The 24th Arkansas Infantry (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. The unit began its service in the Department of the Trans-Mississippi, but the bulk of the unit was captured at the Battle of Arkansas Post and shipped to Northern prison camps. The unit was exchanged in Virginia and shipped to Tennessee and joined the Army of Tennessee in time for the Chattanooga Campaign and remained with the army through the Atlanta Campaign, the Franklin-Nashville Campaign and ended the war in North Carolina.

Organization

The 24th Arkansas Infantry Regiment was organized at White Sulphur Springs, Arkansas, on June 6, 1862. The field officers were Colonel E. E. Portlock, Jr.; Lieutenant Colonels W. R. Hardy, E. Warfield, and T. M. Whittington; and Major F. H. Wood. The unit was composed of units from the following area: *Company A – Commanded by Captain H. Herndon, organized in Sevier County, Arkansas, on March 1, 1862. *Company B – Commanded by Captain Francis H. Wood, organized in Palestine, Arkansas, on May 12, 1862. *Company C – Commanded by Captain J. A. Rader, organized at Falcon, Arkansas, June 16, 1862. *Company D – Commanded by Captain J. H. Edwards, organized at Warren, Arkansas, June 16, 1862. *Company E – "Drew County Grays" – commanded by Captain William P. Totter, organized in Monticello, Arkansas, June 16, 1862. *Company F – Commanded by Captain William H. Prescott organized at Washington, Arkansas June 21, 1862. *Company G – Commanded by Captain Benjamin F. McKnight, organized in Calhoun County, Arkansas, July 4, 1862. *Company H – Commanded by Captain Ezekiel Brown, organized in Dallas, Arkansas, June 25, 1862. *Company I – Commanded by Captain John S. Drake, organized in Danville, Arkansas, June 20, 1862. *Company K – Commanded by Captain J. R. Arnold, organized in Pike County, Arkansas, June 11, 1862.

Service

A large portion of the 24th Arkansas Infantry Regiment was captured at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, on January 11, 1863. The portion of the regiment which was captured was paroled on April 10, 1863, at

City Point, Virginia City Point was a town in Prince George County, Virginia, that was annexed by the independent city of Hopewell in 1923. It served as headquarters of the Union Army during the siege of Petersburg during the American Civil War. History 1613-18 ...

and was reassigned to the

Army of Tennessee The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in ...

. The 24th Arkansas was involved in the East Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina campaigns. The portion of the 24th Arkansas not captured at Arkansas Post was consolidated with the remainders of Crawford's Infantry Battalion and Dawson's 19th Arkansas Infantry Regiment and became Hardy's 19th and 24th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry Regiment early in 1863.

African Americans in Confederate Service

The men who were captured on January 11, 1863, at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, were sent to Military Prison at Camp Douglas, Illinois, and were then delivered to City Point, Virginia, on April 10, 1863. The records of these prisoners bear the following notation: This Confederate prisoner shown as "Negro Boy," was likely a grown man, the term "boy" being a pejorative term used by his Yankee captor.

Release to the Army of Tennessee

Of the 366 exchanged, as many as 58 either died, separated from the 24th Arkansas or left sick; about 308 men returned to service.Pence, Merrill; "19th Arkansas Infantry Regiment Vols CSA (Dawsons)" Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 9 March 2007, Accessed 3 February 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=15092 Some 71 men had been captured but could not be accounted for. A few of these were possibly exchanged later, probably no more than a dozen at best, making the regimental strength about 320 following the exchange. The regiment was at Tullahoma for a month, under the command of Lt. Col. Augustus S. Hutchinson, where they were attached to the brigade of Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Churchill, as before. With other Arkansas and Texas troops, they were in the division of Major General Patrick Cleburne in Hardee's Corps, a part of the

under the command of Lieutenant General

Braxton Bragg Braxton Bragg (March 22, 1817 – September 27, 1876) was an American army officer during the Second Seminole War and Mexican–American War and Confederate general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, serving in the Western ...

