4th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Confederate)

The 4th Arkansas Infantry (August 17, 1861 – April 26, 1865) was a Confederate States Army infantry regiment from the state of Arkansas during the American Civil War. The 4th Arkansas served throughout the war in the western theater, seeing action in the Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia campaigns. Following its depletion in numbers the regiment was consolidated several times with other Arkansas regiments, finally merging in 1865 into the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Mounted Rifles. Another Arkansas unit also had the designation 4th Arkansas, the 4th Regiment, Arkansas State Troops which participated in the Battle of Wilson's Creek, but was never transferred to Confederate Service. There is no connection between the two units.Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page "4th Arkansas Infantry Regiment", Arkansas State Troops, Accessed 10 January 2010,

Formation Originally known as the "Southwestern Arkansas Regiment", the 4th Arkansas was organized at Mount Vernon, Missouri, from volunteer companies from the southwestern part of Arkansas, which arrived in Missouri just after the Battle of Wilson's Creek. The original eight companies which were mustered into service at Miller's Springs, Missouri, on August 17, 1861, were:

Company A – the "Calhoun Escopets" – of Calhoun County, commanded by Captain Joseph B.McCulloch. This company was originally organized as a volunteer militia company named the "Moro Greys". the company later changed its name to Calhoun Escopets because a large majority were originally armed with double barreled shotguns and Escopet was thought to be French for shotgun. Howerton, Bryan "", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 14 June 2004, Accessed 10 November 2016, http://www.history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs62x/arcwmb/arch_config.pl?md=read;id=4346 Company B – the "Hempstead Hornets" – of Hempstead County, commanded by Captain Rufus K. Garland. Company C – the "Caddo Rifles" – of Montgomery County, commanded by Captain Francis J. Erwin. Company D – the "Bright Star Rifles" – of Lafayette County, commanded by Captain Josephuse Tison. Company E – the "Confederate Guards" – of Hempstead County, commanded by Captain John A. Rowles. This company was originally organized as a volunteer company of the 8th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia.Grebes, Edward. "COMPANY E, 4th (McNair's) ARKANSAS INFANTRY REGIMENT". Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page. . Retrieved April 17, 2011 Company F – the "Montgomery Hunters" – of Montgomery County, commanded by Captain John M. Simpson. Company G – the "Pike County Blues" – of Pike County, commanded by Captain James F. Black. Company H – the "Polk County Invincibles" – of Polk County, commanded by Captain William H. Earp.

Two additional companies were added on October 26, 1861, at Fort Smith, Arkansas:

Company I – the "Polk Rifles" – of Polk County, commanded by Captain James B. Williamson. Company K – the "Calhoun Invincibles" – of Calhoun County, commanded by Captain Oliver H. P. Black. This company was originally known as the "Calhoun Bear Hunters", but apparently opted to change their name to the more noble sounding "Calhoun Invincibles".Howerton, Bryan R. "Re: Arkansas companies - what regiments?", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, posted, Accessed 19 December 2014, http://www.history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs62x/arcwmb/arch_config.pl?md=read;id=4346

An eleventh company was temporarily attached—Kelley's Company, the "Pike County Rangers" of Pike County. On 18 August they marched to Mt. Vernon, Missouri, where the following commissioned and non-commissioned staff officers were appointed:The Old Fourth Arkansas Infantry Regiment, CSA, Ancestry.com, Accessed 17 February 2012,

Colonel: Mcnair, Evander from Hempstead Co. Major: May, James H. from Montgomery Co. Surgeon: Gammage, W.L. Assistant Surgeon: Jones, F.N. of Arkansas Quartermaster: Walker, George W. Adjutant: Grant, Nathaniel Lieutenant of Company C. Montgomery Co. Chaplain: Black, B.B. of Washington Co. Sergeant-Major: Johnson, Needham O.S. of Company E. Fife Major: Prince, Wm. H. Private of Company E. Drum Major: Knox, Wm. W. Private of Company E. Forage Master: Bostick, John of Company C. Montgomery Co. Quartermaster Sergeant: Black, Warren Private of Company A., Calhoun Co. Commissary Sergeant: Beard, John Private of Company B., Of Washington. Quartermaster's Clerk: Ferguson, of Washington. Hospital Steward: Kerr, Dr. E.W. Private of Company B, Hempstead Co.

