The 1st Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry (1863–1865) was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Although Arkansas joined the Confederate States of America in 1861, not all of its citizens supported secession. Arkansas formed some 48 infantry regiments to serve in the Confederate Army, but also formed another 11 regiments that served in the Union Army.Report of the adjutant general of Arkansas, for the period of the late rebellion, and to November 1, 1866. (Washington : Govt. print. off., 1867), by Arkansas. Adjutant-General's Office Accessed 13 September 2013.

Background During the antebellum period, Arkansas geopolitics could be split into two regions. The eastern counties along the Mississippi River, with their large slave plantations situated on flat fertile land, and the northwest, with its rolling hills taken up by yeomen and small towns. Unlike their fellow Arkansans on the opposite side of the state, cotton was not king in the northwest. This region was also located next to the Indian Territory, where no doubt citizens took comfort in the fact of having Fort Smith, a Federal Army Fort, of which to offer them protection. With these conditions, it is easy to see why the Northwest was the most Pro-Union area in the state. The men of this region were also one of the first to offer themselves as soldiers for the Federal government during the Mexican-American War. In April 1861, in response to a confederate flag raising at Fayetteville, unionists raised the Stars and Stripes above the courthouse. However, this region had by no means had a unionists majority. Following Arkansas seceding from the Union, men rushed to enlist in the confederate army from all across Arkansas, with multiple regiments being organized in the Northwest. Despite this Arkansas unionists still held firm, albeit in secrecy, such as the organization of the Arkansas Peace Society. Those who spoke out against secession found themselves being increasingly harassed by confederate sympathizers. Some decided to move into the mountains for seclusion and protection while others fled the state entirely.

Northwest Arkansas saw extensive action early in the Civil War following the Battle of Wilson's Creek. In February 1862 a federal army, under the command of General Curtis, entered Arkansas south of Springfield, Missouri. Some men, after seeing this large Yankee army invade their state, were compelled to enlist in confederate regiments as a way of protecting their homes. For those who had been harassed it was a sight of relief. The latter of which would have their hopes dashed no soon as they began.

After the Battle of Pea Ridge, on March 7, 1862, General Curtis began to move his army east with the intent of capturing Memphis, Tennessee but after being ordered to send half his army to Missouri and being defeated near Searcy, Curtis then decided to occupy the city of Helena. Along the way his army was joined by a few of the local unionists mentioned earlier. These men wanted to fight the same men who had harassed them and their families and became dismayed after learning that the army's destination would take them east to the Mississippi River. Nonetheless these men carried on and were eventually mustered in a battalion of infantry in the summer of 1862. Their enlistments only lasted 6 months and in that time they saw no fighting and were later mustered out in Missouri. Another Arkansas Regiment was also formed in the same summer, that being the 1st Arkansas Union Cavalry. Unlike the 1st Arkansas Infantry battalion, the 1st Arkansas Cavalry saw much fighting in Northwest Arkansas, mainly skirmishing with confederate guerrillas. In the fall of 1862, unionists would be given good news as another large Union army was once again entering Northwest Arkansas.

Organization

In April 1862 James M. Johnson, a doctor and unionist from Huntsville, left the state with his brother, Frank, and his friend Issac Murphy. Like many other unionists, they left due to the increasing amount of harassment at the hands of confederate guerillas. All three men were prominent unionists, the most famous of which being Murphy who was the only delegate to vote against secession during the final call the previous year. The group headed north until they reached Keitsville, Missouri, where they made contact with General Samual R. Curtis, who commanded the Army of the Southwest. Johnson and his brother offered their services to the Union army, with Johnson becoming an Aide to General Curtis. Johnson followed the army to Helena and throughout the summer and fall would serve as an aide to various other Generals in Arkansas, eventually traveling back to the northwest with the Army of the Frontier in October 1862. As the Army moved south they reached Elkhorn Tavern and here Johnson received the authority to raise a loyal Arkansas Infantry Regiment. It wouldn't be until the aftermath of the Prairie Grove Campaign and the following exodus of the northwestern confederate army that recruiting could finally begin. In December Johnson set up a headquarters at Fayetteville and in January he was aided by an Illinois captain named Elhanan J. Searle, and the two would gradually recruit men from the surrounding counties.

James M. Johnson James Madison Johnson his was born in 1832 in Tennessee but moved to Arkansas in 1836, settling in Madison County. In 1850 Johnson married Elizabeth Johnson and the two would have seven children. Johnson attended the Ozark institute and Arkansas College where he likely became acquainted with Issac Murphy who taught at Ozark. Following a brief teaching stint of his own, Johnson left Arkansas to attend the St. Louis Medical School in 1857, returning two years later where he opened up his own medical clinic in Huntsville which he maintained until 1862.

