The 11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas Regiment was a crack outfit, which is unusual, considering they were a blended regiment. There are lots of references to them in the Official Records. Another consolidated regiment that performed well was the 6th and 7th Arkansas, one of the most battle-tested regiments Arkansas put in the field. Also unusual, given that the two elements were from different parts of the State and from different social classes. The 6th Arkansas was comprised mostly of men who had served for years in old-line militia companies, were mostly from the bigger towns in central and southern Arkansas, and included lots of educated men (lawyers, doctors, merchants, clerks, etc.) The 7th Arkansas, on the other hand, was raised in the northern part of the State, mostly from fiercely independent hill farmers, many of whom were illiterate. It was a good fit, however, and the consolidated regiment became one of the best in the business.

You are correct about reading the CSR cards closely. A lot of people believe that their grandpa's were paroled at Galveston, Texas, when in fact Galveston was where Kirby Smith surrendered the Trans-Mississippi Army on June 2, 1865. The men who remained with the colors were actually paroled at various points in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.