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The unit remined at Fort Pillow for fourteen days.<ref>Odom, Danny "Re: 17th Arkansas Regiment, No. 2", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 9 June 2012, Accessed 11 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=26502</ref> The unit expericanced few casualties in the bombardment during its ten day stay at Fort Pillow, but many of the soldiers became sick, and several died due to the very muddy conditions and poor water supply at the fort.<ref name="couchgenweb.com"/> The unit left Fort Pillow on the April April 26 moved back to Memphis. The unit left Memphis for the Corinth area on May 1, 1862.<ref>Odom, Danny "Re: 17th Arkansas Regiment, No. 2", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 9 June 2012, Accessed 11 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=26502</ref>
The unit remined at Fort Pillow for fourteen days.<ref>Odom, Danny "Re: 17th Arkansas Regiment, No. 2", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 9 June 2012, Accessed 11 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=26502</ref> The unit expericanced few casualties in the bombardment during its ten day stay at Fort Pillow, but many of the soldiers became sick, and several died due to the very muddy conditions and poor water supply at the fort.<ref name="couchgenweb.com"/> The unit left Fort Pillow on the April April 26 moved back to Memphis. The unit left Memphis for the Corinth area on May 1, 1862.<ref>Odom, Danny "Re: 17th Arkansas Regiment, No. 2", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 9 June 2012, Accessed 11 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=26502</ref>

In late April and early May 1862 the Confederate Army underwent an army-wide reorganization due to the passage of the Conscription Act by the Confederate Congress in April 1862.<ref>UPTON, EMORY, Bvt. Maj. Gen., United States Army; "THE MILITARY POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES" WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1912, Page 471, Congressional edition, Volume 6164, Google Books, Accessed 4 November 2011, http://books.google.com/books?id=2-tGAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA471&lpg=PA471&dq=Confederate+conscription+law+reorganization+regiment&source=bl&ots=7ptDBF0n2D&sig=-K_6PQoHglmh_SOzuobv_JyNWUw&hl=en#v=onepage&q=Confederate%20conscription%20law%20reorganization%20regiment&f=false</ref> All twelve-month regiments had to re-muster and enlist for two years additional year or the duration of the war; a new election of officers was ordered; and men who were exempted from service by age or other reasons under the Conscription Act were allowed to take a discharge and go home. Officers who did not choose to stand for re-election were also offered a discharge. The reorganization was accomplished among all the Arkansas regiments in and around Corinth, Mississippi, following the Battle of Shiloh. The 22nd was reorganzied reorganized at Corinth, Mississippi, on May 8, 1862; and redesignated as the 20th Arkansas Infantry, in order to avoid confusion with McCord’s [[22nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment]].<ref>Odom, Danny "Re: Re-Organization in May 1862", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 22 November 2011, Accessed 11 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=25154</ref>


During the Corith Campaign, the 20th Arkansas was assigned to Brigadier General [[William L. Cabell]]'s brigade of Brigadier General [[Dabney H. Maury]]'s Division of Major General [[Sterling Price]]'s Corps the Confederate ([[Army of the West (1862)|Army of the West]]). The regiment was at and in the battle of Farmington, Second Corinth, and Coffeeville, Mississippi. During the [[Second Battle of Corinth|Battles of Corinth]] and [[Battle of Hatchie's Bridge|Hatchie's Bridge]] reported 92 casualties. Colonel Johnson was killed at the battle of Corinth, and Lieutenant-Colonel Fletcher became colonel, but resigned on account of disability, when Major Daniel W. Jones was promoted to colonel, and Captain Robertson succeeded him as major of the regiment.
During the Corith Campaign, the 20th Arkansas was assigned to Brigadier General [[William L. Cabell]]'s brigade of Brigadier General [[Dabney H. Maury]]'s Division of Major General [[Sterling Price]]'s Corps the Confederate ([[Army of the West (1862)|Army of the West]]). The regiment was at and in the battle of Farmington, Second Corinth, and Coffeeville, Mississippi. During the [[Second Battle of Corinth|Battles of Corinth]] and [[Battle of Hatchie's Bridge|Hatchie's Bridge]] reported 92 casualties. Colonel Johnson was killed at the battle of Corinth, and Lieutenant-Colonel Fletcher became colonel, but resigned on account of disability, when Major Daniel W. Jones was promoted to colonel, and Captain Robertson succeeded him as major of the regiment.

