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confirmation cannot be assigned. Research has extended over a three-year period, and involved the personnel and resources of the Texas State Archives, National Archives, and Sons of Confederate Veterans. Because of the number of people named James Harris (56) in Texas units, and our limited facts relating to this James Harris, positive identification has not been possible. Thomas Harrison of the 2nd Frontier District Sons of Confederate Veterans indicated that the record keeping of Confederates on the frontier was very poor, which has added to our frustration. Based upon the information at our disposal at this time we feel that the James Harris buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Santa Cruz.

Texas State Archive And Library

Protecting The Frontier

After the removal of United States troops from Texas military installations, the state and the Confederacy assumed responsibility for the protection of the frontier. The First Regiment, Texas Mounted Riflemen, were mustered into Confederate service early in 1861 to patrol the frontier along a line of forts from the Red River to the Rio Grande. Though the unit was effective in controlling Indian raids in the region, their enlistment expired in April 1862.

"The Frontier Organization represented the final modification of frontier defense in Texas during the Civil War. In 1863 Governor Pendleton Murrah and the legislature proposed to transfer the state-supported Frontier Regiment to Confederate service. Such a move would have relieved the state of a financial burden, but the regiment would then have been under Confederate control, subject to removal from the frontier at the discretion of Confederate commanders. Concern for the protection of the frontier played a major role in deliberations of the Tenth Legislature in late 1863, as state officials hesitated to transfer the Frontier Regiment to the Confederacy without assuring the best protection possible for the frontier counties. The resulting law, which established the Frontier Organization and transferred the Frontier Regiment [to the Confederate Army], passed the legislature on December 15, 1863."

The Frontier Regiment filled the void left by the First Regiment by establishing 16 camps just west of the line of settlements. The original outposts were approximately 25 miles apart and staffed with at least 25 men. Though patrols were established between posts, the Indians rapidly became comfortable with the system and increased the frequency of their raids. "Companies in the Frontier Org