The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment

Hello,

My name is Alex Thayer. My great-great-grandfather and his brother enlisted with the 1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment in Fayetteville, Arkansas in March of 1863. Their names were John W. Thayer and Joseph N. Thayer, though their names were spelled "Tharr" on their Union military papers. I imagine that had a lot to do with their accents, as they were farmers.

I've run into a couple of things that have confused me, and I'm hoping that you can straighten me out. They are listed on the Union side when they enlisted. Pensions were filed by each, and are on microfilm of Union pensions and soldiers. I've found conflicting things, though. Joseph Nathen Thayer is also listed in the 35th Arkansas Infantry and the 51st Arkansas Militia on the Confederate side, as well as in the 1st Arkansas Calvary on the Union side. The 1st Arkansas Infantry, from what I've found online, was later merged into the 35th Arkansas Infantry, but that appears to be the 1st Arkansas Infantry on the Confederate side, not the Union side.

So, I have military information that says Joseph Nathan Thayer (Tharr) fought on the Union side, as well as information saying he fought on the Confederate side.

Can you help me clear that up? Is it likely that he/they signed up with the Union army and switched? Or is it more likely that someone simply documented them on the Union side when they were actually on the Confederate side?

Any help you can provide would be very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Alex Thayer

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1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment
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