Over the years any number of posts have been made about Camp of Instruction No. 2 at Talladega. Search history for this site using the keywords 'Instruction' and 'Camp'.

Lafayette Bice enlisted in Capt. Newton B. De Arman's newly-recruited company of senior reserves on Apr. 2, 1864, Talladega, Ala. The only document in Lafayette Bice's service file is a receipt for clothing dated July 7, 1864. However, there are unfiled records which show him assigned to the post guard at Talladega from July to December of 1864. On the July-August roll he was absent at Blue Mountain AL. At the end of December he was ordered to report to Capt. De Arman's company.

During his initial twelve-month term of service, Newton B. Dearman had been elected Lieutenant of Capt. A. W. Bowie's "Mountain Rangers" of Talladega. He was not reelected and went home in August 1862. De Arman later received an appointment as recruiting officer for Calhoun County AL. During the summer of 1864 he raised a small mounted company which was assigned to duty in the 4th Congressional District of Alabama as supporting forces. On October 1, 1864, De Arman requisitioned skillets, cooking pots and other utensils for his command, saying his men were without any such item. By small, I mean that he needed fodder for twenty-five horses in October 1864, and twenty-four in November 1864.

At some point Capt. De Arman's company was assigned to Major Barbiere's Cavalry Battalion, composed of similar companies on duty as supporting forces. The primary duty of supporting forces was to search for, capture and take conscripts and deserters to Camp of Instruction at Talladega. Those who have seen the movie "Cold Mountain" or read the novel will understand something of the nature of this activity.