On December 12, 1861, the 6th Texas Infantry was mustered at Camp Henry E.
McCulloch, four miles north of Victoria Texas. Camp McCulloch served as a training camp from September 1861 to May 1962. Col. Robert R. Garland was named post commander and was authorized to train ten infantry companies of the 6th Texas Infantry.

There were ten infantry companies with 100 men in each company under Col. Robert R.Garland, two cavalry companies of Capt. James C. Borden and Capt. Edward Beaumont were assembled at Camp McCulloch with recruits from Calhoun, Victoria, Bell, Matagorda, Bexar, Gonzales, DeWitt, Travis and Guadlupe Counties. The camp was very disagreeable to the soldiers, who complained that the location was insect infested and unhealthy. Before training was complete, many soldiers became sick with disease and died. The Victoria Male Academy was rented and used as the camp hospital. On May 22,1862, only 643 men remained of the 6th Texas Infantry and were moved to Arkansas where the regiment was captured in January 1863 at Camp Hindman, Arkansas Post. The regiment was soon exchanged and placed in General Pat Cleburne's Division.

In 1865, Navasota Texas was a shipping and warehouse supply location for Confederate arms and ammunition. In 1865, a warehouse of gunpowder exploded after it was set on fire by disgruntled Confederate soldiers and several soldiers died in the explosion. From 1865 through 1867 one half of the population of Navasota died in a cholera and yellow fever epidemic and the other half fled the city to escape the disease.