15th (Northwest) Arkansas Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry
regiment
during the American Civil War
. The unit was originally formed as the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Battalion. After receiving the required 10 companies, the unit was redesignated as the 21st (McCrae's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment. Upon recognition that there was already a 21st Arkansas, the unit was again redesignated as the 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. This was the third Arkansas unit to bear the designation "15th Arkansas". The others are the 15th (Josey's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment and the 15th (Gee/Johnson) Arkansas Infantry Regiment.
, and mustered directly into the service of the Confederate States on July 15, 1861. Brig. Gen. McCulloch intended to increase the battalion to a regiment. He already had two Arkansas regiments enrolled in Confederate service, the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles, and McRae's outfit was to form the basis for a 3rd Arkansas Regiment so it was christened as the 3rd Battalion Arkansas Infantry. McRae's 3rd Arkansas Battalion remained as a four-company battalion for some time.
In November 1861, four new companies from Benton, Pope and Washington counties joined the 3rd Arkansas Battalion, making a total of eight, so Brig. Gen. McCulloch asked the Confederate War Department to authorize the battalion to be designated as a regiment, promising that the last two companies would shortly be added. Brig. Gen. McCulloch's designation of McRae's command as the 3rd Arkansas Regiment was rejected, since Col. Albert Rust's command in Virginia had already been given that designation; so the War Department assigned the designation of 21st Arkansas Regiment to McRae's command (which resulted in two 21st Arkansas Regiments. The new 21st Arkansas Regiment was officially established on December 3, 1861, at Camp Benjamin, Arkansas.
After the battle of Pea Ridge, the 21st Arkansas and the rest of the Confederate Army of the West was ordered to Mississippi, and went into camp at Corinth, where, on May 8, 1862, the regiment was reorganized for the war, and Lieut. Col. James H. Hobbs succeeded Dandridge McRae as colonel. On May 12, 1862, while still at Corinth, the last two companies (Company I and Company K) were added to the regiment, bringing it up the required ten companies. These new companies had originally been Companies. A and B, respectively, of Williamson's Arkansas Infantry Battalion
, recently disbanded. On August 22, 1862, Lieut. Col. Squire Boone succeeded Hobbs as colonel.
Sometime after October 1862, the Confederate War Department again redesignated the 21st Arkansas as the 15th Arkansas. The War Department apparently realized it's mistake, because in February 1863 the regiment was ordered to insert the word "Northwest" in its regimental designation to distinguish it from, primarily, Col. Benjamin W. Johnson's 15th Arkansas, operating in the same theater thus, the 15th (Northwest) Arkansas Regiment.
The field officers were Colonels Squire Boone, James H. Hobbs, and Dandridge McRae; Lieutenant Colonel William W. Reynolds; and Majors D. A. Stuart and William Thompson.
. Under this final designation, the regiment served in Arkansas and Louisiana until the end of the war. Most of the men surrendered at Marshall, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana, in May and June 1865.
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...
. The unit was originally formed as the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Battalion. After receiving the required 10 companies, the unit was redesignated as the 21st (McCrae's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment. Upon recognition that there was already a 21st Arkansas, the unit was again redesignated as the 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. This was the third Arkansas unit to bear the designation "15th Arkansas". The others are the 15th (Josey's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment and the 15th (Gee/Johnson) Arkansas Infantry Regiment.
Organization
This unit can be traced back to four companies of Arkansas State Troops from Benton, Franklin and Yell counties, which marched to Bentonville in July 1861 to be assigned to a regiment of Arkansas State Troops. Instead, they were intercepted by Brig. Gen. Ben McCulloch, commanding Confederate forces in northwest Arkansas, organized into a battalion under command of Lieut. Col. Dandridge McRaeDandridge McRae
Dandridge McRae was a lawyer, court official, and inspector general of Arkansas, as well as a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
, and mustered directly into the service of the Confederate States on July 15, 1861. Brig. Gen. McCulloch intended to increase the battalion to a regiment. He already had two Arkansas regiments enrolled in Confederate service, the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles, and McRae's outfit was to form the basis for a 3rd Arkansas Regiment so it was christened as the 3rd Battalion Arkansas Infantry. McRae's 3rd Arkansas Battalion remained as a four-company battalion for some time.
