Arkansas Militia in the Civil War facts for kids

The Arkansas Militia in the Civil War refers to the military groups in Arkansas that existed before and during the American Civil War. These groups, including the Arkansas State Militia, Home Guard, and State Troops, are connected to today's Arkansas National Guard. Before the Civil War, Arkansas had an organized militia system, where most men of a certain age were required to serve.

After the Mexican–American War, the Arkansas militia became less organized. But as tensions grew between the North and South in the late 1850s, the militia became active again. By 1860, Arkansas had 62 militia regiments, split into two main divisions. New regiments were added as the system grew. Many towns and counties also formed volunteer companies. These groups wore uniforms, drilled more often, and had better equipment. They played a key role in taking over federal buildings in Little Rock and Fort Smith in early 1861.

Once Arkansas left the Union in May 1861, these volunteer militia companies were among the first to join the state's military service. They formed new volunteer infantry regiments, also called "State Troops," which became the Provisional Army of Arkansas. In July 1861, an agreement was made to transfer these state forces to the Confederate army. The Second Division of the Army of Arkansas joined the Confederate Army. However, before the First Division could transfer, it fought in the Battle of Wilson's Creek in August 1861. After this battle, the First Division chose to break up instead of joining the Confederate service.

In November 1861, Confederate Colonel Solon S. Borland, stationed at Pittman's Ferry, heard about a possible invasion of Northeast Arkansas. He immediately asked for militia help. The State Military Board allowed the Eighth Brigade of Militia and companies from several counties to be called up. The units that responded formed three regiments of 30-Day Volunteers. Some of these companies later joined the regular Confederate army.

In spring 1862, a Union invasion of Northwest Arkansas required parts of the state militia to be called into action. In February 1862, General McCulloch asked every man to form companies and fight the enemy. Brigadier General N. B. Burrow, who led the 3rd Brigade of the Arkansas State Militia, activated his entire brigade for about three weeks. Later in summer 1862, Major General Hindman took command of the Trans-Mississippi Department. He required militia regiments to provide volunteers for new Confederate regiments or face being forced into service.

After Union forces captured Little Rock in September 1863, Governor Harris Flanagin ordered militia regiments from several southern counties to provide mounted companies for new State Troops. This helped create new mounted companies that fought against Union General Steele's Camden Expedition in spring 1864. New volunteer companies continued to be recruited from the Militia until March 1865.

The Arkansas Secession Convention also ordered each county to create a Home Guard. These groups were for older men and boys who couldn't serve in active military duty. The Home Guard was later told to start guerrilla attacks against Union forces. Once Union forces took the state capital in 1863, the new loyal state government began forming its own militia. They aimed to fight the guerrilla groups and bushwhackers operating behind Union lines.

The Marion County War

Two famous Arkansas veterans of the Mexican–American War were deeply involved in the first use of the Arkansas Militia after that war. Allen Wood, who had led a volunteer company in the Mexican War, became Adjutant General in 1849. On September 16, 1848, Governor John S. Roane, also a veteran of the Mexican War, asked General Wood to investigate problems in Marion County.

In 1849, two families, the Tutts (Whig Party) and the Everetts (Democratic Party), and their supporters were fighting for control of county offices. This was known as the Tutt–Everett War. Their long-standing feud turned violent in June 1849, and it was said that almost everyone in the county had picked a side.

General Wood formed two militia companies from Carroll County to help capture members of the Everett family and guard the jail. He removed Sheriff Jesse Mooney, who was thought to support the Everetts, and took control of the county jail in Yellville. The militia force was eventually reduced to 75 men, who stayed in the county from September to December 1849.

Soon after General Wood sent his militia companies home, members of the Everett family broke the prisoners out of jail. General Wood resigned as Adjutant General in July 1851. In December 1850, the Arkansas Legislature finally passed a law to pay the militia called into service for the Marion County War. This experience likely led to a new law in 1852. This law, "an Act to provide for the organization of the Militia when called to suppress insurrections," allowed county sheriffs to order elections for officers of companies called for such purposes.

Militia Before the Civil War

After the Mexican–American War, the Arkansas militia became very disorganized. Without threats from Mexico or Native American tribes, Arkansans felt safe. Elections for militia officers in most counties had stopped by 1849. Through much of the 1850s, the Arkansas militia was almost non-existent. Company and regimental meetings were rare, and officers stopped doing their jobs.

Governor Elias Conway, in a speech in November 1854, said that the state militia hadn't sent a single annual report to the War Department since 1843. Because of this, the militia didn't receive its share of federal weapons and equipment. A Little Rock newspaper editor wrote in 1852:

There is not a volunteer military company in Little Rock; in fact, the editor cannot recall having seen a single muster in this town since the beginning of the war with Mexico [in 1846]. What has become of the military spirit of our young men? If it is not entirely extinct, we would like to see a little of it exhibited in the organization of a uniformed company here.

Elias N. Conway, who became governor in 1854, came from a well-known family of Arkansas politicians. Some of his family members had served in the militia when it was more active. The state of the Arkansas Militia when Governor Conway tried to revive it can be seen in a letter from Col. Henry Rieff, commander of the 20th Regiment Arkansas Militia, dated January 3, 1860:

... the militia of this regiment (20th) have not done any duty for several years and I do not now know who are officers and who are not, as fully as I could desire. Some have died, others no doubt removed from the county, but I am now endeavoring to investigate this matter and ascertain who are officers and order election to fill vacancies. In your letter you mention Bracken Lewis as Major but H.E. Moulden was Major but is now dead. He was Major in the 20th instead of the 32nd as stated in your letter. Lt.Col. M.S. Gregg is still living. In the 1st Battalion Maj. Moulden as before stated deceased. As you kindly offered to give me a list of the officers of Regt. 20, I will be glad to have it as it will aid me in ascertaining the officers names.

In answer to your letter relative to the 32nd Regt., I will say that Col. Denton is deceased. Also I think Lt.Col. Coulter has removed from the county and that Maj. Colwell who was elected in said regiment is deceased. Consequently the offices are all vacant. I will see General Neal as suggested who no doubt will order elections to fill the offices ...

I shall proceed at once to have this regiment (20th) officered and enrolled and I think the times and signs of the times favor it, ...

Governor Conway urged the legislature to update the militia laws, and he successfully renewed interest in the militia. He ordered a printing of the Arkansas militia laws in 1860. Records of officer elections in each county in 1860 and early 1861 show how successful Governor Conway was in reorganizing the state militia.

The militia was divided into two divisions, each with four brigades. Every county had at least one regiment, and companies were usually formed in each township. Some counties had more than one regiment, and Lawrence County had three. Officers were elected at annual meetings. The election results were sent to the Governor. The exact strength of these units isn't clear. In May 1860, Col. George M. Holt, commander of the 18th Regiment from Saline County, claimed to have 1,000 to 1,200 men. He asked for permission to form a second regiment in the county.

Militia vs. Volunteer Companies

The Hempstead Rifles, a volunteer militia company of the 8th Arkansas Militia Regiment, Hempstead County

Arkansas's Militia Law of 1860 set up a two-part militia system. First, all healthy free white men between 18 and 45 had to serve. These militiamen had to bring their own weapons and equipment. They were supposed to meet four times a year for drills. Regular militiamen didn't have uniforms, but officers had to wear United States Army uniforms.

