Several songs about the 'Texas Rangers,' concern Rangers units in the Civil War, and were composed during the War. They have nothing to do with the 'one riot, one ranger' force. The military Ranger songs include "Terry's Texas Rangers" (Eighth Texas Cavalry), "The Texas Ranger" by Carpenter, "The Ranger's Farewell," "The Rangers Lay" by Wilson, "Song of the Texas Rangers" by Young, "The Texan Rangers" (1861), and others (see "Allan's Lone Star Ballads," 1874).

"The Frontier Ranger" by Smith (in the Second Rangers during the Civil War), mostly concerns the peace-keepers, and "The Texas Ranger" by Kennedy (1836), are two about the Indian fighters and peace-keepers. During the Civil War, Texas Rangers enlisted in various units (link by SRS to the Handbook of Texas). "Corrido de los Rangers" (Brownsville and Rangers, 1912), and "Corrido de las Elecciones de Brownsville," both at American Memory, in addition to "Gregorio Cortez," linked by SRS, are 20th c. songs concerning the Rangers.

"The Texas Rangers," Lomax FSNA, possibly is a music hall song. In its various forms, the enemies are Indians, Yankees, or Mexicans. The Yankees, perhaps, were the first subject since the song appeared just after the Civil War and may have been written near its start.