The 4th Texas Cavalry Battalion Commanded by John Whitfield was not dismounted at Pea Ridge. It was dismounted soon after by General Van Dorn. In May of 1862 it was reorganized by Army and lost it's one Arkansas company and gained 8 additional companies and the unit became Whitfield's Legion (aka 27th Texas Cavalry Regiment (Dismounted)). Even though it was pure cavalry it bore the name Legion.
On September 19th, 1862, the unit ran head on into a Union Division at the Battle of Iuka, MS, and lost 22 KIA and many more wounded and captured. The unit was in reserve at Corinth II on 3 & 4 October. On the 5th it was again leading Van Dorn's Army in it's retreat from Corinth when it was decimated. The regimental Major barely brought a detachment back across Hatchie Bridge. In November the unit regained its horses and most of the men that had been captured. Colonel Whitfield was named commander of the Whitfield Texas Cavalry Brigade. The units of this brigade were the 1st Texas Legion (aka 27th Texas Cavalry Regiment), the 3rd Texas Cavalry Regiment, the 6th Texas Cavalry Regiment and the 9th Texas Cavalry Regiment. Their first successful Act was the Holly Springs MS Union Depot Raid which greatly slowed Grant's war in the west. The unit fought in Tennessee and MS in 1863 and early 1864. It then joined Johnson's Army in the Atlanta Campaign. Its Commander at that time was Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross.

The four Texas Companies of Whitfield's Battalion that fought at Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge) were Co A which became Co B; Company B which became Co C; Company C which became Company D and Company D which became Company K. Whitfield's Legion had Companies N and O. Because of the two major disasters the last two companies were drawn down to make the regiment 10 companies. Great shifts of personal and realignments caused the Roster of this unit to be extremely difficult to follow. Some of the roster has been resolved at my brigade site below. More is underway.

Because the Brigade was usually under a Divisional command neither Whitfield or Ross became as well known as Forrest. Had the been independent like Forrest, the unit would certainly be better known.