It is apparent that the ferry on the Trinity River at Taos, Texas was a recruiting site on the Jefferson to Waco Road. A sizable settlement grew up on the east side of the ferry. On many occasions in the spring, the ferry was closed due to the flooding of the Trinity River and immigrant camps were established to wait until the ferry was reopened.

In 1865, Col.James Code Monroe's 1st Arkansas Cavalry retreated as far south as Taos, Texas with Gen. Jo Shelby and his followers who were going to continued the war in Mexico in Maximilian's Mexican army. While at Taos, Col. Col. Monroe asked the men of his regiment to take a vote to determine who would continue to Mexico and who would return to their homes in Arkansas. A vote was taken and Col.James C.Monroe contiued to Mexico alone and settled in San Luis Potosi.He never returned to the United States.He wrote home many times and said he hated the counry of Mexico. In 1882, Col.Monroe was killed while trying to break-up a knife fight and was buried in the Mexican hills.

My g.grandfather Peyton Green Whaley was a ferrier in Monroe's 1st Arkansas Cavalry and returned to his home in Washington County Arkansas after the vote was taken at Taos,Texas. The 1st Arkansas Cavalry was known as "The Rawhides" and 25 year old Col. Monroe was known as "The Ragged Colonel of the Rawhides" because he dresssed in what ragged clothes he could find, just as his men did. Union Gen. Federick Steele stated that the Monroe's "Rawhides" were one of the most formidable Confederate cavalry units he had to face.