19th (Dawson's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 19th Arkansas Infantry (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry
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...

.

Organization

19th (Dawson's) Infantry Regiment completed its organization at Nashville, Arkansas
Nashville, Arkansas
Nashville is a city in Howard County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,878 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Howard County....

, in November 1861. The field officers were Colonel C. L. Dawson; Lieutenant Colonels A. S. Hutchison and P. R. Smith; and Majors Joseph Anderson, David H. Hamiter, and John G. McKean. The unit was inducted into Confederate Service at Nashville, Arkansas, on November 21, 1861. The 19th Arkansas Regiment was organized from seven companies from Hempstead, Pike, Polk and Sevier counties. Three additional companies from Hempstead, Scott and Sevier were later added, the last (Company K) on March 3, 1862. Charles L. Dawson, of Sevier County, was elected colonel at the regiment's organization. The unit was composed of volunteer companies from the following locations in Arkansas:
  • Company A, Commanded by Captain W. B. Spear, organized on October 10, 1861 at Antoine, AR
  • Company B, Commanded by Captain B. C. Haller, organized October 18, 1861 at Center Point, AR
  • Company C, Commanded by Captain John W. Robinson, organized October 19, 1861 in Pike Co, AR
  • Company D, Commanded by Captain R. L. Duncan, organized June 1, 1862 in Polk Co, AR
  • Company E, Commanded by Captain L. F. Carter, organized October 30, 1861 in Sevier Co, AR
  • Company F, Commanded by Captain John G. McKean, organized June 16, 1862 at Paraclifta, AR
  • Company G, Commanded by Captain D. C. Cowling, organized November 19, 1861 at Nashville, AR
  • Company H, Commanded by Captain A. J. Rader, organized February 22, 1862 at Waldron, AR
  • Company I, Commanded by Captain L. W. Delony, organized February 26, 1862 at Nashville, AR
  • Company K, Commanded by Captain A. J. Jones, organized March 3, 1862 in Sevier Co, AR


The 19th (Dawson's) Arkansas Regiment had strong support among the population where it was recruited. Even though there was a certain degree of pro-Union sentiment in the mountains of southwest Arkansas, the region continued to supply huge numbers of recruits to the 19th Arkansas, and civilians kept up a steady supply of clothing, equipment and other supplies to the men. In fact, the 19th Arkansas started off as one of the largest (in terms of number of men), best clothed (their unique frock coats and Australian-style hats were unmistakable), and best equipped (though marginally armed) Arkansas regiments. Additionally, the regiment was blessed with some of the best company commanders in the business. The company officers were mostly men who had been active in the prewar militia, and many were veterans of the Arkansas State Troops and had seen combat close up and personal at the Battle of Wilson's Creek
Battle of Wilson's Creek
The 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...

. The officers were highly literate, mostly professional men, and familiar with infantry drill and tactics. Many of the staff officers were former businessmen who were used to keeping up with records and reports. The privates of the regiment were also a pretty literate bunch of men who wrote home frequently, providing lots of insights to modern researchers. However, despite all its initial advantages, Dawson's 19th Arkansas Regiment was badly used by higher commands, and was never allowed to realize its full potential.