Second, the law allowed each county to form up to four Volunteer Companies. These could be infantry, riflemen, cavalry, or artillery. Volunteer Companies were separate from regular militia units but were still under the local militia commander. They had to drill at least once a month. For example, the Pulaski Artillery, a volunteer group in Little Rock, drilled three times a week. Volunteer Companies could choose their own uniforms. After five years of service in a Volunteer Company, a militiaman was excused from further militia duty.

In a letter from August 27, 1860, Governor Conway encouraged more volunteer companies to form:

All the volunteer companies authorized by law in every county in the state ought to be speedily and thoroughly organized and disciplined, and armed and equipped in the best manner as soon as possible ... It devolves upon each colonel commandant, not only to organize his regiment, but also to have formed within the bounds of his regiment, as many volunteer companies, independent of his regiment, as the law requires, and the number of militiamen will justify.

He believed that if all authorized volunteer companies were formed, the state would have 22,000 volunteers. He noted that the state couldn't provide weapons for all of them yet. He encouraged counties to raise money through taxes to buy arms.

Although some Volunteer Companies already existed, the Governor's call led to many new ones forming. Newspapers in late 1860 reported new companies drilling and joining regular militia meetings. These volunteer leaders tried to get uniforms and equipment from the state, but often had to find private sources when the state couldn't help. In January 1861, the state legislature responded by setting aside $100,000 to arm and equip volunteer militia companies. Act Number 192, approved January 21, 1861, stated:

Section 2. Whenever the several colonels or captains ... shall notify the governor that a volunteer company of not less than fifty men ... has been formed and organized ... he is hereby required to cause to be delivered ... arms and accoutrements suitable to such company ...

At first, these companies remained under local militia commanders. But after Arkansas left the Union in May 1861, Volunteer Companies and Regiments were formed under the State Military Board or directly by Confederate Government authorities.

The difference in readiness between the Militia and Volunteer Companies was clear during a drill in Van Buren on February 23, 1861. The 5th Regiment Arkansas Militia met with two volunteer companies, the Frontier Guards and the Independent Light Horse Guards. The volunteer companies performed well, but the 5th Militia Regiment's performance was criticized by the Van Buren Press:

The special parade of this Regiment, by order of the Officers in command, took place in this City on Saturday last. In connection therewith, the Rifle Company, Capt. Brown, and Horse Company, Capt. Perkins, paraded, making a fine display—and in fact all the 'military' on the ground was composed of these two independent companies. A more decided burlesque on military parade could not be had, than the muster on Saturday. If any good was derived by bringing such a body of men together, for 'inspection' and 'drill,' we were not able to discover it—and we trust it will be at least a year, before another 'occasion' occurs for preparation to defend our rights and liberties against northern aggression.

A more positive report came from the September 1860 meeting of Pulaski County's 13th Militia Regiment:

The regiment, composed of ten companies, numbering about a thousand men, was drawn up in line of battle facing to the west ... The regiment having been reviewed in form, changed direction to the right, and now in its turn, while the reviewing officers took position on the former front, marched before them by companies, in the following order: Pulaski Lancers, Lieut. Morrison, commanding cavalry, with lances, pennants and handsome uniforms of blue and red, well drilled, and presenting a very gallant appearance; 1st comp. the Capital Guards, Capt. Peay, drilled like veterans of the 'Old Guard', and dressed in a uniform of blue and gold, never yet surpassed in taste and neatness; 2d company, exceeding well drilled and fine looking, Capt. Stillwell; 3d company, composed of gallant looking and intelligent men, Lieut. Griffith, commanding; 4th company, the elite of the regiment, Sergeant Lee of the 'Guards', commanding; 5th company presenting a most soldierly appearance, Capt. Johnson; 6th company, with the step and front of courage and intelligence, Capt. Bushnell; 7th company brave looking, erect and well-drilled, Capt. Vance; 8th company looking as if they might have seen service, and would like to see it again, Capt. Marshall; 9th company who we will venture to say, are all good riflemen, and familiar with the smell of gun powder, Capt. Wellman.

After the parade, Governor Conway praised the officers for "the revival, at a critical time, of the military spirit which once animated the people, but seemed long to have been dead." In October, a newspaper announced a drill contest as part of a Fair in Little Rock, where the best-drilled militia company would win a "Premium."

Volunteer Companies in the State Militia

This list includes volunteer militia companies formed under the 1860 Militia Law. Their officers' elections were approved by the local militia regiment commander, or their connection to the local militia is documented.

Militia Operations: Spring and Summer 1861

The Secession Crisis

When Abraham Lincoln won the presidential election of 1860, South Carolina declared it was leaving the Union. By February 1861, six more Southern states followed. On February 7, these seven states formed the Confederate States of America and set up their temporary capital in Montgomery, Alabama. A Peace Conference of 1861 in Washington tried to solve the crisis but failed.

As more states talked about leaving, people in Arkansas became very worried. In January 1861, the General Assembly called for a vote on whether Arkansas should hold a meeting to consider secession. Voters also elected delegates for this meeting, just in case. On February 18, 1861, Arkansans voted to hold a secession convention, but most delegates elected were conditional unionists. This meant they would only support leaving the Union under certain conditions.

Seizing the Federal Arsenal at Little Rock

Little Rock Arsenal, early 1800s

Groups against the Union wanted to take over the Federal Arsenal in Little Rock. When rumors spread that the U.S. government planned to send more troops to the Arsenal, citizens from Helena offered Governor Henry Massey Rector 500 men to help seize it. Edmund Burgevin, Arkansas's adjutant general, delivered the message. He noted it was unusual for volunteers to offer help directly to a governor of a state that hadn't seceded. Governor Rector replied:

The governor has no authority to summon you to take possession of a Federal post, whether threatened to be reinforced or not. Should the people assemble in their defense, the governor will interpose his official position in their behalf.

Captain Dandridge McRae commanded the Arkansas Guards, a volunteer militia company from White County, during the Arsenal crisis. Later, McRae helped organize State Troops at Camp Rector, near Hopefield (present West Memphis). McRae, who was eventually promoted to Brigadier General, also helped raise the 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Northwest)

Following the Governor's message, militia companies started gathering in Little Rock by February 5, 1861. They told Captain Totten, the Arsenal commander, that they intended to seize it. The Yell Rifles, including future Confederate General Patrick Cleburne, and the Phillips County Guards were the first to arrive. Governor Rector denied calling them but sent the arriving companies to camps near the current state capitol. More than a thousand men eventually gathered from various counties.

Many Little Rock citizens opposed taking the Arsenal, fearing bloodshed. The Little Rock City Council was alarmed by this "invasion" of volunteers. They called out their own militia, the Capitol Guards, to patrol the streets and watch the volunteers. Though generally against secession, the City Council feared a battle in the city. They passed an order asking the Governor to take control of the volunteer forces and seize the Arsenal "to prevent the effusion of blood."

Governor Rector then took charge. The 13th Militia Regiment of Pulaski County was activated, and Brigadier General Holt, the local militia commander, took command. With militia forces surrounding the Arsenal, Governor Rector sent General Thomas D. Merrick, commander of the First Division, Arkansas Militia, to demand its surrender. Captain James Totten agreed to leave the Arsenal if his men were given safe passage out of the state. Governor Rector agreed, and the Militia took control of the Arsenal on February 8, 1861. Totten and his men were escorted out by the Capitol Guards. Citizens of Little Rock gave Totten a sword, which some later regretted when Totten fought against Arkansas troops. Later, artillery was set up at Helena and Pine Bluff to stop federal reinforcements from reaching military posts.

