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45th Arkansas Infantry (Mounted) (Confederate)
Arkansas state flag
Active1864 to 1865
CountryConfederate States of America
AllegianceCSA Dixie
BranchMounted Infantry

The 45th Arkansas Infantry (Mounted) (1864–1865) was a Confederate Army Mounted Infantry regiment during the American Civil War. While authorized by the State Military Board as a infantry regiment, the unit was mounted for Price's Missouri Expedion and was officially designated as mounted infantry. Due to it's mounted status, the unit is some times referred to as the 45th Arkansas Cavalry when a numerical designation is used.[1] The unit is most often referred to as either Baber's Arkansas Cavalry Regiment or Clark's Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, after it's two commanders. After the warm many former members referred to the regiment as "Shaver's Cavalry" because of the large number of officers and men who had previously served in Colonel R. G. Shaver's 7th Arkansas Infantry Regiment and 38th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, but Colonel Shaver was never actaully associated with the unit.[2]

Organization

In May 1864, General J. O. Shelby occupied Northeast Arkansas, well behind Union Army lines. In early June 1864, General Shelby commissioned Colonel Thomas Hamilton McCray, among other's to begin raising regiments in Northeast Arkansas. By June 13, Shelby reported to General Sterling Price that McCray's efforts were bearing fruit.

The work of recruiting goes bravely on. Colonel McCray will have a brigade and Dobbin, Coffee, Freeman and Coleman will have regiments.[3]

Colonel McCray's efforts led to the recruitment of at least three regiments, the 45th, 46th and 47th Arkansas Infantry Regiments. These 40-series regiments consisted mostly of conscripts, and absentees from existing units, organized around a small cadre of veterans detailed from infantry regiments, which were expected to be idle during the fall and winter of 1864.[4]

The decreasing availability of fodder for horses in 1864 led the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department to issue an order proscribing the raising of additional mounted regiments in Arkansas. However, when General Sterling Price received authorization to conduct a campaign in Missouri that fall, several of the new regiments were mounted in order to accompany him. As a result, the 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, and 48th were officially mounted infantry regiments instead of cavalry regiments. They were rarely referred to in contemporary reports and orders by numerical designation. Price referred to them as McGehee's Cavalry, Crabtree's Cavalry, etc., which eventually resulted in their later being referred to as 44th Cavalry, 46th Cavalry, etc.[5]

The unit was composed of companies from the following counties [6]:

  • Company A, was orgionally commanded by Captain J. Washburn and was organized in Independence County, at or near Sulphur Rock, its members were principally residents of White River, Big Bottom and Black River Townships of Independence County. It was surrendered at Jacksonport by Lieutaunt John Morgan Owen.[7]
  • Company B, commanded by Captain John M. Cost, was organized at Jacksonport, members were principally residents of Independence County, mostly from Christian, Big Bottom, White River and Black River Townships. A few men from Jefferson Township of Jackson County were also enrolled in this company.[8]
  • Company C, commanded by Captain Joshua Wann, was organized in Lawrence County, at or near Evening Shade (in present Sharp County). Many of the men in this company came from the western part of Lawrence County that part which became Sharp County in 1868.[9]
  • Company D, commanded by Captain Allen Nesbitt was raised in northern Jackson County and may have been organized at Elgin or Centerville, in Bird Township. It was composed primarily of men from Bird Township. Captain Nesbitt and several other members of the company had previously served in Colonel Thomas H. McCray's 31st Arkansas Infantry Regiment as members of Company A. (Col. James W. Clark had also served as an officer of this company.) The 31st served east of the Mississippi, and many of its men had returned home on furloughs and were unable to rejoin their units in 1864 or had received disability discharges.[10][11]
  • Company E, commanded by Captain Samuel R. Fetzer, was organized in Independence County, its members coming primarily from Black River, Gainsboro, White River and Ruddell Townships.[12]
  • Company F, commanded by Captain Jacob Wallace, was organized at New Hope Baptist Church, about seven miles west of Powhatan, in Lawrence County. It was composed almost entirely of men from Lawrence County.[13]
  • Company G, commanded by Captain Edward Butler, was organized at Powhatan, Lawrence County, and was composed almost entirely of Lawrence County men.[14]
  • Company H, commanded by Captain Wiley C. Jones, was organized in Lawrence County and was composed of men from several areas of that county west of Black River.[15]
  • Company I, was organized at Augusta, Woodruff County, by Captain J. B. Hills of Jonesboro. The contained many names familiar in the history of Woodruff County, especially from Bayou Cache and Bayou DeView Townships, which were part of Jackson County prior to the creation of Woodruff County in 1862, and Jackson County, especially Richwoods and Breckenridge Townships. About one-fourth of its men were from Craighead County. [16] [17]
  • Company K, commanded by Captain L. P. Schmick, was composed primarily of men from Randolph County, where it was organized, but also included a few from other counties, particularly Greene County. [18]
  • Company L, commanded by Captain M. S. Gray, was from different parts of Lawrence County east of Black River.[19]
  • Company M, commanded by Captain John Hale, was organized in Jackson County and was composed primarily of men from Cache, Richwoods and Village Townships of Jackson County.[20]

