This command was mustered into the service of the Confederate States, October 19, 1861, as Captain W. G. Moseley's Light Artillery Company, Bates' Regiment Texas Volunteers and subsequently became Company D of that organization. It was re-organized as Captain Wm. G. Moseley's Company Texas Cavalry, April 1, 1862, and assigned to the 12th (Brown's) Battalion Texas Cavalry as Company B, from which it was transferred March 1, 1863, and assigned to Fontaine's Battalion Light Artillery, a temporary organization, as Company B. By S. O. No. 290, Hdqrs. Trans-Miss. Dept., dated November 19, 1864, it was designated the 7th Texas Field Battery and assigned to the 1st Battalion Field Artillery.
William Z. Howard enlisted in this unit in 1861 and continued through 1863. His service record is 15 pages in length. It is very doubtful that this man ever served East of the Mississippi River or in Hood's Texas Brigade. William H. Howard, also did not likely serve, with Hood's Texas Brigade and his CMSR is 6 pages. I believe these men may also have served in other Texas units in 1864 and 1865, but that would take some additional research.
These men's service records are available through the link below. They "may" also have pension files.
Here is a report from the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies in the War of the Rebellion. There are more, but this shows you where your ancestor was for a time in 1862.
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 9, Part 1 (Roanoke)
Page 545 Chapter XXI. ENGAGEMENT OF VALVERDE, N. MEX.
HEADQUARTERS BATES' REGIMENT,
Velasco, Tex., April 6, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report as follows:
Information reached my headquarters at 7 p. m. on yesterday that at 4 p. m. of that day a large steamer anchored off San Luis Pass, dis-
Page 546 OPERATIONS IN TEX., N. MEX., AND ARIZ. Chapter XXI.
playing an English and a Confederate ensign and what seemed to be from the shore a white flag. I immediately dispatched a detachment of 25 mounted men from Captain Moseley's company, under the command of Major S. S. Perry, with instructions to watch the enemy closely and prevent depredations in case of their attempting to land.
When about half way to San Luis, which is 16 miles from this post, Major Perry Ballowe's company, and 7 of his men, with Mr. Alexander Follett, residing near the Pass, had been decoyed out to the steamer and captured; that the enemy had then taken the boat in which Edwards and his men had gone out and had passed our battery (one 18-pounder) on San Luis Island, and were between the island and the main-land; that it was supposed that they had captured the schooner Columbia, lying in the rear of the island, loaded with cotton; that their force was unknown, and Captain Ballowe's command was in danger of being cut off.
Immediately dispatched Lieutenant Colonel R. R. Brown, with the remainder of Captain Moseley's artillery company and two field pieces, to the scene of action. [Lieutenant] Colonel Brown arrived at San Luis at daylight this morning. The Columbia was then in flames and nearly consumed, the enemy having retired to their vessel.
At daylight an action commenced between our battery, under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, and the enemy's vessel, in which a few shots were exchanged and the enemy drew off. As she steamed down the coast she sent the crew of the destroyed cotton schooner ashore in a small boat, retaining Lieutenant Edwards and his men as prisoners. No other casualties on our side.
Captain Ballowe was absent from his command when the vessel arrived, and did not reach there until late in the night. The night was very dark and the force of the enemy in the bay was unknown. Our best boat was captured and the others were too frail to risk a night attack from the small force on the island.
Further particulars will be reported as soon as information can be received, with a list of the prisoners.
J. BATES,
Colonel, Commanding.
Colonel SAMUEL BOYER DAVIS,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of Texas
Jim Martin