Most Texas Rangers enlisted in the Confederate Army and most of the men who protected the frontier during the war were Confederate soldiers. The 8th Texas Cavalry aka Terry's Texas Rangers was not led by Rangers and most of the enlisted men were not Rangers. Still, it was a catchy name. The South desperately needed men to fill the ranks on the front lines where they sorely lacked manpower and resources. Unlike Lincoln and Grant, President Davis did not have the luxury of cannon fodder. That is not to say the Indian and Mexican bandit raids were not a very serious problem for Texans. The lack of Federal support was cited in the Texas Ordinance of Secession as one of the many reasons to leave the Union.