Danny,

After serving in the U.S. Army with Jefferson Davis before the War Between the States, in the spring of 1861, Earl Van Dorn accepted a commission from President Davis as major general in the Confederate Army in Mississippi. He soon tired of paper work and took a demotion to colonel and raised troops in Texas. In Sept. 1861, Van Dorn was promoted to brigdier general and received an appointment to command troops in Virginia where he could more likely find action in the field. He was reassigned again to the Trans-Mississippi Department, District of Arkansas-Indian Territory-Louisiana-Missouri. After the unsuccessful campaign in Missouri and northern Arkansas with Gen. Sterling Price, he was reassigned to the defenses at Vicksburg, Mississippi.

In September, 1862, the 10th and 14th Texas Dismounted Cavalry was assigned to Ector's Brigade, Gen. Van Dorn's command in the Army of the West. Gen. Van Dorn attacked union Gen. William "Old Rosy" Rosecrans at Corinth, Miss. A court of inquiry found Gen. Van Dorn negligent after the battle of Corinth and he was reassigned by Gen. Braxton Bragg to serve with Forrest, Morgan and Wheeler.

In May, 1863, Gen. Earl Van Dorn, was shot and killed in his headquarters by Dr. George Peters after an illicit relationship with Dr. Peters wife.