Arkansas Militia and the Mexican–American War: Difference between revisions

The history of the Arkansas Militia and the War with Mexico really begins with the Territory of Arkansas gaining admission to the union as the 25th State on June 15, 1836. Within days the State Governor would receive a request for troops to relieve federal troops securing the border with Mexico. Ironically the Arkansas National Guard would find it's self conducting similar missions during the Mexican Expedition of 1916 and again during Operation Jump Start in 2006. Arkansans enthusiastically supported the War with Mexico in 1846 and many future leaders of Arkansas Confederate forces gained valuable experience during the conflict. The performance of Arkansas troops during the invasion of northern Mexico and the Battle of Buena Vista did not bring great credit upon the state. Following the War with Mexico, the state's militia forces again fell in to decline until the administration of Governor Elias Nelson Conway, just before the break out of the Civil War.

Statehood, Seminole War

Main article: Seminole Wars

The first use of the Arkansas State Militia occurred in the same month that Arkansas was admitted to the union, June 1836. The Second Seminole War began in Florida in 1836. The Federal Government removed its regular army troops from forts and posts along the border with the Indian Territory in order to supply troops for the fighting in the southeast, leaving the western border of Arkansas exposed to Indian attacks. Brigadier General George Hill was informed on May 4, 1836, that information had been received indicating that Mexican emissaries were trying to incite the Indian Nations to attack in retaliation for United States support of the Texas War of Independence. Governor Futon directed Brigadier General Hill to place organize his brigade and place it in readiness to take the field at once. On June 28, 1826, 13 days after the state was admitted to the union, General Edmund P. Gains (U.S. Army) called upon the Governor of Arkansas to furnish one regiment for the defense of the western frontier. Six companies answered this call.

The companies that answered this call were organized into a battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Absalom Fowler. The battalion moved to Fort Towson, on the Red River. The soldiers performed scout duty and patrolled the border until they were relieved in 1837 by federal troops.

In August, 1836, General Matthew Arbuckle (U.S. Army) made a second requisition on Governor Fulton for troops and the governor responded by calling the counties of Carroll, Crawford, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Scott, Searcy and Washington to raise their militia companies. These companies were not organized under a single battalion, but served independently in Benton and Washington Counties to protect settlers and keep the peace between two warring factions of Cherokee Indians.

Militia law of the new State

At the time that the Arkansas Territory was created, it adopted all of the existing laws of it's parent Territory of Missouri, including it's Militia Law. The Arkansas Territorial Legislature amended the existing militia law an several occasions, but did not pass a new law of it's own until after statehood. On October 23, 1836, the Arkansas Legislature passed a new Militia Law which converted the Arkansas Territorial Militia into the Arkansas State Militia.

Two Classes of Militia

The new law consisted of 56 sections and began by defining who was and who was not liable for militia duty. All "able-bodied free white male inhabitant of this State, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years". were required to preformed militia duty, subject to the following exemptions: "Judges of the supreme and circuit courts, secretary of state, auditor and treasurer of the State, clerks of the supreme and circuit courts, postmasters who have the care of the mails of the United States, postriders, ferrymen on all public roads, and ministers of the gospel". However, in addition to the compulsory service for all able bodies free white males, the law also authorized the rising of Volunteer Militia Companies for up to five years at a time. Each regiment was authorized to raise up to three of these Volunteer Companies, one company each of Riflemen, Artillery and Cavalry. The election of the officers of the Volunteer Companies was to be certified by the regimental commander. The Voluntary Companies were to remain under the authority of the regiment from which they were formed and were subject to the same rules and regulations as all other militiamen except that the Voluntary Companies were authorized to select their own uniforms.