The Yell Rifles returned to Helena, then moved to Camp Rector near West Memphis. There, they joined state service as Company A, 1st Arkansas Infantry, State Troops. Cleburne was later elected to lead this new regiment. The Phillips Guards, led by Captain George Otey, stayed in Little Rock to guard the captured Arsenal.

The First Secession Convention

On March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln became president. In his inaugural address, he said the Constitution was a binding contract and that any secession was "legally void." He stated he wouldn't invade Southern states or end slavery where it existed. However, he would use force to keep federal property. He ended his speech by asking for the Union to be restored.

The next day, the Arkansas Secession Convention met in Little Rock. David Walker, who was against secession, was elected president. The convention lasted two and a half weeks. Many passionate speeches were given, but most members felt that secession wasn't needed at that time. The convention voted against a resolution criticizing Lincoln's speech and defeated a conditional secession order. Most believed Arkansas should only secede if the federal government attacked the Confederate States. Hoping to avoid war, the delegates agreed to go home until a special election in August where people would vote on secession.

Arkansas Leaves the Union

Fort Monroe in Virginia, Fort Sumter in South Carolina, and Fort Pickens, Fort Jefferson, and Fort Taylor in Florida were the remaining Union-held forts in the Confederacy. Lincoln was determined to hold them. Under orders from Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter on April 12, forcing it to surrender.

Northerners supported Lincoln's call for states to send troops to retake the forts and save the Union. Lincoln asked the "militia of the several states" for 75,000 troops to stop the rebellion. Many Northern governors had already secretly prepared their state militias and began moving forces the next day.

The first Arkansas Secession Convention had promised the state would "Resist to the last extremity any attempt on the part of such power (President Lincoln) to coerce any state that had succeeded from the old Union." Even though Arkansas hadn't officially seceded yet, a militia battalion quickly formed under Solon F. Borland. This force, including units from the 13th Militia Regiment, was sent to seize the Federal Arsenal at Fort Smith on April 23, 1861.

The Adjutant General, Edmond Burgevin, sent the state's reply to the War Department's request for troops:

SIR: I am directed by his Excellency the governor to acknowledge the receipt for Special Orders, No. 106, from the War Department at Washington. That order is based on the presumption of the State of Arkansas being willing to furnish the quota of troops required of her for the Federal Army, a presumption entirely improbable, and I can assure you, utterly impossible.

Further, I have to inform you that I had the honor on Tuesday night, April 23, 1861, at Fort Smith, to order the seizure of the person of Maj. R.C. Gatlin, Fifth Infantry, as a prisoner of war, and who is now at large on parole of honor not to serve against the State of Arkansas or the Southern Confederacy.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant.

Edmund Burgevin

Adjutant General of Arkansas

Facing President Lincoln's demand for troops, the Secession Convention met again in Little Rock. On May 6, 1861, they passed the order to secede by a vote of 69 to 1. Future Governor Isaac Murphy was the only one who voted "No."

The Pulaski Light Artillery was first assigned to guard the captured arsenal at Fort Smith. Brigadier General Napoleon Bonapart Burrows, commander of the 8th Brigade, Arkansas Militia, went to Fort Smith. He began talking with the Chickasaw Nation about taking over federal forts in the Indian Territory.

Organizing Arkansas State Troops

The Secession Convention continued to meet, working on a new state constitution and military plans. The new constitution aimed to limit the Governor's power by giving military authority to a three-person board led by the Governor. This Military Board was to organize a state army, provide for the troops, and call them out for defense. The board included Governor Rector, Christopher C. Danley, and Benjamin C. Totten. Danley was later replaced by Samuel W. Williams, then by L. D. Hill.

The Convention also created an "Army of Arkansas" with two divisions: the 1st Division in western Arkansas and the 2nd Division in eastern Arkansas. Each division was to be led by a brigadier general. Though called "divisions," they were meant to be brigade-sized, with four infantry regiments and two artillery batteries each. Each regiment needed 6 to 10 companies, and each company 64 to 96 men and four officers. Officers were elected by the men. $2 million was set aside for the Board.

The Convention elected three of its members as commanders: Major General James Yell (overall commander), Nicholas Bartlett Pearce (1st Division commander), and Thomas H. Bradley (2nd Division commander). While these were "political generals," they all had some militia experience. General Pearce, a West Point graduate, had the most military training. However, all three hurt the war effort by opposing the transfer of Arkansas troops to Confederate command. Eventually, they were either removed from command or moved to other roles.

On May 30, 1861, the Secession Convention ordered all counties to appoint a "home guard of minute men" for local defense. These Home Guard units were for older men and boys not eligible for regular military service. They were organized at the county level, with companies from each township. Most counties likely followed this, but records for only a few 1861 home guard groups exist. The Independence County Home Guard, for example, was formed in June 1861. Many members were prominent property owners, often older, but some later served in regular Confederate units. John Farrell Allen was appointed General Commander of the Independence County Home Guard.

Mobilizing Forces

Col. Patrick Cleburne, Commander, 1st Arkansas Infantry, State Troops, a.k.a. 15th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, Confederate States Army

Militia leaders hoped their existing groups would be used to defend the state. Brigadier General Jett even offered his brigade to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, saying they were "all officered and ready for action except in arms and munitions of war." But the Secession Convention planned for the militia to stay separate from Confederate forces. The militia would be a source of manpower and a last-resort defense. This led many local militia commanders to offer their existing forces as new volunteer companies instead of forming separate Confederate companies.

Mobilizing state forces was complicated by the State Military Board's goals. The board wanted to quickly raise troops but also wanted to keep costs low. They also feared that troops raised for state defense would be sent to the eastern war theater by the Confederate government. This fear proved true. The board decided not to mobilize existing state militia regiments. Instead, they began forming new volunteer regiments, also called "State Troops." Existing volunteer companies from the militia joined these new regiments. The militia regiments kept their separate identity from the State Troops and later Confederate regiments.

The board sent Christopher C. Danley to Richmond to discuss transferring State Troops to the Confederate government. The Board immediately asked for 10,000 troops (10 regiments). Governor Rector had already started organizing volunteer units under the militia law, so the first seven regiments were already forming when the military board made its call.

Tracking military units in the early war months was confusing because several governments (Confederate, state, and county) were all raising troops. The State Military Board raised units hoping to transfer them to Confederate service. James F. Fagan, T. B. Flournoy, and Albert Rust were authorized directly by the Confederate government to raise regiments for Confederate service. The War Department named them 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Arkansas Volunteers. The 1st and 3rd Arkansas Regiments were ready in May 1861 and ordered to Lynchburg, Virginia. Colonel Hindman had trouble organizing his 2nd Arkansas Volunteers, possibly because Arkansas State Troops were forming in the same area. His regiment wasn't ready until June and then had trouble getting orders. Hindman's regiment eventually joined state service and was then transferred to Confederate service with the rest of the eastern division of the Army of Arkansas.

The Military Board had its own numbering system for State Troops, but this was often ignored by brigade commanders, who numbered regiments based on when they joined state service. Confederate authorities also renumbered regiments when they transferred, based on when they joined the Confederate Army. This caused much confusion about unit names.

