Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Overseas Weapon: Unknown weapon Offender: Not available
After continuous raiding by Indians into Texas, Governor E.M. Pease authorized James H. Callahan to form a company of state rangers to pursue Indians and “follow them up and chastise them wherever they may be found.”
Captain Callahan’s company of 110 Texas Mounted Rangers pursued a war party of Lipan Apaches who had committed depredations in Texas across the Rio Grande River into Mexico. As the rangers approached Escondido Creek, a fusillade of gunfire erupted from a distant timberline. A force of 600-700 Mexican troops and Indians had been concealed in the timber. Captain Callahan halted his troops and ordered them to form a skirmish line, and then ordered a charge. Privates William H. Clopton, Augustus Smith, Willis E. Jones and H.K. Holland were killed and six rangers suffered serious wounds. Private Jones’ body was recovered but the other dead rangers had to be left on the battle field. Two hundred additional Mexican infantry arrived on the scene and Captain Callahan retreated to Piedras Negras, a Mexican town across the river from Eagle Pass, Texas. The U.S. Army forces at Fort Duncan in Eagle Pass had strict orders not to cross the border. When Callahan heard that 1,000 Mexican troops were en route, he retreated back across the border into Texas.
Private Smith enlisted in the Texas Militia Volunteers in San Antonio on October 1, 1854 at age 28 and served until February 17, 1853 for 4 months and 17 days of service. He enlisted in the Texas Mounted Rangers in Bexar County on July 20, 1855 at age 31 and served 2 months and 29 days until his death. No other information is known about him at this time.
Rest in peace always and know that no passage of time can ever erase your service and sacrifice.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) October 3rd, 2020
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BO-US-TX-1B67A981- Stewardship
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
171 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Private Smith 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 Augustus Smith 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. Augustus Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Augustus Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Augustus Smith is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Augustus Smith was killed by unknown weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
121 officers from Texas Rangers are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