. The company strengths at this time were: *Company A – 2 officers and 36 enlisted men, total 38. *Company B – 3 officers and 32 enlisted men, total 35. *Company C – 3 officers and 27 enlisted men, total 30. *Company D – 1 officer and 30 enlisted men, total 31. *Company E – 3 officers and 27 enlisted men, total 30. *Company F – 4 officers and 30 enlisted men, total 34. *Company G – 4 officers and 28 enlisted men, total 32. *Company H – 2 officers and 58 enlisted men, total 60. *Company I – 3 officers and 40 enlisted men, total 43. *Company K – 3 officers and 23 enlisted men, total 26. *Regt Staff – 4 officers and 1 enlisted man, total 5. The portion of the regiment which was reformed in the Army of Tennessee was assigned to Deshler's, Liddell's, and Govan's Brigades, and in September 1863, consolidated with the 19th (Dawson's) Regiment. The 19th/24th lost thirty-eight percent of the 226 engaged at the Battle of Chickamauga.

Chattanooga Campaign

In December 1863 the 24th Arkansas Infantry was added to the consolidated 2nd/15th Arkansas, under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel E. Warfield and the 2nd/15th/24th totaled 295 men and 202 arms in December 1863. On December 29, 1863, Colonel Daniel Govan of the 2nd Arkansas was promoted to the rank of

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

. The consolidated unit participated in all the battles of the

Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign The Chattanooga campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in October and November 1863, during the American Civil War. Following the defeat of Major general (United States), Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans's Union Army, Union Army of the C ...

including the Siege of Chattanooga September to November 1863; Battle of Chattanooga, the

Battle of Ringgold Gap The Battle of Ringgold Gap was fought November 27, 1863, outside the town of Ringgold, Georgia, by the Confederate and Union armies during the American Civil War. Part of the Chattanooga Campaign, it followed a heavy Confederate loss at the Bat ...

.The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. ; Series 1 - Volume 31 (Part II), page 755, Accessed 26 June 2012. http://ebooks.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moawar;cc=moawar;q1=Govan;rgn=full%20text;idno=waro0055;didno=waro0055;node=waro0055%3A5;view=image;seq=757;page=root;size=100

Atlanta Campaign

When General

Joseph E. Johnston Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3, 1807 – March 21, 1891) was an American career army officer, serving with distinction in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848) and the Seminole Wars. After Virginia secede ...

assumed command of the Army of Tennessee to oppose General Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, Govan's Brigade was reorganized and only the 2nd and 24th were united. The 2nd/24th Arkansas participated in the battles of Dalton, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, and the Siege of Atlanta. The consolidated 2nd/24th Arkansas reported 130 casualties during the campaign. The regiment and it colors were captured, along with much of Govan's Brigade at the

Battle of Jonesboro The Battle of Jonesborough (August 31–September 1, 1864) was fought between Union Army forces led by William Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate forces under William J. Hardee during the Atlanta Campaign in the American Civil War. On the first ...

, Georgia, on Sept. 1, 1864. Due to a special cartel between Union General Sherman and Confederate General John B. Hood, the unit was quickly paroled and exchanged for Union prisoner held at Andersonville Prison. The regiment re-entered service approximately a month later.

Franklin-Nashville Campaign

The regiment and the rest of Govan's Brigade was released in time to participate in General John B. Hood's disastrous Franklin-Nashville Campaign. Due to the appalling losses suffered by Govan's Brigade during the Atlanta Campaign, the 1st/15th, 5th/13th and 2nd/24th Arkansas Regiments were consolidated into one regiment, which was commanded by Colonel Peter Green of the 5th/13th (specifically of the 5th). The other officers of the consolidated regiment were Major Alexander T. Meek, of the 2nd/24th Arkansas, Captain Mordecai P. Garrett and Sergeant Major Thomas Benton Moncrief of the 15th Arkansas. The consolidated regiment fought under the colors of the consolidated 5th/13th Arkansas Regiment, because this was one of the only colors not captured when Govan's Brigade was overrun at the Battle of Jonesboro. The flag of the combined 5th/13th Arkansas was issued in March 1864 and was captured by Benjamin Newman of the 88th Illinois Infantry at the battle of Franklin. The consolidated regiment numbered just 300 rifles and sustained 66% casualties during the Battle of Franklin.

Carolinas Campaign

The remnants of Govan's Brigade that survived the Tennessee Campaign remained with the Army of Tennessee through its final engagements in the 1865

Carolinas Campaign The campaign of the Carolinas (January 1 – April 26, 1865), also known as the Carolinas campaign, was the final campaign conducted by the United States Army (Union Army) against the Confederate States Army in the Western Theater. On January ...

. Major Alexander T. Meek was killed in the attack and now buried in the Carnton Confederate Cemetery in Franklin, Tennessee.

