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:[[Battle of Chickamauga]], Georgia, September 19–20, 1863.
:[[Battle of Chickamauga]], Georgia, September 19–20, 1863.
:[[Chattanooga Campaign|Siege of Chattanooga]], September to November 1863.
:[[Chattanooga Campaign|Siege of Chattanooga]], September to November 1863.

In accordance with Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General's Office Order Number 131,<ref>United States. War Dept.. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 20, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., Book, 1887; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154629/m1/982/?q=McGregor : accessed June 29, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas. </ref> Private John Campbell of the battery was recognized for courage and good conduct on the field for the Battle of Murfreesboro<ref>United States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 20, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., Book, 1887, Page 974; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154629 : accessed 7 February 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas.</ref>



The 1st Arkansas Light Artillery was merged with Green's Kentucky Battery, Co. B, 2nd Alabama Light Artillery Battalion and Cobb's Kentucky Battery in January, 1864. The Battery was surrendered by Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, Commanding the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, at Citronelle, Alabama on May 4, 1865.<ref>Hutchinson, Dennis: "Cobb's Kentucky Battery", Accessed 4 November 2011, http://www.psci.net/hutch/cobb.html</ref>
The 1st Arkansas Light Artillery was merged with Green's Kentucky Battery, Co. B, 2nd Alabama Light Artillery Battalion and Cobb's Kentucky Battery in January, 1864. The Battery was surrendered by Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, Commanding the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, at Citronelle, Alabama on May 4, 1865.<ref>Hutchinson, Dennis: "Cobb's Kentucky Battery", Accessed 4 November 2011, http://www.psci.net/hutch/cobb.html</ref>

Revision as of 14:31, 29 June 2012

1st Arkansas Light Artillery (Confederate)
Arkansas state flag
Active1861–1865
CountryConfederate States of America
AllegianceDixie CSA
BranchArtillery
EngagementsAmerican Civil War
Battle honoursSouthern Cross of Honor to Private John Campbell for the Battle of Murfreesboro[1]

The 1st Arkansas Light Artillery, originally known as the Fort Smith Artillery (1861), was a Confederate artillery battery that served during the American Civil War. The unit was actually a pre-war volunteer militia company which was activated as part of the Arkansas State Troops and mustered out of state service following the Battle of Wilson's Creek. The unit immediately re-organized and re-enlisted for Confederate service. The unit spent the majority of the war in the western theater, fighting as part of the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

History

Organization

Captain John G. Reid was commissioned as the commander of a volunteer militia company of the 51st Militia Regiment, Sebastian County, Arkansas, on September 27, 1860.[2] The battery was originally identified simply as the "Independent Artillery" but was later styled the "Fort Smith Battery" or the "Fort Smith Artillery". The unit was inducted into state service for 90 days' service as part of Brigadier General Nicholas Bartlett Pearce's 1st Division (brigade), Army of Arkansas, in June 1861.[3] The battery officers were:[4]

  • Captain Jack G. Reid
  • 1st Lt. [unknown]
  • 2nd Lt. Marcus S. Wilcox
  • 3rd Lt. James H. Reed.

The Fort Smith Battery was well drilled. Captain William E. Woodruff, Jr., who commanded the Pulaski Light Artillery, is said to have watched the drill of Captain Reid's Battery in order to recall the correct procedures for artillery drill.[5] In keeping with the practice in the Confederate Army of referring to an artillery battery by the name of its current commander, the First Arkansas Light Artillery was variously known as Provence's Battery, Humphreys' Battery and Rivers' Battery. The Compiled Service Records of the men are filed under "Rivers' Battery" on Microfilm Roll #41.[6]

Wilson's Creek

The Fort Smith Artillery fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek.[7] Reid's battery was reportedly armed with 2 6 lb. smoothbores at Prairie Grove.[8] Brigadier-General Nicholas B. Pearce, commanding First (Northwest) Division, Provisional Army of Arkansas mustered his regiments out of service after the Battle of Wilson's Creek. The battery was mustered out of State service on September 17, 1861, and all of its members were discharged.[9]

Reorganized

The battery reorganized after Wilson's Creek, but Captain Reid did not stand for reelection, having accepted a staff position. The battery elected David Provence as captain on September 17, 1861. The Fort Smith Battery was sent east of the Mississippi River and served there for the rest of the war.[10] Captain Reid would later command yet another battery during the Battle of Prairie Grove, but that organization bore no relation to the Fort Smith Battery.[11]

Captain David Provence was elected commander of the re-organized battery. Most of the men originally assigned to the Fort Smith Artillery subsequently reenlisted in Confederate service in Provence's Arkansas Battery (1st Arkansas Light Artillery). The battery retained the name and battery colors of the Fort Smith Artillery, but it was officially referred to as Provence's, and later Rivers', Battery Arkansas Light Artillery. A comparison of enlistment documents between the two units indicates that about three fourths of the original Fort Smith Artillery Battery continued to serve with the battery in Confederate service.[12] The officers elected when the battery reorganized were:[13]

  • Captain David Provence,
  • First Lieutenant Stephen D. McDonald,
  • Second Lieutenant John T. Humphreys, and
  • Third Lieutenant William H. Gore.

