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During War Times (1861-1865)
The military operations in Pike County consisted in supplying the
Confederate army with two full companies, raised and dispatched to the
front in 1861, and many recruits, both volunteers and conscripts, at later
periods in the strife. A large number of men, estimated by some as many as
200 left the county, presumedly to join the Federal army; many of them
however went North, and engaged in civil pursuits till the fighting was
over, when they returned, and many are living here at the present time.
The first company for the Confederate army was recruited in the summer of
1861. At its organization Mr. Frank Black was elected captain, W.B. Gould,
first, J.N. McCollum, ... and H.C. Polk, second lieutenant(s). This company
left Murfreesboro in July 1861, and marched to Van Buren, where they were
organized into the Fourth Arkansas Regiment Infantry, and dispatched to
Southwestern Missouri; from that State fell back to Northwestern Arkansas,
and participated in the battle of Pea Ridge. They were then sent east of
the Mississippi River, where they were attached to the army of Gen. Joseph
E. Johnston, under whom they served until his surrender in North Carolina
in 1865.
Capt. Black died at Cross Hollow, Ark., in 1862, and Lieut. Gould was
promoted to the vacant office; he resigned soon after, on account of ill
health, when Sergt. B.D. Brock was elected to the command, and led the
company in many closely contested battles, till the surrender. Lieut.
McCollum resigned some time in 1862, and soon after joined the Federal
army, with whom he fought until the end of the strife. Less than a dozen
veterans of this company are living in Pike County now, among whom are Dr.
W.D. Alford, Rev. G.W. Brock, M.K. Brock, Eri Webb and Cyrus McRae.
Later in 1861 another company was recruited, by William J. Kelley. At the
organization, Mr. Kelley was elected captain, and Dr. B.R. Dickson, first,
W.M. Gilmer, second, and Granderson D. Preston, third lieutenant. This
company was organized into the (Sixteenth) Arkansas Infantry. After the
Battle of Pea Ridge, in which they were engaged, they proceeded across the
Mississippi River. After several engagements, they were with the army at
the defense of Port Hudson, and sustained the noted siege of that place;
at its fall, they were paroled, and very few ever joined the army again.
Capt. Kelley had resigned, on account of bad health, soon after the troops
reached the front; he returned home and lived in Pike County till his death
in (1872).
Dr. William D. Alford
He enlisted in Company G, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, August 10, 1861, and
participated in the battle of Pea Ridge. Immediately after the battle he
was appointed assistant surgeon, and accompanied the sick and wounded
troops to Little Rock from Van Buren. He remained in the hospital at Little
Rock until the fall of that city in September, 1863, when he was taken
prisoner and sent to Comp Morton, at Indianapolis, where he was retained as
assistant for the sick. He remained there until the surrender of Gen. Lee,
and then returned to Pike County, Ark. ... Service records indicate his
release on oath May 18, 1865.
P.H. Baker
In 1861 he entered the Confederate army, enlisting in Company G, Fortieth
Tennessee Regiment, under Gen. Walker. He was captured at New Madrid, and
taken to Springfield, Ill., where he remained one year. He was exchanged at
Vicksburg, Miss., he was recapatured at Port Hudson, was paroled to camp,
returned home, and then reported to Gen. Kirby Smith. He participated in
the battle of Pleasant Hill, La., and then returned home ...
John C. Barnes
At the outbreak of the late (Civil) war he enlisted in the Confederate
cause, in Speer's company, (19th Arkansas) Dawson's regiment; he was
captured at Arkansas Post and carried to Chicago, (thence to City Point,
Virginia and thereafter to Baltimore) where he died in the hospital in
(1863) of small pox. Service records indicate his death on May 23, 1863.
John J. Bowen
He participated in the late (Civil) war, serving under Capt. (Speer),
(Company A, 19th Arkansas Infantry). Service records indicate his
enlistment October 10, 1861 at Antoine, Arkansas and his death April 15,
1862, place not stated.
William R. Brewer
William R. Brewer, enlisted in the Confederate army, (Company G, Fourth
Arkansas Infantry) ... and returned with the same horse on which he rode
away from home. Service records indicate his detail as a nurse in St.
John's College Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas.
George W. Brock
He ... joined the Confederate army, July 13, 1861, (Company G, Fourth
Arkansas Infantry) ... and witnessed the scenes of many hard fought
battles. At the close of the late war he came home ... (Pike County).
Service records indicate his discharge May 18, 1862.
James Brock
(He) ... served in the Confederate army in the late (Civil) war, as
sergeant (in) Company C, Twelfth Tennessee regiment, an engaged in many
battles, among the principal ones being, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga,
Pegmont, Kings, Salt Work. While in Scoty County, Va., he was wounded by a
bushwacker, a ball passing through his right thigh, received a furlough,
came home and did not return again.
Moses Brock
In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army, and participated in about the
same engagements as his father (James Brock above).
William A. Buckner
In 1861 he entered the Confederate army, under Gen. Price in Company I,
Gates' regiment, and in his first battle was wounded by having two fingers
shot off his left hand. He was in Galveston, Tex., when his regiment
surrendered.
Henry W. Carter
In 1862, Mr. Carter enlisted in the Confederate army as a private and was
soon promoted to first lieutenant of Company A, Fourth Arkansas Regiment.
Later he was made captain of his company, and served in that capacity until
the close of the war. He was in the battles of Pine Bluff, Pea Ridge, Pilot
Knob, Lexington, Kansas City, Poison Springs and Saline River. He was also
in numerous skirmishes.
Benjamin T. Clement
Mr. Clement enlisted in the late war in 1861, as first lieutenant, in the
Confederate service, Company B, Thirty-eighth Virginia Infantry, and was in
the following engagements: Second battle at Manasses, Antietam, Gettysburg,
Cold Harbor, Five Fors and numerous skirmishes. He was slightly wounded at
the battle of Fort Darling.
Jim P. Copeland
In 1861 he enlisted in the late (Civil) war in the Confederate cause, under
Gen. Churchill, in Company I, First Arkansas, McNair's brigade and
participated in many severly fought battles, among the principal ones being
Oak Hill, Elkhorn, Corinth, Richmond, Peryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga,
(where he was wounded through the left arm), Dug Gap, and Resaca. At one
place he had his right leg broken. He was then paroled by Col. Stevens, and
returned home ... (Pope County).
George T. Epperson
During the late (Civil) war, or in 1863, Mr. Epperson enlisted in the
Federal army as captain in Company D. Fourth Arkansas Regiment, and
although in no general battles, he was in numerous skirmishes.
Allen A. Gentry
He served in the Confederate army, entering in 1863, under Col. Traer, in
Company I, Sixteenth Arkansas Regiment. His regiment surrendered in Texas
and Mr. Gentry immediately returned home ...
James M. Gilleylen
In 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate service, under Gen. Samuel Gaston,
and served until the close of the war, when he returned home ...
William B. Gould
In July, 1861, he entered a home company, was elected (second) lieutenant
of the company, marched to Van Buren, where they were organized into the
Fourth Regiment, under Capt. Black, and participated in the battle of Pea
Ridge. Their captain died and Mr. Gould was elected in his stead, but he
resigned this commission in 1862, on account of ill health, and returned
home where he remained until his death (in 1874). Service records indicate
his discharge May 25, 1862 under the Conscript Act.
James W. Hamilton
He then enlisted (1861) in the Confederate army, Company A, First Arkansas
Regiment, as private, and after drilling for some time at Little Rock, was
ordered to Missouri, where his company captured quite a number of Union
soldiers. After this they had a lively battle at Oak Hill, and in this our
subject received a slight wound. Later Mr. Hamilton was in the battle of
Elkhorn and was then transferred to Mississippi, where he took part in the
battle of Farmington, then Chickamauga, and there he received another
wound, which kept him off the field for sixty days. He subsequently
participated in the battle of Richmond, also Perryville, and in 1863 he was
in the Georgia campaign, where he was in a fight every day until the fall
of Atlanta. After this he was in the battle of Jonesboro, and was then
ordered to Vicksburg, Miss., where he engaged in the battle of Baker's
Creek. He also took part in the engagements at Murfreesboro and Franklin,
Tenn., and the battle of Jamestown.
