As C. Collier explained in his book on the 3rd Arkansas by that same title "They'll do to tie to", the Texans were saying that the Arkansas Boys were fighting men that they respected and would be good men to "tie to", or fight along side them.

The Texans by that time had a reputation of being hard fighters themselves. Having proven themselves both at Gaines Mill and at Sharpsburg. So they did not want to be brigaded with a regiment that they thought wouldn't fight as hard as they did.