Revision as of 20:17, 11 June 2012

20th Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
Arkansas state flag
Active1861 to 1865
CountryConfederate States of America
AllegianceCSA Dixie
BranchInfantry
EngagementsBombardment of Fort Pillow

Battle of Farmington

Iuka-Corinth Campaign

Battle of Corinth
Battle of Hatchie's Bridge
Battle of Coffeeville

Vicksburg Campaign

Battle of Port Gibson,
Battle of Champion's Hill
Battle of Big Black River Bridge
Siege of Vicksburg.

Camden Expedition,

Expedition to Mount Elba[1]
Battle of Prairie D'Ane,
Battle of Marks' Mills,
Battle of Jenkins Ferry,

Price's Missouri Raid,

Battle of Fort Davidson,
Fourth Battle of Boonville,
Battle of Glasgow,
Battle of Sedalia,
Second Battle of Lexington,
Battle of Little Blue River,
Second Battle of Independence,
Battle of Byram's Ford,
Battle of Westport,
Battle of Marais des Cygnes,
Battle of Mine Creek,
Battle of Marmiton River,
Second Battle of Newtonia

Template:Infobox Arkansas Confederate Infantry Regiments

The 20th Arkansas Infantry (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. The unit was also known as the 22nd Arkansas Infantry. When the unit was reorganized following its capture at the Siege of Vicksburg, it was officially redesignated as the 41st Arkansas Infantry (Mounted), by the Arkansas State Military Board, but this redesignation was completely ignored by the unit and Confederate authorities.[2] The unit participated in the Camden Expedition and Price's Missouri Expedition as a mounted infantry unit.

Organization

The 20th Arkansas infantry was originally organized as the 22nd Arkansas Infantry at DeValls Bluff, Arkansas, on April 9, 1862, with the following officers:[3]

  • Colonel George W. King,
  • Lieutenant Colonel Alf Carrigan,
  • Major James H. Fletcher.

The regiment was composed of volunteer companies from the following counties:[3]

  • Company A, the "Hempstead Legion", Commanded by Captain Daniel Webster Jones, organized in Hempstead County, Arkansas on March 1, 1862
  • Company B, the “McCulloch Avengers”, Commanded by Captain Henry Poston Johnson, organized in Hempstead County, Arkansas on March 1, 1862
  • Company C, the “Worsham Avengers”, Commanded by Captain James G. Johnson, organized at Centerville, Arkansas, on February 26, 1862
  • Company D, Commanded by Captain Rufus M. Lindsey, organized in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 1, 1862
  • Company E, the "Hempstead Plough Boys", Commanded by Captain Cottingham, Jefferson, organized in Hempstead County, Arkansas on March 1, 1862
  • Company F, Commanded by Captain R. E. Beebe, organized at Perryville, Perry County, Arkansas, on March 3, 1862
  • Company G, Commanded by Captain H. G. Robertson, organized in Pulaski County, Arkansas on February 17, 1862
  • Company H, Commanded by Captain W. H. Wheeler, organized in Warren, Bradley County, Arkansas, on February 28, 1862
  • Company I, Commanded by Captain G. W. King, organized at Little Rock, Pulaskin County, Arkansas, on February 26, 1862
  • Company K, Commanded by Captain W. R. Kelley, organized at Bright Star, Lafayette County, Arkansas, March 6, 1862

