Captain Harry W.Bridges, the Company Commander of Company I, 6th Texas Cavalry Regiment apparently became the recipant of shooters from all across Phifer's Brigade. My GGF and GGU were resigned to Company I as Sharpshooters on July 17, 1862 from Company K, 6th. These additions must have grown to Battalion size, as I find him a Major and then promoted to LtCol on August 1, 1862, the same day his battalion was attached to Stirman's Regiment. Ras Stirman wrote to his sister that he had a regiment with 10 companies all dressed in Grey. Bridges must have been the Executive Officer. They trained as shooters and as skirmishers as some of you have noted. Peter Cozzins in his book, Darkest Days of the War, shows this regiment employed as Infantry on Phifer's left flank. Please note the break in the Union lines between DuBois Division and Fuller's Division occurs in front of Stirman's Regiment and as Phifer's Brigade could, it exploted this seam and almost rolled up Rosecarn's Headquarters. Did Stirman lead the attack. That I have not found. But the late arrival of two of Rosecarn's divisions saved the Union Day and Rosecarn's ___. The next day Stirman's Regiment and the 6th TX Cav Rgt were 3rd and 4th units across Hatchie (Davis Farm) Bridge. With the road block by Union forces and the flanking of the units along the road all Van Dorn could do was retreat across the bridge, which is what they did. Both the Sharpshooters and the 6th lost men recrossing, but their subsequent establishment of firing positions on the east side of the river probably allowed the Confederates to complete their withdrawel and subsequent retreat to Holly Springs as well as causing the Union force to pause. My GGF broke his arm and was captured that day. My guess he broke his arm jumping off the bridge to get out of the line of fire.

After the retreat, the 6th was remounted and apparently Company I went back to them. Stirman had a battalion of Sharpshooters at Vicksburg. My GGF was parolled and returned to Company I at Holly Springs. The 6th was part of the several raids into Tennessee after that. Bridges must have gone back to Company I as commander though he also later shows up with a Battalion of Sharpshooters. I have not found who commanded Company I during that time frame.