Campaign Credit

The 24th Arkansas Infantry Regiment participated in the following engagements: *

Battle of Arkansas Post The Battle of Arkansas Post, also known as Battle of Fort Hindman, was fought from January 9 to 11, 1863, near the mouth of the Arkansas River at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Confederat ...

, Arkansas, January 11, 1863. * Chickamauga Campaign, Georgia, August–September, 1863. **

Battle of Chickamauga The Battle of Chickamauga, fought on September 19–20, 1863, between U.S. and Confederate forces in the American Civil War, marked the end of a Union offensive, the Chickamauga Campaign, in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia. I ...

, Georgia, September 19–20, 1863.United States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 30, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports., Book, 1890; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152978/ : accessed June 27, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas. * Chattanooga Campaign, September to November 1863. ** Battle of Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, November 25, 1863. **

, Georgia, November 27, 1863. * Atlanta Campaign, May to September 1864. ** Battle of Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, May 5–11, 1864. **

Battle of Resaca The Battle of Resaca, from May 13 to 15, 1864, formed part of the Atlanta Campaign during the American Civil War, when a Union force under William Tecumseh Sherman engaged the Confederate Army of Tennessee led by Joseph E. Johnston. The battle ...

, Georgia, May 14–15, 1864. **

Battle of New Hope Church The Battle of New Hope Church (May 25–26, 1864) was a clash between the Union Army under Major General William T. Sherman and the Confederate Army of Tennessee led by General Joseph E. Johnston during the Atlanta Campaign of the American ...

, Georgia, May 25 - June 4, 1864. **

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought on June 27, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the most significant frontal assault launched by Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman against the Confederate Army of Tenne ...

, Georgia, June 27, 1864. **

Battle of Peachtree Creek The Battle of Peachtree Creek was fought in Georgia on July 20, 1864, as part of the Atlanta Campaign in the American Civil War. It was the first major attack by Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood since taking command of the Confederate Army of Tennessee ...

, Georgia, July 20, 1864. ** Siege of Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864. **

, Georgia, August 31 to September 1, 1864. *

Franklin–Nashville Campaign The Franklin–Nashville campaign, also known as Hood's Tennessee campaign, was a series of battles in the Western Theater, conducted from September 18 to December 27, 1864, in Alabama, Tennessee, and northwestern Georgia during the American Civ ...

September 18 to December 27, 1864. **

Battle of Spring Hill The Battle of Spring Hill was fought November 29, 1864, at Spring Hill, Tennessee, as part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign of the American Civil War. The Confederate Army of Tennessee, commanded by Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood, attacked a Union ...

, Tennessee, November 29, 1864. ** Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1864. ** Battle of Nashville, Tennessee, December 15–16, 1864. *

, February to April 1865. **

Battle of Bentonville The Battle of Bentonville (March 19–21, 1865) was fought in Johnston County, North Carolina, near the village of Bentonville, as part of the Western Theater of the American Civil War. It was the last battle between the armies of Union Maj ...

, North Carolina, March 19–21, 1865.

Consolidation and Surrender

The remnants of ten depleted Arkansas regiments, along with one mostly-Arkansas regiment, in the Army of Tennessee were consolidated into a single regiment at Smithfield, North Carolina, on April 9, 1865. The 1st Arkansas, was lumped together with the

2nd A second is the base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI). Second, Seconds or 2nd may also refer to: Mathematics * 2 (number), as an ordinal (also written as ''2nd'' or ''2d'') * Second of arc, an angular measurement unit, ...

5th Fifth is the ordinal form of the number five. Fifth or The Fifth may refer to: * Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as in the expression "pleading the Fifth" * Fifth column, a political term * Fifth disease, a contagious rash tha ...

, 6th, 7th, 8th, 15th,

19th 19 (nineteen) is the natural number following 18 and preceding 20. It is a prime number. Mathematics 19 is the eighth prime number, and forms a sexy prime with 13, a twin prime with 17, and a cousin prime with 23. It is the third full re ...

and 24th Arkansas Infantry Regiments and the 3rd Confederate Infantry Regiment as the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry on April 9, 1865. On April 26, 1865, the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment was present with the Army of Tennessee when it surrendered in

Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...

References

External links

Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Home PageThe Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20110718122909/http://arkansascivilwar.com/ The Arkansas History Commission, State Archives, Civil War in Arkansas