The last two companies which were added to the 1st Arkansas Battalion to bring it up to regimental strength have an interesting story. There was a shadowy organization known as the Arkansas Peace Society which was alleged to exist in north central Arkansas. It was presumed to be composed of Unionists, and therefore subversive; although the members said that it was for the mutual defense of men who wanted to remain neutral. At any rate, the Governor was sufficiently aroused by the group that he called out the 45th Regiment Arkansas Militia in November 1861 to round up suspected members of the Peace Society. The militia escorted the suspects -- sometimes called the "Chain Gang" -- to Little Rock in December, where they were given the opportunity to enlist in the Confederate army, rather than be tried for treason. There were enough men to form two companies, which were assigned as Companies "I" and "K" of what became the 18th (Marmaduke's) Arkansas Infantry, which 30 days later was redesignated the 3rd Confederate Infantry. Here's an interesting account of the story from a Little Rock newspaper, the True Democrat, dated Thursday, December 19, 1861.

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A Good Result--We understand that seventy-five of the men brought to this city from Searcy county a few days ago, arrested upon a charge of belonging to a conspiracy supposed to be formed for treasonable purposes, were given the privilege of volunteering for three years in the Confederate service, which they gladly accepted. They elected officers from outside of their ranks, good and true men from their own county, who had accompanied them here as guards to prevent their escape. This mode of drafting of these men, whether done through the instrumentality of the Government or the Military Board, was a humane and, we think, a wise step, much better than to have hung them, as has been suggested. The evidence against these men was simply that they were members of a secret organization, and the most of them were so ignorant that they did not know what the objects of it were. The sinister designs of the leaders were evidently not known to the body of the members. The alacrity with which they volunteered and pledged themselves to support and fight for the Confederacy is an evidence that they were not badly corrupted or tainted with treasonable designs. We are glad to note this result of the matter from the fact that sensational articles written and published here have been copied all over the country, and doubtless gone into the newspapers of our enemies, giving this movement the character of an insurrection or rebellion against our government, when really, and in truth, not one man even appears to have known the ulterior designs of the organization, and became members of it through motives of patriotism and a desire to protect their homes.