The 1st Arkansas Infantry, State Troops, led by Colonel Patrick Cleburne, was one of the first regiments formed from volunteer companies. Seven of its eight companies, which joined state service at Mound City on May 14, 1861, had started as volunteer companies under militia law. This regiment first joined the Confederate Army as the 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry. However, another regiment had already received that name. The unit recognized by the Confederate War Department as the 1st Arkansas Infantry was led by Colonel James F. Fagan. Fagan's regiment didn't join state service but went east to Virginia. Colonel Cleburne's 1st Arkansas Infantry, State Troops, was renamed the 15th Arkansas Infantry. The confusion continued, as three Arkansas Infantry regiments were eventually named "15th." The new 15th Arkansas camped with the 2nd Division of the Army of Arkansas, under Major General Yell, in Pocahontas.

Volunteer Militia Companies Joining Confederate Service

The following volunteer companies, formed under old militia laws, joined new State Troops regiments or directly joined Confederate Service:

Order of Battle, Provisional Army of Arkansas

The new Army of Arkansas was to have two divisions: the 1st Division in western Arkansas and the 2nd Division in eastern Arkansas. A major general would lead the Army, and each division would have a brigadier general. Each regiment would have 6 to 10 companies. As was custom, company officers were elected by the men, and regimental officers were elected by the company officers.

Brigadier General Thomas Bradley, who first commanded the eastern (2nd) Division, was quickly removed after a disagreement with Colonel Cleburne. Major General Yell then took command of the 2nd (Eastern) Division, which included:

• 1st Regiment, Arkansas State Troops, (15th Josey's Volunteer Infantry)
• 5th Regiment (Cross's Regiment), Arkansas State Troops, (5th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, Confederate States Army)
• 6th Regiment, Arkansas State Troops, (6th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, Confederate States Army)
• 7th Regiment, Arkansas State Troops, (7th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, Confederate States Army)
• Helena Artillery (Key's Battery)
• Jackson Light Artillery (McCown's Battery)
• Clark County Artillery (Roberts Battery)

Brigadier General Pearce commanded the 1st (Western) Division, which included:

• 3rd Regiment, Arkansas State Troops, (Gratiot's Regiment)
• 4th Regiment, Arkansas State Troops, (Walker's Regiment)
• 5th Regiment, Arkansas State Troops, (Dockery's Regiment)
• 1st Cavalry Regiment, Arkansas State Troops (Carroll's Regiment)
• Pulaski Light Artillery, (Woodruff's Battery).
• Fort Smith Artillery, (Ried's Battery)

On July 14, 1861, Confederate Brigadier General William J. Hardee arrived in Little Rock to take unified Confederate command in the state. The next day, the state Military Board signed an "Article of Transfer." This agreement stated that all state forces (except the militia), about 10,000 men, would voluntarily transfer to the Confederate States of America. All weapons, ammunition, and supplies would also be transferred. Before the transfer could happen, Arkansas State Troops experienced their first real battle.

State Troops and the Battle of Wilson's Creek

Brigadier General Nicholas Bartlett Pearce, Commander, Western Division, Provisional Army of Arkansas

Brigadier General Pearce, from Benton County, set up the headquarters for the 1st Division, Provisional Army of Arkansas, at Camp Walker in Maysville. So, when a Union army started operating near Springfield in Southwest Missouri, Pearce's state troops were close by. Pearce's troops, called a brigade of State Troops in official reports, numbered 2,234. Pearce agreed to work with Brigadier General Benjamin McCulloch and his force of about 8,000 other soldiers. Together, they formed a large force and marched towards Springfield.

On August 10, 1861, Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, the Union commander, attacked the Confederates. The battle lasted all day and was fought on several fronts. Captain William E. Woodruff, Jr., who led the Pulaski Light Artillery, had a fierce artillery duel with Captain James Totten. Totten had surrendered the Federal Arsenal at Little Rock just months before. Captain Totten saw a chance for revenge, and his cannons fired throughout the day.

The Battle of Wilson's Creek ended suddenly when the Union commander was killed. Without a leader and outnumbered five to one, the Union soldiers fled. Arkansas troops played a big part in winning the battle but suffered many losses. Two Arkansas units had especially heavy casualties. Colonel Thomas J. Churchill's 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles had 42 killed and 155 wounded out of 600 men. Colonel John Gratiot's 3rd Arkansas Infantry, State Troops lost 109 men, including 25 killed, out of 500.

Pearce's Troops Vote to Disband

Soon after the Battle of Wilson's Creek, Pearce's troops were asked if they wanted to transfer to Confederate command, as had been planned. Brigadier General Pearce actively argued against joining the Confederate States Army. Records differ on how many of these Arkansas state troops agreed to the transfer. It seems few wanted to continue in either service. Colonel Gratiot's command voted against the transfer as a group. They marched back to southwest Arkansas and were released from state service on September 19, 1861. By the end of September 1861, all organized state troops had either transferred to Confederate command or were released from state service.

Arkansas Confederates Transferred East of the River

Between July 2 and August 1, 1861, the Military Board organized eight regiments. By November 1861, Governor Rector reported that 21 regiments, totaling 16,000 men, had been raised, with another 6,000 men expected soon.

The Secession Convention and Military Board's fears about Arkansas troops being sent east of the Mississippi River quickly came true. Brigadier General William J. Hardee led his new brigade of Arkansas Troops on a short, uneventful raid into Missouri. Then, he moved the command east of the Mississippi to join what would become the Confederate Army of Tennessee. Arkansas soon found itself almost defenseless. By insisting that all state troops had the right to approve their transfer to Confederate service, state authorities had effectively ruined the chance of raising a large, unified force in the state. Governor Rector's newspaper complained: "The Confederate government has abandoned Arkansas to her fate."

Militia Operations: Fall 1861

Colonel Borland Calls for Militia to Defend Northeast Arkansas: November 1861

Solon F. Borland served in the Arkansas Regiment of Mounted Volunteers during the Mexican War; He served as the Adjutant General and a United States Senator before the Civil War.

In May 1861, Pocahontas and nearby Pitman's Ferry in Randolph County became an important Confederate military supply point. After the State Troop regiments transferred to Brigadier General Hardee, almost all regiments in northeast Arkansas moved east of the Mississippi River to Bowling Green, Kentucky, in late September. Colonel Solon Borland was left with a small force at Pitman's Ferry. This was the only defense in Northeast Arkansas. His forces included his cavalry regiment (seven companies), Colonel McCown's infantry (five companies), Major Desha's raw troops (four companies), Captain Robert's artillery unit (60 men but no guns), and about 150 recruits from Major McCray. In total, he had about 1,286 men. However, due to sickness and injuries, Colonel Borland said he could only count on about 600 men for fighting. All were "raw, inexperienced, poorly disciplined and indifferently armed."

A second round of recruiting for new regiments was just starting when Colonel Borland began receiving reports of enemy movements in Missouri. Initial reports suggested a possible attack on Pitman's Ferry. The Union army was gathering troops in southeast Missouri mainly to move down the Mississippi River. This posed a real threat to all of northeast Arkansas. Colonel Borland stated he had reliable information that "there are 300 infantry and 150 cavalry at Rives' Station, on Black River, 35 miles north of Pitman's Ferry. Also that there is a strong infantry force-7,000-at Greenville, 15 miles north of Rives' Station." Borland regularly communicated with Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson of the Missouri State Guard.

