The 2nd Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles was organized at Osage Prairie, Arkansas on July 29th, 1861 under the command of Colonel James McQueen McIntosh, with field officers Lt. Col. Ben T. Embry, Major Henry K. Brown, Adjutant W.H. Elstner, Surgeon W.L. DeBerry, and Sergeant Major J.W. Head. Company commanders were: Co. A, from Bentonville, Cpt. William Gipson; Co. B, from Galla Rock, Cpt. Ben T. Embry (succeeded in command by 1LT Peter W. Parker upon the former's promotion to Lt. Col..); Co. C, Cpt James M. King; Co. D, from Bentonville, Cpt. John A. Arrington; Co. E, from Arkadelphia, Cpt. Harris Flanagin; Co. F, Cpt James L. Witherspoon; Co. G, the "Sevier Rifles" of Paraclifta, Cpt. Henry K. Brown; Co. H, the "Hempstead Cavalry" of Old Washington, Cpt. George E. Gamble; Co. I, Cpt. William F. Patterson; and Co. K, Cpt. C.G. Reagan. Cpt. Edwin R. Hawkins' company, the "Texas Fencibles" of Daingerfield, TX was temporarily assigned to the 2nd Mounted Rifles until more companies arrived to form a new Texas regiment, and later was reassigned as Co. A, 4th Texas Cavalry Battalion in November, 1861.
Initially assigned to McCulloch's Brigade near the Arkansas-Missouri border, the 2nd Mounted Rifles first fought in the battle of Wilson's Creek, MO on August 10, 1861. Returning to Arkansas, the regiment served as the core of a force sent to the Indian Territory to quell a possible Indian uprising, fighting the Creeks and Seminoles under Hopoeithleyohola at Chustenlah, in present-day Osage County, OK on December 26, 1861. Col McIntosh was promoted to brigadier general, and Lt. Col. Embry assumed command of the regiment. McCulloch's brigade went into winter quarters at Fort Smith, and in February 1862, moved north to Strickler's Station where they linked up with Price's Missouri State Guard under MG Earl Van Dorn to form the Army of the West. The regiment was engaged on the Leetown battlefield at Pea Ridge on March 7, 1862, and afterwards retreated to Van Buren, AR. From there, the regiment moved overland with the Army of the West to Corinth, MS. Dismounted at DeValls Bluff, Arkansas, in April 1862 and fought as infantry for the remainder of the war. Reorganized at Corinth, MS on May 1, 1862, re-enlisting for three years or the duration of the War, and held new elections, replacing all the company commanders and field officers. The regiment participated in the campaign around Corinth that spring, and in the battle of Farmington on May 9. 1862.
The 2nd Mounted Rifles were then assigned to BG T.J. Churchill's brigade in McCown's Division, which accompanied Kirby Smith's army in an attempt to re-occupy Kentucky in the summer and early fall of 1862. General Churchill was reassigned to a command in Arkansas in July, and General McNair assumed command of the brigade. The brigade fought in the battle of Richmond, KY on August 29-30, 1862. Following the Battle of Perryville fought by Bragg's army in October, Kirby Smith's army followed Bragg back into middle Tennessee where it was merged with Bragg's Army of Tennessee. The regiment fought at the battle of Murfreesboro on December 30, 1862 - January 2, 1863. In the early summer of 1863, McNair's brigade was detailed to General Joe Johnston's forces in an attempt to relieve the federal siege of Vicksburg, and fought in the siege of Jackson, MS. Following the fall of both Vicksburg and Jackson, the brigade returned to Bragg's Army of Tennessee near Tullahoma, and fought in all of that army's battles for the remainder of the war... at Chickamauga; Chattanooga, the Atlanta Campaign including Dug Gap, Resaca, New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, Moore's Hill, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Ezra Church, the siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station and Moon's Station; the battles of Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville, Sugar Creek, the Carolinas Campaign, and Bentonville. Consolidated with the 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles, 4th Arkansas Infantry Battalion, and the 4th, 9th, and 25th Arkansas Infantry regiments and the consolidated unit renamed as the 1st Mounted Rifles Regiment (Consolidated)(Dismounted) at the last reorganization of the Army of Tennessee near Smithville, North Carolina on April 9, 1865. Surrendered with the Army of Tennessee near Durham Station, North Carolina on April 26, 1865.
