The 17th Arkansas Infantry was organized with 9 companies on August 1, 1861 in Fairfield, Yell County, Arkansas under orders of the Arkansas Military Board. The field and staff officers were Col. George W. Lemoyne, Lt. Col. S.W. Williams, and Major Lawrence of Danville, and adjutant William A. Dowdle of Conway County. The company commanders were: Co. A, Cpt. J.M. Dowdle, Conway county; Co. B, Cpt Bryan A. King, Conway county; Co. C, Cpt. Harsell, Pope county; Co. D, Cpt. John Mills, Yell county, Co. E, Cpt. John Perry, Johnson county; Co. F, Cpt. Bone, Yell county; Co. G, Cpt. Bull, Prairie county; Co. H, Cpt. J. Homer Scott, Pope county; and Co. I, Cpt William Herrod, Yell County. Maj. Lawrence was accidentally killed near Pocahontas on the march into Missouri, and Cpt. J.M. Dowdle was promoted to major in his place, Jordan E. Cravens then being elected from the ranks to replace Cpt. Dowdle as A Co. commander. After serving a short time in the garrison of Fort Pillow, TN, the regiment was held to duty in the vicinity of Memphis and in the early summer of 1862 was assigned to Rust's Brigade, Jones' Division in the Army of the West where it participated with distinction in the Corinth campaign and the battle of Corinth.
Maj Robert H. Crockett became Colonel of the regiment by promotion, and Cpt. W.N. Parrish was promoted to Lt. Col. "for gallant conduct on the field." After the Battle of Corinth on October 3-4, 1862, the 17th and 21st (McCarver's) Arkansas were consolidated into a single unit. Cpt. Jordan Cravens of Co. A was elected colonel of the consolidated regiment, which was thereafter known as the 21st Arkansas, and assigned to duties in the Army of Mississippi, defending Vicksburg, MS. The 17th/21st Arkansas participated in the battle of the Big Black River on May 17, 1863, and thence served in the garrison of Vicksburg during the 47-day siege of that place. The regiment was surrendered with the Vicksburg garrison on July 4, 1863. Col. Cravens was captured at the Big Black River and, with the other officers, was sent as a prisoner to Johnson's Island for the duration of the war.
This regiment was raised at Fort Smith, Arkansas on November 17, 1861 under the command of Col. Frank Rector and Lt. Col. John Griffith, and saw its first combat action in the Battle of Pea Ridge on March 7-8, 1862 as part of Hebert's Brigade, McCulloch's Division on the Leetown side of that battlefield. After Pea Ridge, the regiment was transferred to Little's Brigade, Price's Division, and moved with that division to Corinth, Mississippi in April, 1862. Companies A, B, C, and G were left west of the Mississippi River during this move, and were incorporated into the 35th Arkansas Infantry in July, 1862. The regiment was reorganized at Tupelo, MS with the election of Col. John Griffith as regimental commander, and Lt. Col. Dodson and Maj. B.F. Jett. The latter brought to the regiment a company from Hempstead County, in southwestern Arkansas. The company commanders were: Co. A, Cpt. Cliff Thompson; Co. B, Cpt. Van Hoose; Co. C, Cpt E.D. Jett; Co. D, Cpt David Arbuckle; Co. E, Cpt. Ed Adams. The regiment participated in the Corinth campaign in April through June of 1862, and fought in the battles of Iuka (Sept. 19, 1862) and Corinth (Oct. 3-4, 1862). Following the Confederate defeat at Corinth, the regiment was consolidated into a brigade with the 14th, 16th, 18th, and 23rd Arkansas under General Craven; with the survivors of the 17th and 11th Arkansas regiments being consolidated into a single regiment in January, 1863, under the command of Col. Griffith. The regiment was then assigned to the defenses of Port Hudson, Louisiana, where it endured the 48-day-long siege of that position and was surrendered with the rest of the Port Hudson garrison on July 9, 1863. After the surrender, the surviving enlisted men were paroled while the officers were sent north to prison camps at Johnson's Island, thence on to Fort Delaware and Point Lookout, Maryland, where they were imprisoned until the summer of 1865.