In May 1862, the Confederate Army underwent an army-wide reorganization due to the passage of the Conscription Act by the Confederate Congress in April 1962. All twelve-month regiments had to re-muster and enlist for two years or the duration of the war; a new election of officers was ordered; and men who were exempted from service by age or other reasons under the Conscription Act were allowed to take a discharge and go home. Officers who did not choose to stand for re-election were also offered a discharge. The reorganization was accomplished among all the Arkansas regiments in and around Corinth, Mississippi, following the Battle of Shiloh.[4] Upon reorganization at Corinth on May 8, 1862 the 22nd Arkansas was redesignated as the 20th Arkansas Infantry.[5] The regimental officers chosen when the 20th was reorganized for the war were:[6]

  • Colonel Henry P. Johnson
  • Lieutenant Colonel James H. Fletcher
  • Major Daniel W. Jones

Battles

File:Daniel W. Jones.jpg
Colonel, Daniel W. Jones later elected Governor of Arkansas, 1898 - 1902

20th Infantry Regiment was ordered east of the Mississippi River along with the rest of General Earl Van Dorn's Army of the West. The regiment was added to a brigade commanded by Brigadier General Albert Rust. The unit boarded a steamer at Des Arc and moved down White River, out at its mouth, then up the Mississippi River and landed at Memphis, Tennessee, on April 11, 1862. The regiment was immediately ordered with the remainder of Rust's Brigade to Fort Pillow, approximately 50 miles north of Memphis. The unit departed Memphis via steamer on April 12 and arrived a Fort Pillow on April 13. It was here that the men of King's regiment command saw their first enemy fire. Durning the bombardment of Fort Pillow by Union gunboats.[7]

The unit remined at Fort Pillow for fourteen days.[8] The unit expericanced few casualties in the bombardment during its ten day stay at Fort Pillow, but many of the soldiers became sick, and several died due to the very muddy conditions and poor water supply at the fort.[7] The unit left Fort Pillow on the April April 26 moved back to Memphis. The unit left Memphis for the Corinth area on May 1, 1862.[9]

In late April and early May 1862 the Confederate Army underwent an army-wide reorganization due to the passage of the Conscription Act by the Confederate Congress in April 1862.[10] All twelve-month regiments had to re-muster and enlist for two years additional year or the duration of the war; a new election of officers was ordered; and men who were exempted from service by age or other reasons under the Conscription Act were allowed to take a discharge and go home. Officers who did not choose to stand for re-election were also offered a discharge. The reorganization was accomplished among all the Arkansas regiments in and around Corinth, Mississippi, following the Battle of Shiloh. The 22nd was reorganzied reorganized at Corinth, Mississippi, on May 8, 1862; and redesignated as the 20th Arkansas Infantry, in order to avoid confusion with McCord’s 22nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment.[11]

During the Corith Campaign, the 20th Arkansas was assigned to Brigadier General William L. Cabell's brigade of Brigadier General Dabney H. Maury's Division of Major General Sterling Price's Corps the Confederate (Army of the West). The regiment was at and in the battle of Farmington, Second Corinth, and Coffeeville, Mississippi. During the Battles of Corinth and Hatchie's Bridge reported 92 casualties. Colonel Johnson was killed at the battle of Corinth, and Lieutenant-Colonel Fletcher became colonel, but resigned on account of disability, when Major Daniel W. Jones was promoted to colonel, and Captain Robertson succeeded him as major of the regiment.

Following the Corith Campaign, the regiment was reassigned to General M. E. Green's Brigade, in the Confederate Army of Mississippi, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. Major Robertson was killed in the Battle of Big Black in rear of Vicksburg. The regiment endured the forty seven day Siege of Vicksburg, and was surrendered on July 4, 1863.

This regiment surrendered with the Army of Mississippi at Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 4, 1863.[12] General U. S. Grant initially demanded the conditional surrender of the Vicksburg garrison, but faced with the necessity of feeding 30,000 starving Confederates and the having the idea that these soldiers might do more harm to the Confederate cause by being released to return home rather than being exchanged as whole units, he relented and allowed for the immediate parole of the unit. According to the Confederate War Department, Union leader encouraged the surrendered confederates to simply return home, rather than being officially paroled and exchanged. The able bodied Confederate soldiers who were released on parole walked out of Vicksburg (they were not allowed to proceed in any military formations) on July 11, 1863. Paroling of these able bodied men was completed in their respective regimental camps inside Vicksburg prior to the July 11th. The soldiers of the 15th Northwest Arkansas were paroled on July 8 and 9, 1863. Those who were wounded or sick in the various hospitals in Vicksburg were paroled, and were released as soon as they could leave on their own. July 15/16 is the most common date of these Vicksburg hospital paroles. Some of the most seriously wounded and sick were sent by steamship down the Mississippi River and over to Mobile, Alabama where they were delivered on parole to Confederate authorities.[13]

