17th (Griffith's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 17th Arkansas Infantry (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry
regiment
during the American Civil War
.
, colonel of the regiment. The other regimental officers were:
The regiment consisted of eight companies, which were drawn mostly from Sebastian County and the surrounding area. The unit was composed of volunteer companies from the following counties:
in March 1862, where, from most accounts, Rector's regiment did not acquit itself well. A Missouri (Confederate) artillery battery found the regiment's colors lying on the field, and for a time refused to return the flag to Rector, saying that a regiment that would abandon its colors in battle had no right to carry them after the battle.
Another account of the 17th Arkansas's Conduct at the Battle of Pea Ridge was given in 1895 in a letter from former Captain Ben B. Chism to Mrs. Harlow Bishop of Junction City, Texas:
When General Van Dorn moved his army east of the Mississippi, following the Battle of Pea Ridge
, portions of Companies A,B,C, and G remained in Arkansas. These companies then became part of the 35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
, commanded by Colonel Frank A. Rector.
The remaining companies of the 17th Regiment were at Corinth, Mississippi, with the Army of the West. At Corinth, John Griffith was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, commanding what was now a battalion-sized 17th Arkansas. Under Lieutenant Colonel Griffith's leadership, the unit performed so well at the Battle of Corinth
that General Hebert wrote, in his after-action report: "Under my personal supervision no one faltered, no one hesitated to meet the foe, even in hand-to-hand conflict if required. I must, however, put into the positon [sic] of brave and true men the small numbers of the Fourteenth and Seventeenth Arkansas Regiments of Infantry, of the Second Brigade, upon whom past circumstances had cast a doubt. Nobly, heroically have they proven themselves true patriots and brave soldiers." Another account stated: "All the duties in camp, on the march, and in the field the regiment has so promptly performed and are unsurpassed in any service for good breeding, soldierly deportment, description, drill, bravery, and patriotism. The officers are pattern gentlemen, brave soldiers, and noble patriots." Clearly, the 17th Arkansas had left the cloud of Pea Ridge behind them.
In March 1863, the 17th Arkansas was consolidated with the 11th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
and reorganized as the 11th & 17th Arkansas Mounted Infantry
. Although the two regiments were from different parts of the State (the 11th Arkansas was mostly from Saline County and a few other southern counties), with different battle histories, the merger clicked. Under first Colonel John L Logan and later Col. John Griffith's command, the 11th & 17th Arkansas spent the rest of the war as the Confederate Army's 'fire brigade' in southern Mississippi. As Union columns made repeated incursions into the area over the next couple of years, the South's counter-moves invariably involved the 11th & 17th Arkansas.
Colonel Griffith seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to determining when and where to strike a larger enemy force to cause the most damage. The 11th & 17th Arkansas was renowned for its scouting and tracking abilities. The regiment served to the end of the war in this capacity.
The regiment was involved in the following engagements:
Some of the unit members were captured at Port Hudson on July 9, 1863.
, on 4 May1865.
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 unit, originally known as the 17th (Rector's) Infantry Regiment, was organized at Fort Smith, Arkansas, on 17 November 1861. The men elected Frank A. Rector, who would later commanded the 35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
-External links:* * * *...
, colonel of the regiment. The other regimental officers were:
- Lieutenant Colonel Sam W. Williams
- Major Lawrence
- Adjutant William A. Dowdle
The regiment consisted of eight companies, which were drawn mostly from Sebastian County and the surrounding area. The unit was composed of volunteer companies from the following counties:
- Company A —Sebastian County.
- Company B —Sebastian County.
- Company C —Sebastian County.
- Company D —Washington County.
- Company E —Washington County.
- Company F —Sebastian County.
- Company G —Madison County.
- Company H —Hempstead County. (Hempstead Rifles Number 2)(Originally in 3rd Regiment, Arkansas State Troops3rd Regiment, Arkansas State TroopsThe 3rd Infantry, Arkansas State Troops was an Arkansas State infantry regiment that served during the American Civil War. The regiment was designated as the 2nd Infantry, Arkansas State Troops, by the State Military Board, but it was named the 3rd Arkansas by Brigadier General Nicholas Bartlett...