Jonathan G. Hankins
In 1862 he entered the Confederate army, under Gen. Grocy, in Company I,
Forty-third Alabama Regiment, and participated in some of the hard fought
battles of that war, among the principal of which were Chickamauga,
Bristol, Va., Richmond, Petersburg. At the surrender he was in Virginia,
and immediately after that he returned to his home ...
Abner N. Henderson
He served in the Confederate army in the late (Civil) war, enlisting
July 18, 1862, under Gen. Churchill, and participated in many of the
principal battles of that war. He was cpatured at Arkansas Post, and
carried to Chicago, where he remained for four months. He was exchanged at
City Point, Va., then went to Tennessee, and joined the Tennessee army, and
fell back with the army into Georgia, being detailed as cook, at the time
of the Chickamauga battle. Again he was with the army, participated in the
battles of Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Ga., and at Atlanta, was again
captured at Jonesboro, Ga., and was carried to Nashville, Tenn., ... After
his exchange he went with the command on the raid into Tennessee; one
month after he was prisoner at Nashville. He was with his command in the
battle of Nashville, and fell back with the army, and crossed the
Tennessee River on Christmas day, 1864, the army falling back on Corinth,
Miss. There he obtained a furlough and returned home ...
James P. Hipp
He enlisted in the Nineteenth Arkansas (Regiment) Volunteers in January
1862, and was captured at Arkansas Post, January 11, 1863, being carried to
Camp Douglas, Ill., he was exchanged at City Point, Va., and died at
Petersburg in (May), 1863. Service records indicate his death May 4, 1863.
John T. Hipp
John T. (Hipp) enlisted in (the) Nineteenth Arkansas (Regiment) Volunteers,
at the age of nineteen, wa wounded and captured at Arkansas Post, January
11, 1863, and carried to St. Louis, Mo. He was exchanged at City Point,
Va., in June, 1863, and was in the Army of the Tennessee the rest of the
war. He took part in the batles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca,
New Hope, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin and Nashville,
having been in Pat Cleburne's division of Hardee's corps. (He returned) to
Arkansas after the war ...
W.A. Hipp
(He) ... enlisted in the Sixteenth Arkansas (Regiment) Volunteers, under
Gen. Price, and was in the battles at Corinth and Port Hudson, where he was
captured; he served until the surrender on this side (west) of the
Mississippi River. Service records indicate his parole July 12-13, 1863 at
Port Hudson, Louisiana.
Frank Lee
In 1862 he enlisted as lieutenant in the Confederate army, Company D,
Thirtieth Alabama Regiment. He was for some time during the war engaged in
boating coal from the Kidd & Co. coal pits to the Selma Gun Foundry. He was
in several skirmishes, but in no active engagements. After the close of the
war he returned to his home in St. Clark County, Ala. ...
Judge W.N. McClure
Judge McClure enlisted in the Confederate army in 1861, as second sergeant
in Company C, Nineteenth Arkansas Regiment, and served in this until 1864.
He was engaged in the battle of Arkansas Post, and was taken prisoner by
Gen. McClernand. After being retained for three months, he was exchanged
and was consolidated with the Twenty-fourth Arkansas, in which regiment he
continued until after the battles of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. He
was then united with the Eighth Arkansas, and was in the battle of Resaca,
New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Ga. He was twice
slightly wounded, and after the war he returned home ... (Pike County).
Service rrecords show him at Dalton, Georgia in a hospital, June 5, 1863.
John D. Meeks
In 1861 (he) enlisted in the Confederate army as a private in Company D,
Twelfth Arkansas Regiment. He participated in the following engagements:
Prairie Grove, Pine Bluff, Jenkin's Ferry (on Saline River) and was also in
numerous skirmishes, but was never wounded. After the war he returned to
Clark County ... (Arkansas).
