I agree, Van Dorn's was in the State less that 90 days in Command in the Trans Mississippi. Look what he did in that 90 days. He called for all able bodied men of Arkansas to volunteer for the defence of the States lost the battle of Pea Ridge ande then went to Mississippi.

Hindman being from Arkansas at least tryed to piece things back together. And for his 3 month in command he did a yeoman's job. Why he was replaced by Richmond By "Granny" Holmes I don't understand. Maybe Hindman sided with Rector and complained too much to Richmond trying to get Troops returned. Maybe it was because Hindman drug his feet, so to speak about sending more regiments east. In either case Hindman just really did not cooperate too well with richmonds requests. That is probably why he was replaced.

Holmes was a joke. I don't know that he really did anything while he was in Command. Like you say Arkansas didn't really get a good commander until Kirby Smith came to town. But what did he have to work with?