Thanks for the info you have provided. I am not sure if my ancestor ever served under Duff. I apologize for not providing the few details I do have of Elihu L. Kirksey’s Civil War service. (I had to go digging through some boxes to find these few notes).

According to my ancestor’s pension application, he served for 1-1/2 years, enlisting in the latter part of 1863 and serving until the close of the war in May 1865. He stated that he was in “Cox’s Co., Benavides Regt., Forde’s Brigade.”, so according to his understanding, he was serving under Col. John S. “Rip” Ford as well as Benavides.

I have a few clues about this company from the book, "Rip Ford’s Texas". According to the book, in late 1863, Ford was engaged in raising a “Cavalry of the West”. I believe my ancestor was recruited during this time. In a Dec. 27, 1863 report to General Magruder, Ford stated “A company of 80 to 90 men has been raised in Caldwell County, but has not been reported.” (p. 345)

In a footnote on p. 352, it is stated that “Most of Ford’s command consisted of draft exemptions, old men, and a great many youths between the ages of fifteen and seventeen.”

At the same of his enlistment in late 1863 my ancestor was living in Caldwell County, just south of Travis County (Austin). He would have been 16 years old, almost 17 (his birthday was Dec. 30).

It appears that at some point this company was placed under Benavides’ command. In the book it mentions a discussion between Ford and Benavides about possibly remustering some of Ford’s troops into Benavides regiment. Ford did not want to release his men reasoning that his men would not want to serve under another. The book states, “Several companies of his (Benavides) were raised by Ford anyway.” (p. 385)

So, I am guessing that Cox’s company was the group from Caldwell County, raised by Ford and then soon thereafter transferred to Benavides regiment (probably sometime in 1864). But I really don’t know for certain. I do have the name of one other soldier who served in the same company as my ancestor. This was B.M. Roberts who in 1925 gave an affidavit on Elihu L. Kirksey’s behalf. At the time Mr. Roberts was living in the Confederate Soldier’s home in Austin.