Keeping History alive in East Texas
We are a pre-1840's living history and reenactment group located in the backwoods of East Texas. Our mission is to research and reconstruct the customs, skills, and frontier lifestyles of those early pioneers of the 1820's and 1830's who carved homes and livings out of the wilderness between the upper reaches of the Neches and Sabine Rivers known as BEVIL'S SETTLEMENT. Bevil's Rangers originated in 2006 as a handful of traditional muzzle loader enthusiasts and history lovers. Our membership now numbers in excess of 30 men and women from over a half dozen surrounding counties who gather together once a month dressed in our early 19th century garments, sporting our flintlock rifles, and cooking in our iron pots over an open fire started with a flint rock and steel striker.
We participate in numerous historical and public events in the region throughout the year demonstrating such early crafts as black smithing, long rifle building, powder horn crafting, hide tanning, camp fire cooking, and more. Each year around April 21, a group of us "volunteers" march off to participate in the annual reenactment of the Battle of San Jacinto. And twice a year, in Spring and Fall, we hold an old time backwoods Rifle Frolic where we set up a primitive camp in the woods and engage in a variety of frontier era activities and competitions for 3 days and nights.
So if you have a yearning to learn more about what life was like when East Texas was young, come visit us in the Settlement and explore your way back into our history and our heritage. We will be happy to discuss appearing or demonstrating at your special event.
We participate in numerous historical and public events in the region throughout the year demonstrating such early crafts as black smithing, long rifle building, powder horn crafting, hide tanning, camp fire cooking, and more. Each year around April 21, a group of us "volunteers" march off to participate in the annual reenactment of the Battle of San Jacinto. And twice a year, in Spring and Fall, we hold an old time backwoods Rifle Frolic where we set up a primitive camp in the woods and engage in a variety of frontier era activities and competitions for 3 days and nights.
So if you have a yearning to learn more about what life was like when East Texas was young, come visit us in the Settlement and explore your way back into our history and our heritage. We will be happy to discuss appearing or demonstrating at your special event.