Officer appointments in the 40-series regiments date from the June to August 1864 timeframe, so it is assumed that the regiments were mustered into service about the same time at various points in northeast Arkansas.[21] The list of regimental officers follows[22][23]:

Baber, Milton D. Colonel[24]
Clark, J.W. Lieutenant Colonel, Later Colonel
Jones, G.R. Major, Later Lieutenant Colonel
Washburn, C.J. Orgionally Captain of Company A, later Major
Wells John R. Cpt Asst Surgeon.
Black, David C. Captain and Acting Quartermaster.
Sloan. William C. Captain and Acting Commissary

According to some family histories, few uniforms were available for the new regiment, so in order to establish uniformity and company identification, each company would place a certain type of feather on a designated side of their hats.[25]

Colonel Milton Dyer Baber, who had previously served as the Major and Lieutenant Colonel of the 38th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, was appointed Colonel of the 45th Arkansas Mounted infantry.[26] Colonel Baber was captured during the Price's Raid, so after October 1864, the regiment was referred to as Clark's Arkansas Cavalry (Lieutenant-Colonel James W. Clark succeeded Baber as regimental commander). Many of the men in the regiment had served in the 38th Arkansas Infantry.[27]

The regimental records of the 45th were destroyed by fire in the wagon in which they were being carried during the raid.[28] Hence there are no known muster rolls of the 45th Arkansas Mounted Infantry and no record of enlistments. Apart from a few prisoner of war records, the records of this regiment consist of paroles of soldier's who surrendered at Jacksonport, Arkansas on June 5, 1865.[29]

Battles

The 45th was assigned to Colonel Thomas H. McCray's brigade, of Maj. Gen. James F. Fagan's division, of Sterling Price's Army of Missouri, for Price's Missouri Expedition (commonly referred to a Price's Raid). The 45th fought in some of the most fierce combat operations on Price's Raid. Its war record is mixed. It was hampered due to lack of ammunition, food, blankets weapons, uniforms. It also was hampered by leadership who were used to operating as Infantry, and several of the men were conscripts, and deserters. Colonel Baber was captured in the fight near Independence, Missouri on October 22, 1864. Upon Colonel Baber's caputure, Lieutenant Colonel John W. Clark assumed command of the regiment. Major George R. James was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Captain C. J. Wasburn, who had previously commanded Company A was advanced to the rank of Major. According to John Edward's "Shelby and his Men", and the book "Action Before Westport", the crossing of the Little Blue on the afternoon and evening of the 21st of October 1864 was met with fierce Federal resistance. Elements of Fagan's Division (which the 45th belonged to) were trying to protect the crossing and Price's very long train. Cabell's brigade was ordered to protect the train in order to allow Fagan's troops to concentrate forcing the crossing. Somewhere during that time frame Colonel Baber was captured. However, the records are not clear as to when or how Colonel Baber was captured. Searching the complied service records list by Desmond Walls Allen yielded that no other soldiers of the 45th appear to have been captured at the location or the same time. There were four 45th soldiers captured on the same day but it does not appear that they were captured at the same location and is not clear of the timeframe of their capture. Colonel Baber was sent first to Alton prison and then transferred to Camp Douglas. While a prisoner of war, Colonel Baber wrote letters on behalf of the enlisted prisoners requesting blankets..[30]

