More on Stirman’s regiment:

“Ross’s Texas Cavalry Brigade” H L Kerr

June 1-June 6, 1862 brigade is reorganized to now include:
6 Texas Cav
9 Texas Cav
3 AK Cav
Stirman’s Ark Cav Bn

“A Texas Cavalry Officer’s Civil War-The Diary and Letters of James C. Bates” [9th Texas Cavalry] edited by Richard Lowe

“The brigade to which the regiment belonged had also been reorganized in early June, 1862. The 6th and 9th Texas Cavalry, the 3rd Arkansas Cavalry-all still dismounted-and an Arkansas battalion of sharpshooters were now brigaded....
At some point in June or July, Captain Bate’s military career took another significant turn. His Co H was transferred from the 9th Texas Cav to the Arkansas battalion of sharpshooters...in his brigade....No evidence indicates that Bates requested the transfer, but his sour attitude toward the new young Lt Col of the 9th Texas, Dudley Jones [no commanding the regiment] probably did not dispose Bates to resist the change very forcefully. In fact, his well drilled company may have been sent over to the new unit precisely because of its precision and discipline. The prickly young captain apparently got himself into an early scrape with his new battalion commander, but shortly thereafter the battalion was consolidated with another to form a new regiment much more to Bates’ taste.
The regiment’s commander, Erasmus “Ras” Stirman, had charged a battery with Bates Texans at Elkhorn Tavern as a member of an Arkansas cavalry unit. Only 23, Stirman was from a wealthy and prominent family in Fayetteville, Arkansas. General Braxton Bragg had recently brought Stirman’s battalion up to regimental size and Stirman up to the rank of Colonel. The Arkansas officer took great pride in his new regiment. He wrote to his sister, “I am now a Colonel and have ten as good companies as there is in the Army of the West. I now have a regiment of Sharpshooters. I have uniformed them in Gray with Caps and well armed and equipped in every respect not bragging too much but you just ought to see them on Battalion drill or on parade, we are exempted from all duties except drills.
[Footnote cites “In fine Spirits”; Col Erasmus Stirman in Confederate Veteran 22 [May 1914]....

....In only two months, Bates’s military career had taken two major turns. He had been elected captain of his company in May, giving him command of about 100 men. Then, partly because he was so successful in drilling his men, the captain and his unit were transferred to a smart new Arkansas regiment of sharpshooters, whose main responsibility was to act as skirmishers. His deep commitment to the Confederate cause allowed Bates to make the adjustments smoothly, after a brief dustup with an interim commander. Stirman’s sharpshooters and Bates’s Texans would serve together for 3 more months, through 2 battles, before the men of Lamar returned to their original unit and their beloved horses.

Aug 9, 1862 letter to “My Dear Ma Camp near Tupola Miss”
“....................My company is now in a Regt of Sharp Shooters. The old Battalion we were in, & Brooks’ [battalion]-which Dohoney will remember–having been consolidated and a Regt formed of the two. Our company must either be considered a very worthless or a very valuable “concern” by the rapidity with which it changes hands, &whether above or below “par” we are at least advancing a little being the second company [i.e. Company B] in the Regt. Our Col, Sterman, is I think, all a gentleman, and I believe the company will be if they are not now, satisfied.....
Two days letter Bates wrote to his brother in law......He ruefully remarks that the 6th Texas Cavalry is about to be remounted and takes another swipe at Lt Col Dudley Jones by implying that Col Townes would have the 9th Texas Cavalry remounted as well if he were in command....
In late August the brigade that included Stirman’s sharpshooters and dismounted troopers of the 9th Texas Cavalry moved...closer to Tupelo....Bates learned from Lt Col Jones of the old regiment that the 9th Texas cavalry had permission to send for its horses in Texas. Presumably Jones told Bates this because the captain’s company would consequently be transferred back to its regular place in the cavalry, No words could have been sweeter to ,,,Bates and his comrades..
.
Aug 27 letter....We are still in the regt of sharpshooters, doing as well I suppose as if I were in our old Regt. In fact if Col Townes does not return I would prefer to remain here......

Capt. Bates had performed well since his company’s transfer to Stirman’s regiment of sharpshooters.....Still, he was doubtless pleased in late October when his company was sent back to the 9th Texas Cavalry, now brigaded with 3 other Texas units, and his men were remounted for service as cavalry. The other 3 units...received their horses in early November, but the 9th had to wait until early December before the men were reunited with their beloved mounts. In the meantime, the 9th Texas was temporarily detached from the brigade and sent with the rest of the army to Abbeville....
Bates next letter [Nov/62] to Mootie informs her of the new brigade assignment....My Co is once more in the 9th Texas. Our old brigade has been broken up and a new one formed of the 3d, 6th, 9th and Whitfield’s Texas Legion.....”