Federal cavalry raided the town of Ripley on July 28 in an attempt to capture the men, but the regiment was forewarned and escaped, mustering in to Confederate service at Orizaba on August 1.

In contrast to resistance fighters in 20th century conflicts, Confederate Partisan Rangers wore military uniforms, were subject to the regular chain of command, and were enrolled as soldiers in the army.

However, professional soldiers such as Robert E. Lee[4] believed that Partisan Ranger units wasted manpower that could be directed to the more effective regular army.

[5] Beginning in November 1862, the conscription authorities started drafting men from the 1st Mississippi Partisan Rangers into other Confederate units, despite protests from Colonel Falkner.

[1] Union troops under Col. Albert Lindley Lee raided the Partisans' camp near Ripley in a surprise attack before dawn on November 20, capturing 7 officers and 46 men of the regiment.

[6] The regiment continued to operate in North Mississippi under the command of General James Ronald Chalmers, clashing with Federal cavalry.

[1] Having lost their leadership and greatly reduced by desertion,[1] in January 1864, the 1st Partisans were temporarily combined with 2 companies of the 18th Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry.