Regulator–Moderator War

The Regulator-Moderator War was a nineteenth century feud in East Texas during the Republic of Texas years. It was called the Regulator-Moderator war, for the two sides: the Regulators wanted to "regulate" the activities of rivals and the Moderators wanted to "moderate" being "regulated."

Background

Both the United States and Spain ignored a strip of land between Spanish Texas and the Louisiana Purchase (in what is now the U.S. state of Louisiana), because they were unable to agree on the boundary and did not want to go to war over it. The area, known as the Sabine Free State or the Neutral Ground, developed into a lawless patch that neither country controlled. The lawlessness spilled over into the adjacent portion of East Texas, still under Spanish control. Even after Spain and the United States signed the Adams-Onís Treaty (1819) and Mexico gained its independence (1821), little changed in regards to the region. After Texas won its independence from Mexico, the land remained wild and lawless.

East Texas War

The Regulator-Moderator War was a land feud in Harrison and Shelby counties in East Texas from 1839 to 1844. The feud eventually involved Nacogdoches, San Augustine and other East Texas counties.

The main leaders were Charles W. Jackson and Charles W. Moorman for the Regulators and Edward Merchant, John M. Bradley and James J. Cravens for the Moderators. Their differences date back to land frauds, cattle rustling, barn burners and revenge killings. Dozens had been killed over the years.

Feud ends

Republic of Texas president Sam Houston grew tired of the lawless fighting and attempted to settle the matter once and for all. He sent George W. Terrell to investigate the mayhem. Terrell wrote to Houston, "It really appears to me as if society were about to dissolve itself into its original elements". On 14 August 1844 Houston ordered Travis G. Brooks and Alexander Horton to lead 500 militia into East Texas and make peace between the factions. Brooks was immediately arrested, held, but soon released. Exasperated, Houston himself rode to East Texas and set up headquarters the last two weeks in August at San Augustine to take charge. Through his diplomacy of fairness and evenhandedness, Houston was able to get both factions to sign a peace treaty. Both factions put aside their differences during the Mexican-American War and joined together with Captain L.H. Mobitt's company.

Bibliography

*cite book
last = Lagrone
first = Leila Stone
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The Regulator-Moderator War: An East Texas Feud
publisher = Panola County Historical & Genealogical Association
date = 1995
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
isbn = 0890159602
*cite book
last = DeBruhl
first = Marshall
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Sword of San Jacinto: A Life of Sam Houston
publisher = Random House
date =
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
isbn = 0394576233
*cite book
last = Haley
first = James L.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Passionate Nation: The Epic History of Texas
publisher = Free Press
date =
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
isbn = 978-0684862910