Arkansas Territorial Militia: Difference between revisions

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The Arkansas Territorial Militia is forerunner of today's Arkansas National Guard. The current Arkansas Army National Guard traces its roots to the creation of the territorial militia of the District of Louisiana in 1804. As the District of Louisiana evolved in to the Territory of Missouri and the first counties were organized, Regiments of the Missouri territorial militia were formed in present day Arkansas. When the Arkansas Territory was formed from the Missouri Territory, the militia was reorganized, but continued to mirror the county frame work. Territorial Governor’s struggled to form a reliable militia system in the sparsely populated territory. During the territorial period, the Arkansas Territorial Militia was called out to quell problems with the Indian Nations and was held in readiness to deal with trouble along the border with Mexico during the Texas War of Independence.

The history of the Arkansas militia began in 1804, when the United States bought from France a huge tract of land west of the Mississippi River, now known as the "Louisiana Purchase." At the time of the Louisiana Purchase the area that would eventually enter the Union as the State of Louisiana was referred to as the District of Orleans. The area north of present day Louisiana was referred to as the District of Louisiana. At first the new "District of Louisiana" was attached to Indiana Territory for administrative purposes. In 1804 the District of Louisiana was designated as the Louisiana Territory and the new territory was subdivided into districts; namely, St. Charles, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, and New Madrid. The districts stretched along the Mississippi River with no definite boundaries to the west. The area of the preset State of Arkansas lay with in the District of New Madrid, which stretched from the present Arkansas-Louisiana state line to the present city of New Madrid, Missouri.^[1] The authorities found that there were few people in the new territory to enroll in the militia. This was especially true of the area which was later to become Arkansas. Low and swampy, early Arkansas attracted few settlers, and many of those who did come were wandering French hunters and trappers who were hardly temperamentally fit for the militia, which required a fairly settled population. In 1803 a census was taken of the two major settlement areas in Arkansas, Arkansas Post and Ouachita. The census, about which there is much doubt as to its validity, shows that the Post District had an "estimated" population of 600 with a militia of 150. The Ouachita District had approximately 1,200 whites, 100 blacks, and a militia force of 300.^[2]

In October 1804, the governor and judges of Indiana Territory met as a legislative body to begin the process of formulating laws for the huge District of Louisiana.^[3] It is from this date that the Arkansas National Guard tracks its earliest formation.

The Militia Act of 1804 contained 24 subsections and made all males between the age of sixteen and fifty, liable for militia service excepting superior court judges, supreme court judges, the attorney general, the supreme court clerk, all licensed ministers, jail keepers, and those exempted by the laws of the United States.^[4] The act laid out the number of officers required for each company, battalion and regiment and required privates and officers to arm themselves with ‘’“with a good musket, a sufficient bayonet and belt, or a fuse, two spare flints, a knapsack, and a pouch with a box therein to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges, .... knapsack, pouch, and powder horn, with twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder”’’. Companies were required to muster every other month, Battalions to muster in April and Regiments to muster in October. Militiamen who failed to attend muster were to be fined after being tried by court martial, and the commanders were given authority to convene courts martial. The act created the office of Adjutant General and detailed his responsibilities.^[5]

One of the most important sections of the law allowed for the formation of volunteer companies. “When, in the opinion of the commander in chief, such corps can be conveniently raised, and equipped, independent troops of horse, and companies of artillery, grenadiers, light infantry, and rifle men, maybe formed, which shall be officered, armed and wear such uniforms as the commander in chief shall direct" These independent companies were the only units in the militia that were to be issued standardized uniforms, arms and equipment. Formation of independent of volunteer companies would become an important part of antebellum society. While there are very few records of any governor during the territorial or antebellum period turning out an entire militia regiment for service other than required musters, there are ample examples of volunteer or independent companies turning out for service during times of war or conflict with the native Americans.^[6] The new law had forty-two sections

By 1806, the lower two thirds of the District of New Madrid was re-designated as the District of Arkansas.^[7] Despite small population, it appears that the early Arkansans enrolled in the militia in fairly heavy numbers. In 1806 the area had two militia units: one cavalry company and one infantry company.^[8]

A Roster of militia appointments for the District of Arkansas dated 14 July 1806 roster shows the officers to have had a heavy French immigrant composition:^[9]

Major Francois Vaugine

Captain of Cavalry Francois Valier

Lieutenant of Cavalry Jacob Bright

Cornet Pre. Lefevre

Captain of Infantry Leonard Repler

Lieutenant of Infantry Anthony Wolf

Ensign Charles Bougie.^[10]

The same roster indicates that the Arkansas District militia had its own "inspector and adjutant general", Major David Delay. Other than this roster and a few other minor references, the militia of the District of Arkansas, Louisiana Territory, left few records.^[10]

