By October 20, 1,000 men made up the Tenth Texas Cavalry, and after months of training and awaiting orders, on February 15, 1862, they reached Arkansas to join with the Confederate Army there. At Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on December 31, 1862, Locke and the men of the Tenth saw heavy action against Union troops. Despite capturing the flag of the Union troops, 118 soldiers from the Tenth were wounded, and twelve were killed in the eight hours of fighting.