I should have posted this explanatory note before starting my series of posts on Arkansas regimental designations.

The purpose of these posts is to help other researchers to avoid the confusing labyrinth of Arkansas regimental designations that I fell into when I first started my own research. Due to the sheer number of conflicting designations, and the debilitating scarcity of records in most cases, I will post only a “bare-bones” sketch of each regiment—just enough so that other researchers won’t have to reinvent the wheel or go off on a wild-goose chase. My posts are not intended to be a comprehensive regimental history. For a complete list of officers, companies, brigade assignments, battles, and other facts about the particular regiment you’re researching, let me know what you need, and if I don’t have it myself I’ll try to help you find it.