Confederate commanders designated Enterprise, Mississippi as the rendezvous point (parole camp) for the Vicksburg parolees to report to after they got clear of last Federal control point at Big Black Bridge. Most of the Arkansas units appeared to have bypassed the established parole camps, and possible with the support or at least by the compliancy of their Union captors, simply crossed the river and returned home. Because so many of the Vicksburg parolees, especially from Arkansas, simply went home, Major General Pemberton requested Confederate President Davis to grant the men a thirty to sixty day furloughs.[14] The furlough were not strictly adhered to so long as the soldier eventually showed up at a parole camp to be declared exchanged and returned to duty. Those who went directly home were treated as if they had been home on furlough if they eventually reported into one of these two parole centers. The exchange declaration reports issued by Colonel Robert Ould in Richmond for various units in the Vicksburg and Port Hudson surrenders began in September 1863 based upon men who actually reported into one of the two parole camps.[13] Pemberton eventually corrdinated with the Confederate War Department and Confederate General Kirby Smith, commanding the Department of the Trans-Mississippi to have the Arkansas Vicksburg parolee's rendezvous point established at Camden, Arkansas.[15]

Eventually exchanged, reorganized, and mounted, at Washington, Arkansas, in the fall of 1863, the 20th was attached to Dockery's Brigade in the Trans-Mississippi Department.[16] During this period, the Arkansas State Military Board officially redesignated the regiment as the 41st Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Mounted).[2] This designation was completely ignored by the unit and its commander, but the unit is occasionally referred to as the 20th Arkansas Cavalry.[5]

Colonel Jones, who had been taken prisoner at Corinth and exchanged, was again a prisoner at the capitulation of Vicksburg. After being exchanged, the regiment re-entered the service as cavalry under Colonel Jones, and during the Camden Expedition[17] in March and April 1864, was at the skirmishes on the Little Missouri and Prairie d'Ane,[18] and the battles of Marks' Mills[19] and Jenkins' Ferry[20] in April 1864; and during Price's Missouri Raid river took part in the battles of Battle of Pilot Knob, Booneville, Independence and Marais des Cygnes, September 1864.[5]

