Edited sentence: Between 1862 and 1865 he was commandant of conscripts, and at various times he was engaged in border operations protecting Confederate-Mexican trade.He was elected colonel of the 2nd Texas Cavalry, with a command in the Rio Grande district.In 1861 Ford served as a member of the Secession Convention, and initiated a trade agreement between Mexico and the Confederacy.In May 1865 he led Confederate forces in the battle of Palmito Ranch, the last battle of the Civil War