Administration of the Militia

The law allowed the governor to appoint an Adjutant General and a quartermaster general. The militia was to be divided in to two divisions, commanded by Major Generals, and each division was divided into three brigades, each commanded by a Brigadier General. This organizatoin was simular to the 1833 amendment passed by the territorial legislature, but now the general officer's would be elected by the field grade officer's of the militias instead of being appointed by the president. The new law set the time and place for the first election of general officers to occur in 1837. Each officer was required to wear a sword and all officer's above the company grade were required to wear the uniform of their equivalent in the United States Army. The terms of officer for officers were set at three years and provisions were made to allow election results to be contested. Militiamen were required to attend two Company Musters, One Battalion Muster and one Regimental Muster each year. Regiments were authorized and directed to conduct annual Courts Martial and provisions were made for the collections of fines levied by the Court Martial and payment of the members of the court. Parents and Guardians were made liable for payment of fines on behalf of their children under the age of 21 who failed to appear at a designated muster. Money raised by payment or collection of fines was to be utilized to purchase drums, fifes and Colors. Commissioned officers were required to report to the local parade ground, with a rifle or musket, two days before the annual regimental muster for the purpose of receiving additional training to prepare them to drill their soldiers. The militia was to be trained in accordance with the regulations of the regular army of the United States. First Sergeants were required to call roll not later than 10 o'clock on each day appointed for a muster to determine the number present. The law limited the amount of time that a militiaman could be call to duty to six months per tour. Any officer was authorized to call out the militia in the event of sudden invasion or insurrection. The law provided that copies of the law were to be printed and delivered to each officer, who was to hand his copy of the law to his successor upon leaving office.

Organization of the Militia

The 1836 Militia Act organized the state militia into two division, each divided into three brigades. The regimental numbers are not listed in the militia act but are taken from the Records of the Arkansas Military Department, List of Commissioned Officers of the Militia 1827–1862, but were probably added later, possibly as late as 1862, since the number do not necessarily conform to the order in which counties were formed.

Division	Brigade	Regiment	Colonel	County
1st Division	1st Brigade	47th Regiment	Colonel	Hot Spring
		28th Regiment	Colonel	Clark
		38th Regiment	Colonel	Pike
		8th Regiment	Colonel	Hempstead
		40th Regiment	Colonel	Lafayette
		37th Regiment	Colonel	Sevier
		Regiment	Colonel	Miller
	2nd Brigade	18th Regiment	Colonel,	Saline
		13th Regiment	Col. R. C. Byod	Pulaski
		21st Regiment	Colonel,	White
		4th Regiment	Colonel,	Conway
		15th Regiment	Colonel	Pope
		10th Regiment	Colonel,	Johnson
	3rd Brigade	17th Regiment	Colonel,	Scott
		5th Regiment	Col. William Reins	Crawford
		7th Regiment	Colonel,	Franklin
		20th Regiment	Colonel,	Washington
		2nd Regiment,	Colonel,	Benton
		11th Regiment	Colonel,	Madison
		3rd Regiment	Colonel,	Carroll
		31st Regiment	Colonel,	Marion
2nd Division	4th Brigade	42nd Regiment	Colonel,	Izard
		22nd Regiment	Colonel,	Van Buren
		9th Regiment	Colonel,	Independence
		34th Regiment	Col. George W. Cromwell	Jackson
		25th Regiment	Colonel,	Lawrence
		16th Regiment	Colonel,	Randolph
	5th Brigade	33rd Regiment	Colonel,	Greene
		19th Regiment	Colonel,	St. Francis
		14th Regiment	Colonel,	Poinsett
		12th Regiment	Col. Elisha Burk	Phillips
		30th Regiment	Colonel,	Crittenden
		48th Regiment	Colonel,	Mississippi
	6th Brigade	24th Regiment	Colonel,	Jefferson
		35th Regiment	Colonel,	Monroe
		1st Regiment	Col. John H Lenox	Arknasas
		23rd Regiment	Col. Raybon Smith	Chicot
		29th Regiment	Colonel,	Union

Arkansas Militia Act of 1843

By 1843, the rapid growth in the number of counties in the new state necessitated the addition of two additional brigades. The Legislature responded with "An Act for the better organization of the Militia of this State. This new act, which was comprised of 50 sections, basically restated most of the 1837 law but added nine sections which dealt with the filling of vacancies among the officer corps. The act referred to counties which had not yet organized their militia and directed the sheriff of said counties to announce elections for the office of Colonel Commandant and required the sheriff to continue to announce elections until the office was filled. Colonel's were given guidance on filling vacancies. The law expanded the number of muster's or drill's that were to be conducted to include one regimental muster, one battalion muster, and four company muster's each year. Volunteer Companies of Cavalry, Artillery and Riflemen were authorized and the act allowed for the formation of 1 Regiment of Cavalry in each brigade where four or more Cavalry companies had been formed. The act provided for pay for a regimental adjutant and for the musicaians at the regimental and company levels. A Judge Advocated was appointed for each regiment and procedures for the conduct of courts martial and collection of fines were clarified. Emphasis was place on reporting the attendance at company musters to enable the state to make it's required return the United States War department. In the same session, the legislature passed a separate act entitled An act requiring the Adjutant General to report the strength of the Militia of this State to the proper officer of the General Government. This act was apparently necessary because the state had failed to receive its authorized allowance of weapons from the federal government for a number of years due the fact that the state had failed to file the proper reports or "returns" with the War Department. A return from Arkansas was filed with the Secretary of War dated January 15, 1844 which reported the State of Arkansas as having 17,137 total militiamen. The 1844 return indicated that the state had three cavalry companies, and 1 rifle company but no organized no artillery company.