Price's Missouri Raid, Arkansas-Missouri-Kansas, September-October, 1864
Battle of Fort Davidson (September 27, 1864)
Fourth Battle of Boonville (October 11)
Battle of Glasgow (October 15)
Battle of Sedalia (October 15)
Second Battle of Lexington (October 19)
Battle of Little Blue River (October 21)
Second Battle of Independence (October 21–22)
Battle of Byram's Ford (October 22–23)
Battle of Westport (October 23)
Battle of Marais des Cygnes, Linn County, Kansas, (October 25)
Battle of Mine Creek (October 25)
Battle of Marmiton River (October 25)
Second Battle of Newtonia (October 28)

The 45th also participated in the ill fated Siege of Fayetteville, Arkansas, as a part of General Fagan's operations against the Federals holding Fayetteville, upon their return to Arkansas after Price's Raid in November 1864. After the completion of Price's raid, the 45th was furloughed to return to the area from which it was recruited in order to forage and recover absentees and to return to the army at a prescribed date.[31]

At Boonsborough, on the suggestion of General Fagan, I detached two of his brigades (McCray's and Dobbin's), along with Freeman's brigade, of Marmaduke's division, to take the route to Northeast Arkansas, with instructions to collect all stragglers and deserters, and report south of the Arkansas River, at or near Washington, by the 15th, 20th, and 25th days of December, respectively[32]

A scouting report made by Major Harris S. Greeno, of the 4th Arkansas Cavalry (U. S. Army), November 15, 1864, made from Devalls Bluff relayed information on the post raid condition of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry. Maj. Greeno had just learned from deserters and captured Confederate soldiers who had served in Price's Army that Colonel T. H. McCray was in route by way of White River to Jacksonport with the 45th. 46th and 47th Arkansas Regiments. He gave the strength of the 45th Arkansas as about 250 men, his description of the morale of the men in this regiment, as well as the others, was probably very accurate[33]:

“ ….of these two thirds of the men have deserted and they will never go out again. They have thrown away their arms and are nearly all at their homes. They are all greatly demoralized and discouraged . . .”[34]

Surrender

Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson, Commander of the Miltary Sub-District of Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri, to which the 45th Arkansas was assigned at the close of the war, surrendered his command at Chalk Bluff, Arkansas on May 11, 1865, and agreed to have his men assemble at Wittsburg and Jacksonport, Arkansas to lay down their arms and receive their paroles. Thompson's command was widely dispersed throughout northeast Arkansas, more for reasons of available forage than anything else. About a third of his men refused to surrender. Shelby's Missouri Brigade, along with elements of Green's and Jackman's Missouri Brigades, lit out for Mexico. Some Missouri units disbanded rather than surrender their colors. Many men simply went home. The 45th Arkansas Cavalry surrendered with its command structure intact and was paroled at Jacksonport on June 5, 1865.[35] At the time of the surrender, the regiment was assigned to the following command: Military Sub-District of Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri, commanded by Brigadier General M. Jeff. Thompson (Surrendered at Jacksonport), McCray’s Brigade, commanded by Colonel Thomas H. McCray (Surrendered at Jacksonport), 45th Arkansas Mounted Infantry, commanded by Colonel James W. Clark (Surrendered at Jacksonport).[36] While Most the men on the Jacksonport parole lists actually served in the 45th Arkansas regiment during the war, but some were attached to various companies in the regiment solely for the purpose of surrendering. A few probably never saw any service except marching with their relatives and neighbors to Jacksonport to receive the paroles, which were though to provide the former confederates with some degree of protection from later arrest or capture.[37]

Biblography

Allen, Desmond Walls. Forty-fifth Arkansas Confederate Cavalry. (Conway, AR: Arkansas Research, 1988) ISBN 0-941765-36-9

Castel, Albert. General Sterling Price and the Civil War in the West. (Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press, 1968).

Donat, P. "Fagan's Attack on Fayetteville." Flashback, 35, No. 4 (November 1985): 8-13.

Feathers, Tom C. "The History of Military Activities in the Vicinity of Fayetteville Arkansas, Including the Battle of Fayetteville and the Siege of Fayetteville During the War Between the States." Washington County Flashback, 3 (April 1953): 2-33.

Kerby, Robert L. Kirby Smith's Confederacy: The Trans-Mississippi South, 1863-1865. (Tuscaloosa, AL: The University of Alabama Press, 1972).

Morgan, James Logan. A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A. The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Number 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 3.

Mobley, Freeman. Making Sense of the Civil War in Batesville-Jacksonport and Northeast Arkansas, 1861-1874. (Batesville, AR: P.D. Printing, 2005).

