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The Texas Revolution was a war fought largely by volunteers. When the revolution began, the Consultation of 1835 tried to raise a regular army, but struggled to recruit men. Fiercely independent, Texians didn’t want to commit to a set length of military service, and they were concerned about the safety and livelihood of their families while they were away. Likewise, volunteer companies arriving from America had already elected their own leadership and weren’t interested in joining a foreign army.

As a result, unified leadership and direction were often in short supply.

In a bid to establish centralized control of the army, the newly established Texas government named Sam Houston commander-in-chief of all land forces, volunteer and professional, in March of 1836. Houston quickly set about organizing his fighting force, and on March 12, he placed approximately 400 volunteer soldiers into a single regiment with Colonel Edward Burleson as their commander. A second volunteer regiment was created on April 8 with Colonel Sidney Sherman at its head.

Ultimately, ninety-two regulars and 844 volunteers fought at the Battle of San Jacinto.