Roll of Honor
Incident
Second Lieutenant Alfred Miles, Privates Lewis Scheuster, Jesse Blair, Alexander Bostwick, James Christian, Joseph Cooper, James Joslen, William Nicholson, and William Sanders were killed while trailing a group of Indians
The eighteen-man company of the Texas Rangers was trailing a band of roughly 150 Indians driving a herd of stolen horses. A First Lieutenant, 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.
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. Many Indians were killed along with Privates Joseph Cooper, Alexander Bostwick, 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 men walked for 17 days through the wilderness to a settlement to get help.
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BO-US-TX-04ACDFD8- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute - 2 candles.
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Tributes
189 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Private Scheuster 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 Lewis F. Scheuster is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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. Lewis F. Scheuster's cause is highlighted.
How Lewis F. Scheuster Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lewis F. Scheuster is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lewis F. Scheuster was killed by edged weapon; bow and arrow.
Others Who Wore This Badge
121 officers from Texas Rangers are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