Officers: Col (later Brigadier General) James Q. McIntosh. Field Officers: Major Henry K. Brown; Major (later Lt. Col.) James P. Eagle; Lt. Col. (later Col.) Benjamin T. Embry; Colonel Harris Flanagin; Major William Gipson; Major (later Lt. Col.) James T. Smith; Lt. Col. (later Col.) James A. Willaimson
References: Wesley Thurman Leeper, Rebels Valiant - The Second Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Dismounted) (Complete unit history and muster rolls)
Organized with 12 companies on December 24, 1863 by renaming the 5th Arkansas Cavalry regiment and assigning the remnants of Dobbin's 1st Arkansas Cavalry to bring the companies up to authorized strength. Commanded by Colonel Thomas J. Morgan; field officers were Lt. Col. John W. Coarser, Major (later Lt. Col.) John P. Bull, and Major Willaim N. Portis. Assigned to Cabell's Brigade in December, 1863, the regiment fought through most of the Camden Expedition, including the battles at Poison Springs and Marks' Mills in March and April of 1864, and served on Price's Missouri Raid in September and October of 1864, including the battle of Marais des Cygnes. Surrendered with General Kirby Smith on May 26, 1865.
The 3rd Arkansas Cavalry was organized at Little Rock, Arkansas, on June 10, 1861 under the command of Colonel Solon Borland, and was initially known as the 1st Arkansas Mounted Volunteers. On acceptance into Confederate service on July 24, 1861, the regiment was renamed as the 3rd Arkansas Cavalry on January 15, 1862.
The regiments officers on its final organization at Corinth on May 26, 1862 were Colonel Samuel G. Earle, Lt. COl. Anson W. Hobson, Major Marzaime J. Henderson, Adjutant Lt. Armistead Burwell, Quartermaster Cpt. John L. McClellan, Commissary Cpt. David W. Dodd, and Sergeant Major Lewis B. Noland. Company commanders were A Co, from Dallas county, Cpt. William L.M. Holmes; B Co., from Perry County, Cpt. William H. Blackwell; C Co., from Saline County, Cpt. John D. Logan; D Co., from Pulaski county, Cpt. R.M. King; E Co., from Pulaski county, Cpt. A.B. Duke; E Co., from Pope county, Cpt. James L. Adams; F Co., from Hot Spring county, Cpt. Steven Jester; G Co., from Ouachita county, Cpt. George W. Winburne; H Co., from Ouachita County, Cpt. Alonzo Montgomery; I Co., from Conway county, Cpt. Marion E. Davis; and K Co., from Yell County, Cpt. W.B. Keeton.
The regiment was initially ordered to Pocahontas for mustering into Confederate service, and remained in camp there until ordered to join the Army of the West at DeValls Bluff in April, 1862, during that army's move east of the Mississippi. Dismounted at DeValls Bluff to serve as infantry on General Van Dorn's orders. Served dismounted in the Corinth campaign in the summer of 1862, and at the battle of Corinth on October 3-4, 1862. Remounted to serve as cavalry in November, 1862 and assigned to the Cavalry Corps of the Army of Mississippi, where they particpated in Van Dorn's raid and capture of Holly Springs, MS on December 20. Assigned to Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry corps after the death of Van Dorn in April, 1863, they served ina number of raids, skirmishes, and campaigns including Thompson's Station (Mar. 5, 1863); Franklin (Apr. 10, 1863); the Tullahoma campaign in June, 1863; the battle of Chickamauga on Sept. 19-20, 1863; the siege of Chattanooga in September through November, 1863; the siege of Knoxville, TN in November, 1863; and under the command of "Fighting Joe" Wheeler, through the Atlanta Campaign and the siege of Atlanta, in cavalry clashes at Flat Shoals, Browns' Mill, Strawberry Plains, and Thompson's Station; in opposing Sherman's March to the Sea (the Savannah campaign in November and December of 1864); and in the Carolinas campaign in February through April of 1865. Surrendered with General Joseph Johnston and the Army of Tennessee near Durham Station, North Carolina, on April 26, 1865.