In 1807, the legislature of the Louisiana Territory passed an updated and expanded Militia Act. The new law had forty-two sections and it lowered the maximum age of inhabitants who were required to serve from sixteen to fifty to sixteen to forty-five. Militia Officers were now required to wear the same uniform and the United States Army. It increase the number of musters so that companies were to muster up to 12 times per year, battalions up to six times per year, and regiments up to twice per year. It created the office of Brigade Inspector and set the pay of the Adjutant General at one hundred and fifty dollars per year. The procedures for courts martial and the collection of fines and other punishments were significantly expanded and the legislature indicated that where it’s laws were not detailed enough, militia leaders were to look to the regulations of Barron Steuben which had been adopted by Congress in 1779. Father’s were held liable to pay the fines of sons, up to the age of 21, who failed to attend muster. Officer’s were required to attend training sessions to be conducted on the Monday before a scheduled muster in order to receive training regarding their duties and on the proper forms of drill.^[11]

Section 37 of the Militia act of 1807 again addressed the formation of independent or volunteer companies:

“When in the opinion of the commander-in chief, such corps can be conveniently raised and equipped, independent troops of horse and companies 'of artillery, grenadiers, light infantry, and riflemen may be formed, which shall be officered, armed, and wear such uniform as the commander-in-chief shall direct”^[12]

Service in these voluntary companies was encouraged by exempting members from fines for failure to attend musters of the regular militia and ‘’” Every trooper who shall enroll himself for this service, having furnished himself with a horse, uniform clothing and other accoutrements, shall hold the same exempted from taxes, and all civil prosecutions, during his continuance in said corps”’’^[13]

The legislature of the Louisiana Territory amended the militia law in 1810 to provide for an Inspector General of the Militia with an annual salary of two hundred and fifty dollars. At the same time the legislature did away with salary of the post of brigade inspector and reduced the number of times that the militia would drill each year to a total of six times. The legislature also repeals the requirement that officers meet on the Monday before a muster for training.^[14]

On June 4, 1812, Louisiana Territory was renamed Missouri Territory.^[15] A little more than one year later, on December 31, 1813, Governor of the Missouri Territory, William Clark, signed a proclamation re-designating the District of Arkansas as Arkansas County of Missouri Territory.^[1]

The legislature of the new Missouri Territory quickly enacted a new Militia law. The Missouri Territory Militia act of 1815 included 47 sections and changed the service requirements. "Every able bodied, free white male inhabitant of this territory, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, shall be liable to perform militia duty."^[16] This was the first reference to the race or status of militiamen in the territorial militia laws.^[17]. The act, like the previous militia laws provided for the formation of volunteer companies in addition to the standard militia regiments and provided that the horse and other equipment of members of these volunteer companies were to be tax exempt.^[18] The militia law was amended in 1816 to clarify those persons exempt from militia duty, clarify the duties and account responsibility of paymasters, clarify court martial procedures and to provide for the collection of fines levied by courts martial by the sheriff or constable.^[19] The Militia law was amended again in 1817 to provide for payment of those members detailed to sit on courts martial, to set the fine for failure to appear at muster at two dollars, and to allow the sheriff a fee of ten percent for collection of fines imposed by the militia courts martial.^[20]

By 1814, the militia of Arkansas County was designated as the 7th Regiment, Missouri Territorial Militia.^[21] The officers were:^[22]

• Lieutenant Colonel Commandant - Anthony Haden
• Major of 1st Battalion - Daniel Mooney
• 1st Company: Alexr Kendrick Captain, William Glassen Lieutenant, William Dunn Ensign
• 2nd Company: James Scull Captain, Peter Lefevre Lieutenant, Charles Bougy Ensign
• 3rd Company: Samuel Moseley Captain, Lemuel Currin Lieutenant
• Major of 2nd Battalion - ???
• 1st Company: Edmund Hogan Captain, John Payatte Lieutenant, Joseph Duchassin Ensign
• 2nd Company: Jno C Newell Captain, Benja Murphy Lieutenant, Geo Rankin Ensign
• 3rd Company: William Berney Captain, Isaac Cates Lieutenant, Saml Gates Ensign

In early 1815 Lawrence County was created in the area of present day northern Arkansas and southern Missouri.^[23] The establishment of new counties had an impact on the militia since it was usually organized by county. The creation of Lawrence County necessitated the appointment of a separate commander for the county militia. On January 22, 1815, Missouri Governor William Clark commissioned Louis de Mun a lieutenant colonel and commandant of the 18th Regiment Missouri Militia. De Mun, who had command responsibility for all of Lawrence County, was ordered by the governor to "discharge the duty of Lt. Colonel Comdt. by doing and performing all manner of things..."^[24]

25 Members of the 7th Regiment, Arkansas County, Missouri Territorial Militia filed claims for pay for services rendered during the War of 1812.^[25] Among the claimants who signed a petition requesting his pay was Edmund Hogan,^[26] who was a resident of what would become Pulaski County and who would eventually be appointed as the Brigadier General of the Arkansas Territorial Militia.^[27] No records appear to exist of this unit being called out for service during the War of 1812.