)
Battles
The regiment's first major action was the Battle of Pea RidgeBattle 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...
in March 1862, where, from most accounts, Rector's regiment did not acquit itself well. A Missouri (Confederate) artillery battery found the regiment's colors lying on the field, and for a time refused to return the flag to Rector, saying that a regiment that would abandon its colors in battle had no right to carry them after the battle.
Another account of the 17th Arkansas's Conduct at the Battle of Pea Ridge was given in 1895 in a letter from former Captain Ben B. Chism to Mrs. Harlow Bishop of Junction City, Texas:
When General Van Dorn moved his army east of the Mississippi, following the 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...
, portions of Companies A,B,C, and G remained in Arkansas. These companies then became part of the 35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
-External links:* * * *...
, commanded by Colonel Frank A. Rector.
The remaining companies of the 17th Regiment were at Corinth, Mississippi, with the Army of the West. At Corinth, John Griffith was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, commanding what was now a battalion-sized 17th Arkansas. Under Lieutenant Colonel Griffith's leadership, the unit performed so well at the Battle of Corinth
Battle of Corinth
The Battle of Corinth may refer to a Roman battle, or to one of two American Civil War Battles:* The Battle of Corinth * The Siege of Corinth, Mississippi , also known as the First Battle of Corinth, during the American Civil War* The Second Battle of Corinth...
that General Hebert wrote, in his after-action report: "Under my personal supervision no one faltered, no one hesitated to meet the foe, even in hand-to-hand conflict if required. I must, however, put into the positon [sic] of brave and true men the small numbers of the Fourteenth and Seventeenth Arkansas Regiments of Infantry, of the Second Brigade, upon whom past circumstances had cast a doubt. Nobly, heroically have they proven themselves true patriots and brave soldiers." Another account stated: "All the duties in camp, on the march, and in the field the regiment has so promptly performed and are unsurpassed in any service for good breeding, soldierly deportment, description, drill, bravery, and patriotism. The officers are pattern gentlemen, brave soldiers, and noble patriots." Clearly, the 17th Arkansas had left the cloud of Pea Ridge behind them.
In March 1863, the 17th Arkansas was consolidated with the 11th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
11th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
The 11th Arkansas Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War.-Organization:The 11th Arkansas was organized in Saline County, Arkansas in July 1861. The Mustering Officer for the regiment was George M. Holt, a Brigadier General of the Arkansas State Militia...
and reorganized as the 11th & 17th Arkansas Mounted Infantry
11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry Regiment
The 11t/17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. The unit is also known as the 11t/17th Mounted Infantry.-Organization:...
. Although the two regiments were from different parts of the State (the 11th Arkansas was mostly from Saline County and a few other southern counties), with different battle histories, the merger clicked. Under first Colonel John L Logan and later Col. John Griffith's command, the 11th & 17th Arkansas spent the rest of the war as the Confederate Army's 'fire brigade' in southern Mississippi. As Union columns made repeated incursions into the area over the next couple of years, the South's counter-moves invariably involved the 11th & 17th Arkansas.
Colonel Griffith seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to determining when and where to strike a larger enemy force to cause the most damage. The 11th & 17th Arkansas was renowned for its scouting and tracking abilities. The regiment served to the end of the war in this capacity.
The regiment was involved in the following engagements:
- 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 6–8, 1862 - Siege 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, April to June 1862 - Battle of IukaBattle of IukaThe 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...
, Mississippi, September 19, 1862 - Battle of CorinthBattle of CorinthThe Battle of Corinth may refer to a Roman battle, or to one of two American Civil War Battles:* The Battle of Corinth * The Siege of Corinth, Mississippi , also known as the First Battle of Corinth, during the American Civil War* The Second Battle of Corinth...
, Mississippi, October 8, 1862 - Siege of Port HudsonSiege of Port HudsonThe Siege of Port Hudson occurred from May 22 to July 9, 1863, when Union Army troops assaulted and then surrounded the Mississippi River town of Port Hudson, Louisiana, during the American Civil War....
, Louisiana, May 24-July 9, 1863
Some of the unit members were captured at Port Hudson on July 9, 1863.
Surrender
This regiment surrendered at the close of the war at Citronelle, AlabamaCitronelle, Alabama
Citronelle is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,659. It is included in the Mobile metropolitan statistical area.-History:This was long part of the territory of thousands of years of indigenous peoples...
, on 4 May1865.
External links
- Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Home Page
- 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...