and charged the 14 remaining rangers. Lt. Vanbenthuysen decided the only escape was through an open prairie. The rangers left on foot because their horses refused to go through the smoke. Second Lieutenant Alfred H. Miles and Privates Lewis F. Scheuster, James Joslen, James Christian, Jesse Blair and Westley Nicholson were killed while trying to escape the burning field.
Only eight rangers escaped, and three of them were wounded. The rangers reported to have killed about 50 Indians. Without horses, food or provisions, the men walked for 17 days through the wilderness to a settlement.
Miles was a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836 and was involved in the capture of Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Christian and Sanders were also veterans of the ranger service. Nothing is known about the other men.
The Texas Historical Commission has placed a marker at the site of the Battle of the Stone Houses recognizing the sacrifice of these early day Texas Rangers. The rock formation is located about 10 miles south of Windthorst on Highway 61 in present day Archer County.
AS TIME GOES BY, I FILL THAT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THANK ABOUT WHO, WHAT AND WHERE THESE MAN AND WOMAN GIVE THERE LIVES AND HOW WE AS OFFICERS, PUBLIC, AND SERVICE MEMBERS , CAN DO MORE FOR THIS GREAT NATION. WE OWE THEM MORE THEN WE CAN EVER REPAY. MAY THEY REST WITH THE GOOD LORD ABOVE AND MAY WE THE LIVING NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY HAVE GIVEN FOR OUR SAFETY. GOD BLESS THEM ALL.
LIEUTENANT MICHAEL L. BOSTWICK LA SALLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, RET. ARMY RANGER May 15th, 2018
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- April 2, 2026
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- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
189 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Private Bostwick served with the Texas Rangers.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Private Alexander Bostwick is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Texas Rangers, 104 of 122 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alexander Bostwick's cause is highlighted.
How Alexander Bostwick Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alexander Bostwick is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alexander Bostwick was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
121 officers from Texas Rangers are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