In November 1861, four new companies from Benton, Pope and Washington counties joined the 3rd Arkansas Battalion, making a total of eight, so Brig. Gen. McCulloch asked the Confederate War Department to authorize the battalion to be designated as a regiment, promising that the last two companies would shortly be added. Brig. Gen. McCulloch's designation of McRae's command as the 3rd Arkansas Regiment was rejected, since Col. Albert Rust's command in Virginia had already been given that designation; so the War Department assigned the designation of 21st Arkansas Regiment to McRae's command (which resulted in two 21st Arkansas Regiments. The new 21st Arkansas Regiment was officially established on December 3, 1861, at Camp Benjamin, Arkansas.
After the battle of Pea Ridge, the 21st Arkansas and the rest of the Confederate Army of the West was ordered to Mississippi, and went into camp at Corinth, where, on May 8, 1862, the regiment was reorganized for the war, and Lieut. Col. James H. Hobbs succeeded Dandridge McRae as colonel. On May 12, 1862, while still at Corinth, the last two companies (Company I and Company K) were added to the regiment, bringing it up the required ten companies. These new companies had originally been Companies. A and B, respectively, of Williamson's Arkansas Infantry Battalion
Williamson's Arkansas Infantry Battalion
-External links:* * * *...
, recently disbanded. On August 22, 1862, Lieut. Col. Squire Boone succeeded Hobbs as colonel.
Sometime after October 1862, the Confederate War Department again redesignated the 21st Arkansas as the 15th Arkansas. The War Department apparently realized it's mistake, because in February 1863 the regiment was ordered to insert the word "Northwest" in its regimental designation to distinguish it from, primarily, Col. Benjamin W. Johnson's 15th Arkansas, operating in the same theater thus, the 15th (Northwest) Arkansas Regiment.
The field officers were Colonels Squire Boone, James H. Hobbs, and Dandridge McRae; Lieutenant Colonel William W. Reynolds; and Majors D. A. Stuart and William Thompson.
Battles
The 15th (Northwest) Arkansas Infantry Regiment took an active part in the battles at Wilson's Creek and Elkhorn Tavern, and on March 11, 1862, contained 10 officers and 168 men. Later the unit moved east of the Mississippi River, fought at Corinth and Hatchie Bridge, then was assigned to M. E. Green's and Dockery's Brigade in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. It sustained 82 casualties at Port Gibson and was part of the garrison captured at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. The Regiment is credited with the following Campaign participation credit- Battle of Wilson's CreekBattle of Wilson's CreekThe Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri, between Union forces and the Missouri State Guard, early in the American Civil War. It was the first major battle of the war west of the Mississippi River and is sometimes...
, Missouri, August 10, 1861 - Battle of Pea RidgeBattle of Pea RidgeThe Battle of Pea Ridge was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 6–8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Garfield. In the battle, Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis defeated Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. The outcome of the...
, Arkansas, March 7–8, 1862 - Battle of CorinthSiege of CorinthThe Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
, Mississippi, June 1862 - Battle of Grand GulfBattle of Grand GulfThe Battle of Grand Gulf was fought on April 29, 1863, during the American Civil War. In the Vicksburg Campaign of Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Union naval forces under Rear Adm. David D. Porter led seven ironclads in an attack on the Confederate fortifications and batteries at Grand Gulf, downriver...
, Mississippi, April 29, 1863 - Battle of Port GibsonBattle of Port GibsonThe Battle of Port Gibson was fought near Port Gibson, Mississippi, on May 1, 1863, between Union and Confederate forces during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
, Mississippi, May 1, 1863 - Battle of Champion HillBattle of Champion HillThe Battle of Champion Hill, or Bakers Creek, fought May 16, 1863, was the pivotal battle in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Union commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennessee pursued the retreating Confederate Lt. Gen. John C...
, Mississippi, May 16, 1863 - Battle of Black River Bridge, Mississippi, May 17, 1863
- Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, May – July, 1863
Surrender
This regiment surrendered with the Army of Mississippi at Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 4, 1863. The soldiers of the unit were paroled on July 8 and 9, 1863, and sent back to Arkansas to await exchange. After being exchanged, the regiment was consolidated with the 14th and 16th Arkansas Regiments to form the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment (Trans-Mississippi)1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment (Trans-Mississippi)
The 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. The regiment is separate from and has no connection to the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment which was formed in the Confederate Army of Tennessee in April 1865 and separate...
. Under this final designation, the regiment served in Arkansas and Louisiana until the end of the war. Most of the men surrendered at Marshall, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana, in May and June 1865.
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...