Battles

The 4th Arkansas was originally assigned to McCulloch's Brigade in northwest Arkansas in late August 1861, and served in the Indian Territory, September–October 1861. The regiment was reassigned to Colonel Louis Hébert's Brigade, of Brigadier General Ben McCulloch's Division of Major General Earl Van Dorn's Army of the West in February 1862.United States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 8., Book, 1883; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154611/m1/752/?q=16th Arkansas Hill : accessed June 16, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu ; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas The regiment fought at Leetown area of the battlefield during Pea Ridge on March 7–8, 1862, under the command of Colonel Evander McNair. When General Ben McCulloch was killed at the Battle of Pea Ridge and Colonel Louis Hebert captured, Colonel McNair took command of the brigade. The unit was organized with 695 men, and reported 55 casualties at the Battle of Pea Ridge.

The 4th Arkansas reconsolidated at Van Buren, Arkansas, then marched overland to Des Arc where the regiment was transported by steamboat to Memphis in an attempt to unite the Army of the West with the Confederate Army of Mississippi to attack Grant at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, but arrived too late for the Battle of Shiloh.United States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 10, In Two Parts. Part 2, Correspondence, etc., Book, 1884; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154614/m1/462/?q=Arkansas Corinth Battery : accessed June 15, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu ; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas. From June 6 to June 30, 1862, the 4th Arkansas Regiment was in camp near Tupelo, Mississippi, along with other Arkansas regiments. Dozens of Arkansas soldiers died of disease in the camp hospital during this period, and many more were discharged for disability.Howerton, Bryan R., "Re: Arkansas 4th Infantry Regiment on Jun15, 1862", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted, Accessed 18 May 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=20128

In early May 1862 the Confederate forces underwent an army-wide reorganization due to the passage of the Conscription Act by the Confederate Congress in April 1862. All twelve-month regiments had to re-muster and enlist for two additional years or the duration of the war; a new election of officers was ordered; and men who were exempted from service by age or other reasons under the Conscription Act were allowed to take a discharge and go home.United States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 10, In Two Parts. Part 2, Correspondence, etc., Book, 1884; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154614/m1/500/?q=Army of Mississippi : accessed June 17, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu ; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas. Officers who did not choose to stand for re-election were also offered a discharge. The reorganization was accomplished among all the Arkansas regiments in and around Corinth, Mississippi, following the Battle of Shiloh. The 4th Arkansas Infantry was reorganized at Camp Churchill Clark, Corinth, Mississippi, on May 8, 1862, for two years' additional service (later extended to three years or the war). The only change among the field officers at this time was the replacement of Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Ogden by Lieutenant Henry Gaston Bunn.Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Arkansas, NARA M317. Roll: 0071. Fold3, Accessed 21 June 2012, http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|201590830 Howerton, Bryan R., "Re: Re-Organization in May 1862", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 21 June 2012, Accessed 21 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=26635

During the Kentucky Campaign, McNair's brigade was assigned to Churchill's division, under the overall command of General Kirby Smith. General Smith pushed rapidly into the bluegrass region of Kentucky, and defeated the Union army at the Battle of Richmond. In the desperate battle that occurred there, McNair's brigade turned the enemy's right and contributed to the rout that followed. The 4th Arkansas, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry C. Bunn reported 23 casualties at the Battle of Richmond.

On November 4, 1862, Colonel McNair was commissioned brigadier-general. His brigade included the following Arkansas units, the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles (dismounted), 4th and 13th Arkansas Infantry Regiments, 4th Arkansas Infantry Battalion, and Humphreys' battery of artillery. On the same day, Henry Gaston Bunn was elected Colonel of the 4th Arkansas as the replacement for Brigadier General McNair.Ouachita County Biographies in Goodspeed, Roots Web, an Ancestry.com Community, Accessed 18 May 2012,

During the Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on December 31, 1862, McNair's brigade took part in the brilliant charge of McCown's division, which, aided by the Divisions of Withers and Cheatham, drove the Federal right a distance of between , bending it back upon the center, until the line was at right angles to its original position. The 4th Arkansas lost another 79 casualties at Murfreesboro. In accordance with Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General's Office Order Number 131,United States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 20, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., Book, 1887; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154629/m1/982/?q=McGregor : accessed June 29, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu ; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas. nine soldiers of the regiment were recognized for courage and good conduct on the field for the Battle of MurfreesboroUnited States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 20, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., Book, 1887, Page 974; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154629 : accessed 7 February 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu ; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas.