"Arkansas puzzles can be frustrating, but at least I think we are close on this one!"

Danny;

I don't know if you have read my reply to Bob of 3/15 6;48 p.m. yet. What I point out in that reply is oftentime overlooked in most peoples evaluation of events.

While that in itself is a summation, the basic point is simply that the only military organization of any kind in Arkansas that I can find was at Pine Bluff/Sulphur Springs, because that is where the Military Commanders were until Hindman's arrival and assumed command of the Department of Arkansas about May 30th? Little Rock had, for all practical intents and purposes, been abandoned militarily in May.

At Hindman's arrival, he began to consolidate the command at Little Rock because of Gov. Rectors complaints. So it is not a things of individual companies being ordered to Little Rock to be organized they were already somewhat organized at PB/SS. That is why they were mentioned in Hindman's first telegraphs in his Copybook of telegraphs. He was taking care of first business first.

The thing that somewhat puzzles me is that Hindman addressed Captain McSwine directly in his order to move to Little Rock and not Roane? Unless Roane was in Little Rock briefing Hindman on the overall situation. Which is a possibility. But, then why did he not go through Col. Johnson who was the enrolling Officer and station commander at Pine Bluff at the time?

I am sure that this has something to do with military protocols and Hindman's direct managerial style. And the fact that Hindman probably brought his own people with him, Plotsz, Morgan, Crawford, Shavers possibly.