Eight companies were recruited in northeast Texas in the spring of 1862. These companies mounted up and rode to Mississippi and were attached to Whitfield's Battalion to form a 12 company regiment. Some called it Whitfield's Legion, and others called it the 1st Texas Legion. The Confederate Army called them the 27th Texas Cavalry Regiment. To be a legion required a unit of Artillery and Infantry. The Whitfield Regiment was pure Cavalry, but soon found itself dis-mounted as Infantry.
The unit was reorganized in May of 1862 as directed by the Confederate Command. That is when your David Griffin was elected a Lieutenant. He trained as Infantry till September and only had brief skirmishes with the enemy before September 19, 1862. On that date the unit received a baptism in blood. Working with the 3rd Texas and other units they were leading General Price's Corps when they ran into a Union Corps that was a little larger. In about 3 hours they lost 23 men KIA and many more wounded and taken prisoner.
Two weeks later the unit was in reserve during the Battle of Corinth MS II on the 3rd an 4th of October. One day later they were again in the lead of the combined Corps of Price and Van Dorn. After crossing the Hatchie (Davis) Bridge from MS into TN they again ran into the Union Army. Quickly the Confederate Division was shot up and disorganized. The 27th managed to free itself from sure capture or death and returned across the Bridge where it supported the Texas brigade in a rear guard action that saved the Confederate Army.
The unit moved with the Army to the area of Grenada, MS where they healed their wounds. They were soon told they would be re-mounted and the regiment would become part of a Texas brigade headed by Colonel Whitfield. By December 19th they were on the way to raid Grants depot at Holly Springs. This done, they continued on into Tennessee. Some 27th people were captured at Middleburg, TN. The Texas Brigade did loose a few captured in a small skirmish there. When they were paroled, they probably thought it more prudent to go home for a while because they would not get relief any other way . Though not authorized, it did happen. He probably found the Brigade when they returned from Tennessee in May and June. They missed out on a fine battle at Thompkin's Station, TN where the Brigade captured a Union Cavalry Regiment and did well in captured material.
The Brigade stayed in Mississippi during 1863 trying to cause problems with Sherman's Army. In December Colonel Sul Ross took command of the Brigade and took the brigade through the many battles of the Atlanta Campaign. On the way to Georgia the 27th did round up deserters in northern Alabama. Then they were in combat for over 100 days and delayed Sherman's Army for that time. Near Atlanta they were part of a Brigade operation against two Union Raids. After the Fall of Atlanta the Brigade led Hood's Army into to Tennessee and provided their rear guard when they returned to Mississippi.
In early 1865 there was talk of disbanding the 27th due a shortage of men. The unit had only 200+ left of its 1200 in May 1862. I May 1865 they were paroled by the Union Army and they returned home.
It is likely that LT Griffin did well in rounding up deserters in North Alabama, and became a Provost Marshal with the Brigade. I will follow up on this. What is hard to see is the pain, hardship of 100 days in combat, in rags, without food, in heat and day after day of rain, along with the constant battles. The names of Rome, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenisaw Mountain, Nash Farm and other wonderful places are remembered by Southerners. You can view my web site below and get more detail