This was the Col. N. W. Townes' 4th Brigade of Hamlton P. Bee's 1st Division Texas State Troops. The brigade comprised the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Cavalry Battalion. The organisation of the troops is stated in the Official Records for 31 December 1863 (Series I, Volume 26, Part 2, p.562) and is also mentioned in The Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph for 28 December 1863.