[From J. Marvin Hunter’s Frontier Times Magazine, November, 1927]

COLONEL LAMARTINE P. SIEKER was born in Baltimore, Maryland April 8th, 1848, and attended school there in his early childhood. At the age of eleven years he entered the schools of Madison, North Carolina. studying there until he went to the Washington Military Academy. When but fifteen years of age he joined Parker's Battery, Longstreet's Corps. He was tall, straight, handsome and as active as an Indian. He always wore a red flannel shirt, and was conspicuous in a fight. No one doubted his pluck, although he was but a boy. He celebrated his seventeenth birthday the day before Lee surrendered. He was with Parker's Battery in all of his military experience, and won the admiration and friendship of the officers and men, and was with the Battery when it surrendered at Appomattox. An incident is recorded in "A Story of a Boy Company," where young Lamartine P. Sicker proved his bravery:

"At North Anna river and Howard Junction the boys disputed Grant's right of way to Richmond, and at the latter place Lamartine P. Sieker, a new and young recruit did a very brave thing in a very cool manner. The men wanted water, and the only spring convenient was between them and the enemy. It looked like certain death to attempt to reach that spring, and we were amazed when this new recruit offered to go there. With a half dozen canteens strung around him, he not only went to that spring, but returned, looking as gay and careless as if he had enjoyed the perilous errand."

With such bravery no wonder on an occasion, Col. S. D. Lee said to this boy company at Sharpshurg: "You are boys, but you have this day been where only men dared to go."

As before stated he was always very conspicuous by wearing a red flannel shirt, and he came out of the War unharmed. with the exception of being struck by a spent ball. He followed Horace Greeley's advice to "go west, young man." and being of a military turn of mind, he came to Texas and entered the Ranger service, being promoted to the rank of Captain, having held all of the other positions as ranking officer. He served on the Plains as a Ranger, and for twelve years commanded a company of those bronzed and gallant militant peace makers.

In 1885 he was appointed Quartermaster General of the State of Texas. and Chief Ordnance. He ranked as Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General. In 1873 he joined the National Guard service as First Lieutenant, Company A. Eleventh Regiment, Reserve Militia. He was also a member of John B. Hood's Camp of Confederate Veterans of Austin, and was in command of the Camp in 1905.

During his nineteen years of service Colonel Sicker was on duty in the field from the Rio Grande to Red River. He was in fights with Indians, Mexicans and outlaws, upholding courts in newly organized counties, suppressing mobs, settling disputes between factions, and taking part in quieting railroad strikes at Fort Worth and engaged in many other services too numerous to mention here. He discharged the duties of his several positions with an unfailing ability which marked his eminent fitness for the places. All honor to this boy soldier, who became a conscientious, patriotic and highly efficient officer. He died in 1911 at the age of sixty-six years.