On March 2, 1819, President James Monroe signed the bill creating Arkansas Territory. The act which created Arkansas Territory provided that the territorial governor "shall be commander-in-chief of the militia of said territory, shall have power to appoint and commission all officers, required by law, be appointed for said territory..."^[28] At the time of its formation, the new Territory of Arkansas included the following five counties:^[29]

• Arkansas
• Lawrence
• Clark
• Hempstead
• Pulaski

The first governor of Arkansas Territory, James Miller, seemed at first to be the ideal man to establish a militia in the wild new region. Born in 1776, Miller joined the United States Army at an early age and was commissioned an infantry major in 1808. Soon after the War of 1812 broke out, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the Connecticut Volunteers. At the Battle of Lundy's Lane, July 25, 1814, Miller gained fame when he responded "I’ll try, sir!" to his commander's question if a British artillery battery on a hilltop could be silenced. The young commander proceeded to take the entire battery, an accomplishment which won for him a promotion to brigadier general as well as a special gold medal from a grateful Congress. Miller distinguished himself in other battles during the War of 1812, including Niagara, Fort Erie, and Chippewa.^[30]

The most sizable hindrance to effectively organizing the militia was the scattered population of only 14,273; and of this number, the majority were scattered around the state on isolated farms. The only real town in Arkansas in 1820 was Arkansas Post, a tiny village of no more than forty houses. To make matters worse, there were few roads in Territorial Arkansas, thereby making communication with the militiamen very difficult.^[31]

Adjutant General A. P. Spencer noted in 1820 that some militia units were unable to drill since "the extent of Territory they cover is to [sic] great to muster them at one point..."^[32] As late as 1827, Governor George Izard was complaining of the difficulty of organizing the rural Arkansans into a cohesive militia force: "The scattered state of our Population here and the constant changes of Residence among the Inhabitants make it impractical to organize the Militia in such a manner as may render their Service prompt and efficient".^[33]

One of the continual problems form the very start in organizing the Arkansas militia was arms procurement. Among the common misconceptions about the militia is the belief the frontiersmen had plenty of weapons in their own family arsenal to arm the militia. And, indeed, the federal Militia Act of 1792 did provide that militiamen were to provide their own arms and equipment; mounted men were even required to provide their own horse and saddle.^[34]

Governor Miller realized that the new Arkansas Militia would need arms, therefore, immediately upon his appointment he went to Washington, D. C. where he received an order from the Army Ordnance Department for weapons. On his way to Arkansas, he stopped at the Army arsenal at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he obtained 400 stand of arms, 40,000 rounds of ammunition, and fifty pistols.^[35] Upon reaching Arkansas, Governor Miller discovered there was no public armory, and was forced to store the weapons in a rented building.

Miller worked hard to obtain more arms and accoutrements. A "Return of Militia for 1821", located in the Arkansas History Commission archives, shows that the militia possessed a fairly substantial number of weapons and a diverse variety of related accessories, including: powder horns, pouches, bullet moulds, spare flints, cartridge boxes, and belts.

Army officials sometimes proved to be reluctant to cooperate with Miller in his efforts to arm the militia. The War Department had a rule that no arms would be issued to the militia of a state until the state authorities had filed reports on the strength of the militia. Apparently Arkansas’ adjutants general had a difficult time obtaining cooperation from the commanders in the field, for the War Department frequently complained of receiving insufficient reports form Arkansas.^[36] Governor Miller made the first two appointments in the Arkansas Territorial Militia.

The Office of Adjutant General was defined by the Militia Act of 1792 as

"Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That there shall be an adjutant-general appointed in each state, whose duty it shall be to distribute all orders from the commander-in-chief of the state to the several corps; to attend all public reviews when the commander-in-chief of the state shall review the militia, or any part thereof; to obey all orders from him relative to carrying into execution and perfecting the system of military discipline established by this act; to furnish blank forms of different returns that may be required, and to explain the principles on which they should be made; to receive from the several officers of the different corps throughout the state, returns of the militia under their command, reporting the actual situation of their arms, accoutrements, and ammunition, their delinquencies, and every other thing which relates to the general advancement of good order and discipline: all which the several officers of the divisions, brigades, regiments, and battalions,1803, ch. 15 are hereby required to make in the usual manner, so that the said adjutant-general may be duly furnished therewith: from all which returns he shall make proper abstracts, and lay the same annually before the commander-in-chief of the state."^[37]

The office Adjutant General during the 19th Century was different from the modern position in that the Adjutant General was not necessarily viewed as a command position. While there are examples of Adjutant Generals assuming command in the field, as will be discussed later during the Pecan Point Campaign, in general the roll of the Adjutant General was to act as the military advisor to the Governor, conduct inspections and make reports to the Commander in Chief, (the Governor) and to the War Department. The Governor served as the Commander and Chief and the units were under the day to day command of the senior military commander. In early territorial period, the senior military commander was a Brigadier General, who was appointed by the President. After the territorial militia had been divided into multiple brigades, and a division was formed the, senior commanders were Major Generals. Some Adjutant Generals during the 19th century did not claim military title, others held the rank of Colonel or most usually, Brigadier General. This division between the post of Adjutant General and Brigadier General leads to some confusion in certain histories where a Brigadier General is referred to as the Adjutant General, when in fact individual was the Brigadier General commanding the Militia Brigade.^[38]