Division	Brigade	Regiment	County
1st Division	1st Brigade	47th Regiment	Hot Spring
		28th Regiment	Clark
		38th Regiment	Pike
		8th Regiment	Hempstead
		40th Regiment	Lafayette
		37th Regiment	Sevier
		39th Regiment	Ouachita
		57th Regiment	Montgomery
	2nd Brigade	26th Regiment	Yell
		18th Regiment	Saline
		13th Regiment	Pulaski
		21st Regiment	White
		4th Regiment	Conway
		15th Regiment	Pope
		Regiment	Perry
	3rd Brigade	10th Regiment	Johnson
		17th Regiment	Scott
		5th Regiment	Crawford
		7th Regiment	Franklin
	4th Brigade	20th Regiment	Washington
		2nd Regiment,	Benton
		11th Regiment	Madison
		3rd Regiment	Carroll
2nd Division	5th Brigade	19th Regiment	St. Francis
		14th Regiment	Poinsett
		12th Regiment	Phillips
		30th Regiment	Crittenden
		48th Regiment	Mississippi
		35th Regiment	Monroe
	6th Brigade	27th Regiment	Bradley
		24th Regiment	Jefferson
		1st Regiment	Arknasas
		23rd Regiment	Chicot
		29th Regiment	Union
		6th Regiment	Desha
	7th Brigade	43rd Regiment	Fulton
		42nd Regiment	Izard
		22nd Regiment	Van Buren
		31st Regiment	Marion
		45th Regiment	Searcy
		41st Regiment	Newton
	8th Brigade	9th Regiment	Independence
		34th Regiment	Jackson
		25th Regiment	Lawrence
		16th Regiment	Randolph
		33rd Regiment	Greene

A period of decline

Several factors contributed to the decline of the militia following the Seminole Wars. The removal of all Indians from the state by 1835 caused many Arkansans to believe that there was no longer a real need for a state military force. Additionally, the rapid rise in population and the construction of federal military installations in Arkansas also detracted from a reliance on the militia. Throughout the 1830s and 1840s the various governors occasionally tried to gain the interest of the legislators and the citizens in revitalizing the militia. In particular, they pointed out the continuing potential for conflict between the United States and Mexico, especially after Texans began to dream of independence. The uneasy relations with Mexico caused enough concern in Arkansas that a few militia companies were organized.

War with Mexico

In its early history the state of Arkansas maintained a keen interest in, and wary eye upon, Mexico. When Louisiana was purchased from France in 1803 the western boundary of the area was not well known. The Spanish, and then later the Mexicans after that country broke free of its mother country, were distrustful of the United States. America had always had a tendency to push westward, often spilling across even well-defined borders. The Spanish as early as 1816 sent a spy team into Arkansas to attempt to better plan its response to the movement of American settlers into the border regions.

After Mexico successfully declared its independence of Spain in 1822, the potential for conflict seemed to grow rather than subside. Many Americans settled in Texas, including a large number of Arkansans. The development of the Texas Revolution is closely linked to this state since many Arkansans joined Stephen F. Austin's colony in Texas. Also, Sam Houston spent much of his time in Washington, Arkansas where he planned the revolution and gathered supporters . Additionally, many Arkansans volunteered for service in Houston's revolutionary army. Houston asked Arkansas volunteers to bring “a good rifle, and one hundred rounds of ammunition, and to come soon.”, . On December 1, 1835 the Gazette editor reported that “emigrants and fighting men, in considerable numbers, are passing through town, almost daily…”,

With the successful conclusion of the Texas Revolution in 1836, a nine-year period of uneasy peace followed. However, in 1845 the expansionist United States Congress admitted Texas to the Union. War with Mexico followed immediately.

