16th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 16th Arkansas Infantry (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry
regiment
during the American Civil War
.
The regiment was composed of the following companies:
The regiment went into camp at Elm Springs, Benton county, where it remained in winter quarters until February, 1862, when General Price and his army of Missouri fell back before a large force of Federals under General Curtis, and made a stand at Elkhorn tavern in Benton county.
The greater part of the Confederate forces which retreated to Frog Bayou, consisting of Missouri and Arkansas regiments, were transferred under Generals Price and Van Dorn across the Mississippi river in April, 1862. The Sixteenth was brigaded with four Missouri regiments, formerly commanded by Col. Francis Cockrell, and at Corinth were again united in a brigade commanded by Gen. Henry Little, afterward killed at Iuka.
While at Corinth the Sixteenth was reorganized for the war and the following officers chosen:
The company commanders at reorganization were:
The regiment participated in the movements around Corinth on the approach of the Federal army under Halleck. In September 1862, it took part in the Battle of Iuka
, and in October 1862, it participated in the desperate assault on the Federal encampment at Corinth, where it lost heavily. It reported 13 killed and 29 wounded. Lieut. J. H. Berry, who lost a leg in this battle. Shortly after, the regiment was detached from the Missouri brigade and assigned to the Arkansas brigade, commanded by Col. Jordan E. Cravens, Arkansas troops, at Holly Springs, Miss. It was there again detached and sent with other Arkansas regiments to Port Hudson, LA, under the command of General William N. R. Beall. The other Arkansas units at Port Hudson included:
The regiment went through the siege of forty-eight days, and was surrendered to General Banks July 9, 1863. Lieutenant-Colonel Pixlee was killed during the siege, and Maj. J. M. Pitman succeeded him; Captain Swaggerty, of Company A, becoming major, and Lieut. Jesse Adams, captain of Company A. The officers were sent as prisoners to Johnson's island, except Capt. Daniel Boone, Lieut. J. G. Crump and William McConnell, who swam ashore from the transport conveying them and made their escape. Capt. Jim Cravens and Lieuts. Paynor, W. W. Bailly and Wilson escaped through the lines and returned to their homes in Arkansas, where they re-entered the service in other commands.
In September 1864, 16th Arkansas Infantry was consolidated with the remnants of 14th Arkansas
, 15th Northwest Arkansas
,and the 21st Arkansas
in the Army of the Trans-Mississippi, and designated as the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment (Trans-Mississippi)
under the command of Colonel Jordan E. Cravens.
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
The Sixteenth Arkansas regiment was organized in November 1861, near the present town of Rogers, Benton county. The regimental officers at organization were as follows:- Colonel John F. Hill, of Johnson County
- Lieutenant Colonel William T. Neal, of Washington
- Major Farmer, of Johnson County
- Adjutant Ben Pixlee
- Quartermaster A. M. Ward
The regiment was composed of the following companies:
- Company A, Captain L. N. C. Swaggerty, of Johnson County
- Company B, Captain Turner, of Johnson County
- Company C, Captain John Connolly, of Johnson County
- Company D, Captain W. W. Bailey, of Carroll County
- Company E, Captain Garrett, of Carroll County
- Company F, Captain Goodnight, of Stone County
- Company G, Captain Carnahan, of Washington County
- Company H, Captain Kelly, of Pike County
- Company I, Captain Daniel Boone, of Madison County
- Company K, Captain John Lawrence, of Searcy County
The regiment went into camp at Elm Springs, Benton county, where it remained in winter quarters until February, 1862, when General Price and his army of Missouri fell back before a large force of Federals under General Curtis, and made a stand at Elkhorn tavern in Benton county.
Battles
On March 4, the 16th Arkansas marched to reinforce Price, forming part of Hebert's brigade, under command of Gen. Ben McCulloch, and took part in the battle of Pea Ridge on March 7, 1862. The regiment entered into action soon after General McCulloch's death, passing the body of the dead general in their charge. After the battle the 16th Arkansas could muster 24 officers and 282 men present for duty.The greater part of the Confederate forces which retreated to Frog Bayou, consisting of Missouri and Arkansas regiments, were transferred under Generals Price and Van Dorn across the Mississippi river in April, 1862. The Sixteenth was brigaded with four Missouri regiments, formerly commanded by Col. Francis Cockrell, and at Corinth were again united in a brigade commanded by Gen. Henry Little, afterward killed at Iuka.
