1st Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (Monroe's)
Encyclopedia
1st Arkansas Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment of Confederate States of America
. Officially designated by the Arkansas State Military Board as the 6th Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, it was almost never referred to as such during the Civil War. It was usually called Monroe’s 1st Arkansas Cavalry, occasionally the 4th Arkansas Cavalry, and more rarely the 1st Trans-Mississippi Cavalry. It is also found in the Official Records of the American Civil War
as Fagan’s Cavalry and Monroe’s Cavalry. The Compiled Service Records of the men are filed under the designation, “1st (Monroe’s) Cavalry,” Rolls 4 and 5.
The origins of Monroe’s Cavalry can be traced back to two smaller units, O’Neill’s 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry and Wheat’s Squadron Arkansas Cavalry. Captain James McCarney O’Neill was appointed to command the 13th Arkansas Battalion on August 1, 1862. It was composed of three independent troops: O’Neill’s (raised in Bradley county), Capt. Americus V. Rieff’s (raised in Hempstead county), and Capt. Columbus C. Wolfe’s (raised in Drew county). Capt. Patrick Henry Wheat’s squadron consisted of two Prairie county companies: Wheat’s and Raulston’s. In September 1862, these units were combined with other independent cavalry troops and partisan ranger companies to form the 6th (1st) Regiment Arkansas Cavalry. The regiment was made up of the following volunteer companies:
Colonel James Fleming Fagan
was appointed to command the new regiment, with James Cade Monroe as lieutenant-colonel and James M. O’Neill as major.
Fagan and Monroe had previously served together as colonel and lieutenant-colonel, respectively, of the famed 1st Arkansas Infantry. Fagan was promoted to brigadier-general a month later, and Monroe succeeded him as colonel commanding the regiment.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. Officially designated by the Arkansas State Military Board as the 6th Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, it was almost never referred to as such during the Civil War. It was usually called Monroe’s 1st Arkansas Cavalry, occasionally the 4th Arkansas Cavalry, and more rarely the 1st Trans-Mississippi Cavalry. It is also found in the Official Records of the American Civil War
Official Records of the American Civil War
The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion or often more simply the Official Records or ORs, constitute the most extensive collection of primary sources of the history of the American Civil War. Cornell University lists the official title as, "The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the...
as Fagan’s Cavalry and Monroe’s Cavalry. The Compiled Service Records of the men are filed under the designation, “1st (Monroe’s) Cavalry,” Rolls 4 and 5.
Organization
- Company A - This company was organized at Hickory Plains, Prairie county, Arkansas, on May 9, 1862, by Captain Patrick Henry Wheat. The company was composed mostly of Prairie county men. The other Prairie county company of this regiment, Raulston’s, joined with Wheat’s company to form a cavalry squadron commanded by Wheat as senior captain. Wheat’s squadron was consolidated with Witherspoon’s 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry to form the 6th Arkansas Cavalry on September 1, 1862. When Captain Wheat left the service in April 1863, Robert M. Barnes succeeded him as captain.
- Company B - This company was organized at Warren, Bradley county, Arkansas, on May 12, 1862, by Captain James McCarney O’Neill. The company was composed mostly of men from Bradley and Calhoun counties. It was initially assigned to Witherspoon’s 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry. Captain O’Neill was assigned to command the battalion, as senior captain, on August 1, 1862. The next month, the battalion was consolidated with Wheat’s squadron to form the 6th Arkansas Cavalry. When O’Neill was promoted, G. S. Van Valkenburgh succeeded him as captain.
- Company C - This company was organized at Washington, Hempstead county, Arkansas, on May 15, 1862, by Captain George A. Davis. The company initially operated as an independent partisan ranger company before being assigned to the 6th Arkansas Cavalry. In late 1862, about half the men of the disbanded Company I were transferred to Company C.
- Company D - This company was organized at Washington, Hempstead county, Arkansas, on May 19, 1862, by Captain Americus V. Rieff, and enlisted in Confederate service on May 22, 1862. Initially assigned to the 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry, it became a part of the 6th Arkansas Cavalry on September 1, 1862, when the battalion was consolidated with Wheat’s squadron.
- Company E - This company was organized at Brownsville, Prairie county, Arkansas, on May 26, 1862, by Captain W. E. Raulston. The company was composed mostly of Prairie county men. The other Prairie county company of this regiment, Wheat’s, joined with Raulston’s company to form a cavalry squadron commanded by Wheat as senior captain. Wheat’s squadron was consolidated with Witherspoon’s 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry to form the 6th Arkansas Cavalry on September 1, 1862. When Captain Raulston left the service in April 1863, James W. Blanton succeeded him as captain.
- Company F - This company was organized at Arkadelphia, Clark county, Arkansas, on May 8, 1862, by Captain John W. Hanson. It operated as an independent cavalry troop before being assigned to the 6th Arkansas Cavalry.
- Company G - This company was organized at Plum Bayou, Jefferson county, Arkansas, on June 17, 1862, by Captain M. D. Davis. It initially operated as an independent cavalry troop before being assigned to the 6th Arkansas Cavalry. In late 1862, about half the men of the disbanded Company I were transferred to this company.
- Company H - This company was organized at Benton, Saline county, Arkansas, on June 19, 1862, by Captain G. W. Brown.
