I don't know that John (whoever he is -- I hate it when people don't identify themselves) has any prejudices one way or the other, based on his one brief post. I'd need to read more from him before forming an opinion. But I will say that my first impression on reading your initial post was similar to his, especially since your post was a response to a general question about Union recruiting practices. I obviously read more into your post than you intended to say, and I apologize.

Based on the research I've done, I'd have to say that coercion was not a widespread Union recruiting practice in Arkansas. I can't say with any authority whether or not that held true in other states. In the majority of cases I know about, Arkansans joined the U.S. Volunteers because of loyalty to the Union, disillusionment with the Confederacy, to avenge the treatment of their families by southern sympathizers, the inducements that Alan Pitts referred to, etc. There are reports in the Official Records, as well as personal accounts, of Arkansans flocking to the colors (in northern Arkansas at least) when the Union army moved in. I don't know what constitutes a "flock", but threats and intimidation do not seem to have played much of a role.

But in the specific area you talked about, nothing that the 5th Kansas Cavalry did would surprise me. I've read some hair-raising accounts of their activities, and those of their sister regiment, the 6th Kansas Cavalry. There are some reports dealing with their brutality against civilians in Crawford County that will turn your stomach.