The 18th Arkansas Infantry was organized at DeValls Bluff, AR on the White River, by the election of Colonel D.W. Carroll, of Pine Bluff, Lt. Col. John L. Daly, of Camden, and Major Robert H. Crockett of DeWitt. The company commanders were Co.A, Cpt. Thompson; Co. B, Cpt. (Rev.) R.B. Thrasher; Co. C, Cpt. James Peel; Co. D, Cpt. Robertson; Co. E, Cpt. Barnett; Co. G, Cpt. Charles Lynch; Co. H, Cpt. W.N. Parrish; Co. I, Cpt. Samuel Southerland; Co. K, Cpt. D.W. Carroll, succeeded by Cpt. W.F. Owen upon the former's election to regimental command. The regiment numbered 1,000 men when it was mustered and ordered to Fort Pillow, TN, but was decimated at that station by disease. On the evacuation of Fort Pillow, the regiment was ordered to Corinth, MS, where it continued to suffer from sickness, as did the entire army, due to the frequent rain and unwholesome water from pits dug about the camp. Colonel Carroll was compelled to relinquish his positionbecause of ill health, whereupon Lt.Col. J.L. Daly succeeded to command of the regiment. The regiment took part in the battles of Iuka, MS (Sept 19, 1862) and Corinth (Oct. 3-4, 1862), suffering heavy losses. Its colonel was killed at Corinth, and many men and most of the officers were killed or wounded. After Colonel Daly received his death wound, Captain Parrish of Company H led the regiment through the rest of the battle with such courage and ability that he was promoted lieutenant Colonel of the regiment "for gallantry on the field of battle." Major R.H. Crockett became colonel of the regiment by order of seniority, and thenceforth led the regiment. The 18th Arkansas was ordered to Port Hudson, Louisiana in December, 1862, and served in the garrison and defense of that place through the 48-day siege, surrendering with the post on July 9, 1863. The officers were imprisoned on Johnson's Island for the duration of the war, while the enlisted men were paroled as prisoners of war until exchanged later that month. As the officer prisoners were being transported up the Mississippi River, Lieutenants James Hellums and Dink Atkins of Company K leaped from the steamer into the Mississippi between Napoleon and Helena, and made their escape by swimming ashore. The enlisted men were reorganized back in Arkansas in the spring of 1864 as mounted rifle troops, and participated in the Confederate operations by General Price's division against Steele's Camden expedition, and in the battle of Marks' Mill in April, 1864. The regiment surrendered in the Trans-Mississippi Department with General Kirby Smith on May 26, 1865.
Organized in December, 1861 by adding two companies to the 1st Arkansas Infantry Battalion, bringing it to regimental strength. Assigned to Hindman's Brigade, Hardee's Division in the Army of Central Kentucky from December 1861 through January 1862; renamed as the 3rd Confederate InfantryRegiment on January 31, 1862.
Officers: Col John Sappington Marmaduke; Field Officer: Lt. Col. James B. Johnson
Also Known As: 3rd Confederate Infantry Regiment
A second 19th Arkansas Infantry Regiment was organized for one year's service at Nashville, Arkansas in August, 1861. electing as its officers Colonel Charles L. Dawson, Lt. Col. P.R. Smith, and Major Joseph Anderson. The company commanders were: Co. A, Cpt. Castleman; Co. B, Cpt,. Gabe Stewart; Co. C, Cpt. Spars; Co. D, Cpt. J.H. Carter; Co.E, Cpt. Nathan Eldridge; Co. F, Cpt. D.H. Hamiter; Co. G, Cpt. D.C. Cowling; Co. H, Cpt. Featherston, Co, I, Cpt. B.H. Kinsworthy; and Co. K, Cpt. Herndon. In company with the 20th Arkansas, the 19th reported to General Ben McCulloch's division at Strickler's Station, AR in the first week of March, 1862 -- immediately before the Army of the West marched to attack the federal forces gathered around Elkhorn Tavern and Pea Ridge. Not having been issued weapons yet, the two regiments were left in the rear of the army and served mainly at Pea Ridge in guarding the army's trains. After the Confederate defeat at Pea Ridge, the 19th Arkansas served along the Arkansas border with the Indian Territory from April to August 12, 1862, when it re-enlisted and reorganized and was subsequently assigned to join Dunnigton's Brigade in General Tom Churchill's command at Arkansas Post. Arkansas Post was attacked by an overwhelming federal force on January 4-11, 1863. More than half of the regiment was captured with the surrender of the garrision of Fort Hindman at Arkansas Post, several companies managed to escape and evade surrender. The uncaptured companies were consolidated with Crawford's Infantry Battalion and the 24th Arkansas Infantry, and the consolidated unit renamed as"Dawson's-Hardy's Infantry Regiment (Consolidated) in the spring of 1863.