Call to arms

Main article: Mexican–American War

Upon the declaration of war in April 1846, Congress authorized the calling of 50,000 volunteers to augment the tiny regular Army, at the outbreak of the war, the regular army consisted of 734 officers and 7,885 enlisted men. Although the war caused the army to be increased somewhat in size, the United States has always had a reluctance to maintain a large standing military, thus the call for volunteers. . On May 15, 1856, Secretary of War W. L. Marcy wrote Arkansas Governor Thomas S. Drew requesting one regiment of cavalry or mounted gunmen and one battalion of infantry. The cavalry was to proceed to Fort Smith where they would serve as replacements for regular forces being sent to the battlefront.

Federal law provided that to organize the volunteer units each governor was to direct his militia officers or the county sheriffs to assemble the local militia units and call for volunteers. The volunteers were then to march to the state rendezvous point and organize into units and be mustered into federal service. Since the Arkansas militia was so disorganized at the time only two existing companies, the Little Rock Guards under Captain Albert Pike and the Crawford County Avengers under Captain John S. Roane, could be called upon. The remaining eight companies were raised through volunteers.

Mobilization of volunteer forces

Archibald Yell, 2nd Governor of Arkansas, Colonel, Arkansas Regiment of Mounted Volunteers, killed during the Battle of Buena Vista, February 23, 1847.

On May 27, 1846, Governor Thomas Drew issued a proclamation calling for volunteers to fight in the Mexican War. The war drew volunteers from every strata of society, including two of the most famous Arkansans of the period, former governor Archibald Yell, who was serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Albert Pike, a prominent Little Rock lawyer. Yell left Washington and enlisted in Solon Borland’s company in Little Rock as a private. Albert Pike was serving as the commander of the "Little Rock Guards" which answered the governor’s call as a cavalry unit. Arkansas Militiamen were represented by George Morrison, joined out of necessity. Morrison stated that he joined Pike’s company because he had been out of work and needed the salary of $10 per month. After a round of speechmaking and picnics, a rendezvous was set at Washington in Hempstead county. Twenty-two companies of cavalry and seven companies for infantry answered the governor's call. From these militia units, two new commands were formed, the Arkansas Regiment of Mounted Volunteers, which would deploy to Mexico, and the Arkansas Battalion of Infantry and Mounted Rifles, which would serve along the western frontier, replacing federal troops being utilized in the war effort. By the middle of June 1846 the Arkansas troops were organized. Judging from the number of weapons drawn, the companies initially ranged in size from sixty to seventy-one men. By June 20 the Arkansas troops were marching to Washington, Arkansas, their designated rendezvous point. The sleepy little village of Washington was awash with activity as troops from all across the middle South stopped to rest and organize into larger units. When it came time to elect the regimental commanders, the Arkansas troops had a choice of two men: Albert Pike and Archibald Yell. Pike, a good militia commander and outstanding jurist, politician, and author, was a leader of the Whig Party in Arkansas. Pike, like the Whig Party in general, was opposed to the war in Mexico. Still, Pike took his militia responsibilities seriously and muted his criticism of the war. Pike's politics, combined with his aristocratic bearing and reputation as a stern disciplinarian, resulted in the election of Yell as Colonel. A Democratic United States Congressman at the outbreak of the war, Archibald Yell resigned his seat to join the Arkansas troops. Although an influential politician, he had no military training nor the willingness to learn. The election of Yell was to result in disaster for the Arkansas volunteers later in the war. Two other prominent Democrats, John S. Roane and Solon Borland, were elected lieutenant colonel and major, respectively.

The Arkansas Regiment of Mounted Volunteers

The Arkansas Regiment of Mounted Volunteers was formed from troops from the following counties:

Company	County	Captain	Date mustered into federal service
A	Pope	James S. Moffett	July 1, 1846
B	Pulaski	Solon Borland	July 2, 1846
C	Johnson	George W. Patrick	June 30, 1846
D	Independence	Andrew R. Porter	July 3, 1846
E	Pulaski formerly the "Little Rock Guards"	Albert Pike	July 2, 1846
F	Crawford	John S. Roane	June 29, 1846
G	Sevier	Edward Hunter	July 1, 1846
H	Franklin	William C. Preston	June 30, 1846
I	Hot Springs and Saline formerly the "Saline Rangers"	William English	July 1, 1846
J	Phillips	John Preston, Jr.	July 10, 1846