Battles

Still unsupplied with sufficient arms, the 19th Arkansas was present, but not engaged, at the Battle of Pea Ridge, where it was detailed to guard the army's train. After the battle, the 19th Arkansas was stationed on the border for a few months, and was ordered to conduct a long, difficult and pointless march through the Indian Territory. The regiment was ravaged by disease during this period. Today, the graves of some of the soldiers of the 19th Arkansas can still be found in the Confederate Cemetery at Atoka, Oklahoma. Many other men were left behind sick at various places, and were never heard from again.
Returning to Arkansas, the regiment was reorganized for the war on August 13, 1862, and was issued new arms and equipment. Recruiting details from the 19th Arkansas had been busy in May and June, bringing a large number of new recruits back with them to Camp White Sulphur Springs, near Pine Bluff. The 19th Arkansas did not receive many of these recruits, however. Many of the new recruits died of disease before they were mustered into service, and were buried in untold numbers of unmarked graves at White Sulphur Springs. Others were shamelessly "shanghaied" and assigned to other units. The 24th Arkansas Regiment received a large number of men recruited by the 19th Arkansas, and Hart's Arkansas Battery was reconstituted by the addition of many of the 19th Arkansas recruits.
Assigned to the garrison of Fort Hindman at Arkansas Post, a large part of the regiment was captured when the fort was surrendered on January 11, 1863. Some of the men were absent from Arkansas Post, and they were subsequently organized into a new regiment (Hardy's). The men who were captured were sent to prisons in the North, and when exchanged in April were assigned to the Army of Tennessee, where they spent the rest of the war. Of the 633 men of the 19th Arkansas Regiment who were captured at Arkansas Post, 185 died of disease in prison, another 58 died in hospitals in Virginia after being released from prison, and 24 had taken the oath of allegiance; so the regiment entered upon its service east of the Mississippi River with only 306 men. As a result, the 19th Arkansas was field-consolidated with the survivors of the 24th Arkansas Regiment and Crawford's Arkansas Battalion (also captured at Arkansas Post), under command of Lieut. Col. Augustus S. Hutchinson of the 19th Arkansas.
This consolidated unit fought together at the Battle of Chickamauga where they reported casualties of 16 killed or mortally
wounded, 80 wounded, and one captured. At Chickamauga, the unit fought in a brigade made up entirely of the Arkansas Post prisoners, and commanded by General James Deshler who was killed during the battle.

After Chickamauga, the unit's consolidation was changed. The Arkansas units were moved into the Arkansas Brigade of Cleburne's division, and were destined to remain there for the rest of the war. On November 15, 1863, the 24th Ark. was removed from its attachment to the 19th and combined the 2nd
2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Arkansas Infantry was an army regiment of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.- Organization:The regiment was first formed in Helena, Arkansas through the efforts of Thomas Carmichael Hindman who had only recently resigned from the United States Congress due to the Arkansas...

 and 15th Arkansas
15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Josey's)
The 15th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment that served during the American Civil War. The unit was originally formed from previously existing militia units and designated as the 1st Regiment, Arkansas State Troops. After being transferred from state service to...

. The 8th Arkansas was then united with the 19th, to form the 8th - 19th Arkansas, which organization was to remain in place until the middle of April, 1865. However, it appears that these two units maintained separate unit structures inside the newly reorganized regiment. The ten companies of the 19th were then reorganized by combining them into five as follows:
  • Company A merged with B.
  • Company C merged with H.
  • Company D merged with K.
  • Company E merged with F.
  • Company I merged with G.