Abner P. Spencer, came to Arkansas Territory with Governor Miller in 1820.^[39] He had been a captain in the War of 1812 and had served in the Niagara campaign along with Governor Miller. Spencer had entered the army from New York on April 30, 1813 as a second lieutenant, assigned to the 29th Infantry Regiment. He was aid-decamp to General Jacob Brown during the campaigns of 1813 and 1814. He arrived in Arkansas, along with Governor Miller, by a government barrage on Christmas day, 1819. He was also accompanied by his wife and son. Upon reaching Arkansas, it was learned that most of the high ranking posts in the new Territory had been filled, so Governor Miller appointed Spencer Adjutant General of the Territorial Militia.^[40] In the early days of the territory, it was common for officials to hold more than one position with in the new territory at the same time, so Adjutant General Spencer was also appointed as the sheriff of Phillips County, Arkansas.^[41]

General Spencer filed the first known inspection reports of the Arkansas Territorial Militia. The report, dated 16 July 1821 indicates that the Adjutant General had inspected three of the five regiments in the territorial militia.^[42]

No reason is given for the fact that the 2nd and 5th Regiments were not included in this inspection report.^[41] The report lists the expenses for the territorial militia for the period ending 1 October 1821 totaled $2,399.79.^[43] General Spencer served as Adjutant General until he resigned in 1823. On 10 June 1823, Terrance Farrelly was appointed to serve as Adjutant General following General Spencer's resignation.^[44]

William O. Allen, another veteran of the War of 1812, had secured an appointment as Brigadier General of the Territorial Militia. In the early 19th century the Brigadier General had important day-to-day administrative responsibilities similar to those of the modern day adjutant general. President James Monroe accepted the recommendation and nominated Allen for the position. Allen had been elected to the House of Representatives of the Territorial Legislature in November, 1819^[45] and is noted for having asked that the office of Adjutant General not be filled until the militia of the territory had been organized into two or more brigades, and for supporting the establishment of the territorial capital at Arkansas Post, rather than Little Rock.^[45] On March 10, 1820, while the Senate was in the process of rejecting the nomination of William O. Allen as Brigadier General of the Arkansas Territorial Militia, he was mortally wounded in a duel with Robert C. Oden, a leading Little Rock lawyer.^[46] BG Allen and Oden had apparently quarreled in a tavern at Arkansas Post over a cane which BG Allen carried. The quarrel resulted in Allen issuing a challenge to Ogden and the two met to fight a duel on a sandbar on the south bank of the Arkansas River. Allen's shot apparently struck Oden in the waist, wounding but not killing him. Oden's shot struck Allen in the head. Allen died a a friend's home one week later.^[47] Oden would be tried and acquitted of "Receiving a Challenge". This duel resulted in a stiffening of the territorial law against dueling.^[48] News of Allen's rejection by the senate apparently arrived in Arkansas after he had died. It appears that BG Allen had run a fowl of the Territorial Secretary, Robert Crittenden and this political difference may have resulted in the rejection of Allen's nomination. General Allen is credited with forming the Arkansas Militia in to a brigade and with appointing Alexander S. Walker as the commander of the 1st Regiment, Arkansas Militia.^[49]

Governor Miller secured the appointment of Edmund Hogan as Brigadier General, in order to replace BG Allen. Hogan, a powerful political figure from Pulaski County, would himself be killed in a fight with Judge Andrew Scott, May 1828^[50]

General Hogan had succeeded in establishing the basic framework of the militia system that would remain unit the civil war. By 1823, Arkansas had grown to a total of eight counties which each supported one militia regiment:^[51]

Brigadier Hogan served as Brigadier General until he resigned in 1824. William Bradford was appointed by President James Monroe to serve as the Brigadier General of the Arkansas Militia following Brigadier General Hogan's resignation. Edmund Hogan continued to use the title "General" until his death in 1828 in a fight with Judge Scott.^[50]