References: Calvin L. Collier, The War Child's Children: The Story of the 3rd Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, C.S.A. (Complete unit history and muster rolls)
Organized near Camden, Arkansas on December 15, 1863 by renaming Carroll's-Thompson's 1st Arkansas Cavalry as the 4th Cavalry regiment, and placing it under the command of Colonel Anderson Gordon. Field officers were Lt. Col. J.A. Johnson and Majors John A. Arrington and William A. Fayth. The regiment was assigned to Cabell's Brigade, where it served throughout the Camden expedition, including the battles at Poison Springs and Marks' Mills, and during Price's Missouri Raid in September and October of 1864. Surrendered with General Kirby Smith on May 26, 1865.
Also Known As: Gordon's 4th Arkansas Cavalry Reg't; 9th Arkansas Cavalry Reg't, 11th Arkansas Cavalry Re'gt.
Organized with 12 companies at Little Rock, Arkansas in April, 1863 under the command of Colonel Robert C. Newton. Participated in the battles of Helena on July 4, 1863. Assigned to the Arkansas Cavalry Brigade, Walker's (later Dobbins') Cavalry Division in June 1863. Fought throughout the battles of the Little Rock campaign (Brownsville, Reed's Bridge, and Bayou Fourche) in September, 1863. Participated in the battle of Pine Bluff on October 25, 1863. Unit designation changed to the 2nd (Morgan's) Cavalry Regiment effective December 24, 1863.
Officers: Col. Robert C. Newton. Field Officers: Lt. Col. John P. Bull; Major John Smith
Organized with four Arkansas companies and two companies from Louisiana, enlisting for the duration of the war in June, 1861. Assigned to the cavalry of Hardee's Division in the Army of Central Kentucky in October, 1861. Participated in skirmishes at Brownsville, KY and Rowlett's Station, KY on November 20 and December 17, 1861 respectively. Strength reduced to three companies in April, 1862. Moved to Corinth, Mississippi in March, 1862 and the battalion was consolidated with the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Battalion to form the 2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment at Corinth, Mississippi on May 15, 1862.
Officers: Major Charles W. Phifer; Major Archibald J. McNeill; Major David G. White
See the entry for the 1st (Fagan's - Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry.
Organized on July 25, 1863, by augmenting Hill's Cavalry Battalion to regimental strength. Assigned to Cabell's Cavalry Brigade. Operated mostly in the Indian Territory from July to November, 1863; and was engaged at the Devil's Backbone battle on September 1, 1863. Brigade was subsequently attached to Marmaduke's Cavalry Division from November 1863 to January 1864; and participated in the Condfederate harassment of the Camden Expedition, fighting at the battles of Poison Springs and Marks' Mill in April, 1864. Participated in Price's Missouri Expedition in September and October, 1864, and at the battle of Marais des Cygnes on October 25, 1864. Surrendered with General Kirby Smith on May 26, 1865.
Officers: Colonel John F. Hill. Field Officers: Lt. Col. Oliver Basham; Major James L. Adams; Major J.C. Ward
See the listing for the 4th (Gordon's) Arkansas Cavalry.
Witt's Arkansas Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Allen R. Witt, was composed primarily of men who had served with the Tenth Arkansas Infantry, been captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, and after being exchanged, returned to Arkansas.
On numerous occasions, the unit served behind Federal lines. A Federal report indicated that it often employed female sympathizers to spy on Federal installations and troop movements, reporting the information obtained back to the command. One of these spies was reported to be operating in Little Rock in mid-November, 1864.
The unit served unattached throughout its career, with the exception of Price's Missouri Expedition in late 1864. During this time it was attached to Dobbins' Brigade in Fagan's division.
Below are the engagements in which the unit took part.
Unlike most of the units which accompanied Price after the Missouri expedition, Witt's Cavalry did not retreat all the way to northeastern Texas. The command remained, instead, in Arkansas, probably in order to continue its spying operations. The Third Arkansas (United States) Cavalry met and destroyed Witt's command at the Lewisburg engagement (near present-day Morrilton, in Conway county).