Arkansas State Guard and the Spanish–American War: Difference between revisions

This article is part of a series on the
Arkansas National Guard
Arkansas National Guard
Arkansas Army National Guard
Arkansas Territorial Militia, (1804–1836)
Arkansas Territorial Militia
Arkansas Militia, 1836–1879
Arkansas Militia and the Mexican–American War Arkansas Militia in the Civil War Arkansas Militia in Reconstruction
Arkansas State Guard, 1879–1907
Arkansas State Guard and the Spanish–American War
Arkansas National Guard 1907–1949
Arkansas National Guard during World War I Arkansas National Guard and World War II
Arkansas Air National Guard (1946–Present)
Arkansas Air National Guard
Arkansas Army National Guard (1949–Present)
Arkansas Army National Guard and the Korean War Arkansas Army National Guard and the Cold War Arkansas National Guard and the integration of Central High School Arkansas Army National Guard in Operation Desert Storm Arkansas Army National Guard and the Global War on Terrorism
See also
List of Arkansas Civil War Confederate units Brooks Baxter War
United States portal
v t e

The history of the Arkansas State Guard and the War with Spain begins with the reorganization of the state militia following the end of Reconstruction. In 1879 the Arkansas Legislature had abolished the office of Adjutant General in retaliation for the use of the state militia to interfere in local political matters during reconstruction. During this period the Governor’s Private Secretary preformed the duties of the Adjutant General as an additional duty, and the legislature provided no appropriated funds for the state guard. Several companies existed during this period, including the Quapaw Guards and the McCarthy Guard in Little Rock. In 1897 the Arkansas State Guard was reorganized to consist of 4 infantry regiments, two artillery batteries and a cavalry squadron. In 1897, the state provided two volunteer infantry regiments for the Spanish-American War. The two Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiments were not deployed overseas and did not see actual combat, but did suffer numerous casualties due to disease.

Interest in the state Militia waned following Reconstruction. Officially the state militia consisted of two regiments of infantry, one battery of artillery, one troop cavalry, and one signal unit. The Regimental headquarters of the 1st Infantry, Arkansas State Guards was located in Little Rock, but with little or no state funding, the militia units that existed were supported with private funds. Local militia companies, such as the McCarthy Light Guards and the Quapaw Guard in Little Rock, participated in drill and ceremony competitions, with all the funding for travel, uniforms and equipment coming from private sources..^[1] Pursuant to the Governor's direction the Regiments were organized as follows:^[2]

The Quapaw Guard was organized in Little Rock in 1880. The unit was deployed to Perry County in the summer of 1881 for three weeks to deals with a general spirit of lawlessness, reported by the county judge. The unit won drill competitions at the state fair against units from Memphis and St. Louis. The unit's armory was located in Little Rock at the corner of Markham and Chester Streets.^[2]

The McCarthy Light Guards were organized in Little Rock in 1887, being named for the local business man who provided their uniforms, James H. McCarthy. The unit competed in several drill competitions, including the Interstate Competitive Drill at Galveston, Texas, where the unit placed third, at Atlanta in 1889 where they placed second, in Omaha in 1891 where they took second, and at Nashville Tennessee where they took first place. The unit was invited to attend the Chicago Worlds Far in 1893. The unit took fourth prize at the Interstate Competitive Drill conducted in its home town of Little Rock in 1894.^[2]

In January 1897 Govenor Daniel W. Jones took office and appointed Brigadier General Authur Neill as his Private Secretary and Acting Adjutant General (the position of Adjutant General had still not been re authorized by the state legislature at this time). The new Govenor and Adjutant General began a massive reorgazation of the Arkansas Sate Guard. Two additional regiments of Infantry, another troop of cavalry, and another battery of artillery were added to the organization.^[1] The state was divided into two military districts, with the Arkansas River being the dividing line. Major General R.G. Shaver was commissioned and placed in overall command of the State's Forces. Brigadier General C. R. Shaer was commissioned and placed in command of the Southern District, which included the 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments, two batteries of artillery and a signal company. Major General V.Y. Cook was commissioned and placed in command of the Northern District, consisting of the Second and Forth Regiments of infantry and a squadron of Cavalry.^[3] The units were poorly equipped and outdated equipment.

Artillery Batteries

On April 25, 1898, President William McKinley called upon the State to supply two infantry regiments for the Spanish American War. None of the Regiments were in acceptable condition to deploy and only two companies were determined fit to be mustered in to service intact. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Regiments of Infantry, Arkansas State Guard, were reorganized, redesignated and mustered into Federal Service between May 14–25, 1898 at Little Rock as the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry for service in the Spanish American War.^[7] Governor Jones intended that all sections of the State be represented as far as possible, so the two new Regiments were created from selected State Guard companies and from different sections of the state.^[1] Pursuant to the Governor's direction the Regiments were organized as follows:^[8]

1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry

2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry

The newly formed Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiments did not see combat during the Spanish American War. The 1st Arkansas, commanded by Colonel Elias Chandler, along with the 2nd Arkansas, moved to Camp George H. Thomas at Chickamauga Park, Georgia in May 1898.^[9] The two Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiments were still there participating in basic training when the war effectively ended with the fall of Cuba and the signing of an armistice in early August.^[1] The 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry mustered out of Federal Service on October 25, 1899 at Little Rock, Arkansas.^[10] The 2nd Regiment continued in service until February 25, 1899, when they were mustered out at Anniston Alabama. While the units saw no actual fighting, the deployment did have its casualties. Fifty-four Arkansas Soldiers died of disease or accident during the mobilization.

While the Arkansas State Guard did not win any additional campaign participation credit for it's mobilization as a part of the Spanish American War, the reorganization the occured as a result of the war laid the ground work for the modern Arkansas National Guard. The 153rd Infantry Regiment and the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment each trace their leniage and honor's to the units in existance just prior to and during the Spanish American War. The nation's experiance with a large scale mobilization of the state militia's would result in new legislation that would changed the nation's national defense stragidity. Recognizing that the system of state funded and organized militia units had failed to provide the nation with a rapidly deployable army at a time with the United States was becoming an international power would lead to legislation to provide for a more reliable, standardized and federally funding reserve component, the National Guard.

• AR National Guard
• AR Air National Guard
• AR Army National Guard
• The Arkansas National Guard Museum
• Bibliography of Arkansas Army National Guard History compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History