- Company I - This company was organized at DeWitt, Arkansas county, Arkansas, on June 20, 1862, by a Captain Young. It was composed of men from Arkansas and Jefferson counties. In the fall of 1862, it was disbanded, and its men were transferred to Companies C and G.
- Company K - This company was organized at Magnolia, Columbia county, Arkansas, on June 21, 1862, by Captain Isaac L. Adair. It operated as an independent cavalry troop until it was assigned to the 6th Arkansas Cavalry.
- Company L - This company was organized at Monticello, Drew county, Arkansas, on May 12, 1862, by Captain Columbus C. Wolfe. It operated as an independent partisan ranger company until it was assigned to the 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry. When the battalion was consolidated with Wheat’s squadron, Wolfe’s company became Company L of the 6th Arkansas Cavalry.
Colonel James Fleming Fagan
James Fleming Fagan
James Fleming Fagan was a planter, public official, and a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
was appointed to command the new regiment, with James Cade Monroe as lieutenant-colonel and James M. O’Neill as major.
Fagan and Monroe had previously served together as colonel and lieutenant-colonel, respectively, of the famed 1st Arkansas Infantry. Fagan was promoted to brigadier-general a month later, and Monroe succeeded him as colonel commanding the regiment.
Battles
Monroe’s Cavalry took part in the battles of Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, Fayettevile, Backbone Mountain, Pine Bluff, Elkins Ferry, Poison Springs, and Marks’ Mills, in Arkansas; and in the many battles of Price’s 1864 Missouri Campaign, including Pilot Knob and Independence, Missouri; and Marais des Cygnes, Kansas. The unit reported 13 were killed and 23 wounded during the Camden Expedition. The unit participated in the following engagements:- Battle of Cane HillBattle of Cane HillThe Battle of Cane Hill was fought during the American Civil War on November 28, 1862 in Washington County, Arkansas. Union troops under Brig. Gen. James G. Blunt drove Confederates under Brig. Gen. John S...
, Arkansas, November 28, 1862, - Battle of Prairie GroveBattle of Prairie GroveThe Battle of Prairie Grove was a battle of the American Civil War fought on 7 December 1862, that resulted in a tactical stalemate but essentially secured northwest Arkansas for the Union.-Strategic situation: Union:...
, Arkansas, December 7, 1862, - Marmadukes' Expedition into Missouri, December 31, 1862 to January 25, 1863
- Battle of Fayettville, Arkansas, April 16, 1863
- Battle of Devil's BackboneBattle of Devil's BackboneThe Battle of Devil's Backbone was a land battle of the American Civil War on September 1, 1863 in Sebastian County, Arkansas....
, Arkansas, September 1, 1863 - Battle of Pine BluffBattle of Pine BluffThe Battle of Pine Bluff was fought on October 25, 1863, between Union and Confederate forces in Arkansas. Union troops under Colonel Powell Clayton, having taken Pine Bluff on September 17, remained in the town with the 5th Kansas Cavalry and the 1st Indiana Cavalry. The Confederates, led by John...
, Arkansas, October 25, 1863 - Red River CampaignRed River CampaignThe Red River Campaign or Red River Expedition consisted of a series of battles fought along the Red River in Louisiana during the American Civil War from March 10 to May 22, 1864. The campaign was a Union initiative, fought between approximately 30,000 Union troops under the command of Maj. Gen....
, Arkansas Mar-May, 1864 - Battle of Elkin's FerryBattle of Elkin's FerryThe Battle of Elkin's Ferry was fought on April 3 and April 4, 1864, in Clark and Nevada counties in Arkansas as part of the Camden Expedition of the American Civil War.-Opposing forces:...
, Arkansas, April 3 and April 4, 1864 - Battle of Poison SpringBattle of Poison SpringThe Battle of Poison Spring was fought during the American Civil War on April 18, 1864, in Ouachita County, Arkansas as part of the Camden Expedition.-Opposing forces:Dwindling supplies for his army at Camden, Arkansas forced Union Army Maj. Gen...
, Arkansas, April 18, 1864 - Battle of Marks' MillsBattle of Marks' MillsThe Battle of Marks' Mills occurred on April 25, 1864, in Cleveland County, Arkansas as part of the Camden Expedition of the American Civil War. Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. James F. Fagan overwhelmed a small Union detachment commanded by Lt. Col. Francis M...
, Arkansas, April 25, 1864 - Price's Missouri Raid, Arkansas-Missouri-Kansas, September, 1864
- Battle of Marais des CygnesBattle of Marais des CygnesThe Battle of Marais des Cygnes took place on October 25, 1864, in Linn County, Kansas during Price's Missouri Raid in the American Civil War. It is also called the Battle of Osage, and the Battle of Trading Post...
, Linn County, KansasLinn County, KansasLinn County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 9,656. Its county seat is Mound City, and its most populous city is Pleasanton...
, October 25, 1864
Never Surrendered
The regiment was operating in southwest Arkansas and northeast Texas at the end of the war. Monroe’s Cavalry never surrendered. Much of the regiment marched south towards the Rio Grande River, with the intention of crossing into Mexico and somehow continuing the war. However, upon reaching the Trinity River, the soldiers voted to disband the regiment and return to their homes.External links
- Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Home Page
- The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture
- The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
- The Arkansas History Commission, State Archives, Civil War in Arkansas
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...