The 31th Texas Cavalry was originally Col.Trezevant C. Hawpes cavalry regiment and remained so throughout the war.

In 1861-1862, the 1st Texas Cavalry was one of four regiments of Brig.Gen. Henry Hopkins Sibley's Arizona Brigade at Fort Bliss and saw action in Sibley's disasterous New Mexico Campaign. The survivors of the campaign was either captured at Fort Bliss or marched back to San Antonio. The 1st Texas Cavalry was reorganized at Columbus Texas in 1862 with Col. William P. "Gotch" Hardeman in command. Col. Hardeman became ill and his nephew, Lt.Col.Peter C.Hardeman took command of the 1st Texas Cavalry, Arizona Brigade. After President Davis made the desision not to return to the New Mexico - Arizona Territory, they sent the 1st Texas Cavalry of the "Arizona Brigade" to north Texas where it was to consolidate with Col.Trezevant C. Hawpe's 31st Texas Cavalry Regiment in Dallas County. The 31st Texas Cavalry had already moved to Arkansas by the time several companies of Col. Hardeman's 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment, Arizona Brigade reached north Texas.

The 1st Texas Cavalry merely dropped the "Arizona Brigade" desgnation and was moved to Fannin County where the rest of the regiment was mustered at the Warren Supply Depot in Fannin County with conscripts and recruits from local Home Guard companies. After reaching partial regimental strength, the 1st Texas Cavalry was moved into Indian Territory where it met Col. William M. Gano's Squadron at Boggy Depot and both regiments were placed in Brig. Gen. William Steele's Brigade, Department of Indian Territory. Brig. Gen. Samuel B. Maxey replaced Steele and the brigade was moved into Arkansas and saw action at Massard's Prairie, the Camden Expedition and at Poison Springs. The 1st Texas Cavalry and Col. Gano's Squadron was moved back into Indian Territory where they ambushed the 1st Kansas Negro Infantry at Cabin Creek and captured $1.4 million in outright plunder of household goods, livestock, mules, horses and 350 wagons. The second battle of Cabin Creek was considered a Great Victory by the Confederate General Staff. In September 1864, the second battle of Cabin Creek was the last Confederate engagement in Indian Territory.

In the bad winter of 1864-65, the 1st Texas Cavalry marched through deep snow to Fannin County Texas where most of the recovered livestock, clothing and household goods were distributed to needy families of Confederate soldiers. In the spring of 1864, the 1st Texas Cavalry was moved to Marshall Texas and finally surrendered at Camp Groce near Hempstead Texas in May 1865. I do not know of any action involving the 1st Texas Cavalry after the second battle of Cabin Creek,I.T.

In 1863, my great grandfather Joshua D.Coffee enlisted in Co. C, 1st Texas Cavalry, Arizona Brigade as a recruit from the 14th Brigade, Capt. Wiliam B. Crocker's Reserve Company, Pct.3, Fannin County, Texas State Troops. All soldiers of the 1st Texas Cavalry (a.k.a, 31st Texas Cavalry) Arizona Brigade can be found in the NPS-Soldiers and Sailors System.