There is a postwar account written by a former member of the 14th Arkansas who fought with the 21st Arkansas at Corinth, that makes you want to stand up and cheer.
Bryan,
Can you ID that source? It might be of use to me for my Port Hudson research.
I have been unable to learn very much about this outfit during the period of January to April, 1862.
Only because you mentioned this void period, I have gathered some rather dull [for the casual reader]information that may offer clues as to the locations and activities of McCarver and Lemoyne's regiments [aka battalions]. This is pretty dry stuff compared to the fine narratives you are sharing with us.
I will post this information in 3 batches so as not to clog Jim's board.
Batch #1--
National Archives
Special Orders January-May 1862 General Van Dorn's command
# 6 February 2, 1862 Jacksonport
Col G. W. Lemoyne cdg-....Regiment Arkansas to go to Little Rock and encamp there and await his arms being repaired there.
.....then to proceed to Devall's Bluff,...to Jacksonport, and report by letter to Van Dorn's Headquarters at Pocahontas
# 8 February 7, 1862
Colonel J. S. McCarver commanding regiment Arkansas volunteers will move his regiment from present location to Pittman Ferry on Current River and take post there.
# 10
Colonel G. W. Mitchell commanding troops in Carroll County, Arkansas will move his regiment to Pittman Ferry at once.
# 16 February 22, 1862, Pocahontas
Ch. J. Turnbull appointed Captain of the Provisional Army to be aag for Col McCarver's command and to instruct the officers and men
# 46 April 9, 1862, Des Arc
Brigadier General Rust is assigned to the command of a brigade which will consist of Arkansas regiments and battalions currently garrisoned at Devall's Bluff and of such others as may hereafter be added to them.
[# 47?] April 10, 1862 Des Arc
Colonel McCarver's regiment of Arkansas infantry will be transferred at once to the General Price steamer. On reaching Memphis, Colonels McCarver and Lemoyne will report for orders to General Rust.
# 59 April 21, 1862, Memphis, Tn
Following is the organization of the second brigade, second division, Army of the West Churchill commanding.
Embry's regiment dismounted cavalry
Harper's regiment dismounted cavalry
McNair's regiment infantry
McCarver's regiment infantry
Provence's battery
These units to report immediately to their brigade commander
# 64 April 24, 1862, Memphis, Tn
Par IV-Colonel McCarver's regiment Arkansas volunteers is hereby transferred from Churchill's to Rust's brigade
Par XII-Rust's brigade consists [to be] of the regiments of Colonel's Carroll, King, Smead, McCarver and Lemoyne. Major Clark to assign a battery to the brigade.
# 67 April 27, 1862, Memphis
As soon as they arrive, the troops of General's Hebert & Rust's brigades to prepare for moving to Corinth, but for now they will go into camp near Ft Pickering.
General Orders # 17, April 29, 1862 Memphis, Tn
Following is the organization of the Army of the West:
Jones Division
Rust Brigade
Carroll's Arkansas regiment
King's Arkansas regiment
Smead's Arkansas regiment
McCarver's Arkansas battalion
Lemoyne and Jones Arkansas battalions
Special Orders Army of the West General Earl Van Dorn
#80 May 10, 1862
Morgan's infantry company now attached to McCarver's regiment is permanently transferred to McCray's Arkansas infantry battalion
# 97 May 24, 1862
Captain Mayfield [sp?], not being reelected, to go to Pocahontas and pay off accounts of Colonel McCarver's command while stationed near there
Colonel McCarver not being reelected on the reorganization of his regiment is discharged.
Major Messick of the 14th Arkansas failing examination is to return to his former rank.
# 98 May 25, 1862
Par VIII-.....Duly elected, passed exam.......
.....
Colonel J. E. Cravens 17th Arkansas
Lt Colonel Matheny 17th Arkansas
[appears to be archivist's pencil note in margin changing 17th to 21st]
.......
Not re-elected and... now discharged....
.....
Colonel G. W. Lemoyne-consolidated Arkansas regiment
LtCol Sam Williams-consolidated Arkansas regiment
National Archives-Record Group 109-Chapter II volume 179
General Van Dorn-letters and telegrams sent, January-June, 1862
February 22, 1862 to Colonel J. S. McCarver, Colonel commanding 14th Arkansas [my note-this numerical designation appeared as a note in the margin, presumably by an archivist]
March 25, 1862 [extracts] To Rust-you are to command the region of country about the Arkansas river from....and about White River from Des Arc to its mouth. You will proceed at once to organizing regiments from the companies organized. The companies now at Little Rock will go to Devalls Bluff under Col James P. Major where the organization will take place.
The companies north of the Arkansas River will go to Des Arc to be organized into regiments and battalions under your direction..........................................
General Rust, after assuming command as heretofore directed, will cause all the Arkansas troops who may report to him to be organized into regiments after their arrival on White River.
April 7, 1862 To Colonel J. P. Major, cdg Devalls Bluff-A steamer takes to your camp four companies of Arkansas volunteers. you are to stay and organize into regiments all companies that may arrive at Devalls Bluff for organization. As soon as a regiment is organized, report to General Van Dorn so that transportation can be furnished.
[my note-Rust's brigade can be tracked for the next several days by the movement of King's regiment of that brigade.]
King's regiment [organized at Devall's Bluff] arrived Memphis April 11, and leaves April 12 for Ft Pillow, arriving April 13, 1862. Left for return to Memphis April 26, and May 1 leave for Corinth.
April 23, 1862
From Memphis to General Rust-hold your brigade ready to move in this direction
April 25, 1862
Van Dorn to Beauregard-I have sent for Gen Rust [my note-at Ft Pillow about now]