Colonel George Baucum of the 8th Arkansas assumed command of the consolidate unit. The units remained consolidated for the rest of the war.. The units saw light action at the decisive victory by General Cleburne over Sherman at Tunnel Hill on November 25, 1863, and was in reserve most of the day at the thrashing of the Union pursuit forces at Ringgold Gap, Georgia on November 27, 1863..
The 8th-19th played a part in all of Cleburne's actions in the Atlanta Campaign, but particularly distinguished itself at the Battle of Pickett's Mill, when it was sent across a cornfield to counter a Union thrust which was about to turn the Confederate right flank. Cavalry General John Kelly, a former commander of the 8th Arkansas, appeared before the men, and in an electrifying charge, led them into the corn to stop the Union attack cold. Baucum and the unit were cited in General Cleburne's report on the battle. Casualties for the 19th portion of the regiment were 8 killed and 5 wounded..
The unit saw heavy action in the Battle of Atlanta, where it lost many men. Colonel Baucum was shot in the face, while Lt. Col. Hutchison was wounded in the arm. Both being lost for many months, command devolved upon Major David H. Hamiter of the 19th Arkansas, who was to command the regiment until the final days of the war..
At Jonesboro, 49 men of the 19th, and 77 men of the 8th were captured when Govan's Brigade was overrun by a massive Union attack. Only heroic fighting by the remainder of the men and the rest of Cleburne's division saved the Confederate position from being destroyed. The flag of the consolidated 8th-19th was captured by an officer of the 74th Indiana Infantry Regiment
during this fight..
The 8th-19th saw action with the remainder of Cleburne's Division during the Tennessee Campaign, and was one of the only Confederate infantry to become engaged at Spring Hill, before the curious collapse of the Confederate high command that day. On November 30, 1864, Govan's Brigade, the 19th among them lost over 60% of their men during the fateful Confederate assault at Franklin, Tennessee. Charging into the vortex of the battle around the Carter House, the unit fought hand to hand until driven into the ditch outside the second line of works. General Cleburne was one of six Confederate Generals killed during this attack..
The 8th-19th was part of the contingent of the Army of Tennessee that traveled to the Carolinas to resist the army of General Sherman. It saw action one last time at the Battle of Bentonville. At least five members of the 19th are known to have been wounded in this battle, but exact casualty figures are unknown..
The 18th/24th lost thirty-eight percent of the 226 engaged at Chickamauga, and the 8th/19th reported 16 casualties at Ringgold Gap and totalled 363 men and 285 arms in December 1863. At the Battle of Atlanta the 8th/19th had 97 men disabled.
The unit participated in the following engagements:
  • Battle of Pea Ridge
    Battle of Pea Ridge
    The 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 6–8, 1862
  • Battle of Arkansas Post
    Battle of Fort Hindman
    The Battle of Fort Hindman, or the Battle of Arkansas Post, was fought January 9–11, 1863, near the mouth of the Arkansas River at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War.-Background:...

    , Arkansas January 9–11, 1863
  • Battle of Chickamauga
    Battle of Chickamauga
    The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...

    , Georgia, September 19–20, 1863
  • Siege of Chattanooga
    Chattanooga Campaign
    The Chattanooga Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in October and November 1863, during the American Civil War. Following the defeat of Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans's Union Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Chickamauga in September, the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen...

    , September to November 1863
  • Battle of Missionary Ridge
    Battle of Missionary Ridge
    The Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assaulted Missionary Ridge and defeated the...

    , Tennessee, November 25, 1863
  • Battle of Ringgold Gap
    Battle of Ringgold Gap
    The Battle of Ringgold Gap was fought November 27, 1863, in northwest Georgia during the American Civil War. The Confederate victory by Maj. Gen...

    , Georgia, November 27, 1863
  • Atlanta Campaign
    Atlanta Campaign
    The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...

    , May to September 1864
  • Battle of Dalton
    Battle of Dalton
    At least three conflicts during the American Civil War are sometimes known as Battle of Dalton:*First Battle of Dalton, fought between February 22 and February 27, 1864, in Whitfield County, Georgia...

    , Georgia, May 5–11, 1864
  • Battle of Resaca
    Battle of Resaca
    The Battle of Resaca was part of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle was waged in both Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia, from May 13 - 15, 1864. It ended inconclusively with the Confederate Army retreating. The engagement was fought between the Military Division of the...

    , Georgia, May 14–15, 1864
  • Battle of New Hope Church
    Battle of New Hope Church
    The Battle of New Hope Church was fought May 25–26, 1864, between the Union force of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman and the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War...

    , Georgia, May 25 - June 4, 1864
  • Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
    Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
    The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought on June 27, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the most significant frontal assault launched by Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman against the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Joseph E...

    , Georgia, June 27, 1864
  • Battle of Peachtree Creek
    Battle of Peachtree Creek
    The Battle of Peachtree Creek was fought in Georgia on July 20, 1864, as part of the Atlanta Campaign in the American Civil War. It was the first major attack by Lt. Gen. John B. Hood since taking command of the Confederate Army of Tennessee. The attack was against Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's...

    , Georgia, July 20, 1864
  • Siege of Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864
  • Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia, August 31 to September 1, 1864
  • Battle of Spring Hill
    Battle of Spring Hill
    The Battle of Spring Hill was fought November 29, 1864, at Spring Hill, Tennessee, as part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign of the American Civil War. The Confederate Army of Tennessee, commanded by Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood, attacked a Union force under Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield as it...