The captured companies of the regiment was exchanged at City Point, Virginia in May 1863, and were assigned to the Confederate Army of Tennessee where they were consolidated with the remnants of the 8th Arkansas Infantry in Liddell's Brigade, Cleburne's Division. Because of misconceptions about the surrender of Arkansas Post, few of the Confederate division commanders would accept the soldiers of the 19th; however Pat Cleburne welcomed them warmly and gave them ample opportunity to prove their worth at Chickamauga. After Chickamauga, the 8-19th Arkansas participated in all the remaining battles of Cleburne's Division and the Army of Tennesee: the siege of Chattanooga, Ringgold Gap, Dalton, Resaca, New Hope Church, Pickett's Mill, Kennesaw Mountain; Peachtree Creek; Atlanta and its ensuing siege, Jonesboro, Spring Hill (TN), Franklin, Nashville, the Carolinas Campaign, and the Army's last effort at Bentonville, North Carolina in March, 1865. The survivors were consolidated with those of the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 15th, and 24th Arkansas regiments and the 3rd Confederate Regiment at the last reorganization of the Army of Tennessee at Smithfield, NC on April 9, 1865, and redesignated as the 1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment, Consolidated. Surrendered two weeks later, on April 26, 1865, with General Joe Johnston's Army of Tennessee at Greensboro, North Carolina.
The 19th Arkansas Infantry was organized at DeVall's Bluff, Arkansas, on April 3, 1861 with the following officers: Colonel H.P. Smead of Columbia county; Lt. Col. Ben Hale, of Hot Springs; Maj. D.L. Kilgore of Magnolia; Quartermaster Thomas P. Dockery; Commissary H. Bussy. The captains were: Co. A, J.G. Johnson of Lewisville; Co. B, H.G.P. Williams of Hillsboro; Co. C, B.R. Mathews of El Dorado; Co. D. John Cook of Falcon; Co. E, P. Dismukes of Columbia county; Co. F, J.I. Kendrick of Columbia county; Co. G, William C. Langford of El Dorado; Co. H, James Henry of Hot Springs county. Under an act of Congress, the regiment was reorganized by electing Tom Dockery as Colonel, W.H. Dismukes as Lt. Col., and H.G.P. Williams as major. From Memphis, TN the regiment was ordered to Fort Pillow. On April 12, 1862, the Federal fleet which had caused the evacuation of Island No. 10 proceeded 80 miles downriver to Fort Pillow and began a vigorous bombardment of that strongpoint and of Randolph, about 12 miles below on the Tennessee bluffs. Both places were rendered untenable, and the Confederates there were withdrawn and sent to Corinth, Mississippi. They took part in the battles of Iuka and Corinth as a part of Cabell's Brigade, under General Sterling Prices's Corps, where the 19th Arkansas bore themselves with greatest gallantry. The 19th earned for its colonel, Tom Dockery of Lamartine, promotion to brigadier general and a brigade command. Colonel Dockery seemed designed for a soldier. Nothng excited him. His apparent indifferences to danger was such in fact that at times it rendered him negligent of necessary precautions. It was this defect, really, that prevented his further promotion.
Upon the promotion of Colonel Dockery, Lieutenat Colonel Dismukes became colonel of the regiment. The 19th Arkansas was assigned to Green's Brigade in January, 1863, with which it particpated in the defenses of Vicksburg, MS. The regiment fought hard throughout the battles of the Vicksburg campaign in the summer of 1863, engaged at Port Gibson, Champion Hill, the Big Black River bridge, and was besieged with the remainder of Pemberton's Army in Vicksburg ... finally surrendering with the garrision of that strongpoint on July 4, 1863.
The soldiers of the regiment were paroled at Vicksburg later that month, and many of the survivors made their way back to Arkansas, where they re-formed the regiment as a mounted rifles unit under their old commander BG Dockery's new brigade in Fagan's Cavalry Division. Here, they participated in the Confederate counterattacks against the federal Camden Expedition in March though May of 1864, and served ably at the battle of Marks' Mill on April 25, 1864. No records for the regiment exist after the summer of 1864, but it is believed the survivors were consolidated into the 3rd Infantry Regiment, Consolidated, of the Trans-Mississippi Dept. that summer, eventually surrendering with General Kirby Smith on May 26, 1865.
The 20th Arkansas was initially organized as the 22nd Arkansas Infantry in February, 1862 under the command of Colonel Henry P. Johnson. The regiment was recruited from the following counties: Co. A, Old Washington; Co. B, Old Washington, Co. C, Hempstead county; Co. D, Little Rock; Co. E,Lafayette county; Co. F, Little Rock and Perryville; Co. G, Little Rock and Perryville; Co. H, Little Rock and DeValls Bluff; Co. I, Little Rock; and Co. K, Lafayette county.
As the 22nd, the regiment participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Fort Pillow (April, 1862) and in the Corinth campaign in northern Mississippi. (April-June 1862). They were renamed as the 20th Arkansas on May 13, 1862 at Corinth.
The 20th fought at Corinth (Oct 3-4, 1862), and in the battles of the Vicksburg campaign in the spring and early summer of 1863 (Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, the Big Black River, and finally in the siege of Vicksburg, where they were surrendered on July 4, 1863. The survivors of Vicksburg returned home to Arkansas after being paroled and exchanged late in 1863, and were converted to mounted troops around April, 1864. . They fought in the Camden campaign and at Mark's Mill in the spring of 1864, were consolidated with the 15th and Dawson's-Hardy's Consolidated Infantry Regiments on November 29, 1864, and renamed as the 3rd Infantry Regiment, Consolidated, Trans-Mississippi Department. The regiment ended out the war in southwestern Arkansas, surrendering with Gen. Kirby Smith on May 26, 1865.
Officers: Col. Henry P. Johnson; Field Officers: Lt. Col. (later Col.) James H. Fletcher; Maj. William S. Haven; Maj (later Col.) Daniel W. Jones; Lt. Col. W.R. Kelley; Maj. J.W. Long; Lt. Col. H.G. Robertson
The 21st Arkansas Infantry Regiment was organized at Corinth,Mississippi on May 14, 1862 by consolidating the remnants of McCarver's 14thArkansas Infantry and Lemoyne's 17th Arkansas, and giving the consolidated regiment a new number. Field officers were Colonel Jordan E. Cravens, Lt. Col. William G. Matheny, and Majors William M. Dowdle and Harrison Moore. Their initial assignment was to BG Albert Rust's Brigade in Van Dorn's Army of the West, where they participated in the initial defenses of Corinth and were assigned to Cabell's Brigade for the remanider of the Corinth campaign in thespring and summer of 1862 and in the Battle of Corinth on October 3-4, 1862. After Corinth, the regiment served briefly in Craven's Brigade in eastern Louisiana near Port Hudson. Assigned to Green's Brigade in January 1863, the 21st Arkansas joined the defenses of the approaches to Vicksburg, and joined the garrison fortifying Grand Gulf on the Mississippi River below Vicksburg. On April 29, 1863, Admiral David Porter's fleet of gunboats bombarded Grand Gulf in an attempt to clear the position in preparation for Grant's amphibious crossing of the Mississippi. Repulsed by the strong position and batteries at Grand Gulf, Grant moved further downstream to cross at Bruinsburg, flanking the Grand Gulf garrison out of their position. Marching to block the Union advance, Green's Brigade and the 21st Arkansas joined Confederate forces at the battles of Port Gibson on May 1, at Champion Hill and the Big Black River bridge on May 16 and 17, respectively, and was besieged at Vicksburg from May 19 until July 4, 1863. Surrendered with the Vicksburg garrison, the survivors of the regiment were paroled there later that month. The 21st Arkansas was not reformed after the Vicksburg surrender, however many of its survivors made their way back to Arkansas where they were formed, with survivors of Mitchell's-Power's 14th Arkansas, the 15th Northwest, and the 16th Arkansas to form the 1st Trans-Mississippi Infantry Regiment (Consolidated) in January, 1864.
Organized initially in July, 1861 with eight companies as the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Battalion and increasing this unit to regimental strength on December 3, 1861. Commanded by Colonel Dandridge McRae of Searcy; field officers were Lt. Col. Squire Boone, Lt. Col. (later Colonel) James H. Hobbs, and Major William Thompson. Company commanders were Co. A, Cpt. MorrisHobbs, Co. B, Cpt. J.B. Cooper of of Benton County; Co. C, Cpt. S.B. Buchanan of Washington County; Co. D, Cpt. Caleb Davis of Pope County; Co. E, Cpt. Hallowell of Yell County; Co. F, Cpt. Knott of Franklin County; Co. G, Cpt Douglas of Benton County. The regiment was initially assigned to Gen. Ben McCulloch's division near Fayetteville in December 1861, and subsequently to Hebert's Brigade, where it fought at Wilson's Creek and in the battle of Pea Ridge on March 7-8, 1862. Moved with the Army of the West to Corinth, Mississippi in April, 1862, participating in the Corinth campaign in April through June of that year, and fought at Farmington, Iuka, and Corinth. Reorganized on May 8, 1862. Reorganized and renamed as the 15th Northwest Arkansas Regiment (Hobb's-Boone's) in February, 1863
Assigned to Green's Brigade, of Bowen's Division, where it fought in the battles of the Vicksburg campaign that spring and summer. The regiment was engaged at the battle's of Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, and the Big Black River. Besieged with the garrison of Vicksburg from May 21 to July 4, 1863, and surrendered with that strongpoint on July 4, 1863. Paroled at Vicksburg late in July, 1863, and the unit disbanded with many of its survivors being incorporated along with those of the 14th, 16th, and 21st Arkansas into the 1st Infantry Regiment, Consolidated, in January, 1864. The new regiment was placed into a new brigade under Colonel (now Brigadier General ) McRae, where it served throughout the Red River Campaign.
Also Known As: 15th (Northwest) Arkansas Infantry; Hobb's-Boone's Infantry Regiment
Organized in February, 1862 under the command of Colonel George W. King and field officers Lt. Col. Alf Carrigan and Major James H. Fletcher. Served in an unattached status with Van Dorn's Army of the West at the battle of Pea Ridge on March 7-8, 1862. Subsequently assigned to the garrison of Fort Pillow, TN from April through June, 1862. Moved to Corinth, Mississippi and assigned to Rust's Brigade in the Army of the West in April, serving in the Corinth campaign. Renamed as the 20th Arkansas Infantry on May 13, 1862.
Organized near Corinth, Mississippi on April 25, 1862 by the consolidation of Adams' and Hughes' Infantry Battalions and Adair's Infantry Company. The individual companies and battalions were reorganized on May 27, 1862, but the regiment itself was not organized until September 10, 1862. Field officers were Colonel Charles W. Adams of Helena, Lt. Col. Simon P. Hughes of Clarendon, and Major J.S. Robinson of Chicot county. Company commanders were Co. A, Cpt. A.A. Adair of Craighead county; Co. B, Cpt. E.McAllister of Crittenden county; Co. C, Cpt. Henry Hillis of Craighead county; Co. D, Cpt. John Clendenin of Phillips county; Co. E, Cpt. W.W. Smith of Monroe county; Co. G, Cpt. Thomas Westmoreland of Poinsett county; Co. H, Cpt. J.H. Robinson of Chicot county; Co. I, Cpt. Seward of St. Francis county, and Co. K, Cpt. Brown Dolson, of Cross county. The regiment was reorganized after the batle of Shiloh, and the following field officers elected: Colonel Oliver P. Lyles of Crittenden county, Lt. Col. A.A. Pennington of Clark county, Major Erastus L. Black of Monroe county, Adjutant C.W. Lewis of Crittenden, Quartermaster McMurray, of Chicot, Commissary Norton, of Phillips county.
The 23rd Arkansas was heavily engaged in the battles of Iuka and Corinth. It was then united in a brigade withthe 15th, 16th, and 18th Arkansas and Colonel Batt. Jones' battalion and was sent to the defense of Port Hudson, LA under Colonel Lyles, going through the long siege of that strongpoint. The regiment was surrendered with the garrison of Port Hudson on July 9, 1863, and was paroled later that month and eventually exchanged. After exchange, the survivors returned to Arkansas where they were reorganized as mounted troops in Fagan's Cavalry Division in August, 1864. The regiment participated in Price's Missouri Raid in September and October of 1864, then served in northeast Arkansas for the remainder of the war. The regimentsurrendered at Jacksonport, Arkanas with Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson's troops on May 11, 1865.
Organized on June 6, 1862 under the command of Colonel Edward E. Portlock, Jr., and field officers Lt. Col. Thomas M. Whittington and Majors William R. Hardy and Francis H. Wood. The regiment was recruited from the following counties: Co. A, Sevier county; Co. B, Camden and Palestine; Co. C, Halcon; Co. D, Warren; Co. E, Monticello and Drew county; Co. F, Washington; Co. G, Calhoun and Ouachita counties; Co. H, Dallas county; Co. I, Clark and Yell counties, and Co. K, Pike and Polk counties.
Assigned to the garrison of Arkansas Post in early December 1862. Most of the regiment was captured when that post was attacked by Union forces under Generals Sherman and McClernand on January 11, 1863. The elements not captured at Arkansas Post were subsequently consolidated with Crawford's Infantry Battalion and the 19th (Dawson's) Infantry Regiment and the combined unit redesignated as "Dawson's-Hardy's Infantry Regiment (Consolidated) in early 1863.
The remainder of the regiment was paroled and declared exchanged at City Point, Virginia on May 12, 1863 and were assigned to the Confederate Army of Tennessee where they were consolidated with the remnants of the 2nd Arkansas Infantry in Liddell's Brigade, Cleburne's Division. Because of misconceptions about the surrender of Arkansas Post, few of the Confederate division commanders would accept the soldiers of the 24th; however Pat Cleburne welcomed them warmly and gave them ample opportunity to prove their worth at Chickamauga. After Chickamauga, the 2-24th Arkansas participated in all the remaining battles of Cleburne's Division and the Army of Tennesee: the siege of Chattanooga, Ringgold Gap, Dalton, Resaca, New Hope Church, Pickett's Mill, Kennesaw Mountain; Peachtree Creek; Atlanta and its ensuing siege, Jonesboro, Spring Hill (TN), Franklin, Nashville, the Carolinas Campaign, and the Army's last effort at Bentonville, North Carolina in March, 1865. The survivors were consolidated with those of the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, and 15thArkansas regiments and the 3rd Confederate Regiment at the last reorganization of the Army of Tennessee at Smithfield, NC on April 9, 1865, and redesignated as the 1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment, Consolidated. Surrendered two weeks later, on April 26, 1865, with General Joe Johnston's Army of Tennessee at Greensboro, North Carolina.
The 25th Arkansas Infantry was organized in August, 1861 as the 30th Arkansas by the election of Colonel Charles J. Turnbull, of Little Rock, Lt. Col. Henry Remington (who resigned and was replaced by Lt. Col. Eli Hufstedler), and Major James J. Franklin. The company commanders were Co. A, of Pocahontas, Cpt Eli Hufstedler; Co. B, of Saline County, Cpt. James W. Adams; Co. C, of Jacksonport and Hickory Plain, Cpt. John Thomas; Co. D, of Pocahontas, Cpt S.T.Black, killed at Murfreesboro; Co. F, of Little Rock, Cpt. J.J. Franklin, elected major at the regimental organization and subsequently lieutenant colonel, succeeded by Cpt. L.L. Noles, promoted major, 1LT John O'Brien then becoming captain; Co. G, of Pocahontas, Cpt. Stephen Smith; Co. H, Cpt. W.A. Cotter; Co. I, of Jacksonport, Cpt J.G. Adams; Co. K, of St. Charles, Cpt. John A. Wakefield. Major Franklin was wounded at Murfreesboro, and Captain Noles, of Company E became major. He was killed at Kennesaw Mountain, and was succeeded by Captain Cotter, of Company H. Captain S.T. Black, of Company D, was killed at Murfreesboro. After the battle of Murfreesboro, the regiment was renamed as the 25th Arkansas Infantry.
Initially assigned to Van Dorn's Army of the West camped around Van Buren, the 30th/25th Arkansas moved to Corinth, MS with that army in April and May of 1862. At that point it was reassigned to McNair's Brigade, McCown's Division, serving in the battles of Richmond, KY, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Jackson, MS, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Dug Gap, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Moore's Hill, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta and the siege thereof, Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station, Moon's Station, Spring Hill, Franklin, Nashville, Sugar Creek, the Carolinas campaign, Avarasboro, and Bentonville, NC.
