Gould's Battalion which meets in Crockett , July 22 and 23 was organized and mustered into the Confederate service in May 1862 at Porter Springs, Houston County, Texas, and consisted of five companies as follows:

Company A, Captain Tullis, of Trinity County

Company B, Captain Viser, of Madison County

Company C, Captain James McLean of Houston County

Company D, Captain W. D. Wood of Leon County

Company E., Captain J. T. Heflin of Houston County

The rank and file numbered about 525 men. R.S. Gould of Leon County was elected Major of the Battalion. This Battalion was first attached to the 13th (Burnett's) Texas Cavalry, but remained with it only a short time when it was withdrawn and became an independent organization. Afterwards, it was placed in Randal's Brigade, Walker's Division, where it remained during the rest of the war.

The service of this command was in the Trans-Mississippi Department and extended from the Northern part of Arkansas to Berwick Bay, Louisiana. It was engaged in the following battles, meeting and opposing Banks army in his march from Atchafalaya to Mansfield.

The first general battle in which it was engaged was the battle of Mansfield, Louisiana, which was followed closely by the battle of Pleasant Hill where Bank's army was routed and retreated to their transports at Atchafalaya.

Walkers's Division, of which this battalion was a part, was then ordered on a forced march to meet Steele's army then advancing on Shreveport from Little Rock, Arkansas. Steele having heard of Bank's defeat begana a retreat towards Little Rock and was overtaken by Walker's division at Jenkin's Ferry on Sabine River where they engaged in battle under unfavorable circumstances, resulting in the loss of many men. Steele succeeded in crossing the river with his army in a demoralized condition and continued his retreat to Little Rock.

Walker's Division was then ordered back to Alexandria on the Red River after a hard campaign of several weeks' duration marching and fighting, the men being very exhausted. This division was in many small battles including "Nigger Hill," Poison Springs, and others not remembered, and was marched during hard weather to the relief of Arkansas Post, arriving just too late to render assistance.

This Battalion suffered untold hardships, living in swamps winter and summer. Their number was greatly depleted by sickness and diseases incident to camp life.

At their reunion there will be perhaps not more than one hundred of the original members present.

Of the original commissioned officers, only Gould, Viser, Wood, Nixon, and Heflin are living. We understand that this Battalion will probably have their reunion next year in joyous greeting wherever they may meet. We should be delighted to chronicle their harrowing experiences if space permitted. May all our good people join in honoring these old defenders of our liberties!

Company E, Gould's Battalion

From A Partial Roster of the Officers and Men raised in Leon County, TX. For the Service of the Confederate States in the War Between the States, with Short Biographical Sketches of Some of the Officers, and a Brief History of Maj. Gould's Battalion and other Matters, compiled by W. D. Wood, 1899.

Company E, Gould's battalion was from Leon, Houston and Madison counties, principally from Leon and Houston. J. T. Heflin, of Houston county, was the first captain. Capt. Heflin was a leading citizen of Houston County, and the writer's recollection is he was chief justice of that county when he volunteered for the Confederate service. When last heard from he was living near Austin in Travis county. R. B. Johnson, of Leon County was the second captain. ........

The company served during the war, and at the breakup was at Hempstead, from which place the officers and men returned to their respective homes. The company participated in the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, La., and Jenkin's Ferry, Ark.

The following is the muster roll of the company, which is believed to be approximately correct. The names marked with a star died from disease between the 13th day of June, 1862, and July 23d, 1862:

Captains.

First Captain, J. T. Heflin; Second Captain, R.B. Johnson; Third Captain, A. J. Rogers; Fourth Captain, Tom G. Nixon.

Lieutenants.

M. E. Robinson*, J. R. B. Barbee, C. G. Wooten.

Sergeants.

D. D. Watson, J. M. Matison, J. F. Mitchell, J. B. Renfro.

Corporals.

John L. Durham, John Hennessee, W. H. Little, W. G. Brazeall.

Musicians.

J. M. Fullerton and Jesse Mercer

Privates.

John A. Addington, Joe Adams, J. A. Allen, Tom Anglin, A. Brown, Robert Bass*, McD. Copeland*, C. C. Copeland, ________ Cogsdale, ________ Chitwood, George Cash, Thomas E. Diggs*, Amzi Durham, Matthew Gayle*, J. F. Hallmark*, J. Hudder, Sol Hubble, H. H. Hooper, A. F. Lawton*, Johnathan Little*, George W. Manning*, J. L. Moore, George Onannies, Jim Permenter, H. J. Permenter* Homer Perrin*, John Perrin, H. S. Robinson, George Rollins, Louis Reed, Ashley Sloan*, B. W. Storey, Sam Shiflett, Tom Shiflett, W. E. Webb, Moses A. Wooten* and N. B. Barbee -- 53 officers and men.

Private N. B. Barbee , since the close of the war, has been promoted to the honorable position of member of the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth legislatures of Texas, by his fellow citizens of Houston and adjoining counties. He has served his fellow citizens, in the capacity of representative, faithfully and acceptably.