Texas Military Forces Historical Sketch
Mexican Border Service
For the third time, the men of Texas were called on to face the men across the border on the battlefield, and for the third time, the Texans were to be on the winning side.
On May 9, 1916, just before noon, the Governor directed the mobilization of the Texas National Guard. The War Department had given authority for a school of all infantry officers and selected sergeants from all infantry commands at Camp Mabry near Austin, May 9-16, 1916, and was advised when said school started. On mobilization orders, though, the school was immediately disbanded and the officers and noncommissioned officers hurried home. Notification was sent all home stations, though, so that noncommissioned officers who had not attended the school might begin to assemble the commands.
All organizations were directed to report at San Antonio on trains arriving Thursday, May 11, in the forenoon if possible, with available officers and entire enlisted strength, but in no event with less than the prescribed minimum. On May 14, there were 158 officers and 3,572 enlisted men. Muster-in began on May 16.
The Texas troops were mobilized at Camp Wilson near San Antonio, on what is now Fort Sam Houston and was the site of the World War Camp Travis, but shortly thereafter brigade headquarters, Second and Third Regiments of Infantry and Field Hospital were stationed all along the lower Rio Grande Valley from Harlingen to Roma. The Fourth Regiment of Infantry was sent to the Big Bend District, being stationed from Sanderson to Sierra Blanca and the territory south to the Rio Grande with its headquarters at Marfa, on ground which later became Ft. D. A. Russell. The Cavalry Squadron was first sent to Laredo and then to Ruidosa in the Big Bend District. Battery A was sent to Rio Grande City. The Engineer companies were assigned to the 12th Division at Camp Wilson. Then the brigade headquarters, the Second and Third Regiments of Infantry, the Field Hospital and Battery A were stationed at Corpus Christi, the other units still remaining in the same positions.
Brigadier General John A. Hulen, who later organized and commanded the 36th Division, commanded the troops of the brigade which were stationed at Corpus Christi.