Thomas Couzens

Texas Rangers — Austin, TX

Felonious

End of Watch January 11, 1848

Age 35

The Vigil Panel 1 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 121

Incident

Lieutenant Thomas Couzens, Private Littleton Rattan, Private Richard Gilbert and were killed during a fight with Indians near the headwaters of the Nueces River.

The Rangers had pursued the Indians, who had stolen several horses from their camp. They engaged in hand-to-hand combat after a nine-day pursuit. Private Gilbert and Private Rattan were both killed during the fight. Lieutenant Couzens was struck by an arrow and died from his wounds on January 11th, 1848.

Lt. Couzens, On today, the 172nd anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of Texas.

R.I.P. USBP

Anonymous United States Border Patrol January 11th, 2020

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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

178 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Lieutenant Couzens 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

Department Texas Rangers

Location Austin, TX

Platform Identity tr.travis.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 11, 1848

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Stabbed

Weapon Edged weapon

Lieutenant Thomas Couzens 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.

Texas Rangers

104

of 122 officers

85.2% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious