Militia operations: 1862 Arkansas Militia in the Civil War

1 militia operations: 1862

1.1 militia called out in face of invasion
1.2 governor rector attempts organize new state army
1.3 general hindman assumes command
1.4 home guard
1.5 fall of little rock

militia operations: 1862

the confederate government in richmond reacted arkansas complaints on january 10, 1862 creating district of trans-mississippi general albert sidney johnston’s department of west , dispatching major general earl van dorn assume command. general van dorn arrived in little rock on january 29, 1862 , made requisition upon state military board ten additional regiments of infantry , 4 companies of artillery. in proclamation, people of arkansas, dated january 31, 1862, governor rector commented that:

best data in possession of state authorities estimated arkansas has 22,000 men in confederate army, equal 37 per cent, of population fit or subject military duty—the 8,500 called making 30,500 out of 60,000, being one-half, or 50 per cent, of entire military force

under governor s proclamation, state divided 4 new divisions , each division assigned recruiting goal. governor rector warned division failed report number of men them march 5, 1862 subject draft, counties, until due proportion according population furnished... rector stated state military board had authority make draft militia obtain required number service .

militia called out in face of invasion

before major general van dorn make progress @ building new army of west , union invasion of northwest arkansas necissitated activation of state militia. on february 17, 1862, general mcculloch issued proclamation fayetteville:

“to able-bodied citizens of western arkansas: troops under general price , myself falling before superior force boston mountains. thousands of federal hirelings within line of state, -whilst hundreds of men remain @ home, notwithstanding services needed. let every man turn out , form companies, , rally meet advancing enemy. rally @ once or late.

brigadier general n. b. burrow, commander of 3rd brigade, 1st division, arkansas state militia reacted activating entire brigade. according pay records , muster rolls period, following elements of 3rd brigade activated in face of union invasion of northwest arkansas:

5th militia regiment, 3rd militia brigade, crawford county, on duty 21 february -17 march,
7th militia regiment, 3rd militia brigade, franklin county, on duty 22 february -19 march,
10th militia regiment, 3rd militia brigade, johnson county, on duty 20 february -19 march
51st militia regiment, 3rd militia brigade, sebastian county, on duty 4 march - 19 march,
58th militia regiment, 3rd militia brigade, logan county, on duty 22 february - 21 march,
62nd militia regiment, 3rd militia brigade, johnson county, on duty 22 february - 1 march,

general van dorn received dispatches on february 22, generals mccullock , price indicated general price had rapidly fallen springfield missouri before superior force of enemy, , endeavoring form junction division of general mcculloch in boston mountains, near fayetteville. state military board issued order brigadier general george m. holt, commander of 2nd brigade of arkansas militia on february 26, organize , put in camp each regiment in militia brigade without delay. brigadier general burrow of 3rd militia brigade, wrote headquarters @ van buren governor rector on march 2 informing governor feared 1,400 out of 4,800 men enlisted in brigade report duty. estimate based on first returns units had called out in response brigadier general mcculloch’s call. burrow indicated reasons poor showing many had responded general mcculloch’s call joining existing volunteer regiments. others had gone hiding in mountains in order avoid militia duty. had joined quartermaster department teamsters , runners, , became exempt militia duty, in order escape combat.

on march 3, general van dorn reached headquarters of generals price , mcculloch , on march 7–8 general van dorn s army of west engaged federal army of southwest near elk horn tavern in become known battle of pea ridge. after initial success on first day of battle, van dorn forced order retreat due lack of ammunition continue fight.

in response call of state military board, elements of 2nd brigade, arkansas militia mustered during , following battle of pea ridge. 50th militia regiment, of prairie county, mustered march 7–9 while 15th militia regiment, of pope county mustered on 10–11 march. these 2nd brigade units pay roll records available. h.w. sholar of greene county wrote governor rector on 13 march, concerning rector s recent call 1,500 men enlist in militia. scholar reported companies being raised in county, complained men refuse enlist threatened death , mob law reigned in county.

while general van dorn fighting federals, governor rector fighting attempts state legislature abolish militia. legislature had been called special session beginning march 5, legislature lacked quorum until 17 march when began 5-day session. legislators tired of high cost of attempting maintain separate state army sought abolish militia , passed act forbid governor paying militia officers. legislature did appropriates $575,000 implement current military law. governor used pocket veto prevent bill abolishing militia , bill forbidding him pay militia officers becoming law signed appropriation passed legislature , used funds finance militia activities.