While at Corinth the Sixteenth was reorganized for the war and the following officers chosen:
- Colonel David Provence
- Lieutenant Colonel B. T. Pixlee
- Major J. M. Pitman
- Adjutant. John S. Tutt
- Quartermaster Arch McKennon
- Commissary Sam Hays
- Sergeant Major David Bronaugh
The company commanders at reorganization were:
- Company A, Capt. L. N. C. Swaggerty
- Company B, Capt. Jesse L. Cravens
- Company C, Capt. James Gearwood
- Company D, Capt. E. G. Mitchell
- Company E, Lieut. J. H. Berry
- Company F, Capt. William B. Stevens
- Company G, Capt. J. P. Carnahan
- Company H, Capt. G. D. R. Preston, then J. B. Cloud
- Company I, Capt. Daniel Boone
- Company K, Capt. James Waldron
The regiment participated in the movements around Corinth on the approach of the Federal army under Halleck. In September 1862, it took part in the Battle of Iuka
Battle of Iuka
The Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, in Iuka, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. In the opening battle of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans stopped the advance of the army of Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
, and in October 1862, it participated in the desperate assault on the Federal encampment at Corinth, where it lost heavily. It reported 13 killed and 29 wounded. Lieut. J. H. Berry, who lost a leg in this battle. Shortly after, the regiment was detached from the Missouri brigade and assigned to the Arkansas brigade, commanded by Col. Jordan E. Cravens, Arkansas troops, at Holly Springs, Miss. It was there again detached and sent with other Arkansas regiments to Port Hudson, LA, under the command of General William N. R. Beall. The other Arkansas units at Port Hudson included:
- 11th Arkansas, Colonel Logan
- 12th Arkansas, Colonel Reid
- 14th Arkansas, Lieut.-Col. Pleasant Fowler
- 15th Arkansas, Col. Ben Johnson
- 17th Arkansas, Col. John Griffith
- 18th Arkansas, Col, R. H. Crockett
- 23rd Arkansas, Col. O. P. Lyles
The regiment went through the siege of forty-eight days, and was surrendered to General Banks July 9, 1863. Lieutenant-Colonel Pixlee was killed during the siege, and Maj. J. M. Pitman succeeded him; Captain Swaggerty, of Company A, becoming major, and Lieut. Jesse Adams, captain of Company A. The officers were sent as prisoners to Johnson's island, except Capt. Daniel Boone, Lieut. J. G. Crump and William McConnell, who swam ashore from the transport conveying them and made their escape. Capt. Jim Cravens and Lieuts. Paynor, W. W. Bailly and Wilson escaped through the lines and returned to their homes in Arkansas, where they re-entered the service in other commands.
In September 1864, 16th Arkansas Infantry was consolidated with the remnants of 14th Arkansas
14th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Powers')
The 14th Arkansas Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. Two Arkansas units received the designation 14th. The other 14th Arkansas Infantry Regiment was commanded by Colonel James H...
, 15th Northwest Arkansas
15th (Northwest) Arkansas Infantry Regiment
The 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment 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 Arkansas Infantry Regiment...
,and the 21st Arkansas
21st Arkansas Infantry Regiment
The 21st Arkansas Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War.-Organization:21st Infantry Regiment was organized on May 15, 1862 by consolidating four companies of McCarver's 14th and six companies of Lemoyne's 17th Arkansas Regiments, to form the 21st ...
in the Army of the Trans-Mississippi, and designated as 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 the command of Colonel Jordan E. Cravens.
Surrender
The 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry (Trans-Mississippi) Regiment was surrendered by General Kirby Smith with the remainder of the Department of the Trans-Mississippi on May 26, 1865.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...