The first 17th Arkansas Regiment is a very interesting outfit, with the kind of “rags to riches” story that Hollywood movies are made about. This regiment went from being criticized and ridiculed for losing its colors in its very first battle, to being feared and respected as mounted “Yankee hunters” in Mississippi.

Although the War Department clerks catalogued this regiment as the 17th (Griffith’s) Arkansas Infantry, it was actually organized in November 1861 under the command of Col. Frank A. Rector—the same man who later commanded the 35th Arkansas. The regiment was composed of eight companies mostly from Sebastian County and the surrounding area. The regiment’s first major action was the battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862, where, from most accounts, Rector’s regiment did not acquit itself well. A Missouri (Confederate) artillery battery found the regiment’s colors layng on the field, and for a time refused to return the flag to Rector, saying that a regiment that would abandon its colors in battle had no right to carry them after the battle.

I’ve had trouble finding much about the 17th Arkansas for the next couple of months. By the time my research picks up again, in early May 1862, about half the regiment is still in Arkansas with Rector, eventually becoming part of the 35th Arkansas Regiment, and the other half is at Corinth, Mississippi, with the Army of the West. Here, John Griffith was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, commanding what was now a battalion-sized 17th Arkansas, and this outfit’s fortunes immediately began to change for the better. Under new management, the 17th Arkansas was open for business again, and performed so well at the battle of Corinth that General Hebert wrote, in his after-action report: “Under my personal supervision no one faltered, no one hesitated to meet the foe, even in hand-to-hand conflict if required. I must, however, put into the positon of brave and true men the small numbers of the Fourteenth and Seventeenth Arkansas Regiments of Infantry, of the Second Brigade, upon whom past circumstances had cast a doubt. Nobly, heroically have they proven themselves true patriots and brave soldiers.”

Another account stated: “All the duties in camp, on the march, and in the field the regiment has so promptly performed and are unsurpassed in any service for good breeding, soldierly deportment, description, drill, bravery, and patriotism. The officers are pattern gentlemen, brave soldiers, and noble patriots.” Clearly, the 17th Arkansas had left the cloud of Pea Ridge behind them.

In January 1863, the 17th Arkansas was consolidated with the 11th Arkansas Regiment and reorganized as the 11th & 17th Arkansas Mounted Infantry. Although the two regiments were from different parts of the State (the 11th Arkansas was mostly from Saline County and a few other southern counties), with different battle histories, the merger clicked. Placed under command of Col. John Griffith, the 11th & 17th Arkansas spent the rest of the war as the Confederate Army’s “fire brigade” in southern Mississippi. As Yankee columns made repeated incursions into the area over the next couple of years, the South’s counter-moves involved variations of the order, “Send Griffith.” Colonel Griffith seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to determining when and where to strike a larger enemy force to cause the most damage. The 11th & 17th Arkansas was renowned for its scouting and tracking abilities. Griffith’s boys often rode all night to arrive at just the right time and place to counter a Yankee move. The regiment served to the end of the war in this capacity. If the 11th & 17th Arkansas had served in a more well-known theater of the war, I have no doubt it would be as famous as any mounted regiment in the Confederate service.

If you want to spend a rainy afternoon reading some exciting war stories, read the Official Records reports on the actions of Col. John Griffith and his 11th & 17th Arkansas Mounted Infantry in Mississippi in 1863-65.

Next post, the “other” 17th Arkansas Regiment.