The Whitfield / Ross Texas Cavary Brigade was one of the units with an unbelievable battle record.  From their conception in the summer of 1862 and actual organization in November and December of 18962 the unit need only one thing. Horses.  These arrived back from Texas and south Mississippi in late November and early December, in time for the famous raid on Holly Springs.  Then followed a succession of action across Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee that lasted December 1862 to December 1864. During one streach of over 100 days the unit was in daily contact with union forces daily. Some times regiments were replaced by sister units to continue the fighting. Often they faught as Infantry or Skirmishers.

Companies I of the 6th and H of the 9th were sharpshooter units.  Thay had trained and faught as sharpshooters and skirmishers at Corinth II with Ras Stirman's Arkansas Sharpshooter Regiment. The company commander of Company I of the 6th, LTC Harry Bridges was the Assistant Commander of that Regiment for that battle and the next day's battle at Hatchie Bridge. Though they went back to their regiments after that, They were a valuable asset during the rest of the war.

On newpaper account describes the Brigade front as a line of 500 men across the road with no reinforcement. They were charged three times by a Union Brigade with over 2000 men and artillery and stopped each attack only to fall back to stop the Union charge.  After the third attack and loss of many men it returned to the Confederate line. It had provided much needed time for the Confederate Corps to build fortifications. The Union Forces did not attack again.

On two occasions the brigade was over run by Union Divisions only to return to battle. Once the brigade staff was captured only to escape during an attack by their troops and a heavy rain storm.  The second time the whole unit just milted into the ground as the Union forces road over them. A few were captured and killed but most who had been out of ammunition returned to the unit flag before nightfall and were soon in persuit of the enemy again.

The unit was singled out by General Van Dorn, General Stephen Lee, and General Forrest for the gallent fighting ability and that they could be depended upon in battle.  General Van Dorn gave the Brigade the lead in the attack on Holly Springs.  The Lieutenant Colonel Bridges mentioned in the paragraph above died in a charge protecting General Stephen Lee. General Forrest called on the unit to protect the rear in the retreat from Tennessee in December of 1864 when the whole Army depended upon them.

Occassionally, they were undisciplinded and uncontrollable. During the Holly Springs raid the were seen drinking and smoaking and raising cane. Only one regiment was truely controlled.  In Mississippi, when fired upon by a black cavalry unit, they then ran them to ground and killed almost all. Later in an attack on a fort on the Mississippi, after calling for surrender, they were ruthless against those who did not surrender. Again they killed most.

As black units enetered the Army in 1864 this hostility toward blacks subsided, but never ceased completely.  Because many had been Rangers fighting the Indians to protect their homes, they were rough and hard to control.  They did not cotton to military discipline.

Were they the best. I believe thay could have been part of Mosby's or Stonewall's Units. They did fight with Forrest and Terry's Texas Rangers. Ross was a strong and charging general. He led his troops well.