James Milford Day
Encyclopedia
James Milford Day was a 19th-century Texas military figure. He was a member of Mathew Caldwell
's and Jack Hay
's Seguin Rangers and a participant in the Mexican-American War.
, that preceded Sam Houston
's march to the battle of San Jacinto
in 1836. When returning, the Johnson Day and George Nichols families met Henry B. King and John R. King along with a group bound for Texas near St. Augustine. With the same destination agreed upon, the three groups decided it safer to travel together. The troop arrived at Gonzales, Texas on October 6, 1837. Misfortune hit the Day family in Gonzales, when the father was killed in 1838. That same year, James Milford Day married Martha Nichols and they had 2 children. A third child died along with Martha during birth. Day's Mother would help raise and care for the children.
, a new town in Gonzales County, Texas. During this time, he moved his mother into an adobe built home in his new town. Day would join Mathew Caldwell
's Gonzales - Seguin Rangers in 1839. Caldwell stationed half of his men in the town, to protect the new settlers of the upcoming town. The Day home site would used extensively by the Rangers and become known as the Seguin Ranger Station.
had defeated Vicente Córdova
and his rebels during a battle near Seguin, Texas, at "Battleground Prairie". Córdova survived, but was pursued by Caldwell's Rangers, Seguin militia and members of the Henry Karnes company, thus insuring his departure from Texas.
While Day and his company were scouting and camped on the Guadalupe River
, he was surprised by Cordova's fleeing company. Although holding their own, he was severely wounded but survived. It was here he would suffer an injury that impaired his ability to walk for the rest of his life.
Day was a participant in the battle of Plum Creek
on August 12, 1840.
On September 18, 1842, Day fought at the battle of Salado Creek
.
During the war with Mexico, Day served in 1846 and 1847 in Captain McCulloch's Company.
Mathew Caldwell
Mathew Caldwell, , also spelled Matthew Caldwell was a 19th century Texas settler, military figure, Captain of the Gonzales - Seguin Rangers and a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence...
's and Jack Hay
John Coffee Hays
Col. John Coffee "Jack" Hays was a Texas Ranger captain and military officer of the Republic of Texas. Hays served in several armed conflicts, including the Indian and the Mexican-American War.-Biography:...
's Seguin Rangers and a participant in the Mexican-American War.
Early life and family
James Milford Day was born May 11, 1815 in Anderson County, South Carolina. He was the son of Johnson Day and Sarah Hembree. Day accompanied his parents and siblings to Texas in 1835 and became part of the Runaway ScrapeRunaway Scrape
The Runaway Scrape was the name given to the flight and subsequent hostilities that occurred, as Texan, Tejano, and American settlers and militia encountered the pursuing Mexican army in early 1836....
, that preceded Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
's march to the battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
in 1836. When returning, the Johnson Day and George Nichols families met Henry B. King and John R. King along with a group bound for Texas near St. Augustine. With the same destination agreed upon, the three groups decided it safer to travel together. The troop arrived at Gonzales, Texas on October 6, 1837. Misfortune hit the Day family in Gonzales, when the father was killed in 1838. That same year, James Milford Day married Martha Nichols and they had 2 children. A third child died along with Martha during birth. Day's Mother would help raise and care for the children.
Career in Texas
In 1838, Day became one of the founders of Walnut SpringsSeguin, Texas
Seguin is a city in Guadalupe County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,011; the July 1, 2009 Census estimate, however, showed the population had increased to 26,842...
, a new town in Gonzales County, Texas. During this time, he moved his mother into an adobe built home in his new town. Day would join Mathew Caldwell
Mathew Caldwell
Mathew Caldwell, , also spelled Matthew Caldwell was a 19th century Texas settler, military figure, Captain of the Gonzales - Seguin Rangers and a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence...
's Gonzales - Seguin Rangers in 1839. Caldwell stationed half of his men in the town, to protect the new settlers of the upcoming town. The Day home site would used extensively by the Rangers and become known as the Seguin Ranger Station.
Texas Republic Ranger
On March 29, 1839, a company of 80 men commanded by General Edward BurlesonEdward Burleson
Edward Burleson was a soldier, general, and statesman in the state of Missouri, the Republic of Texas, and later the U.S. state of Texas....
had defeated Vicente Córdova
Cordova Rebellion
The Córdova Rebellion, in 1839, was an uprising instigated in and around Nacogdoches, Texas. Alcalde Vicente Córdova and other leaders supported the Texas Revolution as long as it espoused a return to the Constitution of 1824, but after declaring independence they sought to forcefully oppose the...
and his rebels during a battle near Seguin, Texas, at "Battleground Prairie". Córdova survived, but was pursued by Caldwell's Rangers, Seguin militia and members of the Henry Karnes company, thus insuring his departure from Texas.
While Day and his company were scouting and camped on the Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River may refer to:*Guadalupe River *Guadalupe River *Guadalupe River *Guadalupe River , in southern Spain*Guadalope, a river in northern Spain...
, he was surprised by Cordova's fleeing company. Although holding their own, he was severely wounded but survived. It was here he would suffer an injury that impaired his ability to walk for the rest of his life.
Day was a participant in the battle of Plum Creek
Battle of Plum Creek
The Battle of Plum Creek was a clash between militia and Rangers of the Republic of Texas and a huge Comanche war party under Chief Buffalo Hump, which took place near Lockhart, Texas, on August 12, 1840, following the Great Raid of 1840 as the Comanche war party returned to West...
on August 12, 1840.
On September 18, 1842, Day fought at the battle of Salado Creek
Battle of Salado Creek (1842)
The Battle of Salado Creek was a decisive engagement in 1842 which repulsed the final Mexican invasion of Texas. Colonel Mathew Caldwell of the Texas Rangers led just over 200 militiamen against an army of 1,600 Mexican Army troops and Cherokee warriors and defeated them outside of San Antonio de...
.
During the war with Mexico, Day served in 1846 and 1847 in Captain McCulloch's Company.