Also Known As: 30th (Turnbull's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment (until January, 1863)
Organized at Camp White Sulphur Springs near Pine Bluff from nine companies of "Morgan’s Battalion" between April and July of 1862 as the "3rd Trans-Mississippi Infantry Regiment", a tenth company was added to fill out to regimental strength and the unit renamed as the 26th Arkansas Infantry Regiment on its transfer to Confederate service on July 23, 1862 under the command of Colonel Asa S. Morgan.
Colonel Morgan was a veteran officer who had raised and commanded Company A of Fagan's 1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment in 1861, and when the 1st Arkansas was reorganized and consolidated with the 15th Arkansas after the battle of Shiloh, Morgan returned to Arkansas to raise another company of infantry at El Dorado, and Morgan was appointed by Maj. Gen. T.C. Hindman to command the new battalion and ultimately the regiment to which his company was assigned at Camp White Sulphur Springs.
In addition to Colonel Morgan, the original Field Officers were Lt. Col. Fountain P. Yell and Major A.S. Greenwood. Company commanders were: Co. A, from Monticello and Drew county; Cpt. Iverson L. Brooks; Co. B, from Monticello, Capt. Samuel Gibson; Co. C, from Pine Bluff, Cpt. W.S. Otey; Co. D, from Bradley, Jefferson, and Pulaski counties, Cpt. A.H. Halliday; Co. E, from Selma in Drew county, Cpt J.R. Stanley; Co. F, from Tulip in Dallas county, Cpt Jesse Bland; Co. G, from Lewisville and Little Rock Cpt. J.S. Brooks; Co. H, from Brownsville, Cpt. J.W. May; Co. I, from DeWitt and Dardanelle; Cpt. J.R. Maxwell; and Co. K, from Pine Bluff, Cpt. W.A. Bull.
The regiment trained for a time at Camp Pike (near present-day Camp Robinson, near North Little Rock) and spent some time at Fort Hindman, the artillery position built at Arkansas Post to protect the south end of the Arkansas River. They then marched north to Van Buren, where they were assigned (along with the 28th, 30th, and 32nd Arkansas) to form a brigade under Colonel Dandridge McRae in Shoup's Division in MG Thomas Hindman's 1st Corps of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi. McRae’s Brigade fought in the battle of Prairie Grove on December 7-8, 1862. Regimental strength of the 26th Arkansas at Prairie Grove was 412 rifles.
Following the Battle of Prairie Grove, the 26th Arkansas was assigned to garrison Fort Smith along with a company from Monroe's 1st Arkansas Cavalry and Lane's company of Texas partisan rangers. In addition to garrisoning this frontier post, their responsibilities including providing security and support for the post hospital, containing approximately 1,500 wounded and sick from the Prairie Grove campaign, who were described as being in "wretched condition". During this time the regiment was allowed to hold re-election of officers under the Confederate Conscription Act of 1862, and Colonel Morgan withdrew his name from consideration for reelection. Lt. Col. Fountain Pitts Yell was then elected as colonel, with Iverson L. Brooks as the lieutenant colonel and Captain Sam Gibson as major. (Colonel Morgan requested and was reassigned to the Department staff as inspector of field transportation, in which post he served until the end of the war.) The 26th remained at Fort Smith through about September, 1863, when the Confederate forces under General Cabell were forced to evacuate the area following their defeat at Devil's Backbone.