The Arkansas volunteers were mustered into the service of the United States on July 13. Five days later the regiment, 800 men and 40 wagons, set off on a march to San Antonio, Texas by way of Shreveport, Louisiana. At San Antonio they reported to General John E. Wool, who was busy attempting to organize a campaign against Chihuahua Province, Mexico. Immediately upon making camp at San Antonio it became apparent that Colonel Yell was not up to his tasks as regimental commander. His organization of the camp was haphazard, necessitating General Wool to order its removal to a new location. Yell made no attempt to train the men, although Pike and Captain John Preston (commander of the Phillips County volunteers) drilled their companies. Pike complained bitterly about the ineptitude of Colonel Yell. He wrote back home to Little Rock that Yell “is the laughing stock of the men—for as yet he has never undertaken to give an order without making a blunder.” Josiah Gregg, who accompanied the Arkansas troops as an interpreter and scout and who later gained fame as author of Commerce of the Prairies, found Yell to be a “clever, pleasant, sociable fellow, but decidedly out of his element” as a military commander.

Invasion of Mexico

General John L. Wool's nicknaming the Arkansas troops the "Mounted Devils" was not intended as as sign of respect

General Wool, despite the bickering among the “Mounted Devils” from Arkansas, set out for Mexico in mid-September 1846. Taking 1,950 men, he left four companies of the Arkansas regiment behind to bring additional supplies later. The expedition heard rumors that 7,500 Mexicans were massed at the Rio Grande River to challenge the Americans, but this proved false, and General Wool crossed the border uncontested. Indeed, the first few months of the war found the troops fighting sickness more than Mexicans. While still in camp at San Antonio many members of the Arkansas regiment fell ill of dysentery and fevers.

The first sizable town to be occupied by the Americans was Santa Rosa, whose 2,500 residents had no liking for the dictatorial government of President Santa Anna. The relatively well-trained companies of Captains Pike and Preston were separated from the remainder of the Arkansas regiment and formed into a squadron under Pike's command. That new unit was detailed to escort the engineers in reconnoitering the route to Santa Rosa. During the march to Santa Rosa, Lieutenant Colonel William S. Harney, an Army regular who had been placed in command of some of the most ill-trained Arkansas volunteers, disgustedly asked to be transferred to his old regiment. On October 20, the Americans entered the city with “flags flying and sabres drawn,”, but no Mexican troops were to be found.

After remaining in Santa Rosa a week, General Wool marched his army toward Chihuahua through the town of Monclova. On November 3 the well-laid-out town of 8,000 was occupied, again without opposition. By this time the volunteers were growing impatient. For almost a month the troops languished, with little to do but drill and patrol the area. Gambling became a problem, which General Wool did his best to stop. When Wool ordered the men to grind meal from corn, the volunteers adamantly refused. Eventually the General came into direct confrontation with his officers. At one point he accused several Illinois officers of being “not worth a damn.” On December 1 General Wool had all three regimental officers of the Arkansas volunteers placed under arrest for refusing to accept a designated campground.

Leaving a small garrison at Monclova, General Wool marched his troops toward the small town of Parras. After a wearying, twelve day circuitous march across mountains and deserts the dusty Americans reached their objective. Suddenly, on December 17 at 2:00 p.m. General Wool received a note that Santa Anna was marching on the Americans at Saltillo. Within two hours, Wool had his forces on the march. By the twenty-first the troops were in Agua Nueva, and shortly reached Encantada where they learned the urgent note was false. In four days Wool's command had marched 120 miles, carrying along provisions for fifty-five days; 400,000 musket cartridges, and 400 rounds of artillery ammunition. The foot-weary troops settled down to a much needed rest.

The long marches and enforced drills did little to improve the discipline of the volunteers, especially the Arkansans. General Wool was continually chagrined by the excesses of the Arkansas troops. On January 4, 1847 the General had his adjutant write Colonel Yell a strong letter concerning depredations committed by the Arkansas regiment. The letter charged the Arkansas volunteers with plundering Mexican civilians, noting that the Arkansas regiment was the “worst offender in the force.” The undisciplined men paid no attention to General Wool, instead they increased their outlawry from plundering to outright murder. On February 10, in reprisal for the killing of a drunken Arkansas soldier, about 100 members of the Arkansas regiment massacred a number of unarmed Mexican civilians. An investigation failed to detect the guilty men nor the number of persons murdered, although estimates ranged from four to thirty. General Wool ordered two Arkansas companies to the rear as punishment.