Monaghan, Jay. Swamp Fox of the Confederacy: The Life and Military Services of M. Jeff Thompson (Tuscaloosa, AL: Confederate Publishing Co., 1956).

Monnett, Howard N. and Monnett, John H. Action before Westport, 1864. (University Press of Colorado, 1964). ISBN 0-87081-413-3

References

  1. ^ National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, Confederate Arkansas Troops, 45th Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry. Retrieved 3 December 2011
  2. ^ Howerton, Bryan R.; "Re: Col. Robert G. Shavers", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Accessed 4 December 2011, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=6188
  3. ^ Sellmeyer, Deryl P.: "Jo Shelby's Iron Brigade", Pelican Publishing Company, 2007, ISBN 978-1-58980-430-2, page 184
  4. ^ Howerton, Bryan R.: "Re: Wm. H. Fisher, Crandall's 47 Cav. CSA", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 23 October 2008, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?read=19041
  5. ^ Howerton, Bryan R.: "Re: 46th Ark. Cavalry = 46th Ark. Mounted Infantry", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 9 November 2002, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=23921
  6. ^ Howerton, Bryan R.: "45TH ARKANSAS CAVALRY REGIMENT", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 2 January 2012, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/45thcav_indx.html
  7. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 6. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  8. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 6. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  9. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 3. Accessed 7 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  10. ^ Tipton, Jay Brent: "Re: Company D Unit 45 Calvary", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 30 March 2006, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=12201
  11. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 7. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  12. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 7. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  13. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 8. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  14. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 8. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  15. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 9. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  16. ^ (BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL MEMOIRS OF NORTHFAST ARKANSAS [Chicago: Goodspeed publishing Co., 1889], p. 314.)
  17. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 9. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  18. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 9. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  19. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 9. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  20. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 11. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  21. ^ Howerton, Bryan R.: "In Response To: 45th Arkansas Cavalry (Jo Bennett)", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 16 April 2004, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=7086
  22. ^ Howerton, Bryan R.: "45TH ARKANSAS CAVALRY REGIMENT", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 2 January 2012, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/45thcav_indx.html
  23. ^ National Archives (General Services Administration). Washington. D. C. Microcopy 317. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from Arkansas. Rolls 29 and 30. National Archives (General Services Administration), Washington. D. C. Jacksonport (Ark.) Parole Lists, June 5, 1865. Rolls 21-44
  24. ^ Sikakis, Stewart, Compendium of the Confederate Armies, Florida and Arkansas, Facts on File, Inc., 1992, ISBN 0-8160-2288-7, page 120.
  25. ^ Tipton, Jay Brent: "Re: What was the strength of Fagan's brigades? ", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 5 June 2006, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=12765
  26. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "Re: Col. Robert G. Shavers", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 11 January 2004, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=6188
  27. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "Re: 45th cavalry ", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 17 November 2003, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=5717
  28. ^ Tipton, Jay Brent: "Re: Colonel Milton D. Baber", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 30 November 2011, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?read=25188
  29. ^ Howerton, Bryan R.: "In Response To: 45th Arkansas Cavalry (Jo Bennett)", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 16 April 2004, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=7086
  30. ^ Tipton, Jay Brent: "Re: Colonel Milton D. Baber", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 30 November 2011, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?read=25188
  31. ^ Report of Maj. Gen. Sterling Price. Price's 1864 Missouri Expedition, WASHINGTON, ARK., December 28, 1864. as reproduced by the Missouri Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Accessed 3 January 2012, http://www.missouridivision-scv.org/pricereport1864raid.htm
  32. ^ STERLING PRICE Camp No. 75, at Boggy Depot, C. N., November 18, 1864. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, SERIES I, VOLUME XLI/1, page. 624/5, quoted at Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Accessed 3 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?read=25405
  33. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 3. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf
  34. ^ The War Of The Rebellion: A Compilation Of The Official Records Of The Union And Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. XLI, Part I, Reports, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1893, P. 916., Accessed 6 January 2011, http://books.google.com/books?id=RdYUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA915&dq=Official+Records+Major+Harris+Greeno,+4th+Arkansas+Cavalry&hl=en#v=onepage&q=Greeno&f=false
  35. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "Re: Jacksonport 1865 surrender list?", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 1 January 2004, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=6006
  36. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "Re: Jacksonport 1865 surrender list?", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 1 January 2004, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=6006
  37. ^ A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 3. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf

External links

See also

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

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