John Salmon Ford

John Salmon Ford
CSA Colonel John S. Ford during the American Civil War
Born	May 26, 1815 Greenville District, South Carolina
Died	November 3, 1897 Texas
Allegiance	Republic of Texas United States of America Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Army of the Republic of Texas (1836-1838) United States Army Texas Militia Confederate States Army
Rank	Colonel (CSA) Brigadier General (Militia)
Unit	Regiment of Texas Mounted Rifles Texas Rangers
Commands held	Texas Scout Company (Mexican-American War), 2nd Texas Cavalry Regiment (CSA)
Battles/wars	Indian Wars *Antelope Hills Expedition (1859) *Battle of Little Robe Creek (1859) Merchant's War (1851-1852) Mexican-American War First Cortina War *Battle of Rio Grande City (1859) American Civil War *Second Cortina War (1861) *Battle of Palmito Ranch (1865)
Spouse(s)	Mary Davis
Other work	doctor, lawyer, journalist, politician, lawman

John Salmon Ford (May 26, 1815 – November 3, 1897), better known as "Rip" Ford, was a member of the Republic of Texas Congress and later of the State Senate, and mayor of Brownsville, Texas. He was also a Texas Ranger, a Confederate colonel, doctor, lawyer, and a journalist and newspaper owner. Ford commanded men during the Antelope Hills Expedition and he later commanded the Confederate forces in the last engagement of the American Civil War, the Battle of Palmito Ranch on May 12 and 13 of 1865. It was a Confederate victory, but as it occurred more than a month after Robert E. Lee's surrender it had no effect on the outcome of the war.

Ford was born in Greenville District, South Carolina, but grew up in Lincoln County, Tennessee. His parents were William and Harriet Ford. When he was 16 he moved to Shelbyville, Tennessee to study medicine. There he met his future wife, Mary Davis. However, the marriage ended in divorce and Ford decided to move to Texas, then fighting for its independence from Mexico.

Ford arrived in Texas in June 1836, too late to participate in the Texas Revolution. He served in the Texas army until 1838. He opened a medical practice in the east Texas town of San Augustine, where he practiced for eight years. He also studied law and passed the bar exam before winning election to the Texas legislature in 1844, advocating annexation by the United States. The following year he moved to Austin, where he purchased the Texas National Register, renaming it the Texas Democrat.

When the Mexican War began, Ford enlisted in John Coffee Hays' regiment of Texas Mounted Rifles. However, he was promptly appointed a lieutenant and would serve as both adjutant and medical officer. He saw active duty with his regiment in Mexico, commanding a scout company part of the time. He received the nickname 'Rip' for his peculiarity of including the words "Rest in Peace" after each and every name when composing his company's casualty lists.