Consolidation and Surrender

In November 1864, the remnants of Gee/Johnson's 15th Arkansas Dockery's 19th Arkansas and the 20th Arkansas Infantry Regiments were combined to form the 3rd Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment.[21][22] The 3rd Arkansas Consolidated was surrendered with the Department of the Trans-Mississippi, General Kirby Smith commanding, May 26, 1865.[23][24] When the Trans-Mississippi Department surrendered, all of the Arkansas infantry regiments were encamped in and around Marshall, Texas (war-ravaged Arkansas no longer able to subsist the army). The regiments were ordered to report to Shreveport, Louisiana, to be paroled. None of them did so. Some soldiers went to Shreveport on their own to be paroled, but the regiments simply disbanded without formally surrendering.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ Boney, James L. "Battle at Mt. Elba", Cleveland County, Arkansas, ArGenWeb Project, Accessed 26 March 2012, http://www.argenweb.net/cleveland/battle-at-mt.-elba.htm
  2. ^ a b Howerton, Bryan R. "In Response To: 20 Ark aka 41 Ark?", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 4 August 2004, Accessed 8 December 2011, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=8053
  3. ^ a b Gerdes, Edward G., "20th Regiment Arkansas Infantry" Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 1 August 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/20infhis.html
  4. ^ Howerton, Bryan, "14th Arkansas Regiment, No. 1", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Accessed 29 July 2011, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=14705
  5. ^ a b c Howerton, Bryan R.: "◦Re: 20th Arkansas Cavalry " Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 3 August 2004, Accessed 8 December 2011, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/arch_config.pl?noframes;read=8043
  6. ^ Harrell, John M., "Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History", Volume 10.2, Arkansas, Page 320, Accessed 1 August 2011, http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2001.05.0254%3Achapter%3D11%3Apage%3D320
  7. ^ a b Elihu C. Beckham, "A GOOD STORY, Where I was And What I saw During the Late War By Elihu C. Bechkam, Sergeant Co. “K”, 21st Ark.", The Izard County Historian, October 1977, Volume 8, Number 4. Accessed 6 June 2012, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/goodstor.html
  8. ^ Odom, Danny "Re: 17th Arkansas Regiment, No. 2", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 9 June 2012, Accessed 11 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=26502
  9. ^ Odom, Danny "Re: 17th Arkansas Regiment, No. 2", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 9 June 2012, Accessed 11 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=26502
  10. ^ UPTON, EMORY, Bvt. Maj. Gen., United States Army; "THE MILITARY POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES" WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1912, Page 471, Congressional edition, Volume 6164, Google Books, Accessed 4 November 2011, http://books.google.com/books?id=2-tGAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA471&lpg=PA471&dq=Confederate+conscription+law+reorganization+regiment&source=bl&ots=7ptDBF0n2D&sig=-K_6PQoHglmh_SOzuobv_JyNWUw&hl=en#v=onepage&q=Confederate%20conscription%20law%20reorganization%20regiment&f=false
  11. ^ Odom, Danny "Re: Re-Organization in May 1862", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 22 November 2011, Accessed 11 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=25154
  12. ^ National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, Confederate Arkansas Troops, 15th (Northwest), Arkansas Infantry, Accessed 27 January 2011, http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm
  13. ^ a b Simmons, Hugh "Re: 46th AL Co. C -- questions re: Demopolis/Vicks", Alabama in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 17 April 2004, Accessed 4 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/alcwmb/arch_config.pl?noframes;read=13786
  14. ^ Martin. George, "Re: Paroled", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 14 July 2009, Accessed , 11 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=20381
  15. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "Re: Paroled", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 14 July 2009, Accessed 11 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=20383
  16. ^ National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, Confederate Arkansas Troops, 20th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  17. ^ Steele's Retreat From Camden and The Battle of Jenkins' Ferry, Edwin C. Bearss, 1967: p.166-169, See Also Odom, Danny, "Question for Danny", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 15 March 2012, Accessed 26 March 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=25887
  18. ^ "Confederate Memorial, Old Washington, Hempstead County, Arkansas", Civil War Buff, The Civil War in Arkansas, Accessed 26 March 2012, http://www.civilwarbuff.org/Places/Hempstead/ConfederateMarker.htm
  19. ^ Taylor, Doyle. "Killed in the Battle of Mark’s Mill" Arkansas Civil War Page, Accessed 26 March 2012, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/MarksMill.html
  20. ^ "Order of Battle " Red River Campaign, Camden Expedition, Jenkins Ferry, Civil War Landscapes Association, Accessed 26 March 2012, http://civilwarlandscapes.org/cwla/states/ar/jf/intro/oobf.htm
  21. ^ Sikakis, Stewart, Compendium of the Confederate Armies, Florida and Arkansas, Facts on File, Inc., 1992, ISBN 978-0-8160-2288-5, page 118
  22. ^ Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  23. ^ Howerton, Bryan, "1st, 2nd & 3rd Consolidated Arkansas Infantry Regiments", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 26 July 2011, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=24472
  24. ^ Sikakis, Stewart, Compendium of the Confederate Armies, Florida and Arkansas, Facts on File, Inc., 1992, ISBN 978-0-8160-2288-5, page 75.
  25. ^ Howerton, Bryan, "Re: 17th/1st/35th/22nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment.", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 26 October 2011, Accessed 26 October 2011, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=24907
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