Mr Casper,

I Have some knowledge of and interest in the 4th Texas Cav. since I had a relative who served in the 5th Texas Cav . which served alongside the 4th from the New Mexico Campaign all the way to the end . There are several books written about the various operations of the 4th ." Rebels on the Rio Grande " , by Don Alberts is basically the diary of Sgt Peticolas of the Victoria Invincibles ( Co.C) during the New Mexico Campign. It is in paperback and pretty easy to find. Another one of the newer works is the excellent " Blood and Treasure" , by Dr Donald Frazier of McMurry ( sp?) State Univ. at Abilene, TX. It is an excellent history of the New Mexico Campaign, including the 4th's role. Probably the best earliest works on Sibley's Brigade ( which the 4th was in) are by the late historian Martin Hardwick Hall ; one is " Sibley's New Mexico Campaign" which has been revised and reprinted within the last 2-3 years. Now I realize these books cover the earliest campaigns and not the battle you asked about. There are many books out on the Red River Campaign , which is what the battle on Monett's Ferry was part of.

The battle of Monett's Ferry took place on April 23, 1864 , after Confederate forces had stopped Union General Banks forces at the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, LA.
At Monett's Ferry, the 4th was commanded by General W.P. Hardeman ( "old Gotch" ) , a seasoned veteran of all of the 4th's campaigns . Let me steer you to a website that provides a summary of the battle : www.cba.uh.edu/~parks/tex/crg0040.html

As far as nicknames go for the 4th as a regiment or for Co.H
of the 4th, let me say this ; without really digging into this too much I do know that Co. B of the 4th called themselves the Davis Guards ( along with many other units of various commands). Co. C was known as the Victoria Invincibles and their name is probably a little better known than many others because of Peticolas' diary .
Let me also add this, early on , these youngsters gave them selves and their units all kinds of fierce sounding names like Yankee killers, Yankee Slayers , etc . However most of these names were made up before a shot was fired. Also , for some reason , some nicknames stuck better than some others. Relative to the 4th , I do know that for some time after the New Mexico Campaign , the 4th was still referred to as the either the 1st , 2nd or 3rd Regiment ( I can't remember which one ; however, any of the books I've mentioned will have it ) . This was a reference to which one of the three groups they were put into on Sibley's march to New Mexico . Since the route from San Antonio to New Mexico had little water, food and forage , Sibley divided his force up into three groups and staggered their departure from San Antonio. Sorry that I don't have a more colorful name. Perhaps there was one for the 4th and Co. H , I just have not seen it.
Good hunting, Craig