Johnson was against slavery and in the 1850s bought an enslaved mother and child and had them officially freed thanks to his friend Judge Elijah D. Ham, who would be appointed as Major of the 1st Arkansas. Johnson and his family were prominent unionists when the Civil War broke out and due to this their safety in the region became so uncertain that the decision was made to leave, with Johnson making plans for his family to relocate to Illinois while he joined the army.

Elhanan J. Searle

Elhanan John Searle was born in 1835 and grew up in Illinois where he was educated at River Seminary the Northwestern University where he obtained a bachelor's and master's degree. While at college Searle began studying law and in 1859, following his graduation, moved to Springfield to work under the law office of Abraham Lincoln and his partner William Herndon. By the time Searle passed the bar the civil war began and Lincoln, now president, offered Searle an army commission but he turned it down and instead enlisted as a private in the 10th Illinois Cavalry, eventually rising to the rank of captain. The 10th cavalry saw action at Cane Hill and Prairie Grove before being sent to Huntsville in January 1863, where Searle began to aid In the organization of the 1st Arkansas.

Recruiting On January 31, 1863, Johnson and Searle hosted a large gathering at Huntsville for recruiting, and according to Reverend Francis Springer, who later become the regiment's chaplain, "a considerable number of enlistments entered the roll of the new regiment". In March the regiment received a large number of recruits due to the arrivals of Captains Brown, Vanderpool, and a guerilla fighter named William "Wild Bill" Heffington. Captain Vanderpool of Company C brought 200 men from Newton County on March 8 and Captain brown brought 83 unionists from Arkadelphia, who the previous month had beaten off a force of 300 confederates, arriving at Fayetteville on March 9. Heffington arrived from Yell county with another large group of men which later became Company I, with Heffington as Captain.

Many of the new volunteers had previously served in the Confederate army, some willingly and others conscripted, who had since deserted, Captain Heffington for example had previously served as a Lieutenant in the 17th Arkansas Infantry. Some of these deserters, as well as unionists, formed armed units to repulse confederates in the region. These units would often seek refuge in the woods and hilly terrain of the Northwest, thus receiving the name "Mountain Feds" by both sides.

Mustering On March 25, 1863, the regiment was officially mustered into service, numbering 36 officers and 810 enlisted, the majority of these being from Washington, Newton, Benton, Searcy, and Crawford counties. Johnson was commissioned as the regiment's colonel and Searle was mustered in as Lieutenant Colonel. At the time of their mustering, however, the 1st Arkansas could scarcely be called a regiment. An April 1 report by Colonel Marcus Harrison, commanding officer at Fayetteville, describes the 1st Arkansas Infantry as being "totally without transportation, clothing or tents, or equipments" and the only weapons they could procure came from the guns left on the battlefield of Prairie Grove, of which were "of all patterns and calibers". Harrison was also concerned that if Fayetteville was attacked, union forces would not be able to distinguish between them and "rebels in the same dress." These were the conditions in which the regiment would enter their first battle.

Service

Battle of Fayetteville The town of Fayetteville was becoming increasingly vulnerable throughout the spring of 1863, with confederate forces slowly making their way back into the northwest. By April Fayetteville was only garrisoned by two regiments, the 1st Arkansas Cavalry and 1st Arkansas Infantry, and there were doubts about how effective the Arkansans would be. The 1st Infantry was still awaiting proper guns and clothing from Missouri but these never arrived in time for the battle. Equipment aside much of the regiment would be unavailable for action as many were sick and portions of Companies C and F, numbering over 100 men, were sent on a scouting mission to Newton County on April 15. Captain Heffington and Colonel Johnson were not present as well, with the former leaving to induct more recruits and the latter being at St. Louis for a military tribunal. By the start of the Battle, less than 500 of the 810 enlisted would be available for action.

On the morning of April 18, 1863, a confederate force under General William Cabell attacked Fayetteville and colonel Harrison quickly organized his Arkansas regiments for battle. Given Colonel Johnson's absence, command of the regiment fell to Lieutenant Colonel Searle and Major Elijah D. Ham. Harrison ordered Searle to move seven companies of the regiment into a reserve position due to their lack of army clothing, though he later informed Searle to be ready to move them into position should the need arise. Companies A, F, and H were ordered to form along Harrison's centerline, along with 4 companies of cavalry. During the battle, Harrison later ordered two companies in reserve to form along the federal left flank facing east. Despite the roaring guns of artillery the companies in reserve held firm and stayed in position. Near the end of the battle Harrison's centerline, of which the three infantry companies made up the right half, faced heavy fighting as the confederates attempted to capture the federal headquarters building. After repulsing multiple charges the confederates withdrew and the battle war over.