The Arkansas regiment was further embarrassed on January 23, when a detachment of five officers and sixty-six men under Major Borland was captured without firing a shot. The detachment had been out as a scouting patrol toward the settlement of Encarnacion. Although warned by General Wool “not to let the enemy get the advantage,” Borland let his guard down when several days of observation failed to disclose enemy activity. On the evening of January 22 Borland's patrol bedded down without posting guards. As the sun rose the following morning, it reflected brightly from the lances of 500 Mexicans who surrounded the camp. Colonel Yell's subsequent reckless search for the captured Arkansans did nothing to redeem the reputation of his regiment.

The capture of the Arkansas patrol, as well as the growing number of small clashes, convinced the Americans that the Mexicans were preparing to mount a major offensive. Soon the Mexican camp at Encarnacion was spotted and General Zachary Taylor, overall commander of the campaign in northern Mexico, ordered a withdrawal to more defensible positions at Angostura. Colonel Yell's Arkansas horsemen were left to provide cover for the later evacuation of supplies. However, when Yell's forces came under attack after midnight on February 22, the untrained commander panicked, had his men burn the remaining stores, and fled. Although this action only served to further tarnish the reputation of the Arkansas regiment, it did serve the unintended purpose of misleading the Mexicans into expecting only a small American force.

The Battle of Buena Vista

Albert Pike, Captain, Little Rock Guards, Company E, Arkansas Regiment of Mounted Gunmen, later Brigadier General, Confederate States Army.

The Mexicans, in actuality, greatly outnumbered the Americans. When the two opposing armies met on February 22, 1847, General Santa Anna had at his command almost four times the troops as General Taylor, 15,142 to 4,594. The Americans had the advantage, though, of selecting the battlefield. Stretching across a two to three mile-wide plateau, the battlefield was interrupted at several points by deep ravines. About 11/2 miles away to the north lay the sleepy little Hacienda San Juan de la Buena Vista, hence the battle which ensued became known as the Battle of Buena Vista.

Generals Taylor and Wool realized that they were badly outnumbered, therefore, they deployed their troops carefully. Artillery batteries were placed at strategic points. Dismounted rifle companies were placed so as to prevent flanking movements. Actual fighting did not start until about 3:30 p.m. when the Mexicans began moving forces toward higher ground. As the sun rose the following morning it became clear that Santa Anna had been busy during the night and planned a massive assault, relying on superior numbers to drive a wedge through the American defenses. As the battle began the Mexican troops moved with precision and fought bravely. Suddenly, Mexican cavalry aimed toward the American left intent upon pushing through and capturing General Wool's precious supply train camped at Hacienda Buena Vista. Among those standing before the red-shirted Mexican horsemen was the 2nd Indiana volunteers and farther back Colonel Yell's Arkansas cavalry, as well as Colonel Jefferson Davis' Mississippi volunteer riflemen. When the Mexican cavalry fell full force into the 2nd Indiana confusion reigned. Through misunderstood orders, a retreat began which soon became a stampede. The Arkansans, under Colonel Yell, awaited the Mexicans. When the moment of decision arrived, most of the Arkansas troops fled, leaving only their commander and a few brave privates. Yell, whose bravery could not compensate for his lack of military ability, died “facing the foe and trying to rally his men.” Also dying on the field was Captain Andrew R. Palmer, commander of the Independence County company.

During the melee, General Taylor ordered reinforcements to bolster the left flank. Among those sent was Albert Pike's squadron as well as volunteer units from Mississippi and Illinois. Those forces redeemed the reputation of the volunteers by slowing and confusing the Mexican cavalry long enough for the American cannoneers to save the day. Although the Mexicans made one last foray, they were unable to break through. During the night Santa Anna quietly marched his army from the Buena Vista battlefield. General Woll showed his confidence in Pike by having him lead a mixed command of regulars and volunteers in a scouting of the Mexican retreat.

