The 33rd 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

The 33rd Arkansas was enlisted as separate companies in the Camden area in May and June 1862. These companies were ordered to Camp White Sulphur Springs in mid July 1862 under Col Hiram Grinstead in two battalions which were organized there as the 33rd Arkansas. These two battalions arrived a week or so apart at Sulphur Springs, one in early July the other after July 15. There were originally 11 companies. Once the 33rd Arkansas was assembled as a regiment at White Sulphur Springs, on July 11, 1862 it was entered into a Camp of Instruction under Col Robert G. Shavers. The regiment remained at Camp White Sulphur Springs until October 4, 1862 when it was ordered north under the command of Col Grinstead and Col Shavers. The regimental officers at the formation of the regiment were:

• Colonel H.L. Grinstead, Appointed July 11, 1862 at the age of 36, was born in Kentucky. Col. Grindstead was killed at the Battle of Jenkins Ferry.
• Lieutenant Colonel Henry W. McMillan, Appointed July 11, 1862 at the age of 30, born in North Carolina.
• Major William T. Steele, Age 29, born in Tennessee.
• Surgeon D. S. Williams, Age 27, born in NC. Appointed July 18, 1862.
• Asst Surgeon, Junius N. Bragg, was was appointed August 16, 1861 at age 26, and was born in North Carolina.
• Sergeant Major James E. Lide, who enlisted on June 17, 1862 at Camden, AR. He was an escaped POW from the 11th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. Appointed Sgt Major July 10, 1863.

The regiment was composed of volunteer companies from the following counties:

• Company A, Commanded by Captain Rufus E Arnold, organized in Columbia County, Arkansas on May 14, 1862.
• Company B, Commanded by Captain Dee Newton, organized in Ouachita County, Arkansas on June 17, 1862.
• Company C, Commanded by Captain John A. Goodgame, organized in Dallas County, Arkansas on June 17, 1862.
• Company D, Commanded by Captain Oliver H. Overstreet, organized in Ouachita County, Arkansas on June 14, 1862.
• Company E, Commanded by Captain Geraldus Williams, organized in Clark County, Arkansas on June 14, 1862. (Composed partly of former members of other organizations, principally, Company A, 12th Arkansas Infantry Regiment and, Company H, 23rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment)
• Company F, Commanded by Captain John A. Ansley, organized in Ouachita County, Arkansas on June 18, 1862. (Composed partly of absentees from the 12th
  12th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
  The 12th Arkansas Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War.-Organization:12th Infantry Regiment was organized July 27, 1861 by E. W. Gantt. Many of the men were recruited in Dallas County. The field officers were Colonels Edward W. Gantt and T. J. Reid, Jr.,...
  
   and 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Johnson's)
  15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Johnson's)
  The 15th Arkansas Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. There were two other Confederate infantry regiments which received the designation 15th Arkansas, The first was originally commanded by Colonel, later Major General, Patrick Cleburne, is known as...
  
  
• Company G, Commanded by Captain Wiley M. Mitchell, organized in Columbia County, Arkansas on June 19, 1862.
• Company H, Commanded by Captain Thomas M. East, organized in Clark County, Arkansas on May 18, 1862. ((Composed of many reenlisted men from other organizations, principally 12th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
  12th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
  The 12th Arkansas Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War.-Organization:12th Infantry Regiment was organized July 27, 1861 by E. W. Gantt. Many of the men were recruited in Dallas County. The field officers were Colonels Edward W. Gantt and T. J. Reid, Jr.,...
  
  
• Company I, Commanded by Captain Francis J. Erwin, organized in Montgomery County, Arkansas on June 24, 1862. (Seven of this unit reported as former members of the 4th Arkansas Infantry Regiment.
• Company K, Commanded by Captain William B. Langford, organized in Ouachita County, Arkansas on June 23, 1862.

African Americans in Confederate Ranks

The 33rd Arkansas is one of the few regiments that included the names of African American servants and slaves on its muster rolls. While it was not uncommon for slaves and servants to accompany their masters to war, some even serving on the battlefield, it was uncommon for them to actually be carried on the unit's muster rolls. The following African Americans are included on the 33rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment's Muster rolls:

Battles

The 33rd Arkansas was added to a brigade with the 27th 38th, and Adams Arkansas Infantry Regiments. This brigade, under the command of Col Shaver, was the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division at the Battle of Prairie Grove in December 1862.
The regiment then moved across the state to participate in the Battle of Helena, Arkansas. The 33rd Arkansas was present for the fall of Little Rock in September 1863 and fought through the Red River Campaign. The regiment participated in the fight at Jenkins' Ferry where 92 men were disabled. The Regiment was engaged in the following battles:

• Battle of Cane Hill
  Battle of Cane Hill
  The 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, December 6, 1862,
• Battle of Prairie Grove
  Battle of Prairie Grove
  The 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,
• Battle of Helena
  Battle of Helena
  The Battle of Helena was a land battle of the American Civil War fought on July 4, 1863, at Helena, Arkansas. Overshadowed by the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the Battle of Helena secured eastern Arkansas for the Union.- Union forces :...
  
  , Arkansas July 4, 1863
• Battle of Little Rock, Arkansas, September 10, 1863
• Red River Campaign
  Red River Campaign
  The 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 March-May, 1864
• Battle of Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas April 30, 1864

Surrender

This regiment surrendered with the Department of the Trans-Mississippi at Marshall, Texas, 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 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...