Following the evacuation of Fort Smith, the 26th was reassigned to its old brigade, now under the command of Lucian Gause and composed of the 26th, 32nd, and 36th Arkansas regiments. Gause's Brigade spent the winter of 1863 camped southwest of Little Rock. Morale was sinking, not only because of the loss of Little Rock, but because many of the 26th’s soldiers’ families were destitute and starving. Many soldiers were granted furlough, or simply took "French leave" to go the short distance home to provide for their families that summer and fall, subject to recall for the upcoming campaign. Upon the launch of the Federal’s campaign up the Red River, seizing Alexandria, Louisiana and moving on Natchitoches and Shreveport, General Churchill's Arkansas Infantry Division and Gause’s Brigade was sent south to Shreveport, Louisiana in early March, 1864 to assist General Kirby Smith's army in countering Union General Nathaniel Banks' advance along the Red River. En route to Louisiana, the regiment was engaged in skirmishes with Union Colonel Powell Clayton’s cavalry at Mount Elba and Longview, Arkansas, on March 30 where Clayton managed to route the Confederate brigade under General Tom Dockery, and capture his trains at Longview. Churchill’s brigade reached Keatchie, Louisiana in time to support Richard Taylor’s main force who routed Banks’ army in the battle of Mansfield (Sabine Crossroads) on April 8, 1864. The next day, the Confederate forces united to attack the Union rear guard at Pleasant Hill on the afternoon of April 9. The Confederates had endured a long forced march from south central Arkansas to Mansfield, and another of ten hours to Pleasant Hill that day with only two hours’ rest. The Union troops held a formidable position, and although the Arkansans and Missourians fought valiantly, they were repulsed and retreated six miles to the nearest water. Lt. Col. Yell was killed in the 26th’s charge on the Union works at Pleasant Hill, and Lt. Col. Brooks succeeded to command of the regiment. After the battle of Pleasant Hill, Churchill's Division slung their knapsacks for a hasty return with General Kirby Smith back to Arkansas to assist General Price in dealing with the other half of the Red River campaign, Union General Frederick Steele's Camden Expedition moving southwest from Little Rock. The Division and Gause’s Brigade arrived just in time to join the pursuit of Steele's army as it retreated from Camden, and join in the attack on Steele as he tried to cross the Saline River at Jenkins' Ferry on April 30, 1864. After an all-night march through a rainstorm and ankle-deep mud, Gause’s Brigade fell upon the federal rear guard and drove them for more than a mile, until the brigade on their flank began to give way. Reinforced by Tappan’s Brigade, and personally led by General Churchill, the Confederate line rallied and drove the federals from the field.
Gause's Brigade and the 26th Arkansas returned to the vicinity of Camden following Jenkins' Ferry, and saw no substantial combat for the remainder of the war. Transferred to BG J. S. Roane's Brigade, Churchill's Arkansas Division, in September, 1864. The regiment ultimately surrendered with Kirby Smith's army on May 26, 1865.
Officers: Col. Asa S. Morgan. Field Officers: Lt. Col. (later Col.) Iverson Lea Brooks; Major Samuel Gibson; Maj. (later Lt. Col.) James P. Stanley; Lt. Col. John C. Wright; Maj. (later Lt. Col. and Col.) Fountain P. Yell; Maj. A.S. Greenwood
Also Known As: Arkansas 3rd Trans-Mississippi Infantry Regiment; Morgan's Arkansas Infantry Battalion; Morgan's Arkansas Infantry Regiment.
The 27th Arkansas Infantry was organized in July, 1862 under the command of Colonel James R. Shaler, with field officers Lt. Col. Arthur J. Magenis, Lt. Col. James M. Riggs, and Major (later Colonel) Beal Gaither, and sworn into Confederate service for the duration of the war. The regiment was recruited from the following counties: Co. A, Yellville and Izard county; Co. B, Carroll county; Co. C; Bellefonte and Searcy county; Co. D, Richland; Co. E, Marion county; Co. F, Locust Grove and Jasper; Co. G, Mount Olive; Co. H, Izard county; Co. I, Independence county; and Co. K,, from Yellville.
They were initially assigned to Shaver's Brigade of Hindman's Division in northwest Arkansas in January and February of 1863, then to Tappan's Brigade, in Gen'l Sterling Price's Division, from April to November of 1863. They remained with Tappan's Brigade through the remainder of the war.
In the first weeks of September, 1863, the 27th served in the Little Rock defenses at present-day North Little Rock. After General Price abandoned Little Rock, the 27th retreated down the Southwest Trail to Benton and on to the vicinity of Arkadelphia, while they spent the winter of 1863.
General Kirby Smith ordered Churchill's Arkansas Division which had most of his infantry (including Tappan's and Gause's brigades) to Shreveport, Louisiana in late March, 1864 to counter the advance of Union General Nathaniel Banks up the Red River.
The 27th served through most of the Red River Campaign during March-May 1864, including the final battle in the southern phase of this campaign at Pleasant Hill. They then slung their knapsacks and went back north into Arkansas in time to fight at Jenkins' Ferry on April 30, 1864. The regiment saw little additional combat during the rest of the war, and eventually surrendered with General Kirby Smith on May 26, 1865.