Terrence Farrelly was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, about 1795, but was brought to Meadville, Pennsylvania, by his parents about the year 1800. He arrived at Arkansas Post in November, 1819, and rented a store of General William O. Allen, where he carried on business until the latter part of 1820. Terrence had not been at his new home long before he became acquainted with the rich young widow, Mrs. Mary Mosely. Mrs. Mosely was described as the richest widow in the territory. He was adjutant-general of the Arkansas militia under Generals W. O. Allen, Edmund Hogan and William Bradford. More than that, famed 19th century Arkansas historian Josiah Hazen Shinn described Adjutant General Farrley thus:

he was the chief adviser of... Bradford, and to this advice the territory was indebted for the nine regiments of splendid troops the territory afforded in 1825. We have had adjutant generals since Farrelly's day, but none that could muster an army like he had under his charge. The regiments were real live flesh and blood soldiers, commanded by the following colonels: First Regiment, Jack Wells; Second Regiment, James Lemons; Third, Joseph Hardin; Fourth, James Scull; Fifth, Thomas Dooley; Sixth, Pearson Brierly; Seventh, Hartwell Boswell; Eighth, Daniel Mooney; Ninth, Jacob Pennington. General Terrence Farrelly was not afraid of any of these colonels, nor of all of them combined. He could make and unmake them at pleasure.^[52]

The dueling deaths of Brigadiers Generals Allen and Hogan demonstrate the difficulty Governor Miller had in recruiting a good officer corps. Mr. Shinn, wrote that the Territorial Militia officers were often "of the Western type, free and easy in their manners, very outspoken in their conversation and therefore very hard to control". Indeed, Shinn concludes, the militia was composed of "combustible elements".^[53] The method of selecting militia officers contributed to their poor quality. By both law and custom company-level officers, and some at higher levels, were elected by the enlisted men. This frequently resulted in two bad side-effects: (1) popularity, rather than intelligence or ability, became the basis upon which officers were elected; and (2) the militia became deeply immersed in politics. Actually, the militia had long been a stepping stone to political office: George Washington himself had been a Virginia militiaman. Even the backwoodsman Davey Crockett commented on the political nature of the frontier militia when called upon to give his formula for political success: "Intrigue until you are elected an officer of the militia; this is the second step toward promotion, and can be accomplished with ease".^[54]

The Militia Act of 1792 had specified the officers which were allotted to the state militias as:^[55]

"That the said militia shall be officered by the respective states, as follows: To each division, one major-general and two aids-de-camp, with the rank of major; to each brigade, one brigadier-general, with one brigade inspector, to serve also as brigade-major, with the rank of a major; to each regiment, one lieutenant-colonel commandant; and to each battalion one major; to each company one captain, one lieutenant, one ensign, four sergeants, four corporals, one drummer and one fifer or bugler. That there shall be a regimental staff, to consist of one adjutant and one quartermaster, to rank as lieutenants; one paymaster; one surgeon, and one surgeon’s mate; one sergeant-major; one drum-major, and one fife-major."

The regimental commanders during the Territorial period were:^[56]

First Regiment of Arkansas Militia, Clark County:

• James Mops, February 19, 1820
• Samuel W. Rutherford
• Jacob Wells, February 2, 1824
• Allen A. Johnson, October 20, 1826

Second Regiment of Arkansas Militia, Pulaski County:

• Edmund Hogan, (later BG) 17 February 1829 to 20 July 1820
• James Lemmons, 29 July 1820
• Robert C. Oden (who earlier killed BG Allen) 1826.
• Christian Brumbach, 14 July 1833
• William S Lockhardt, August 1835

Third Regiment of Arkansas Militia, Lawrence County:

• John Miller, 2 February 1820
• Joseph Hardin, 3 December 1825
• William Jarrett, 5 February 1830

Fourth Regiment of Arkansas Militia, Arkansas and Phillips Counties:

• Daniel Mooney, 16 February 1820
• James Scull, 17 April 1822
• Daniel Mooney, Phillips County Regiment, 1 November 1825
• William R. Horner, Phillips County Regiment, 1826

Fifth Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia, Hempstead County:

• Alexander Walker, 18 February 1820
• Edward Crop, 19 October 1828
• George Hill, 23 January 1830
• William McDonald, 7 February 1831

Sixth Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia, Crawford County

• Pierson Brearly, 13 January 1820
• Allen Johnson, 20 October 1828
• Oliver Langford
• Gilbert Marshall, 6 February 1829
• Bennett H. Martin, 9 February 1830

Seventh Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia, Independence County

• Robert Bean,
• Hartwell Boswell, 21 September 1824
• Townsend Dickson, 12 May 1827
• Charles H. Pelham, 5 Feb 1830

Eighth Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia, Crittenden and Phillips Counties

• Wright W. Elliot, 20 October 1828 (removed)
• William R. Horner, 16 January 1829

Phillips County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• James Martin, 5 February 1830

Lafayette County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• James Conway, 3 October 1825

Union County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• Thomas Franklin, 16 June 1820
• Jacob Pennington, 16 January 1832

Monroe County Battalion of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• Christopher H. Price, 5 February 1830
• Alphs Madden, 17 September 1833

Conway and Van Buren County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• Thomas White, 9 February 1830
• Stephen Lewis, 9 September 1830
• Bennett B. Ball, 21 August 1833

St. Francis County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• Mark W. J. Zando, 23 January 1830

Carroll County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• John M. Campbell, 5 February 1834
• John D. Pison, 23 November 1835