Reports of these Union troop movements were sent to local militia units. The Jacksonport Herald on October 26, 1861, published a message received by Christopher W. Board, Commander of the 34th Militia Regiment of Jackson County:

23 Oct.1861

Col. Board

... We have commenced taking steps to call out the militia but will not call them out unless there is certainty a necessity for it. It might be well for your officers to take such steps as will enable prompt action in case of necessity. I send it to you, believing that you can have the proper persons ready for action; and at the same time keep down all unnecessary excitement ... J.C. Marvin.

Colonel Borland moved his command from Pitman's Ferry to Pocahontas. He was worried enough to ask for militia reinforcements. On November 5, 1861, Colonel Borland asked for volunteers from nearby counties to quickly form companies to defend Pitman's Ferry until new regular Confederate regiments could arrive.

When news of Borland's situation reached Little Rock, the state Military Board responded by calling out the 8th Militia Brigade under Brigadier General Phillips:

It being represented that the State was in danger of invasion, and that Colonel Borland's command was threatened with immediate attack, it was ordered that Brigadier-General Phillips be ordered to call out the Eighth Brigade of Militia, and that he also order out one company each from the following counties, viz: Prairie, Monroe, Poinsett, Saint Francis, and Craighead.

Brigadier General Theodore H. Phillips offered his help to Colonel Borland, who accepted it. Phillips began organizing the new 30-day volunteer companies into a brigade. He requested camp equipment:

Requisition for Camp and Garrison Equipage viz: Four camp kettles. 4 ovens, lids and pot hooks, 4 coffee boilers, 15 tin cups. 25 tin plates. 4 mess Bins, 1 coffee mill, 6 spoons, 8 knives. Requisition for forage for 8 horses, 96 lbs. of corn.

Brigadier General Phillips added: "In response to Col. Borland's call for militia service for 30 days. We have responded and entered service. [with] Capt. Ruffner." The receipt was dated Pocahontas, November 23, 1861, and signed by "T. H. Phillips, Brig. Gen. 8th Brigade of Arkansas Militia."

Colonel Borland's call was answered almost immediately, but he still had serious doubts about his situation. On November 10, he wrote to Major General Leonidas Polk, C.S.A., and described his call for militia reinforcements. He said the response was "somewhat tumultuous." On November 9, 1,000 men arrived unorganized and so poorly armed that he told them to go home. They promised to return within a week with at least 3,000 men. He told them that organized companies would be accepted for 30 days of service. Borland added a note to his letter, saying his scouts reported a Federal force of 7,450 men in Missouri. He told General Polk that his force was too small for attack or defense. He felt it should be three times larger or abandoned entirely, and he asked to be relieved of command. "It is a Brigadier's command, and should have his responsibility, which I am daily growing more and more distrustful of my competency to sustain. Public interests here would be better provided for by other and abler hands."

News of Borland's call and the gathering at Pocahontas spread. The Arkansas True Democrat on November 14 printed a dispatch from Des Arc dated November 9:

The steamer Kanawa Valley left Jacksonport this morning and reports here that large numbers of men are flocking to Bor1ands aid. The Federal forces 7,000 strong are advancing on Pocahontas rapidly, and were expected to make an attack on the town to-day. There is a tremendous excitement throughout the country. The women and children are all being moved from Pocahontas and active preparations are making for a stern resistance to the invaders. Borland's command has retreated from Pittman's Ferry to within a mile of Pocahontas, where they have made a stand. This intelligence is perfectly reliable. J.C. Morrill.

About two dozen emergency companies formed in various counties, including areas now in Clay, Cleburne, Sharp, and Woodruff counties. They gathered at Pocahontas and Pitman's Ferry around November 9 and joined Confederate service for 30 days. Few records of these quickly formed, short-lived companies have survived. It seems three 30-day regiments were organized from these companies.

1st Arkansas Regiment, 30 Day Volunteers, CSA

The 1st Arkansas Regiment, 30-Day Volunteers (infantry), seems to have officially formed on November 23, 1861, under Colonel James Haywood McCaleb. Colonel McCaleb was the commander of the 25th Militia Regiment from Lawrence County. Several companies in this new "30 Day Volunteer" regiment came from the 25th Militia Regiment:

• Company A – Capt. A. G. Kelsey—Randolph and Lawrence counties.
• Company B – Capt. John W. Peter—Sharp, Independence and Izard counties.
• Company C – Capt. M. Shelby Kennard—Independence county.
• Company D – Capt. Thomas S. Simington—Randolph county.
• Company E – Capt. Joshua Wann—Lawrence (present day Sharp) county.
• Company F – Capt. Israel Milligan—Lawrence (present day Sharp) and Izard counties.
• Company G – Capt. Daniel Yeager—Lawrence (present day Sharp) county.
• Company H – Capt. James Campbell Anderson—Greene (and present day Clay) counties.
• Company I – Capt. Beverly B. Owens—Independence county.
• Company K – Capt. L. W. Robertson—Lawrence (and present day Sharp) counties.

2nd Arkansas Regiment, 30 Day Volunteers, CSA

The 2nd Regiment Arkansas Regiment, 30-Day Volunteers (infantry), might not have fully organized. Only records for one battalion of this regiment have survived. Four companies from northeast Arkansas made up the 1st Battalion. They enlisted for 30 days of emergency service on November 18 and were discharged on December 18, 1861:

• Company A – Capt. John H. Miers' company from Jackson County.
• Company B – Capt. W. T. High's company ("High's Repellers") from Prairie (and present-day Lonoke) counties. This company appears to have originated as Company G, 50th Militia Regiment of Prairie County.
• Company C – Capt. James R. Morris' company from Independence and present-day Cleburne counties, and
• Company D – Capt. Thomas G. Shinpock's company from present-day Woodruff County.

The men of Companies A, B, and C returned home after being discharged. The men of Company D stayed to enlist in Confederate service for one year, becoming Company K of McCarver's 14th Arkansas Infantry. No colonel or lieutenant-colonel was assigned to the 2nd Regiment. Only a Major Allen, commanding the 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, is mentioned.

3rd Arkansas Regiment, 30 Day Volunteers, CSA

A 3rd Arkansas Regiment, 30-Day Volunteers (cavalry), almost certainly never fully organized. Only the lists of two mounted companies, under Captains Reves and Hooker, have survived.

• Capt. Reves' Mounted Company, 30-Day Volunteers, CSA – from Randolph County. Note on muster roll: "This company was raised in Randolph county, Arkansas, in response to Colonel Borland's call of November 5, 1861, mustered into the Confederate service on December 26, 1861, for 30 days, and discharged on January 26, 1862, at Pocahontas, Arkansas."
• Capt. Richard Hooker's Company, Arkansas Mounted Volunteers, 30 days 1861, CSA – Jackson County. This company joined Confederate service November 29 and was discharged December 28, 1861. Muster rolls from this time say: "the men were armed with shotguns and borrowed sabers." Hooker's Company started as a cavalry unit. They had trained at Jacksonport before going to Pocahontas. In a report of army equipment purchases at Jacksonport, R. R. Kellogg wrote on December 20, 1861: "Enclosed please find an Invoice of Goods by the Committee for Jackson County at this place – together with the receipts of all that we have distributed. The tents loaned to Hooker's Company have been returned and are now subject to your order." Although Hooker's Company was first for 30-day service, it was reorganized on February 26, 1862, by Captain Hooker at Jacksonport with more men. It played a big role in actions around Jackson County in spring and summer 1862. Hooker's Company joined Confederate service as companies C and D of the 32nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment.

