RD...Just found the colored picture of the buckle on line and they are quite impressive. These are just some thoughts out loud. I would suggest the phrase,"Freedom or Death," may have been used either verbatim or in one form or another in very nearly every speech given to every departing company in very nearly every ceremony throughout Texas and Arkansas. It may not be possible to attribute it to a particular region unless you can find it in some specific newspaper article or private letter. Perhaps even a yankees if it were pulled off a dead soldier.

However,there would have been only a handfull of foundries in the Trans-Mississippi capable of forging brass belt buckles of this nature. But,you would also have to include New Orleans and perhaps states east of the Mississippi River without a known manufacturing date. It would appear that with probably 20 now known the number manufactured may have been for at least a company. Someone would have had to pay for them. Perhaps the State of Texas,Arkansas or even the CS Government and you can not rule out a private citizen or company officer. "Follow the Money." It may take you where you want to go...

Good Hunting!