    , Tennessee, November 29, 1864
  • Battle of Franklin
    Battle of Franklin II
    The Battle of Franklin was fought on November 30, 1864, at Franklin, Tennessee, as part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign of the American Civil War. It was one of the worst disasters of the war for the Confederate States Army. Confederate Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood's Army of Tennessee conducted...

    , Tennessee, November 30, 1864
  • Battle of Nashville
    Battle of Nashville
    The Battle of Nashville was a two-day battle in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign that represented the end of large-scale fighting in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. It was fought at Nashville, Tennessee, on December 15–16, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Tennessee under...

    , Tennessee, December 15–16, 1864
  • Carolinas Campaign
    Carolinas Campaign
    The Carolinas Campaign was the final campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. In January 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman advanced north from Savannah, Georgia, through the Carolinas, with the intention of linking up with Union forces in Virginia. The defeat of ...

    , February to April 1865
  • Battle of Bentonville
    Battle of Bentonville
    At 3 p.m., Confederate infantry from the Army of Tennessee launched an attack and drove the Union left flank back in confusion, nearly capturing Carlin in the process and overrunning the XIV Corps field hospital. Confederates under Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill filled the vacuum left by the retreating...

    , North Carolina, March 19–21, 1865

Battle Flags

There is one surviving battle flag of the Combined 8th/19th Arkansas Infantry Regiment:
The Flag of the 8th and 19th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry Regiments. Flag is an example of the 1864 issue of Hardee flags. This was produced and decorated specifically for the combined unit, displaying battle honors of each. The poorly dyed blue field, now faded to pea green, is typical of the 1864 flags. When it was captured at Jonesboro, Georgia, on 1 September 1864, the flag was identified as that of an artillery battery. The honor of crossed cannon, as well as the unit's po sition supporting Key's Battery, caused the confused attribution. Hardee Battle flag pattern, Cleburne's Division 1864 issue.Cotton with black and white paint, 35" x 34 1/2" remaining. War Department Capture Number 206. Currently located at the Old State House Museum, Little Rock Arkanas 2nd Pattern Hardee

Consolidation and Surrender

The remnants of ten depleted Arkansas regiments, along with one mostly-Arkansas regiment, in the Army of Tennessee were consolidated into a single regiment at Smithfield, North Carolina, on April 9, 1865. The 19th Arkansas, was lumped together with the 1st, 2nd
2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Arkansas Infantry was an army regiment of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.- Organization:The regiment was first formed in Helena, Arkansas through the efforts of Thomas Carmichael Hindman who had only recently resigned from the United States Congress due to the Arkansas...

, 5th, 6th, 7th
7th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
The 7th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War composed of troops from northeast Arkansas.-Organization:...

, 8th, 15th, 19th, 24th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
24th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
The 24th Arkansas Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War.-Organization:The 24th Arkansas Infantry Regiment was organized at White Sulphur Springs, Arkansas on June 6, 1862. The field officers were Colonel E. E. Portlock, Jr.; Lieutenant Colonels W. R....

s and the 3rd Confederate Infantry Regiment as the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry
1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry
The 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War.-Organization:The remnants of ten depleted Arkansas regiments, along with one mostly-Arkansas regiment, in the Army of Tennessee were consolidated into a single regiment at Smithfield,...

.

Of the 1,200 men who served in the 19th at various times, only 5% were present at the end. The men of the 19th had only enough people to fill one company. Company I of the unit was made up of the 49 survivors of the 19th Arkansas. The unit was commanded at the surrender of the army by Captain William B. Cone, originally of Company E.

On April 26, 1865 the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment was present with the Army of Tennessee when it surrendered in Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...

. Of the 1,200 men who had served in the 19th Arkansas Regiment, only 49 remained at the surrender on April 26, 1865.

External links


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 War
    Arkansas in the American Civil War
    The 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 War
    Arkansas Militia in the Civil War
    The 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...

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