8th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 8th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (1863–1865) was a Confederate Army cavalry
regiment
during the American Civil War
. The regiment was designated at various times as Newton's Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, Morgan's Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, 2nd Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, and the 5th Regiment Arkansas Cavalry.
Organized on May 15, 1862 at Corinth, Mississippi by consolidating the 2nd and Phifer's 6th Arkansas Cavalry Battalions under the command of Colonel William F. Slemons. Field officers were Lt. Cols. H.R. Withers and Thomas M. Cochran , and Majors Thomas J. Reid, Jr., and William J. Somervell. Thomas Garrison was adjutant, W. Leeper quartermaster, and Wat Strong served as commissary. Company commanders were Co. A, Cpt. A.H. Christian, Co. B, Cpt. Joseph Earle (later H.S. Hudspeth); Co. C, Cpt. Thomas Cochran; Co. D, Cpt. James Portis (later Cpt. Watt Green); Co. E, Cpt. J.S. Somerville, (later Cpt. William Cooper); Co. F, Cpt. O.B.. Tebbs; Co. G, Cpt. E.L. Murtree (later Cpt. C. Stell); Co. H, Cpt. Phil Echols (later Cpt. James Oliver), Co. I, Cpt. M.L. Hawkins.
On the retreat from Corinth to Tupelo, MS the 2nd Arkansas again served as part of the rear guard of the army, under General John C. Breckinridge. On July 3, 1862 it was ordered with Clayton's 2nd Alabama Cavalry against the Federals at Booneville, MS, who were completely routed. Together with the 2nd Missouri Cavalry, it was ordered under Gen. Frank C. Armstrong to Tennessee, where it met at Middleburg, TN, the Federals under Colonel Leggett and defeated them, killing and wounding large numbers of the Federal force. About the last of July (1862) the 2nd Arkansas, under Col. Slemons, along with the 2nd Missouri and the 4th Mississippi engaged the escort of Federal cavalry and artillery guarding a train of supplies at Britton's Lane, TN, and after a stubborn fight of three hours captured the train, along with 300 prisoners and two pieces of artillery. The 2nd Arkansas lost 70 men killed or wounded in this engagement. In the campaigns of Price and Pemberton in early 1863 defending the approaches to Vicksburg, the 2nd Arkansas was in continuous active service, opposing Federal thrusts at Iuka, Colliersville, Salem, the Yazoo Pass, at Charleston, Austin, and near Commerce Mississippi and along the Coldwater River there. Under the command of Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest in late 1863, it participated in the masterly movements of that greatest of cavlry commanders, encircling armies, taking cities, capturing trains, and burning bridges.
The 2nd Arkansas was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi in April, 1864, in time to fight with Cabell's, Gano's, and Dockery's brigades in the Camden Expedition including the battles of Poison Spring, Marks' Mills, and Jenkins' Ferry.
It then served with Price's Army on the raid to the Missouri River in September and October of 1864, and engaged in the battles of Pilot Knob, Independence, West Point, and Marais des Cygnes, in Kansas. At this last battle, Colonel Slemons' horse was killed and fell with him, the saddle catching the colonel's leg under him so that he could nor disengage himself. Colonel Slemons, a number of his officers, 100 of his men, and two artillery pieces were captured and sent as prisoners of war to Johnson Island, later to Rock Island, where they were imprisoned until after the end of the war.
Fifth Arkansas Cavalry Regiment
Organized with 12 companies at Little Rock, Arkansas in April, 1863 under the command of Colonel Robert C. Newton. Participated in the battles of Helena on July 4, 1863. Assigned to the Arkansas Cavalry Brigade, Walker's (later Dobbins') Cavalry Division in June 1863. Fought throughout the battles of the Little Rock campaign (Brownsville, Reed's Bridge, and Bayou Fourche) in September, 1863. Participated in the battle of Pine Bluff on October 25, 1863. Unit designation changed to the 2nd (Morgan's) Cavalry Regiment effective December 24, 1863..
Eighth Arkansas Cavalry Regiment
After June, 1864, The Second Arkansas Cavalry Regiment and the Fifth Arkansas Cavalry Regiment were combined to form the Eight Arkansas Cavalry Regiment..
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Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
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...
. The regiment was designated at various times as Newton's Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, Morgan's Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, 2nd Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, and the 5th Regiment Arkansas Cavalry.
