The Confederate Army 1861–65 (4)

Army of Arkansas, 1861

On May 15, 1861, the secession convention of Arkansas created a Military Board consisting of Governor Rector and two advisors, with powers to call out the militia and volunteer forces, and to control the forts, arms and munitions of the state. On May 20 the Military Board established the “Army of Arkansas,” a force enlisted for six months’ state defense and comprising the 1st through 5th State Infantry Regiments, or State Troops; the 1st and 2nd Mounted Rifles; at least three batteries of artillery, including the Totten Artillery, the Fort Smith Battery and the Helena Light Artillery; and several other battalions and companies of cavalry and infantry. Most of these units were turned over to the Confederate War Department on July 15, 1861.

The Army of Arkansas embraced most of the former volunteer militia companies, who volunteered for state service in a mixture of full dress and hastily prepared service uniforms. Organized at Van Buren in Crawford County on January 5, 1861, the Van Buren Frontier Guard were originally attached to the 5th Regt, Arkansas Militia, but enlisted for state service as Co G, 2nd Regt, Arkansas State Troops (Gratiot’s). According to Clem McCulloch, deputy postmaster at Van Buren, who was an original member of the company, “… we sent our measures to Philadelphia and had uniforms made of sky blue soldier cloth for pants and navy blue coats and high crowned hats without brim, only a visor or ‘bill’ and with large detachable plumes and pompom [i.e. pattern 1851 dress caps].” Photographed in this uniform on May 18, 1861, McCulloch wears a single-breasted, nine-button, dark blue frock coat with turned-down collar, with a rectangular US “eagle” plate fastening his waist belt.

Second Lieutenant Decatur McDonald of the Fort Smith Rifles – Co D, 3rd Regt State Troops – was photographed wearing a short-skirted gray frock coat, darker gray trousers, and a plumed hat pinned up on the right. Others in his company wore gray coats and pants trimmed with buff braid. The Crawford Artillery – Co F – were outfitted in a uniform of gray jeans cut and made by the ladies of the county. John H.Rivers of the Centerpoint Riflemen, 5th Regt State Troops, recalled: “We had Uniforms made at home, all alike, the shirts were made of hickory checks, and had red stripes across the breast, five in number: And the pants were out of some thin goods: They were blue, and had red stripes on the outside of each leg, about an inch wide: We were proud of Our Uniforms.”

In April 1861 the Des Arc Rangers – who enlisted as Co B of Thomas J.Churchill’s 1st Mounted Rifles – adopted a uniform consisting of a “red flannel shirt, with a deep blue breast and back, blue cuffs and black velvet collar, with three rows of brass buttons in front; black pants, with red stripes up the sides; United States cavalry fatigue cap, with ostrich plume.”

Other volunteer militia companies entering state service included the Pulaski Lancers of Little Rock, who wore uniforms of “blue and red” and carried lances with pennants. The Capitol Guards, formed in the same city during January 1860, wore a full dress resembling “the regular army uniform.” On the 19th of that month the Old-Line Democrat reported of this company: “We had the pleasure of examining the cloth out of which the uniforms are to be made, and in our humble judgment will equal any in the South. The coats are dark, navy blue, single breasted, buttoned full to the neck; gilt buttons with a device of the Capitol upon them. The pants are made of the same material, with gold trimmings. Brigand [M1858 Hardee] hat with a black plume caught upon the side with a gilt clasp. The trappings are of patent leather… We are glad that this company has seen fit to award the making of the uniforms to Mr W.[illiam] H.Hart of this city, ‘for none could better be.’ His large experience, taste, and interest will render him to do his best in this contract. Besides all this, he is a citizen of our city, and when this company is in full uniform, the anxious inquiry will be made, ‘Who made the uniforms?’”