The 16th Texas Cavalry was ordered to dismount and fight as infantry in July 1862. This proved very unpopular since most Texans considered themselves horsemen. Altogether, four regiments were dismounted because of the scarcity of food for horses. This caused a number of men to desert. Diseases also killed many soldiers or rendered them unfit for service. In October 1862, Henry Eustace McCulloch began organizing a Texas infantry division. On 1 January 1863, John George Walker assumed command of the division and led it until the end of the war. It was originally formed into four brigades, but the 4th Brigade was soon captured at the Battle of Arkansas Post. The 3rd Brigade consisted of the 16th, 17th, and 19th Texas Infantry Regiments, the 16th Cavalry (dismounted), and Edgar's Texas Battery. Later, the 2nd Texas Partisan Rangers Regiment (dismounted) was added to the brigade. The 3rd Texas Infantry Regiment served briefly with the brigade in 1864 but was soon sent home. The 3rd Brigade's commanders during the war were George M. Flournoy, H. E. McCulloch, William Read Scurry, and Richard Waterhouse.