No, the Bentonville reference is not a mistake. Co. C, 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles, was organized in Prairie County on July 7, 1861, but was mustered into service at Osage Prairie (near Bentonville) on July 27, 1861, when the regiment was formally organized. The enlistment, or muster, date is what usually appears in soldiers' CSRs, since that was when they became part of the Provisional Army of the Confederate States, and that was the date from which the C.S. government became obligated for the soldiers' pay, allowances, rations, arms and clothing.

This has caused some confusion over the years among researchers, who mistakenly assume that, because the company was mustered into service at Bentonville, it must have been a Benton County company. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing -- people sometimes jump to erroneous conclusions. That's why research, research and more research is necessary, and that's what makes this message board so helpful.

The only actual regimental history of this outfit is Wesley Thurman Leeper's "Rebels Valiant: Second Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Dismounted)", Pioneer Press, Little Rock, 1964. The book tends to concentrate on Company G (Sevier County) and the author's ancestor, John Wesley Leeper, but is still a good general history of the entire regiment. The book is not footnoted or endnoted, and includes only a superficial list of sources, so it doesn't make the best reference book, but despite these shortcomings, it is obviously well-researched.

Another book that, while technically not a regimental history, contains much excellent information and is a must-have book for anyone interested in the 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles, is Mark K. Christ's "Getting Used to Being Shot At: The Spence Family Civil War Letters," The University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, 2002. Meticulously researched, with voluminous endnotes, this is a how a Civil War history should be written. The Spence letters include much information not found in the official records. My copy of Mark's book is filled with my margin notes, highlighted passages and post-it notes -- it has really helped my research. I can't say enough good about this book.

I hope I've answered all your questions. If I've missed something, let me know. I've done a fair amount of research on the 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles (I had some kin in Company K).

Bryan