While both sides frequently employed intimidation as a means of recruiting, Federal authorities held several trump cards in this game. U.S. soldiers received first-class uniforms and equipment. Although firearms might be suspect, they were a match for whatever the average rebel might have, and often a lot better. Federal quartermasters provided a reasonable share of rations to each soldier, and issued pay regularly. Confederate officers could hardly hope to compete in any of these areas. If your family lived inside Federal lines, or within territory usually controlled by U.S. forces, their security counted for a lot.

In light of abundant Federal strength and resources, it's a wonder that the Confederacy could maintain any semblance of a military force inside the State of Arkansas, particularly after 1862. The plight of the Confederate cause in the Trans-Mississippi theater closely parallels that of Americans in rebellion against the British government during the period 1775-1778. If you understand the Revolutionary War, it's fairly easy to apply what you know to the Civil War on this side of the Mississippi River.