Hot Spring County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• J Cox, 9 February 1830
• Jepee Barlett, 26 August 1833

Crittenden County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• Mathew Spurlock, 4 January 1831
• Elijah F. Floyd, 26 August 1832

Izard County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• Thomas Culp, 19 May 1830

Jefferson County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• William Baily, 15 February 1830

Arkansas County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• Louis Bobby, 15 February 1830
• William H. Dye, 6 June 1830

Sevier County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• John Clark, 15 February 1830

Jackson County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• Alfred G. W. Davis, 9 February 1830
• John Saylor, 11 November 1830

Clark County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• Jacob Wells, 9 February 1830
• A. J. Rutherford, 7 August 1833

Chicot County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• Andrew Carson, 9 February 1830
• Horace F. Woldworth, 8 February 1830

Pope County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• F. N. Clark, 9 February 1830
• William G. W. Tewault, 9 July 1835

Mississippi County Regiment of Arkansas Territorial Militia

• Thomas J. Mills, COL, 8 February 1836

When newly appointed governor George Izard arrived in Arkansas on May 31, 1825 he found that his predecessor had been unsuccessful in doing more than a bare minimum of militia organization.^[57] He found that the senior leadership of the Arkansas Militia were occupied with other duties. Holding multipule offices had been a common pratice under Governor Miller. William Bradford, the Brigadier General of the Arkansas Militia, was living at Fort Townsen and serving as the sutler to the 7th Infantry Regiment. Terrance Farrelly, who had been appointed as Adjutant General in 1823, was living in Arkansas County and serving as the Sherriff of that county. Izard was the ideal man to bring professional military standards to the rough and tumble Arkansas militia.^[58] On June 10, Izard issued a stern general order to all commanding officers telling them to report immediately to either Brigadier General William Bradford at Fort Towson or to the Adjutant General's office in Little Rock. "The organization of the Territorial Militia will engage the full attention of the Commander-in-Chief" Izard wrote, "and will be proceeded on without delay." In a direct warning to recalcitrant officers, Izard promised that "the laws for the government of the Militia, will be rigidly enforced..."^[59] To assist in organizing the forces, Izard appointed two aides, Lieutenants Colonel Henry W. Conway and Ambrose H. Sevier, two of the most powerful political leaders in the Territory.^[59] Izard's interest in the militia attracted widespread attention and support in the state. However, some Arkansans evidently believed that Izard was fighting a losing battle. The editor of the Arkansas Gazette endorsed Izard's efforts by urging "the ready and hearty cooperation of every class of our citizens...." But the expressed the belief that the new governor "will find it an arduous task to perform...."^[59] Terrance Farrley reacted to Izards efforts by resigning the office of Adjutant General.

Izard found that the state militia had few arms, and he immediately wrote the War Department for weapons and ammunitions to supplement "some boxes of both deposited in a Merchant's Warehouse" in Little Rock. The Secretary of War refused Izard's request since he had not received "returns" of the militia strength in the Territory.^[60] The failure to file complete records with the War Department was a common problem throughout the nation, and Federal legislation had been adopted to prohibit a state or territory from receiving its quota of armaments until all records had been provided. The Arkansas quota had been held up as early as 1821.^[61] By 1825, Governor Izard reported that the state armaments still amounted to only 400 muskets, 40 pistols, 200 "cavalry sabers", twelve drums, twelve fifes, 4000 flints, 40,000 musket ball cartridges, and three "wall tents".^[62]

Izard worked to whip the militia into shape. He and Brigadier General Bradford pleaded with local commanders to take their responsibilities seriously. Noting that Arkansas lay directly in the path to be used in the removal of the Eastern Indians, the governor spoke frequently of the need "to place the Militia in a condition to afford immediate protection to our settlements, should any disorder attend the passage of those people."^[63] Gove^[64]rnor Izard’s agitation slowly began to get results. In 1825 the legislature authorized the printing of the militia laws of the territory, with a copy of each to go to every officer in the militia.^[63] Finally, in November 1827, a bill passed providing for the first complete overhauling of the militia. The act organized the forces into two separate brigades, provided that battalions were to muster annually and companies were to assemble twice yearly, and established an administrative framework to oversee the organization.^[65] Izard’s periodic reorganization orders,^[66] combined with legislation, resulted in the formation of a much more effective militia system for Arkansas Territory. In April 1830, the United States Congress authorized the Arkansas Territory a second Brigadier General to command the second brigade of Arkansas Territorial Militia.^[67] On April 22, 1830 President Andrew Jackson nominated William Montgomery to command the 2nd Brigade of Arkansas Militia.

