The Army of Arkansas was a Union

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 Army that served in the Trans-Mississippi Theater 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...

. This force functioned exclusively in the state of Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...

.

History

The Army of Arkansas was created on July 27, 1863 with Major General Frederick Steele

Frederick Steele

Frederick Steele was a career military officer in the United States Army, serving as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his successful campaign to retake much of secessionist Arkansas for the Union cause.-Early life:Steele was born in Delhi, New...

 in command. The army was created in the wake of the Union victories at 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...

, 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:...

 and Vicksburg. It was composed of troops in Union-occupied areas of the state of Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...

. General Steele led the army in its two most significant campaigns: The Little Rock Expedition

Battle of Bayou Fourche

The Battle of Bayou Fourche, sometimes called the Battle of Little Rock, was a battle in the American Civil War fought on September 10, 1863 east of the town of Little Rock, Arkansas.- Battle :...

 and Camden Expedition

Camden Expedition

The Camden Expedition was a military campaign in southern and central Arkansas during the American Civil War. It involved Union forces stationed at Little Rock and Fort Smith under the command of Major General Frederick Steele...

. At Little Rock the army consisted of three divisions under John W. Davidson

John Davidson (general)

John Wynn Davidson was a brigadier general in the United States Army during the American Civil War and an American Indian fighter. In 1866, he received brevet grade appointments as a major general of volunteers and in the regular U.S. Army for his Civil War service,-Biography:Davidson was born in...

, Adolph Englemann and Samuel A. Rice.

During the Camden Expedition the army consisted of one corps – the VII Corps

VII Corps (ACW)

Two corps of the Union Army were called VII Corps during the American Civil War.-VII Corps :This corps was established 22 July 1862 from various Union troops stationed in southeastern Virginia. The corps' main combat action occurred in the spring of 1863, when it faced Confederate troops of James...

 – and the two were virtually synonymous. It was composed of the divisions of Frederick Salomon, John M. Thayer and Eugene A. Carr.

Steele was replaced as commander of the army on December 22, 1864 by Major General Joseph J. Reynolds

Joseph J. Reynolds

Joseph Jones Reynolds was an American engineer, educator, and military officer who fought in the American Civil War and the postbellum Indian Wars.-Early life and career:Reynolds was born in Flemingsburg, Kentucky...

. Reynolds commanded the army during Price's Missouri Raid but his troops actively involved in the Union pursuit. Reynolds remained in command until the war's end.

Commanders

• Major General Frederick Steele
  Frederick Steele
  Frederick Steele was a career military officer in the United States Army, serving as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his successful campaign to retake much of secessionist Arkansas for the Union cause.-Early life:Steele was born in Delhi, New...
  
    (July 27, 1863 – December 22, 1864)
• Major General Joseph J. Reynolds
  Joseph J. Reynolds
  Joseph Jones Reynolds was an American engineer, educator, and military officer who fought in the American Civil War and the postbellum Indian Wars.-Early life and career:Reynolds was born in Flemingsburg, Kentucky...
  
  (December 22, 1864 – August 1, 1865)