Unattached Companies

Four more companies were raised, possibly to complete the 2nd or 3rd Regiment of 30-day Volunteers, but they were never officially assigned to a regiment.

• Capt. Clayton's Company, 30-Day Volunteers, CSA—From Lawrence (Now Sharp) county. Note on muster roll: "This company was raised at Ash Flat, Arkansas, in response to Colonel Borland's call of November 5, 1861, mustered into the Confederate service on November 9, 1861, for 30 days, and discharged on December 9, 1861, at Pitman's Ferry, Arkansas."
• Capt. Ballard's Company, 30-Day Volunteers, CSA – from Randolph county. Note on muster roll: "This company was raised in Randolph county, Arkansas, in response to Colonel Borland's call of November 5, 1861, mustered into the Confederate service on November 17, 1861, for 30 days, and discharged on December 17, 1861, at Pitman's Ferry, Arkansas."
• Capt. Baker's Company, 30-Day Volunteers, CSA – from St Francis county. Note on muster roll: "This company was raised at Cotton Plant, Arkansas, in response to Colonel Borland's call of November 5, 1861, mustered into the Confederate service on November 14, 1861, for 30 days, and discharged on December 14, 1861, at Pocahontas, Arkansas."
• Capt. Ruffner commanded a company of volunteers from southern Lawrence County and camped with General Phillips. They stayed at Pocahontas until the emergency was over and Colonel Borland no longer needed their service.

The enlistment period for these emergency companies ended from mid-December to early January, around the time new regular regiments arrived. They were discharged and sent home. Most volunteers later joined various regiments formed in the third wave of troop mobilization in March and April 1862.

Operations Against the Peace Society

The 45th Regiment Arkansas Militia was from Searcy and present-day Stone counties. It is the only militia regiment known to have been called up during the war for a specific mission. Confederate and State authorities became very concerned about a secret group in north-central Arkansas called the Peace Society. These groups were mostly Union supporters who believed that wealthy slave owners in southern Arkansas and the Deep South caused the war. They felt these wealthy individuals should bear the burden of the conflict. Governor Rector ordered the 45th Arkansas Militia Regiment to round up suspected Peace Society members in Searcy and Van Buren counties.

The regiment met on November 26, 1861, at Burrowville (now Marshall). For the next few weeks, they identified and arrested suspected Peace Society members throughout the mountains of north-central Arkansas. Finally, in mid-December, the regiment "escorted" their prisoners to Little Rock, where most were forced into Confederate service. Companies I and K of Marmaduke's 18th Arkansas (later 3rd Confederate) regiment were mostly made up of men rounded up by the 45th Militia. After their mission, the regiment returned to Searcy County and was released on December 20, 1861. The next spring, most of them joined the 27th and 32nd Arkansas Infantry Regiments.

Inspection of Militia Units December 1861

The Military Board's efforts to mobilize forces while keeping the Militia separate seemed successful in late 1861. In early December 1861, the commanding generals of the Arkansas Militia Brigades inspected their districts. The Adjutant General, General Edmund Burevin, reviewed Major General Thomas D. Merrick's Militia Division. Major General James Yell reviewed the 2nd Militia Division. Brigadier General Holt, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, reported that militia units in his eight counties were well organized and had more domestic weapons than expected. Regimental drills were held on December 5, 1861, at St. Johns College in Little Rock, and on December 7 in Saline County.

Militia Operations: 1862

The Confederate Government in Richmond responded to Arkansas' complaints on January 10, 1862. They created the District of the Trans-Mississippi from General Albert Sidney Johnston's Department of the West and sent Major General Earl Van Dorn to command it. General Van Dorn arrived in Little Rock on January 29, 1862. He immediately asked the State Military Board for ten more infantry regiments and four artillery companies. In a proclamation on January 31, 1862, Governor Rector stated:

From the best data in possession of the State authorities it is estimated that Arkansas has now 22,000 men in the Confederate Army, which is equal to 37 per cent, of her population fit or subject to military duty—the 8,500 called for making 30,500 out of 60,000, being one-half, or 50 per cent, of her entire military force

Under the Governor's Proclamation, the state was divided into four new "divisions," each with a recruiting goal. Governor Rector warned that any division failing to meet its quota by March 5, 1862, would face a draft by counties until their share of men was provided. Rector also said the State Military Board could "make a draft from the militia to obtain the required number for service."

Militia Called Out in the Face of Invasion

Before Major General Van Dorn could make much progress building his new "Army of the West," a Union invasion of Northwest Arkansas forced the state militia into action. On February 17, 1862, General McCulloch issued a proclamation from Fayetteville:

To Able-bodied Citizens Of Western Arkansas: The troops under General Price and myself are falling back before a superior force to the Boston Mountains. Thousands of Federal hirelings are within the line of your State, -whilst hundreds of men remain at home, notwithstanding their services are needed. Let every man turn out and form companies, and rally to meet the advancing enemy. Rally at once or it will be too late.

Brigadier General N. B. Burrow, commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Arkansas State Militia, responded by activating his entire brigade. According to records, the following units of the 3rd Brigade were activated during the Union invasion of Northwest Arkansas:

• 5th Militia Regiment, 3rd Militia Brigade, Crawford County, on duty February 21 - March 17.
• 7th Militia Regiment, 3rd Militia Brigade, Franklin County, on duty February 22 - March 19.
• 10th Militia Regiment, 3rd Militia Brigade, Johnson County, on duty February 20 - March 19.
• 51st Militia Regiment, 3rd Militia Brigade, Sebastian County, on duty March 4 - March 19.
• 58th Militia Regiment, 3rd Militia Brigade, Logan County, on duty February 22 - March 21.
• 62nd Militia Regiment, 3rd Militia Brigade, Johnson County, on duty February 22 - March 1.

General Van Dorn received messages on February 22 from Generals McCulloch and Price. They said General Price had quickly retreated from Springfield, Missouri, due to a larger enemy force. He was trying to meet General McCulloch's division in the Boston Mountains near Fayetteville. The State Military Board ordered Brigadier General George M. Holt, Commander of the 2nd Brigade of Arkansas Militia, on February 26, to organize and camp each regiment in his militia brigade quickly. Brigadier General Burrow of the 3rd Militia Brigade wrote to Governor Rector on March 2. He feared that only about 1,400 of the 4,800 men in his brigade would report for duty. This was based on early reports from units he had called up. Burrow said the reasons for this low turnout were that many had already joined existing volunteer regiments. Others had hidden in the mountains to avoid militia duty. Some had joined the quartermaster department as teamsters and runners, which made them exempt from militia duty, to avoid combat.

On March 3, General Van Dorn reached the headquarters of Generals Price and McCulloch. On March 7–8, General Van Dorn's Army of the West fought the Federal Army of the Southwest near Elk Horn Tavern, in what became known as the Battle of Pea Ridge. After initial success on the first day, Van Dorn had to order a retreat because he ran out of ammunition.

In response to the State Military Board's call, parts of the 2nd Brigade, Arkansas Militia, were mustered during and after the Battle of Pea Ridge. The 50th Militia Regiment from Prairie County mustered March 7–9, while the 15th Militia Regiment from Pope County mustered March 10–11. These are the only 2nd Brigade units with available payroll records. H.W. Sholar of Greene County wrote to Governor Rector on March 13 about Rector's recent call for 1,500 men to join the militia. Sholar reported that companies were forming, but he complained that men who refused to enlist were threatened with death, and "mob law" ruled the county.

While General Van Dorn was fighting, Governor Rector was fighting attempts by the state legislature to get rid of the Militia. The Legislature had a special session starting March 5, but it didn't have enough members until March 17 for a 5-day session. Lawmakers, tired of the high cost of maintaining a separate state army, tried to abolish the militia. They passed a bill to stop the Governor from paying Militia officers. The Legislature did set aside $575,000 to carry out current military law. The Governor used a pocket veto to stop the bills abolishing the militia and forbidding him to pay militia officers. However, he signed the appropriation bill and used the funds for militia activities.

Governor Rector Attempts to Organize a New State Army

After his defeat at Pea Ridge, General Van Dorn first retreated to Fort Smith. Then, he began moving his army back across the state towards Jacksonport. Van Dorn originally planned to invade Missouri from Northeast Arkansas. But before he could, he received orders from General Albert Sydney Johnson. He was told to move his army east of the Mississippi to help with operations near Corinth, Mississippi. Van Dorn left Arkansas with almost every organized military unit and all the military supplies he could get. This left Arkansas almost defenseless against a continued threat of invasion.

Furious with the authorities in Richmond, Governor Rector threatened to pull Arkansas out of the Confederacy. On May 5, 1862, Governor Rector called for 30 new infantry companies and 20 new cavalry companies. Rector said that if there weren't enough volunteers, a draft would be made from the militia regiments and brigades. To encourage enlistment, Rector also said these new regiments were for home defense and would not be transferred to Confederate Service without their permission.

General Hindman Assumes Command

Arkansas' Confederate representatives in Congress joined Governor Rector in demanding defense for Arkansas. In summer 1862, President Jefferson Davis created the Trans-Mississippi District, which included Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Major General E. Kirby Smith was put in command, with headquarters in Shreveport, Louisiana. Major General Thomas C. Hindman, a strong commander from Helena, was named to lead forces in Arkansas on May 26, 1862. With Federal troops only 35 miles from Little Rock, Hindman had to take extreme measures. On his way to Little Rock, he "impressed" (took by force) $1 million from Memphis banks. In Helena, he raided stores, taking supplies from medicine to ammunition, all loaded onto impressed steamboats. These actions, of questionable legality, continued once Hindman reached Arkansas. Professor Michael Dougan wrote that Hindman took "stores of all kinds" from citizens, even raiding the State Library for paper to make cartridges. Finally, he burned thousands of bales of cotton to keep them from the enemy.

Broadside announcing the militia muster of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Arkansas County Militia for the purpose of enrolling conscripts in Confederate Army, June 1862

Arriving in Little Rock on May 30, 1862, General Hindman quickly tried to fix the difficult situation in Arkansas. He immediately began raising a new army. Facing the immediate threat of Federal occupation, General Hindman insisted that the State Military Board transfer all remaining state troops to Confederate service. Governor Rector, having won his battle with Richmond and facing huge costs to maintain a state army, could not refuse. On June 2, 1862, Rector issued a proclamation stating it was "essential that but one military organization shall exist within the Trans-Mississippi Department" and transferred all state forces to Confederate command.

Using a recently passed Confederate conscription law, General Hindman drafted many men. To encourage volunteering, Hindman announced that if men formed volunteer companies by June 20, 1862, they could elect their own officers instead of having them appointed by General Hindman. This likely led to many former militiamen joining Volunteer Regiments in summer 1862.

During spring and summer, many former militiamen joined newly formed volunteer regiments. They might have decided it was better to enlist and stay together than to wait for forced conscription under new Confederate Conscription laws, which were strictly enforced in summer 1862. In some cases, the Militia was ordered to gather at their regular meeting grounds to enroll conscripts for the Confederate Army. Often, names on militia rosters from the February–March call-up match later enlistments in new Volunteer Regiments formed in spring and summer 1862. For example, Company A of the 1st Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (Monroe's) was enlisted at Hickory Plains, Prairie County, Arkansas, on May 9, 1862. Of its 97 members, 49 were present for the 50th Militia Regiment's muster on March 7, 1862.

Home Guard

Besides trying to organize a strong force of regular Confederate troops, General Hindman used the conscription laws to create home guard units. The Confederate conscription laws from 1864 required boys aged 17 and men between 45 and 50 to serve as a state defense reserve. On June 17, 1862, Hindman issued General Order Number Seventeen. It stated that "for the more effectual annoyance of the enemy ... all citizens of this district, who are not subject to conscription, are called upon to organize themselves into independent companies." Hindman even suggested what these home guards should do: "Their duty will be to cut off Federal pickets, scouts, foraging parties, and trains, and to kill pilots and others on gun-boats and transports, attacking them day and night, and using the greatest vigor in their movements." Although these home guard units were like the militia, the Federals accused Hindman of making bushwhacking legal. Many men who joined the home guards simply used the organization as an excuse to rob isolated farms and villages. Northwest Arkansas, in particular, suffered greatly from these guerrilla groups.

The home guards were popular with Confederate supporters in Arkansas. This was mainly because these units could not be sent out of the state without the state authorities' permission. While some of these groups did engage in informal guerrilla activities, others were well-organized and led. The Home Guard units continued to operate until the very end of the war.

The Fall of Little Rock

General Hindman was a better organizer than a battlefield leader. His new army was defeated first at the Battle of Prairie Grove (December 7, 1862) and later at the Battle of Helena in July 1863. The state capital, Little Rock, fell to advancing Union Forces on September 10, 1863. Arkansas Confederate forces continued to fight until the end of the war. They even managed to cause some embarrassing Union defeats, like at the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry and Battle of Marks' Mills during the Red River Campaign of 1864. Many units that fought in these final battles in Arkansas were raised as State Troops from the militia of southern Arkansas.

Militia Operations After the Fall of Little Rock

Gordon Neill Peay served as Adjutant General to Governor Flanagin, 1863-1865

Governor Harris Flanagin (who had defeated Governor Rector in his 1862 re-election) began organizing a new force of state troops in fall 1863. Governor Flanagin appointed Gordon N. Peay as his Adjutant General, a role Peay held until the war's end. Flanagin issued a proclamation on August 10, 1863, just a month before the capital fell. He announced that he could raise new state troop regiments. By special agreement, these new units could not be transferred out of the state by Confederate authorities.

After Little Rock fell, recruiting was much harder than in the war's early years. The constant transfer of Arkansas troops across the Mississippi River, away from their homes, was a major issue for men eligible for military service. With Federal forces occupying the state capital, the Confederate state government couldn't enforce conscription laws in counties behind Union lines, except during raids by Generals Price and Shelby in 1864. The remaining Confederate regiments suffered from many soldiers leaving.