governor rector attempts organize new state army

following defeat @ battle, general van dorn retreated fort smith , began moving army across state in direction of jacksonport. van dorn intended attempt invasion of missouri northeast arkansas, before begin such operation, received orders general albert sydney johnson directing him move army east of mississippi assist operations near corinth, mississippi. van dorn left state virtually every organized military unit , military stores , equipment procure, once again leaving state of arkansas virtually defenseless in face of continued threat of invasion.

furious authorities in richmond, governor rector threatened withdraw arkansas confederacy. governor rector issued address on may 5, 1862 calling formation of 30 new infantry companies , 20 new cavalry companies. rector indicated if there insufficient volunteers fill these new companies, draft made upon militia regiments , brigades. further enticement, rector indicated these regiments home defense , not transferred confederate service without consent.

general hindman assumes command

arkansas confederate congressional delegation joined governor rector in demanding defense arkansas, president jefferson davis in summer of 1862 created trans-mississippi district, made of arkansas, louisiana, , texas. major general e. kirby smith placed in command, headquarters @ shreveport, louisiana. major general thomas c. hindman, resident of helena , forceful commander, named command forces in arkansas in special order issued general bragg on may 26, 1862. federal troops 35 miles (56 km) little rock, hindman forced take drastic measures. while on way little rock had impressed $1 million memphis banks. @ helena raided stores, confiscating supplies ranging medicine ammunition, of loaded on impressed steamboats. of doubtful legality, these actions continued once hindman reached arkansas. professor michael dougan has written hindman took stores of kinds citizens, going far raid state library obtain paper making cartridges. finally, burned thousands of bales of cotton prevent falling enemy hands.

broadside announcing militia muster of 1st , 2nd battalions of arkansas county militia purpose of enrolling conscripts in confederate army, june 1862

reaching little rock on may 30, 1862, general hindman wasted no time in trying correct complicated situation in arkansas. general @ once began raise new army. facing immediate threat of federal occupation, general hindman insisted state military board transfer remaining state troops confederate service. rector, having won battle richmond , facing staggering costs in maintaining state army, in no position refuse. on june 2, 1862, rector issued proclamation noting essential 1 military organization shall exist within trans-mississippi department , transferred state forces confederate command.

relying upon adopted confederate conscription law, general hindman drafted large numbers of men. encourage volunteering, hindman announced if men formed volunteer companies june 20, 1862, permitted elect own company officers, instead of officers being appointed general hindman. possible led aforementioned large number or enlistments former militiamen volunteer regiments in summer of 1862.

during spring , summer, many former militiamen joined 1 of newly formed volunteer regiments. may militiamen decided better enlist , remain wait forced conscription under new confederate conscription laws, being strictly enforced during summer of 1862. in cases, militia ordered assemble @ regular battalion muster grounds purpose of enrolling conscripts service confederate army. in many cases, names on militia muster rolls february–march call of militia match subsequent enlistments in new volunteer regiments being raised in spring , summer of 1862:. example of process company of 1st arkansas cavalry regiment (monroe s) enlisted @ hickory plains, prairie county, arkansas, on may 9, 1862, captain patrick henry wheat. of 97 members of company enlisted @ hickory plains, 49 present muster of 50th militia regiment on march 7, 1862.

home guard

besides attempting organize strong force of regular confederate troops, general hindman used conscription laws create home guard units. confederate conscription statues required boys of 17 years , men between 45 , 50 serve in home guard units, similar traditional militia. on june 17, 1862 hindman issued general order number seventeen, providing more effectual annoyance of enemy...all citizens of district, not subject conscription, called upon organize independent companies. in thoroughness typified hindman, suggested types of operations home guards should carry out: duty cut off federal pickets, scouts, foraging parties, , trains, , kill pilots , others on gun-boats , transports, attacking them day , night, , using greatest vigor in movements. although home guard units similar militia, federals accused hindman of legalizing bushwhacking. many of men joined home guards merely used organization excuse pillage isolated farms , villages. northwest arkansas, in particular, suffered @ hands of these guerilla bands.

the home guards proved popular confederate sympathizers in arkansas, because these units not sent out of state without consent of state authorities. while of these groups did engage in informal guerrilla activities, others well-organized , competently commanded. home guard units continued operate until closing days of war.

the fall of little rock

general hindman proved more effective organizer battlefield leader. new army met defeat first @ battle of prairie grove (december 7, 1962) , later @ battle of helena in july 1863. state capitol, little rock, fell advancing union forces on september 10, 1863. arkansas confederate forces continued resist until end of war, , managed inflict few embarrassing union defeats, notably @ battle of jenkins ferry , battle of marks mills during red river campaign of 1864. many of units participated in these final battles of conflict in arkansas raised state troops militia of southern arkansas.