10th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 10th Arkansas Infantry (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry
regiment
during the American Civil War
from the state of Arkansas
. The unit is also known as A. R. Witt's Infantry, C. M. Cargile's Infantry, E. L. Vaughan's Infantry, Thomas D. Merrick's Infantry, S. S. Ford's Infantry, Obed Patty's Infantry, George A. Merrick's Infantry, Zebulon Venable's Infantry and Robert C. Bertrand's Infantry in contemporary accounts.
The unit was originally commanded by Colonel T. D. Merrick, who had formerly held the rank of Major General of the Arkansas Militia and who carried Governor Rector's demand for the surrender of the Little Rock Arsenal to its commander in February, 1861.
, Tennessee
, where 150 men died from the effects of measles. Later it was involved in the conflicts at Shiloh
and Baton Rouge
, and in October, 1862, contained 249 effectives. Attached to Buford's and Beall's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, the 10th was part of the garrison that surrendered at Port Hudson on July 9, 1863. After being exchanged, the men returned to Arkansas and were reorganized as the 10th or Witt's Cavalry Regiment.
The 10th Arkansas Infantry fought in the following engagements:
After being reorganized as Witt's Cavalry Regiment, the unit was involved in the following engagements:
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
from the state of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. The unit is also known as A. R. Witt's Infantry, C. M. Cargile's Infantry, E. L. Vaughan's Infantry, Thomas D. Merrick's Infantry, S. S. Ford's Infantry, Obed Patty's Infantry, George A. Merrick's Infantry, Zebulon Venable's Infantry and Robert C. Bertrand's Infantry in contemporary accounts.
Organization
The 10th Arkansas Infantry Regiment was mustered into Confederate Service in July 1861 at Springfield in Conway County. Its members were drawn from the counties of Cleburne, Van Buren, Conway, and Perry. The unit comprised the following volunteer companies:- Company A, "Quitman Rifles", commanded by Captain A. R. Witt
- Company B, "Ready Rifles," from Conway County
- Company C, "Choctaw Riflemen" from Van Buren County
- Company D, "White County Volunteers" from White County
- Company E, "“Conway Invincibles” of Conway County
- Company F, “Muddy Bayou Heroes” of Conway County
- Company G, "Red River Riflemen", Captain John B. Miller
- Company H, "Perry County Mountaineers", from Perry County
- Company I, "Conway Tigers", of Conway County
- Company K, "Springfield Sharpshooters." of Conway County
The unit was originally commanded by Colonel T. D. Merrick, who had formerly held the rank of Major General of the Arkansas Militia and who carried Governor Rector's demand for the surrender of the Little Rock Arsenal to its commander in February, 1861.
Battles
The regiment moved to Union CityUnion City, Tennessee
Union City is a city in Obion County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,876 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Obion County. The name comes from its location at the union of two railroads, one running roughly east-west and the other roughly north-south...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, where 150 men died from the effects of measles. Later it was involved in the conflicts at Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
and Baton Rouge
Battle of Baton Rouge (1862)
The Battle of Baton Rouge was a ground and naval battle in the American Civil War fought in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, on August 5, 1862. The Union victory halted Confederate attempts to recapture the capital city of Louisiana.-Background:...
, and in October, 1862, contained 249 effectives. Attached to Buford's and Beall's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, the 10th was part of the garrison that surrendered at Port Hudson on July 9, 1863. After being exchanged, the men returned to Arkansas and were reorganized as the 10th or Witt's Cavalry Regiment.
The 10th Arkansas Infantry fought in the following engagements:
- Battle of ShilohBattle of ShilohThe Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
, Tennessee, April 6–7, 1862. - Battle of Baton RougeBattle of Baton Rouge (1862)The Battle of Baton Rouge was a ground and naval battle in the American Civil War fought in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, on August 5, 1862. The Union victory halted Confederate attempts to recapture the capital city of Louisiana.-Background:...
, Louisiana. August 5, 1862 - Battle of Port Hudson, Louisiana, June 14, 1863
After being reorganized as Witt's Cavalry Regiment, the unit was involved in the following engagements:
- Skirmishes, Clear Creek and Tomahawk, Ark. - Jan. 22, 1864
- Skirmish, Rolling Prairie, Ark. - Jan. 23, 1864
- Skirmish, Sylamore Creek, Ark. - Jan. 23, 1864
- Skirmishes near Burrowsville, Ark. - Jan. 23, 1864
- Skirmish, Crooked Creek, Ark. - Feb. 5, 1864
- Skirmish, Bayou Des Arc, Ark. - July 13–16, 1864
- Skirmish, Gum Swamp, Ark. - July 17, 1864
- Skirmish, Austin, Ark. - July 17, 1864
- Operations against Expedition from Little Rock to the Little Red River, Ark. - Aug. 6-16, 1864
- Price's Missouri Expedition - Aug. 29-Dec. 2, 1864
- Skirmish near Quitman, Ark. (detachment) - Sept. 2, 1864
- Skirmish, Ironton, Mo. - Sept. 26, 1864
- Skirmishes, Arcadia and Ironton, Mo. - Sept. 27, 1864
- Battle of Marmiton (Charlot), Mo. - Oct. 25, 1864
- Battle of Mine CreekBattle of Mine CreekThe Battle of Mine Creek, also known as the Battle of the Osage, was a battle that occurred on October 25, 1864 in Kansas as part of Price's Raid during the American Civil War...
, Little Osage River, Marias des Cygnes, Kan. - Oct. 25, 1864 - Skirmish near Lewisburg, Ark. - Feb. 12, 1865
Surrender
The 10th Arkansas surrendered with the garrison of Port Houston, Louisiana on Army of Tennessee at Greensboro, North Carolina, April 26, 1865. on July 9, 1863. After being exchanged, the men returned to Arkansas and were reorganized as the 10th or Witt's Cavalry Regiment. The unit skirmished in Arkansas and on May 28, 1865, requested from the Federals terms under which it could surrender.See also
- List of Arkansas Civil War Confederate units
- Lists of American Civil War Regiments by State
- Confederate Units by State
- Arkansas in the American Civil WarArkansas in the American Civil WarThe state of Arkansas was a part of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, and provided a source of troops, supplies, and military and political leaders for the fledgling country. Arkansas had become the 25th state of the United States, on June 15, 1836, entering as a...
- Arkansas Militia in the Civil WarArkansas Militia in the Civil WarThe units of the Arkansas Militia in the Civil War included militia organizations to which the current Arkansas National Guard has a connection: the militia, Home Guard, and State Troop regiments raised by the State of Arkansas. Like most of the United States, Arkansas had an organized militia...