Clay,

Thank you so very much for bringing this diary to my attention! And thanks to Roland, also.

The diary entry certainly confirms the fact that the Texas troops did make their way to Monroe in July! And it adds much from the human interest perspective.

Several have pointed out that this was during the Union's first assault on Vicksburg, and it's very possible that Union pickets were in the Monroe area because of that.

All of this input helps immensely and certainly sheds light on a few previously "lost" weeks in the lives of some soon-to-be-dismounted Texas cavalrymen.

Thank you, everyone!