Headquarters Fourth Regiment Arkansas Cavalry,
Little Rock, Arkansas, June 8, 1865.

A. W. Bishop, Adjutant-General, State of Arkansas.

Sir—In reply to your communication of to-day requesting a history of this regiment I have the honor to state: The organization of the regiment was commenced under the direction of William M. Fishback in the month of November, 1863. The first battalion was mustered in for one year or during the war, but the muster was declared invalid by the Adjutant-General of the army, and in the month of December that battalion was disbanded, and the regiment commenced reorganizing as a three years’ organization. The regiment filled up quite rapidly until the disastrous expedition of General Steele in the month of March, 1864, which discouraged enlistments, and the organization of the regiment was not completed till December 29, 1864.

The following is a statement of the completion of the organization of each company: “A” company was organized by Captain Joel Brown, on the 12th day of December, 1863, at Little Rock, Arkansas, Arkansas; “B” company by Captain James R. Lafferry, on the 9th day of January, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas; “C” company by Captain Henry Wood, on the 28th day of January, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas; “D” company by Captain George H. Hand, on the 5th day of March, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas; “E” company by Captain George W. Smith, on the 29th day of March, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas; “F” company by Captain William H. Warner, on the 7th day of April, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas; “G” company by Captain William J. Green, on the 29th day of April, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas; “H” company by Captain John F. Sanders, on the 7th day of May, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas; “I” company by Captain Emory E. Knowlton, on the 16th day of October, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas; “K” company by Captain Joseph Bennett, on the 18th day of June, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas; “L” company by Captain James S. Clark, on the 15th day of July, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas; “M” company by Captain Frederick F. Burlock, on the 31st day of December, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas.

Although the regiment, as such, has never been in any general engagements, detachments of it have been in several skirmishes and fights. A portion of company G was in a fight at Mount Elba, Arkansas, on the 30th day of March, 1864. Companies A, B, C, E, and K were in a fight at Dardenelle, Arkansas, when that place was attacked by the rebel General Shelby’s command on the the 16th day of May, 1864. The regiment also had a severe skirmish with the enemy on Saline river, Arkansas, on the 16th day of July, 1864, in which the brave Captain Hugh Quin was killed.

Portions of the regiment have also been in several other skirmishes at different times, and a large number of bushwhackers have at various times been captured by it.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HORACE L. MOORE,
Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Regiment.