Bob, according to a unit history of Capt. James Mickall Daniel's battery, the Lamar Artillery, it was a large company when it was mustered into State service; however, when it was reorganized for Confederate service, many men left, and more were discharged for being over and under the age criteria in the Confederate Conscript Act. Therefore, the battery was understrength when it was ordered to Arkansas.

General Hindman ordered quite a few conscripts who were assigned to the 26th Arkansas (then organizing) to be transferred to Daniel's Battery. The largest acquisition was a group of men mustering at Tulip; others were picked up at DeValls Bluff. These transfers were permanent.

The Lamar Artillery received another influx of men in the late Spring of 1863, consisting of details from among various Texas dismounted cavalry regiments in Louisiana. These were supposedly temporary details, but being detailed to the artillery was sort of like entering the Twilight Zone -- many entered, but few returned.

Anyway, back to the 26th Arkansas. I believe the reason why it was tapped to provide warm bodies to Daniel's Battery was that it was still in the process of being organized at time the battery arrived in Arkansas, and thus could be drawn upon without compromising the combat readiness of the District of Arkansas -- since the 26th Arkansas was not combat-ready anyway.