Battle of Pea Ridge and beyond

The battery fought at the battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn Tavern), Arkansas, in March 1862, before being ordered east of the Mississippi River, where they spent the remainder of the war.[14][15] On November 18, 1862, the battery received a large number of transfers and details from the Arkansas regiments and battalions of McNair's Brigade. Many of these men are later listed on the battery's rolls as deserters; however, many, if not most of them simply returned to their original regiments.[16]

Captain David Provence resigned to accept an appointment as colonel, 16th Arkansas Infantry Regiment.[17] His resignation was formally approved on June 10, 1862, at which time Lieutenant John T. Humphreys was promoted to captain. Captain Humphreys resigned on October 15, 1863. Lieutenant John W. Rivers, who had risen from the ranks, was promoted captain, effective October 15, 1863, and commanded the battery to the end of the war.[18]

The 1st Arkansas Light Artillery was involved in the following battles:[19]

Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, March 7, 1862.
Siege of Corinth, April to June 1862.
Battle of Farmington, May 9, 1862.
Battle of Richmond, Kentucky, August 29–30, 1862.
Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, December 31, 1862 to January 3, 1863.
Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19–20, 1863.
Siege of Chattanooga, September to November 1863.

In accordance with Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General's Office Order Number 131,[20] Private John Campbell of the battery was recognized for courage and good conduct on the field for the Battle of Murfreesboro[21]


The 1st Arkansas Light Artillery was merged with Green's Kentucky Battery, Co. B, 2nd Alabama Light Artillery Battalion and Cobb's Kentucky Battery in January, 1864. The Battery was surrendered by Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, Commanding the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, at Citronelle, Alabama on May 4, 1865.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ United States. War Dept.. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 20, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., Book, 1887, Page 974; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154629 : accessed February 07, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas.
  2. ^ Kie Oldham Papers, Arkansas History Commission, One Capitol Mall, Little Rock Arkansas, Box 1, Items 18a
  3. ^ Howerton, Bryan R, "Reid's Battery", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 26 March 2003, Accessed, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/arch_config.pl?noframes;read=3662
  4. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "Reid's Battery", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 13 September 2001, Accessed, 2 November 2011, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/arch_config.pl?noframes;read=82
  5. ^ William Garrett Piston, Richard W. Hatcher, III, "Wilson's Creek, The Second Battle of the Civil War and the Men Who Fought It," UNC Press Books, 2003 Accessed, 2 November 2011, http://books.google.com/books?id=VFdVyvcHPNMC&pg=PA17&lpg=PA17&dq=Fort+Smith+Battery+Reid's&source=bl&ots=EdlLfDs0q_&sig=k1xrXV1QU_v1UXa25AvtpbGATLo&hl=en&output=reader
  6. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "First Arkansas Light Artillery (Rivers' Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 2 November 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/1starty.html
  7. ^ Sikakis, Stewart, Compendium of the Confederate Armies, Florida and Arkansas, Facts on File, Inc., 1992, ISBN 0-8160-2288-7, page 40.
  8. ^ Wagenhoffer, Drew; "Reid's Battery", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 26 March 2003, Accessed, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/arch_config.pl?noframes;read=3664
  9. ^ Howerton, Bryan R, "Re: Marcus S. Wilcox" Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted, 12 September 2001, Accessed 2 November 2011, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/arch_config.pl?noframes;read=69
  10. ^ Howerton, Bryan R, "Reid's Battery", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 26 March 2003, Accessed, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/arch_config.pl?noframes;read=3662
  11. ^ Howerton, Bryan R, "Reid's Battery", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 26 March 2003, Accessed, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/arch_config.pl?noframes;read=3662
  12. ^ Howerton, Bryan R, "Reid's Battery", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 26 March 2003, Accessed, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/arch_config.pl?noframes;read=3662
  13. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "First Arkansas Light Artillery (Rivers' Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 2 November 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/1starty.html
  14. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "First Arkansas Light Artillery (Rivers' Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 2 November 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/1starty.html
  15. ^ United States. War Dept.. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 10, In Two Parts. Part 2, Correspondence, etc., Book, 1884; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154614/m1/462/?q=Arkansas Corinth Battery : accessed June 15, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas.
  16. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "First Arkansas Light Artillery (Rivers' Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 2 November 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/1starty.html
  17. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "First Arkansas Light Artillery (Rivers' Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 2 November 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/1starty.html
  18. ^ Howerton, Bryan R. "First Arkansas Light Artillery (Rivers' Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 2 November 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/1starty.html
  19. ^ Sikakis, Stewart, Compendium of the Confederate Armies, Florida and Arkansas, Facts on File, Inc., 1992, ISBN 0-8160-2288-7, page 118.
  20. ^ United States. War Dept.. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 20, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., Book, 1887; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154629/m1/982/?q=McGregor : accessed June 29, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas.
  21. ^ United States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 20, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., Book, 1887, Page 974; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154629 : accessed 7 February 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas.
  22. ^ Hutchinson, Dennis: "Cobb's Kentucky Battery", Accessed 4 November 2011, http://www.psci.net/hutch/cobb.html

Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service

Bibliography

  • Daniels, Larry. Cannoneers in Gray: The Field Artillery of the Army of Tennessee, 1861-1865. (Tuscaloosa, AL: Fire Ant Books, 2005).
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