Does anyone have additional information about the "Cavalry of the West," other than what is shown below? Our g-g-grandfather (Richard Brown Wilburn) was a member of this unit, yet we can't find any real documentation about the soldiers assigned it. What makes this lack of information worth mentioning is that Colonel "RIP" Ford was the first official Texas State Historian and his documentation of the Unit is minimal at best, as far as I can ascertain. He mentions it occassionaly, but nothing more. I believe their primary mission was to patrol the Rio Grande to protect the goods coming in from England from falling into the Yankees possession. Perhaps I have been searching in the wrong places and have just missed it. This is why I am asking for help. Thank You!

-------------------------------------------

Fascinating Fact: By June 1864 Colonel Ford had collected his "Cavalry of the West," a motley assortment of 1,300 troopers, including old men and boys ineligible for Confederate conscription, Hispanics, deserters, outlaws, and mercenaries. In order to avoid a formal surrender, Col. Ford disbanded his Cavalry of the West 13 days after his victory at Palmito Ranch.

CONFEDERATE FORCES
Cavalry Of The West

COLONEL JOHN SALMON "RIP" FORD

Anderson's Texas Cavalry Battalion - Captain D. W. Wilson
Gibson's Cavalry Company --- Captain Gibson
Cocke's Cavalry Company --- Captain Coke
Gidding's Texas Cavalry Battalion - Captain Robbins
(Composition Unknown)
Artillery - Captain O. G. Jones
1 Section --- Lieutenant M. S. Smith
1 Section --- Lieutenant William Gregory
1 Section (in reserve)
French Volunteer Cannoneers