Allen Hatley in his book, The First Texas Legion, says that from February to late August 1861 Whitfied organized and trained his company. Then at his expense he moved them to Fort Smith and was inducted into Confederate service on 29 September 1861 at Camp Dean. From then till November they trained and Whitfield pick up three additional Texas Companies and one from Arkansas to form his battalion. He was promoted to Major on November 12th.

Hatley says that on December 26th Colonel McIntosh ordered the best 1300 men from Whitfield's Battalion, the 3rd, 6th and 11th Texas Cavalries and 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles report to Colonel Cooper in the IT. Here Hatley begins his effort to down play other units while glorifying The beginnings of the legion. Detachments of all the units arrived in the IT. Whitfield reported to Cooper as did McIntosh who arrived late reported for the other units. Hatley describes Whitfield's unit doing yeoman's work trailing and policing up Indians.

In late February now General McIntosh sent a raid around the Union force to attack Keetsville. Different books and reports say Whitfield participated, but Hatley siting Hale and Crabb says the Battalion did not participate. Whitfield's battalion had been dismounted and attached to Hebert's command. Hatley likes neither Pea Ridge or Elkhorn Tavern and uses Oak Hills. He describes the battle that surrounded Colonel Hebert and his capture and the assumption of command by General Pike who had arrived on the field with Stand Waite's Indians. Pike restored order and kept Hebert's command from being captured. Hatley gives credit to Whitfield in helping capture the two cannon captured by Waite's troops. The next day Whitfield's Battalion was attached to Little's MO. Brigade and supported his unit in the battle. After this comes all the after battle pointing of fingers. Little did give Whitfield credit for his support.

When Hatley does his homework he seems to write well, but he is an ultimate finger pointer and digresses from fact when discussing Ross or Van Dorn. The only thing we have in common is a dislike of Victor Rose's writing style concerning Ross' Brigade. He just did not have all the facts and made it up in prose.

From all I have seen, many books this is probably where Whitfield was during the period August 1861 to March 1862.