Arkansas militias during Reconstruction facts for kids

After the Civil War, the Arkansas Militia in Reconstruction played a big role in the many conflicts that happened in Arkansas until the late 1870s. The "Reconstruction" period was a time when the Southern states were rebuilt and brought back into the United States. Right after the war, some white groups used the militia to try and control the newly freed African Americans.

Later, a political group called the Radical Republicans took power in 1867. They got rid of the old state governments and militia groups. They also took away voting rights from people who had supported the Confederacy during the war. These people, who could no longer vote, sometimes joined secret groups like the Ku Klux Klan to try and keep their old way of life.

The new government then created its own militia. This new "Black militia" was mostly made up of African American soldiers with white officers. They used this militia to fight against the rising power of the Ku Klux Klan. There were many fights in different counties, and the militia was often called in to restore order. The biggest conflict during this time was called the Brooks–Baxter War, where two groups fought for control of the governor's office. When Reconstruction ended, one of the first things the new state government did was to get rid of the office that managed the militia, because they didn't like how the militia had been used.

Federal Control After 1863

After the city of Little Rock was captured in September 1863, a pro-Union government was set up in Arkansas. This government was led by Governor Isaac Murphy. Governor Murphy chose Albert W. Bishop to be the state's top militia officer, called the Adjutant General. Together, they created a state militia that supported the Union.

When the Civil War officially ended in the summer of 1865, many white Southerners started to form local militia groups again. They wanted to regain control over the newly freed African Americans. In some places, these white militia groups even tried to take away weapons from African American soldiers who had fought for the Union.

In 1867, the Radical Republicans gained control of the U.S. Congress. They decided to get rid of the old Confederate state governments. They put these states under military control until they wrote new state rules (constitutions). These new rules had to give voting rights and citizenship to freed African Americans.

Powell Clayton, a Republican who had lived in Arkansas for a long time, became the new governor. This happened after Arkansas adopted its new constitution. The new constitution temporarily took away voting and office-holding rights from former Confederates. Many of these former Confederate soldiers joined chapters of the growing Ku Klux Klan. This group attacked African Americans and their supporters. They tried to stop African Americans from voting and moving freely.

Fighting the Ku Klux Klan

After the Civil War, Congress passed two important laws in 1867. The first law dissolved all existing Confederate state governments. It placed these states under the control of the U.S. military. The second law, passed on March 2, 1867, got rid of the various Southern militia groups.

Most white men who had fought for the Confederacy could not vote anymore. Because of this, Radical Republican candidates won all state offices and most seats in the legislature. The new Governor, Powell Clayton, convinced Congress to allow states with pro-Union governments to form militias again.

The Republican-controlled legislature passed a law on July 14, 1868, to reorganize the state militia. General Keyes Danforth was appointed Adjutant General. He began forming militia units made up of African American soldiers. By October 1868, the Adjutant General reported that there were 37 militia companies with 1,600 men. Most of these soldiers in the new Arkansas State Guard were African American.

This new militia spent much of the next year fighting against Ku Klux Klan activities. Governor Powell declared "Martial Law" in some areas. This meant the military took control. Militia forces took over the town of Center Point and arrested 60 people on November 12, 1868. The militia also made arrests in Hamburg.

In Augusta, the militia, led by General Daniel Phillips Upham, fought against Klansmen. They killed some and captured others. Near Marianna, the militia occupied the town and captured five people. Near Jonesboro, one person was killed and three were captured. In Fulton County, the militia captured two men. Klan activity seemed to be stopped for a while, and martial law was lifted in 1869.

Pope County Militia Conflict

Pope County, in west-central Arkansas, had seen several political killings after the Civil War. In 1872, it looked like more county officials might be killed. Local leaders asked Governor Ozra A. Hadley for help. Governor Hadley had taken over from Governor Powell, who was now a senator.

