Throughout the Civil War, the Texas State legislature provided laws and appropriations to organize companies of men to provide frontier defense. These men were not part of the Confederate States Army but served under the command and control of officers in the employ of the State of Texas, although the organization of the troops was along military lines. The first of these groups was the Frontier Regiment, which existed from mid-1861 until December 1863 when the group was mustered into the CSA. They were replaced by the Frontier Organization, which was in existence until the end of the war in 1865. In the official State records these groups are often referred to as the Texas State Troops. A short description of the organization and responsibilities of these units can be found in The New Handbook of Texas, volume 3. A more in-depth treatment of State Troops during the years 1861 - 1865 can be found in David Paul Smith’s Frontier Defense in the Civil War. The following list is not a complete listing of commanders for these years and will be modified as new information comes to light.

Alphabetical by commanding officer:

(note: Only Captain Wilburn was copied - John Hawley)

Capt. Wilburn, (1863 - Precinct No. 3, Shelby County, 4^th Brigade, Texas State Troopers)

Fascinating Fact: By June 1864 Colonel Ford had collected his "Cavalry of the West," a motley assortment of 1,300 troopers, including old men and boys ineligible for Confederate conscription, Hispanics, deserters, outlaws, and mercenaries. In order to avoid a formal surrender, Col. Ford disbanded his Cavalry of the West 13 days after his victory at Palmito Ranch.