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==Organization==
==Organization==

Organized on May 15, 1862 at Corinth, Mississippi by consolidating the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Battalion and Phifer's 6th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion under the command of Colonel [[William F. Slemons]].
The 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment was orgionally organized as the 2nd Arkansas Cavlry Battlion at Memphis, Tennessee, in early April 1862, just after the Battle of Shiloh, from five independent cavalry companies from southern Arkansas:.<ref>Howerton, Bryan R., "Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, CSA", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/2batcavs.html</ref>
⚫
Field officers were:[[File:WFSlemons.jpg|thumb|right| William F. Slemons, commander, 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment]]

Company A—Calhoun County Troop, organized at Hampton, Arkansas, February 20, 1862.
Company B—Bradley County Troop, organized at Mount Elba, Arkansas, February 22, 1862.
Company C—Dallas County Troop, organized at Tulip, Arkansas, March 1, 1862.
Company D—Jefferson County Troop, organized at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, March 1, 1862.
Company E—Ashley County Troop, organized at Hamburg, Arkansas, March 24, 1862.

Some of these companies appear to been involved in the Battle of Shiloh as independent units, prior to being assigned to the Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, but few details are available..<ref>Howerton, Bryan R., "Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, CSA", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/2batcavs.html</ref>

Upon the organization of the battalion, Major William D. Barnett, a 36-year-old physician from Bradley county, Arkansas, was assigned as the commanding officer. The only other member of the battalion field and staff who can be identified was Assistant Surgeon Thomas W. Hurley, a 26-year-old physician from Calhoun county, Arkansas. The organization of the battalion was apparently marred by an alleged mutiny. The following report appears in the official record:

{{quotation|“Head Quarters Army of the Miss., April 11th, 1862; to General Braxton Bragg, Comdg 2d Corps.—General: It is represented that there is a mutiny in the camp of Major Barnett’s Cavalry headed by a Captain Paine of that Battalion. This Battalion is near the encampment of Col. Fagan’s Arkansas Regiment of your Corps and Gibson’s Brigade. The General therefore orders you to take measures for the radical suppression of the mutiny. Capt. Paine refuses to obey the arrest of Major Barnett. Respectfully, Your obt svt, William Malone, A.A. Genl.”.<ref>Howerton, Bryan R., "Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, CSA", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/2batcavs.html</ref>}}

It is unclear just what the circumstances were, or how it was resolved.

On May 15, 1862, this battalion was consolidated with the 6th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion (Major Charles W. Phifer) at Corinth, Mississippi, to form the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment. The [[6th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion]] (also sometimes known as the 1st, Phifer’s, White’s and McNeill’s Battalion) was organized in August 1861 at Pocahontas, Arkansas, originally composed of four Arkansas companies and two Louisiana companies, which were consolidated about April 20, 1862, into two Arkansas companies and one Louisiana company..<ref>Howerton, Bryan R., "Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, CSA", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/2batcavs.html</ref>

The companies of the former 6th Battalion became Companies A-B-C and the companies of the former 2nd Battalion became Companies D-E-F-G-H of the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment. On August 18, 1862, the chronically-understrength Company F (formerly Co. E, Second Battalion) was consolidated into Company E (formerly C, Second Battalion), and Companies G and H were redesignated as Companies F and G, respectively.<ref>Howerton, Bryan R., "Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, CSA", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/2batcavs.html</ref>

⚫
Field officers were:[[File:WFSlemons.jpg|thumb|right| William F. Slemons, commander, 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment]]


*Lt. Cols. H.R. Withers and Thomas M. Cochran , and
*Lt. Cols. H.R. Withers and Thomas M. Cochran , and
Line 24: Line 44:
*Wat Strong served as commissary.
*Wat Strong served as commissary.