Green L. Oldham
He enlisted in the Confederate army, serving as private.
Augustus H. Palmer
Mr. Palmer enlisted in the Confederate army, in 1862, as a private in
Company K, Monroe's regiment, and participated in the following battles:
Praire Grove, Kansas City, and was in numerous skirmishes. (He returned) to
his home in Columbia County, (Arkansas) after the war.
A.W. Parker
Our subject and his father (J.C. Parker below) served in the Federal army,
in company F, Fourth Arkansas Cavalry ...
J.C. Parker
(He) ... served in the Federal army, in company F, Fourth Arkansas Cavalry.
James Pickett
He enlisted during the latter part of the war, and served but a short time.
He had two sons in the army, one of whom died in prison at Rock Island.
A.A. Stell
He served in the late war, entering Company G, Cravin's regiment, under
Gen. Churchill, in 1864, and served until the close of the war. May 28,
1865, he returned home ... (Pike County).
William S. Stroope
On July 15, 1861, Mr. Stroope enlisted in Weatherspoon's company, and was
in the battles of Oak Hill and Elkhorn. He was taken sick after the battle
and was unable to go with his company across the Mississippi River. After
recovering he joined Reed's company and served wholly in Arkansas, until
the close of the war.
James S. Thomasson
In 1864 he ran away from home and enlisted in the Confederate service in
Beall's batalion, McCoy's brigade, and served until the close of the war.
At the surrender he was at Doctortown, Ga., and immediately after that
event took place he returned home ..
W.B. Thomasson
In the spring of 1862 he raised a company at home, was elected captain, and
soon went to the front, where he was attached to the Forty-first Regiment
Georgia Infantry and was in the battles of Corinth, Perryville, Missionary
Ridge and in the battles of Georgia, seige of Vicksburg, Jonesboro, on the
Georgia campaign, and at Bentonville, where the last gun fired. He then
returned to Georgia ...
Samuel B. Wall
He enlisted in the Confederate army, serving as brigadier-sergeant
thoughout the war. He was wounded severely several times. In the first
battle of Bull Run he was shot through both thighs and both calves; at
Wilmington his big toe was shot off; at Gettysburg he was shot through the
lungs, and while crossing the Tennessee River with Hood's retreat, he was
wounded quite severly by a shell. At the close of the war he returned to
his home in Mississippi ...
Thomas R. Watson
In 1862 he enlisted as a private in the Confederate army, Company C,
Nineteenth Arkansas Regiment, under Capt. Watson, and was in the battles of
Chickamauga, New Hope Church, and others. He was wounded at Chickamauga,
and this kept him from the field for two months. After recovering, he was
in the Georgia campaign, was at the battle of Arkansas Post, at which he
was captured, and taken to Camp Douglas, Chicago, where he was retained for
three months. In 1863 he was exchanged. After cessation of hostilities, he
returned to his home in Arkansas ... Service records indicate his
enlistment June 10, 1862 at Wilton, Arkansas (Pike County), his capture at
Arkansas Post, January 11, 1863, then sent to Military Prison at Camp
Douglas, Illinois, thereafter to City Point, Virginia.
Caswell B. Willett
During the late war, Mr. Willett enlisted as a private in the Confederate
army in July, 1862, and was in the Chatham Flying Artillery. He was
discharged on the 6th of December of he same year, on account of physical
disability. In 1864 he enlisted in Capt. Sharp's battalion, in which he
served until the close of the war. He was in numerous skirmishes, although
in no general engagements.
John M. White
He served in the late war, entering the Confederate army in 1862, under
Gen. Lee, in Company F, Forty-seventh Alabama Regiment, and served in many
hard fought battles, among the principle ones being: Cedar Run, Manassas,
Chattanooga, Wilderness, Richmond and Appomattox and Gettysburg. At the
time of the surrender he was at home on a furlough ...
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, Pike County,
1890, page 308, 314-346, edited, with correction and notation. Edward G.
Gerdes Civil War Page, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar.
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Update 03.29.01 David Kelley 2001 CVL-0027.HTM