Brown's Regiment was sent to Tyler in the late summer of 1864 as guards for the prisoners at Camp Ford. A large number of the guard from the 15th Texas had deserted "en Masse" in late August, and conflicting orders resulted in several units being rushed to Tyler. Brown's regiment being one of them. They remained in Tyler as guards until March 1865 when they were relieved by Jamison's battalion of the reserve corps.

In December 1864, the regiment had a total strength of 604, with 150 sick, and 119 on furlough, leaving an aggregate present at Camp Ford of 335.

In January 1865, the regiment had 352 men present.

In early March 1865, when the regiment was relieved, they were ordered to turn over all of their long Enfields [Pattern 1853 .577 English Rifle Musket] to a battalion of the Reserve corps that was replacing it. The regiment was officially relieved from duty as guards on March 14, 1865.

The men had built reasonably substantial winter quarters at Camp Ford, as a board of survey was appointed to appraise the amount spent by Brown's men on building the cabins, as the Post Commander intended to use them for the government when Brown's men departed.

I am not sure which of the battalions that merged is which, but one with six companies was formed in October 1861, and the other with four companies was formed in May 1862.

For more on Camp Ford, see our web site at www.campford.org