After reaching Boonville on October 10, during General Price's 1864 raid into Missouri, General JO Shelby sent Capt David Williams north of the Missouri River to recruit. In a few days Williams raised enough men in Carroll and surrounding counties to organize a battalion. On October 15, Williams demanded surrender of the Union militia at Carrollton, and the garrisont eventually stacked arms. Williams’ battalion crossed the Missouri River at Glasgow and reported to the army near Independence on October 20, and was attached to Shelby’s “Iron Brigade,” then commanded by Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson. The battalion participated in the battle of Westport on October 23. The battalion was placed in support of Captain Richard A. Collins’ battery, and reportedly did good service. After the Confederates were driven from their position by a Union flank attack, Williams’ battalion fought with the brigade to slow the enemy pursuit. On October 25, the battalion formed part of the brigade line when Shelby’s men saved the army from destruction following the rout of other Confederate units at Mine Creek, Kansas. Three days later, Williams’ battalion fought dismounted when the army was suddenly attacked by a Union force under Major General James G. Blunt at Newtonia. After a brief engagement, the enemy was repulsed, and the Confederates retreated into Arkansas. The unit’s losses during these engagements were not recorded. Williams’ battalion was reassigned to Colonel Sidney D. Jackman’s brigade when the army left Missouri. After the army arrived in Texas, Williams’ battalion and remnants of Colonel Eli Hodges’ badly depleted recruit command were consolidated to form a new regiment, commanded by Williams and known by his name. Many members of the new organization took paroles at Shreveport, Louisiana n early June, 1865, while a few followed General Shelby to Mexico in exile.