Company commanders were
Company commanders were


*Company A, Cpt. A.H. Christian,
*Company A, Cpt. A.H. Christian,
Line 35: Line 55:
*Company H, Cpt. Phil Echols (later Cpt. James Oliver),
*Company H, Cpt. Phil Echols (later Cpt. James Oliver),
*Company I, Cpt. M.L. Hawkins
*Company I, Cpt. M.L. Hawkins

The regiment was organized in northeast Arkansas with 5 companies in February, 1862 under the command of Major W.D. Barnett. Sent east of the Mississippi and assigned to Hindman's Brigade, Hardee's Division, of the Army of Central Kentucky later that month. This command went to Columbus, KY, thence to Bowling Green, and performed outpost duty along the Green River. It covered, with other cavalry units, the retreat of General Albert Sydney Johnston out of Kentucky, to Nashville, Tennessee, and on to Corinth, MS. Served as a screening and security force at Shiloh and covered General Beauregard's retreat from Shiloh back to Corinth. and in the Corinth Campaign as part of Beall's Cavalry Brigade. Consolidated with Phifer's 6th Arkansas Cavalry battalion at Corinth, MS on May 15, 1862, and the consolidated unit renamed as the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment.

Served in Mississippi, Tennessee, Price's raid into
Missouri, captured at Marais de Cygnes
Commanders: William F. Slemons


==Battles==
==Battles==

Revision as of 21:49, 22 September 2011

2nd Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate)
Arkansas state flag
Active1861 to 1865
CountryConfederate States of America
AllegianceCSA Dixie
BranchInfantry

The 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (Slemons') (1861-1865) was a Confederate Army cavalry regiment during the American Civil War. This regiment was also referred to in the Official Records as the 4th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment. Another regiment, commanded by Colonel Thomas J. Morgan, was also designated as the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment.

Organization

The 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment was orgionally organized as the 2nd Arkansas Cavlry Battlion at Memphis, Tennessee, in early April 1862, just after the Battle of Shiloh, from five independent cavalry companies from southern Arkansas:.[1]

Company A—Calhoun County Troop, organized at Hampton, Arkansas, February 20, 1862. Company B—Bradley County Troop, organized at Mount Elba, Arkansas, February 22, 1862. Company C—Dallas County Troop, organized at Tulip, Arkansas, March 1, 1862. Company D—Jefferson County Troop, organized at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, March 1, 1862. Company E—Ashley County Troop, organized at Hamburg, Arkansas, March 24, 1862.

Some of these companies appear to been involved in the Battle of Shiloh as independent units, prior to being assigned to the Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, but few details are available..[2]

Upon the organization of the battalion, Major William D. Barnett, a 36-year-old physician from Bradley county, Arkansas, was assigned as the commanding officer. The only other member of the battalion field and staff who can be identified was Assistant Surgeon Thomas W. Hurley, a 26-year-old physician from Calhoun county, Arkansas. The organization of the battalion was apparently marred by an alleged mutiny. The following report appears in the official record:

“Head Quarters Army of the Miss., April 11th, 1862; to General Braxton Bragg, Comdg 2d Corps.—General: It is represented that there is a mutiny in the camp of Major Barnett’s Cavalry headed by a Captain Paine of that Battalion. This Battalion is near the encampment of Col. Fagan’s Arkansas Regiment of your Corps and Gibson’s Brigade. The General therefore orders you to take measures for the radical suppression of the mutiny. Capt. Paine refuses to obey the arrest of Major Barnett. Respectfully, Your obt svt, William Malone, A.A. Genl.”.[3]

It is unclear just what the circumstances were, or how it was resolved.

On May 15, 1862, this battalion was consolidated with the 6th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion (Major Charles W. Phifer) at Corinth, Mississippi, to form the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment. The 6th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion (also sometimes known as the 1st, Phifer’s, White’s and McNeill’s Battalion) was organized in August 1861 at Pocahontas, Arkansas, originally composed of four Arkansas companies and two Louisiana companies, which were consolidated about April 20, 1862, into two Arkansas companies and one Louisiana company..[4]

The companies of the former 6th Battalion became Companies A-B-C and the companies of the former 2nd Battalion became Companies D-E-F-G-H of the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment. On August 18, 1862, the chronically-understrength Company F (formerly Co. E, Second Battalion) was consolidated into Company E (formerly C, Second Battalion), and Companies G and H were redesignated as Companies F and G, respectively.[5]

The new regiment was placed under the command of Colonel William F. Slemons. The other Field officers were:

William F. Slemons, commander, 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment
  • Lt. Cols. H.R. Withers and Thomas M. Cochran , and
  • Majors Thomas J. Reid, Jr., and William J. Somervell.
  • Thomas Garrison was adjutant,
  • W. Leeper quartermaster, and
  • Wat Strong served as commissary.