Governor Hadley allowed a militia company to be formed to deal with the problems. This militia arrested people suspected of the killings. However, the militia itself was then accused of killing its prisoners. The situation got worse, and more killings followed. Adjutant General Daniel Phillips Upham was sent to investigate.

After more shootouts and killings in Dover, and threats to burn the town, martial law was declared. A regiment of the mostly African American state militia was sent in to keep the peace. Captain George R. Herriot, who commanded the African American troops in Pope County, was later killed in the county courthouse. His killer was never brought to trial.

Brooks–Baxter War

In the state election of 1872, Joseph Brooks and Elisha Baxter both ran for governor. The election results were very close. The state legislature looked at the votes and said Baxter was the winner. However, on April 12, 1874, more than a year after Baxter took office, a judge said Brooks was the real winner.

Governor Baxter was forced out of the statehouse by Brooks and his armed supporters. In the confusion, both "governors" asked for militia support, and both got it. The militia supporting Baxter was led by former Confederate General Robert C. Newton. The militia supporting Brooks was led by former Union General Robert Francis Catterson and former Confederate General James Fleming Fagan.

Brooks kept control of the statehouse. Baxter set up his headquarters nearby. Baxter managed to gather over 1,300 troops. Brooks got more than 2,000 rifles for his supporters. Orders came from Washington D.C. to prevent a big fight. Colonel Thomas E. Rose, who commanded the Little Rock Arsenal, sent U.S. soldiers and two cannons to Markham Street. They stood between the two groups. As violence continued, Federal troops built a barrier along Markham Street to keep the two sides apart.

Fights quickly spread to other parts of the state. Nine Brooks supporters were killed and thirty wounded in an ambush by Baxter forces. This happened at New Gascony in Jefferson County. Fights also happened on May 1 in Lincoln and Arkansas counties. Two days later, they fought another battle near Arkansas Post, where five more men died.

On May 8, Brooks' men attacked a steamboat called the Hallie. It was carrying a company of pro-Baxter militia near Palarm Creek. Brooks' forces captured the boat, but Baxter supporters later sank it.

Baxter's forces took over Argenta (now North Little Rock), which was across the river from the statehouse. They kept firing at Brooks' forces at the statehouse. Brooks' forces eventually said that if the shooting didn't stop, they would shell Argenta with their cannons.

On May 13, 1874, a four-hour fight happened near where the state capital is today. Pro-Baxter militia arrived by steamboat from Fort Smith. Pro-Brooks forces stopped them. The number of people hurt in this fight is not known.

Both sides asked President Ulysses S. Grant for help. On May 15, 1874, President Grant said Baxter was the rightful governor. He ordered all "disorderly persons to disperse and return to their homes." By May 16, Brooks' supporters gave up and went home. It's thought that over 200 people died in this political war.

The Waldron War

Armed conflict broke out in Waldron, Scott County, in west-central Arkansas, in the summer of 1875. Governor Garland and later Governor Miller used state militia forces to keep the peace. Up to seven companies of militia were stationed in the county in 1877 and 1878.

Eventually, tensions between local militias grew very high. The Adjutant General, James Pomeroy, even moved to Waldron to direct the militias. He made sure the local court could meet in an orderly way in the spring of 1878. By this time, the political situation had changed. Reconstruction was over. The new state legislature was now controlled by Democrats, who had previously lost their voting rights.

The legislature did not like the governor using the militia for what they saw as a local issue. Their reaction was so strong that in March 1879, the legislature passed a law to get rid of the office of Adjutant General. They did this even though the governor tried to stop it.

The new law stated that the Governor's Private Secretary would now do all the duties of the Adjutant General. The office of Adjutant General was officially abolished. The legislature also cut all money for the militia. This situation continued for over 28 years. It wasn't until 1907 that the legislature finally brought back the office of Adjutant General.

See Also

• Arkansas in the American Civil War
• Brooks–Baxter War
• Military in Arkansas
• Military units and formations in Arkansas
• National Guard (United States)