When Arkansas became a territory in 1819 there were several thousand Indians living in the area. Early Arkansas settlers perceived these Indians as dangerous savages. Most of the tribes, the Quapaw, Caddo, and Cherokee, were in actuality quiet and peaceful. Problems also ensued along the Territorial boundary with the Indian nation, with whites and Indians each wondering across the ill defined border. The first recorded class apparently occurred in 1820, when and Indian Agent wrote to the territorial governor regarding a claim by the Cherokee Nation that stated that they had been driven a village along the Red River by two companies of the Arkansas Militia. No records exist indicating whether this action was directed by the Territorial Governor or was done under the control of local authorities. Territorial Secretary Robert Crittenden responded to the claim and stated that he lacked sufficient evidence to approve the Cherokee claim for damages resulting from the loss of their villages but pointed out that he could not protect Cherokees if they established villages in area's assigned to whites by treaty.

The Osage tribe, who ranged over much of northwest Arkansas, were a fierce and warlike plains tribe. Mounted on their ponies, the Osage frequently attacked villages of neighboring Indian tribes. Occasionally white settlers would fall victim to the Osage. In March 1820 Reuben Easton, a practically illiterate Arkansas settler, wrote the War Department complaining of the Osage menace: “There has been a number of murders committed on this rivver [sic] by the Osage indians [sic] and a vast number of Robbearys [sic] for wich [sic] the people heir [sic] has never Received any Satisfaction...”^[68] The Cherokee, who were given a reservation on lands claimed by the Osage, were a more constant target of their war-like neighbors.^[69]

Governor George Izard, who succeeded Miller in 1825, attempted to deal calmly with the Indians. But he was still an old military man, and when trouble between Indians and whites broke out in Miller County in 1828, Izard sent his adjutant general, Wharton Rector, to investigate. Governor Izard had been receiving reports that Shawnee and Delaware Indians near the little Miller County settlement of Pecan Point were "pilfering farm houses and Corn-cribs [,] killing Hogs, Driving their Stocks and Horses and Cattle among us ...." If the Indians were not removed, the settlers protested, there was "no prospect but of being oblidged [sic] to abandon our homes and fields."^[70] Major J. G. W. Pierson, commander of the Miller County militia, asked the governor for permission to call out his company to move against the Indians. The governor, instead, sent Adjutant General Rector to investigate and if necessary "to remove immediately [the Indians], and should they disobey or resist your authority you will call out such a party of the militia as you may consider adequate to compel obedience".^[70]

When Rector reached Pecan Point he found the settlers greatly agitated. The Indians were reported to be stealing and killing livestock and threatening war. Rector immediately ordered the Indians to leave the area, but the Shawnees refused. Calling out sixty-three militiamen under Captain Pierson, Rector marched on the main Shawnee village. Just when a battle seemed imminent, the major Shawnee chief announced he would move.^[71] The entire Pecan Point foray, about a week in duration, cost the Arkansas militia a total of $503. Governor Izard, in requisitioning reimbursement from the Secretary of War, detailed costs as follows: Adjutant general’s salary (for a full month) and expenses, $231; pay for one Major for four days, $12; pay for five company officers for three days, $30, pay for 56 privates for three days, $168, rations for all men were a total of $24.

While there were no real battles between the Indians and the Arkansas Territorial militia, the militia did send units on several different occasions to perform patrol duty along the state’s western border.^[72]

One of the primary roles performed by the militia during the territorial period was social. The prominent military historian, Russell F. Weigley has gone so far as to write that "... the volunteer [militia] companies were at least as much a social as a military phenomenon."^[73] Residents of Territorial Arkansas spent much of their lives in virtual isolation. Farms were scattered over a huge expanse; roads were few and far between, and towns were small in both number and size. In essence, people were lonely and militia service gave them an opportunity to do something out of the ordinary. Early Arkansans, especially the elite, also had a great affection for military titles. "Colonel" Robert Crittenden was a mere ensign during his military career, and "General" John Harrington had not served in the regular Army at all!^[74] The militia gave status- conscious early Arkansans an easy opportunity to win a military title at very little expense in effort.

The death in December 30, 1828 a French veteran of the American Revolution, Monsier Le Noir De Servhae serves as a good exmple of the pagentry of the terrioral militia:

This gentleman.... was one of the foreign contingent that lent its assistance to the cause of American Independence. He came to the United States as a French marine with the fleet commanded by Count de Grasse, and was wounded at Yorktown in attacking and carrying one of the British redoubts on the evening of October 14, 1781. Being honorably discharged he returned to France, but in after years came back to the United States and in time found a home in Arkansas near the plantation of Monsieur A. Barraque in Richland township. He was accidently killed by the falling of a tree and was buried with all the honors of war. It was a grand sight to see the blending of nationalities at this military interment of a foreign hero. Adjutant General Terrence Farrelly, Colonels A. S. Walker, Francis Notrebe, and several companies of the First and Second regiments, Acting-Governor Robert Crittenden and his dashing aide-de-camp, Colonel Yell, made up the military cortege, while the French families from far and near and the American contingent of wealth, prowess and achievement made the occasion a memorable one in early days.^[75]

Besides a military title, organizers of ante-bellum militia companies also found an excuse to wear fancy military uniforms. Each company could design its own uniform, and sometimes these designs could be more fanciful than utilitarian. William F. Pope, an early settler in Little Rock, wrote in his memoirs of Albert Pike's 1836 artillery company having:

"A full set of black broad-cloth, the coat cut swallow tail and faced with red. The trousers were of the same material, with a wide gold braid down the outside seams. For headgear they had black beaver Shakos, with red pompoms. For summer wear, the uniform was a gray blouse, with red trimmings, with white duck trousers and gray fatigue caps."

According to Pope, the forty-man company sent a "special agent" to New York City to obtain the colorful uniforms.^[76]

A muster of the militia during the 1820s or 30s was often an impressive occasion. In more populous areas of the eastern states the local militia company sometimes drilled as often as once a month. But where travel was difficult, as in most of early Arkansas, musters usually took place once or twice a year. The legislature of 1827 specified that battalion drills were to be held annually in October, and company drills were to be held at least twice a year, the first Saturday in April and October.^[77] Through the years the date of July 4 evolved as an important mustering time in Arkansas. That was a convenient date to drill since the crops were generally planted by that time, and besides, everyone wanted to have an excuse for a get-together on Independence Day. The muster might begin with the firing of a volley, as was the case in 1837 when Captain Albert Pike's artillery company put on quite a show for the residents of Arkansas' capital city.^[78] It is difficult to reconstruct the precise manner in which muster training was carried out for few sources exist on the subject. However, it is likely that training was informal, with a good deal of marching and some practice in the manual of arms. Target shooting frequently was included in the day's activities. It is also likely that the muster ended with a large dinner or party, including a liberal mount of whiskey drinking.^[79] Sometimes the heavy whiskey drinking began before the muster actually got under way.

In 1830, the Pulaski County regiment was ordered into a special muster for the purpose of being inspected by the governor. The regimental commander was a German immigrant by the name of Christian Brumbach. Brumbach, though conscientious, was given to ostentatious military display. His uniform was augmented with heavy gold lace and gilt bullet buttons topped off with a cocked hat and large plume. As the men formed for inspection, the commander discovered some were armed with hickory sticks while others shouldered umbrellas. As the governor's party passed in review, a thunderstorm erupted and, much to Commander Brumbach's dismay, many of the militiamen scurried for cover. Those armed with umbrellas remained in formation. The furious Brumbach, his plume drooping in the rain, ordered a court martial to try the runaways. They were each fined five dollar, and soon thereafter Christian Brumbach resigned his command and left Arkansas.^[80]

Next to the Indians, the Arkansans were most fearful of their Mexican neighbors in Texas. Much of this trouble was caused by an ill-defined boundary between Arkansas and Texas. As mentioned earlier, Arkansas’ western boundary was not surveyed and finalized until 1828-29. The Mexicans, naturally, were fearful of the ever-encroaching Americans, and on several occasions feelings ran high between the suspicious neighbors. In 1828, for example, when the Miller County militia was called out to remove the Shawnees from Pecan Point, Mexican officials reminded the Arkansans that the area was claimed by Mexico. Arkansas Adjutant General Rector warned the Mexicans not to interfere. Rector threatened to hang the Mexicans officials "on a tree by the neck like a dog."^[81] Two years later the Mexicans rubbed salt in the wounded pride of the Arkansans by threatening to move Mexicans settlers into the disputed Miller County area.^[82]

Troubles along the border flared again during the Texas War of Independence Brigadier General George Hill was informed on May 4, 1836 that information had been received indicating that Mexican emissaries were trying to incite the Indian Nations to attack in retaliation for United States support of Texas War of Independence. Governor Futon directed Brigadier General Hill to place organize his brigade and place it in readiness to take the field at once. On June 28, 1826, General Edmund P. Gains (U.S. Army) called upon Governor Fulton one regiment for the defense of the western frontier. Six companies answered this call.^[83]

Still, as with the Indians, there was no open military conflict between the Arkansas Territorial militia and the Mexican Government before the Arkansas Territory achieved statehood on June 15, 1836.

The Militia Act of 1792 had specified how the state militia units were to be organized:^[84] "...the militia of the respective states shall be arranged into divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions and companies, as the legislature of each state shall direct; and each division, brigade and regiment, shall be numbered at the formation thereof; and a record made of such numbers in the adjutant-general’s office in the state; and when in the field, or in service in the state, each division, brigade and regiment shall respectively take rank according to their numbers, reckoning the first or lowest number highest in rank. That if the same be convenient, each brigade shall consist of four regiments; each regiment of two battalions; each battalion of five companies; each company of sixty-four privates."

On November 16, 1833, Territorial Governor John Pope signed a bill from the Territorial Legislature which divided the territorial militia into six brigades and formed them into a new division.^[85] Each new brigade was authorized a Brigadier General to command. The new Brigadiers were required to renumber the regiments within their respective brigades and report this number to the Major General commanding the division. The existing county regiments were divided into their new brigades as follows:^[85]

• 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