Company commanders were:

  • Company A, Cpt. A.H. Christian,
  • Company B, Cpt. Joseph Earle (later H.S. Hudspeth);
  • Company C, Cpt. Thomas Cochran;
  • Company D, Cpt. James Portis (later Cpt. Watt Green);
  • Company E, Cpt. J.S. Somerville, (later Cpt. William Cooper);
  • Company F, Cpt. O.B.. Tebbs;
  • Company G, Cpt. E.L. Murtree (later Cpt. C. Stell);
  • Company H, Cpt. Phil Echols (later Cpt. James Oliver),
  • Company I, Cpt. M.L. Hawkins

Battles

On the retreat from Corinth to Tupelo, MS the 2nd Arkansas again served as part of the rear guard of the army, under General John C. Breckinridge. On July 3, 1862 it was ordered with Clayton's 2nd Alabama Cavalry against the Federals at Booneville, MS, who were completely routed. Together with the 2nd Missouri Cavalry, it was ordered under Gen. Frank C. Armstrong to Tennessee, where it met at Middleburg, TN, the Federals under Colonel Leggett and defeated them, killing and wounding large numbers of the Federal force. About the last of July (1862) the 2nd Arkansas, under Col. Slemons, along with the 2nd Missouri and the 4th Mississippi engaged the escort of Federal cavalry and artillery guarding a train of supplies at Britton's Lane, TN, and after a stubborn fight of three hours captured the train, along with 300 prisoners and two pieces of artillery. The 2nd Arkansas lost 70 men killed or wounded in this engagement. In the campaigns of Price and Pemberton in early 1863 defending the approaches to Vicksburg, the 2nd Arkansas was in continuous active service, opposing Federal thrusts at Iuka, Colliersville, Salem, the Yazoo Pass, at Charleston, Austin, and near Commerce Mississippi and along the Coldwater River there. Under the command of Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest in late 1863, it participated in the masterly movements of that greatest of cavalry commanders, encircling armies, taking cities, capturing trains, and burning bridges. The 2nd Arkansas was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi in April, 1864, in time to fight with Cabell's, Gano's, and Dockery's brigades in the Camden Expedition including the battles of Poison Spring, Marks' Mills, and Jenkins' Ferry. It then served with Price's Army on the raid to the Missouri River in September and October of 1864, and engaged in the battles of Pilot Knob, Independence, West Point, and Marais des Cygnes, in Kansas. At this last battle, Colonel Slemons' horse was killed and fell with him, the saddle catching the colonel's leg under him so that he could nor disengage himself. Col Slemons, a number of his officers, 100 of his men, and two artillery pieces were captured and sent as prisoners of war to Johnson Island, later to Rock Island, where they were imprisoned until after the end of the war. The remainder of the regiment was reduced to battalion size at this time, and so was reorganized and renamed as the 18th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion.[6]

[7]

Siege of Corinth, April to June 1862.
Red River Campaign, Arkansas Mar-May, 1864
Battle of Poison Spring, Arkansas, April 18, 1864
Battle of Marks' Mills, Arkansas, April 25, 1864
Battle of Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas April 30, 1864
Price's Missouri Raid, Arkansas-Missouri-Kansas, September, 1864
Battle of Marais des Cygnes, Linn County, Kansas , October 25, 1864

Surrender

This regiment surrendered with the Army of the Norhern Sub Distict of Arkansas in April 1865.

References

  1. ^ Howerton, Bryan R., "Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, CSA", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/2batcavs.html
  2. ^ Howerton, Bryan R., "Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, CSA", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/2batcavs.html
  3. ^ Howerton, Bryan R., "Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, CSA", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/2batcavs.html
  4. ^ Howerton, Bryan R., "Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, CSA", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/2batcavs.html
  5. ^ Howerton, Bryan R., "Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, CSA", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/2batcavs.html
  6. ^ "The Nancy L. Hamm Gibson Home Page", FamilyTreeMaker.com, Accessed 23 September 2011, http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/m/Nancy-L-Hamm/BOOK-0001/0041-0001.html
  7. ^ Sikakis, Stewart, Compendium of the Confederate Armies, Florida and Arkansas, Facts on File, Inc., 1992, ISBN 0-8160-2288-7, page 52.

See also

Category:Arkansas Civil War regiments Arkansas Category:Military units and formations in Arkansas Category:Military in Arkansas

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