On September 16, 1863, right after the state capital fell, Governor Flanagin issued General Order No. 6 from Arkadelphia. This order called the militia regiments from Clark, Hempstead, Sevier, Pike, Polk, Montgomery, La Fayette, Ouachita, Union, and Columbia counties into service. Their mission was to resist the Federal army. The Governor ordered the regiments to march to Arkadelphia as soon as possible. Companies were to be mounted, and commanders were to force anyone avoiding the call to come to the meeting point. The goal was to form companies of twelve-month mounted volunteers. Only a few people were exempt, such as doctors, druggists, millers, clerks, sheriffs, postmasters, and those working for the Confederate States.

In a letter to General Holmes on October 18, 1863, from Washington, Arkansas (the new Confederate state capital), Flanagin said he issued the militia call as an experiment, hoping for volunteers. The order worked well enough to get seven companies organized in the counties where the militia call was enforced. Flanagin also stated that "the troops raised by the State are more than double all the troops raised by volunteering, or by the conscript law, within the past few months."

On October 26, 1863, Governor Flanagin told Adjutant General Peay to:

visit Lewisville, in La Fayette County, and see Captain Ford, who has been raising a company of mounted riflemen under the State. I have been informed that this company has been sworn into the service of the Confederate States. If so, the only thing to be done is to communicate this fact to General Fagan. If the State troops which can be raised in La Fayette County are already raised you are authorized to disband the militia. If convenient, I would like for you to go to Union County. Captain Holloway has been raising a company of mounted riflemen in that county. If his company is organized, you can disband the militia of that county. If the colonel is inefficient, and Captain Holloway has not got his company formed, let him swear his men in and get the militia together, and compel those who are liable to the conscript law to go into the State or C. S. service.

These new Arkansas State Troops were commanded by Colonel William H. Trader, who was assigned to Governor Flanagin by General E. Kirby Smith. Colonel Trader remained in command of the state troops until he resigned in June 1864.

Pettus Battalion, Arkansas State Troops

On January 14, 1864, Governor Flanagin, through General Peay, issued General Orders, No. 8. This order stated that the following mounted volunteer companies, called into State service under the August 10, 1863, proclamation, would form the 1st Battalion, Arkansas State Troops:

• Company A, of Hempstead County, Captain E. K. Williamson, commanding.
• Company B, of Clark County, Captain Reuben C. Reed, commanding.
• Company C, of Sevier County, Captain Allen T. Pettus, commanding.
• Company D, of Polk County, Captain G. A. Hale, commanding.
• Company E, of Hot Spring County, Captain John W. Dyer, commanding.

Allen T. Pettus was elected Lieutenant Colonel of this battalion. The unit fought in the Battle of Marks Mill on April 25, 1864, as part of Brigadier General William L. Cabell's Division. Lieutenant Colonel Pettus was killed during the battle. Captain P.K. Williamson of Company A commanded the battalion until it grew into a regiment and transferred to Confederate service.

Newton's 10th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment

In August 1864, as the enlistment terms for these state troops were ending, Adjutant General Peay issued an order. It allowed companies to vote on whether to transfer to Confederate service. However, the vote was mostly a formality. Peay's order also had instructions for those who refused to transfer:

Men whose terms of service have expired, and who are not willing to be transferred, will be reported to and turned over to the proper enrolling officer of the Confederate States for conscription. Men whose terms of service have not expired and who are opposed to the transfer will be required to serve until the expiration of their term of enlistment, and such as do not then re enlist will be turned over to the proper enrolling officers of the Confederate States for conscription.

Robert C Newton, first commander of the Pulaski Light Artillery. Later commanded the 5th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment.

On September 5, 1864, the State Troop companies, including Pettus Battalion, formed one cavalry regiment. It was named the 3rd Regiment of Arkansas Cavalry. Colonel Robert C. Newton was assigned to command the regiment until an election for field officers could be held. The companies in this regiment included:

• Company A—Capt. Reuben C. Reed, from Clark County.
• Company B—Capt. Robert S. Burke, from Montgomery County.
• Company C—Capt. Cyrus K. Holman (replaced Allen T. Pettus), from Sevier County.
• Company D—Capt. James B. Williamson, from Polk County.
• Company E—Capt. Samuel Ogden (replaced P.K. Williamson), from Hempstead County.
• Company F—Capt. Theophilus G. Henley, from Hempstead County.
• Company G—Capt. George A. Hale, from Polk County.
• Company H—Capt. William C. Corcoran, from Scott County.
• Company I—Capt. Allen A. McDonald (replaced John W. Dyer), from Hot Spring County.
• Company K—Capt. John Connally, from Pope County.

This unit joined the Confederate Service on October 31, 1864, as the 10th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment. Colonel Newton was elected Regimental Commander. The unit operated in the Arkansas River Valley, blocking supply routes between Little Rock and Fort Smith during the winter of 1864 to 1865.

The New Unionist Militia

In September 1863, Union forces captured Little Rock. The Confederate state government fled to Washington, in Southwest Arkansas. From that point, Confederate control was mainly limited to the southwest part of the state. Home guard units and guerrilla groups continued to launch frequent raids. The Union government quickly set up a loyal government in Little Rock.

This new loyal government was led by Isaac Murphy. Murphy became famous, and also hated by some, for refusing to vote for secession during the state secession convention. In early 1864, a convention was held in Little Rock to write a Unionist state constitution. On March 14, the document was approved by the available voters, and Isaac Murphy was soon elected governor.

One of Murphy's first actions was to call for a loyal state militia, as "bushwhackers" (guerrilla fighters) were causing chaos. On May 31, 1864, the legislature passed Act Number Nineteen, which created "a loyal State militia." This law stated that "none but loyal and trustworthy men shall be permitted to bear arms in said organization." To easily tell the legal militia from guerrilla forces, the law required each militiaman to "wear, as a mark of distinction, and for the purpose of being recognized at a distance, a band of red cloth [three] inches in width, to be worn on their hats, or in the most conspicouns [sic] manner  ..." Governor Murphy was allowed to ask federal authorities for 10,000 weapons for the militia. Albert W. Bishop, a lieutenant colonel in the 1st Arkansas (Union) Cavalry, became Murphy's adjutant general.

Using United States Army officers to oversee recruitment, the new militia slowly formed. Recruitment was most successful in strong Unionist areas, especially northwest Arkansas, and where a large Federal military base could help. By late September 1864, militia drills were held in Little Rock and Fort Smith, as well as other places. In Little Rock, authorities ordered businesses to close during the weekly three-hour drills to encourage full attendance.

The rural areas of Northwest Arkansas, which suffered constant attacks from guerrilla forces, saw the formation of paramilitary groups similar to, but different from, the Militia. Parts of the area had been ruined, with roaming bands of bushwhackers and Federal troops often taking food and supplies. Because of this, many people faced starvation. As early as 1863, before the Murphy government formed, Colonel M. LaRue Harrison, a Unionist commander, created what became known as "Farm Colonies." These colonies served both military and agricultural purposes. They organized militia companies made up entirely of farmers, who were expected to farm the land and protect it.

Connection to the Arkansas National Guard

Today's Arkansas Army National Guard units do not directly trace their history or honors to any Civil War units. This is partly because state records were not well organized before and after the war, and partly due to confusion in identifying units. Unlike other Southern states where current National Guard units receive credit for their units' participation in Confederate service, no current Arkansas National Guard unit has Campaign Participation Credit for the Civil War period.

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See Also

• Arkansas in the American Civil War
• List of Arkansas Civil War Confederate units
• Arkansas Militia and the War with Mexico
• Arkansas National Guard