History
Second Arkansas Cavalry RegimentOrganized on May 15, 1862 at Corinth, Mississippi by consolidating the 2nd and Phifer's 6th Arkansas Cavalry Battalions under the command of Colonel William F. Slemons. Field officers were Lt. Cols. H.R. Withers and Thomas M. Cochran , and Majors Thomas J. Reid, Jr., and William J. Somervell. Thomas Garrison was adjutant, W. Leeper quartermaster, and Wat Strong served as commissary. Company commanders were Co. A, Cpt. A.H. Christian, Co. B, Cpt. Joseph Earle (later H.S. Hudspeth); Co. C, Cpt. Thomas Cochran; Co. D, Cpt. James Portis (later Cpt. Watt Green); Co. E, Cpt. J.S. Somerville, (later Cpt. William Cooper); Co. F, Cpt. O.B.. Tebbs; Co. G, Cpt. E.L. Murtree (later Cpt. C. Stell); Co. H, Cpt. Phil Echols (later Cpt. James Oliver), Co. I, Cpt. M.L. Hawkins.
On the retreat from Corinth to Tupelo, MS the 2nd Arkansas again served as part of the rear guard of the army, under General John C. Breckinridge. On July 3, 1862 it was ordered with Clayton's 2nd Alabama Cavalry against the Federals at Booneville, MS, who were completely routed. Together with the 2nd Missouri Cavalry, it was ordered under Gen. Frank C. Armstrong to Tennessee, where it met at Middleburg, TN, the Federals under Colonel Leggett and defeated them, killing and wounding large numbers of the Federal force. About the last of July (1862) the 2nd Arkansas, under Col. Slemons, along with the 2nd Missouri and the 4th Mississippi engaged the escort of Federal cavalry and artillery guarding a train of supplies at Britton's Lane, TN, and after a stubborn fight of three hours captured the train, along with 300 prisoners and two pieces of artillery. The 2nd Arkansas lost 70 men killed or wounded in this engagement. In the campaigns of Price and Pemberton in early 1863 defending the approaches to Vicksburg, the 2nd Arkansas was in continuous active service, opposing Federal thrusts at Iuka, Colliersville, Salem, the Yazoo Pass, at Charleston, Austin, and near Commerce Mississippi and along the Coldwater River there. Under the command of Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest in late 1863, it participated in the masterly movements of that greatest of cavlry commanders, encircling armies, taking cities, capturing trains, and burning bridges.
The 2nd Arkansas was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi in April, 1864, in time to fight with Cabell's, Gano's, and Dockery's brigades in the Camden Expedition including the battles of Poison Spring, Marks' Mills, and Jenkins' Ferry.
It then served with Price's Army on the raid to the Missouri River in September and October of 1864, and engaged in the battles of Pilot Knob, Independence, West Point, and Marais des Cygnes, in Kansas. At this last battle, Colonel Slemons' horse was killed and fell with him, the saddle catching the colonel's leg under him so that he could nor disengage himself. Colonel Slemons, a number of his officers, 100 of his men, and two artillery pieces were captured and sent as prisoners of war to Johnson Island, later to Rock Island, where they were imprisoned until after the end of the war.
Fifth Arkansas Cavalry Regiment
Organized with 12 companies at Little Rock, Arkansas in April, 1863 under the command of Colonel Robert C. Newton. Participated in the battles of Helena on July 4, 1863. Assigned to the Arkansas Cavalry Brigade, Walker's (later Dobbins') Cavalry Division in June 1863. Fought throughout the battles of the Little Rock campaign (Brownsville, Reed's Bridge, and Bayou Fourche) in September, 1863. Participated in the battle of Pine Bluff on October 25, 1863. Unit designation changed to the 2nd (Morgan's) Cavalry Regiment effective December 24, 1863..
Eighth Arkansas Cavalry Regiment
After June, 1864, The Second Arkansas Cavalry Regiment and the Fifth Arkansas Cavalry Regiment were combined to form the Eight Arkansas Cavalry Regiment..
Organization
The commanders of the 8th Cavalry include W. A. Bevens, Thomas J. Morgan, and Robert C. Newton. The unit was composed of companies from the following counties:- Company A – Van Buren County and Jackson County
- Company B – Jefferson County
- Company C – Independence County
- Company D – Sharp County
- Company e - Conway County
- Company F – Independence County
- Company G – Fulton County
- Company H – Independence County and Izard County
- Company I - Mississippi County
- Company K – Van Buren County
- Company L – Van Buren County
Battles
The unit served in General Cabell's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department, and fought in the following engagements:- 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. General William Lewis CabellWilliam Lewis Cabell-External links:* from the published 1880, hosted by the...
report of the battle states that this unit killed "at least eighty Negroes". - 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 WestportBattle of WestportThe Battle of Westport, sometimes referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West," was fought on October 23, 1864, in modern Kansas City, Missouri, during the American Civil War. Union forces under Major General Samuel R. Curtis decisively defeated an outnumbered Confederate force under Major General...
, Westport, Missouri and Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, October 23, 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
Surrender
This regiment surrendered at various places, but primarily at Jacksonport, ArkansasJacksonport, Arkansas
Jacksonport is a town in Jackson County, Arkansas, United States, along the White River at its confluence with the Black River. The population was 235 at the 2000 census.- History :Jacksonport was once an important steamboat stop on the White River...
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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...