Demobilization

With the Battle of Buena Vista the war essentially was over for the Arkansas volunteers. On June 7, with their one year enlistment nearly completed, the Arkansas troops were paid and mustered out of the service. Many of the Arkansans, eager to return home as quickly as possible, took passage on a steamer to New Orleans and then up the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers to Little Rock. William F. Pope, who lived in Little Rock at the time, later wrote in his memoirs that one young man from Colonel Roane's forces was greeted by his father who said: “I hear you all fought like hell at Buena Vista”. But the young veteran replied with a loud laugh: “We ran like hell at Buena Vista.”

Arkansas Battalion of Infantry and Mounted Rifles in Indian Territory

The Arkansas Battalion of Infantry and Mounted Rifles consisted of five companies of men from Clarksville (Johnson County), Dover (Pope County), Fort Smith (Sebastian County), and Smithville (Lawrence County), totaling about 380 men. The Battalion was sent to Indian Territory to keep peace and allow U.S. forces there to enter the war. The Battalion occupied Fort Gibson and Fort Wayne in Indian Territory. This infantry battalion was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William Gray and was formed from troops from the following areas:

Company	Location	Date Mustered into federal service	Date Mustered out of federal service/location
A	Clarksville	July 1, 1846	April 20, 1847, Fort Gibson, Indian Territory
B	Dover and Fort Smith	July 1, 1846	April 20, 1847, Fort Gibson, Indian Territory
C	Smithville, Lawrence County	June 30, 1846	April 20, 1847, Fort Gibson, Indian Territory
D	Fort Smith	July 18, 1846	April 15, 1847, Near Fort Smith
E	Dover	July 18, 1846	February 28, 1847, Fort Wayne, Creek Territory

Aftermath

Late in 1846, the United States recruited ten regiments of regulars to launch a mission against Vera Cruz and inland to Mexico City. Captain Allen Wood of Carroll County raised a company of Arkansans for the Twelfth Infantry and joined the forces of General Winfield Scott in the summer of 1847. Wood’s Arkansans fought in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco on August 19 and 20, 1847, on the outskirts of Mexico City. In a matter of weeks, Mexico City fell to Scott’s forces. Shortly thereafter, the surviving Encarnacion prisoners were released. One other company was recruited, that of Captain Stephen Enyart, whose northwest Arkansas troops served at Meir, Mexico, guarding supply wagons.

Many Arkansans, especially Albert Pike, did not take lightly the poor record of the Arkansas volunteers. Pike, who was probably still smarting over his defeat for regimental commander, had criticized Colonel Yell long before the return to Little Rock. In a letter to the Arkansas Gazette on March 8, 1847, Pike severely reprimanded the Arkansas officers for not properly training and disciplining their men. He wrote: “Poor Yell! He atoned for his error with his life; but other brave men died with him, who were not in fault....”

Naturally, Colonel Roane and many of Yell's fervent supporters resented Pike's attitude. Roane and Captain Edward Hunter, commander of the Sevier County company, wrote letters to the Little Rock Banner soon after the Battle of Buena Vista charging that Pike's squadron had taken no part in the battle. Pike was furious and, upon his return to Little Rock took up the matter with Roane. A duel ensued, although neither man was injured.

Fourteen years after the War with Mexico, Albert Pike would again find himself leading troops in battle. The Civil War was to produce a different type of record for Arkansas' militia and Volunteer Companies. With the end of hostilities, militia activity in Arkansas decreased. With the Mexican threat eliminated and the near-absence of a serious Indian threat, Arkansans saw little reason to maintain a state militia until the build up of sectional tensions preceding the American Civil War.

Arkansas fallen soldiers - War with Mexico

The Arkansas National Guard Foundation tracks the following Arkansas soldiers as casualties from the War with Mexico:

• Colonel Archibald Yell
• Corporal Darian Steward
• Corporal Pleasant Williams
• Corporal Richard Saunders
• Corporal Wilson Tomberlin
• Captain Andrew Porter
• Private Andrew Teague
• Private Clairborne Taylor
• Private David Hogan
• Private Franklin Brown
• Private George Martin
• Private Green Higgins
• Private Harman Winn
• Private Harrison Penter
• Private Jacob Ray
• Private John Milliner
• Private John Pelham, Jr.
• Private Thomas Rowland
• Private William Phipps
• Private William Robinson

External links

• AR National Guard
• AR Air National Guard
• AR Army National Guard
• The Arkansas National Guard Museum
• Bibliography of Arkansas Army National Guard History compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History