James L. Shelby enlisted as a Private in Company G, 2nd Arkansas Cavalry* March 1, 1862 at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, there is a notation on the October 31,1862 muster as "Age 21 years," swore allegiance to the United States March 4, 1864 at Pine Bluff, Ark., resident of Spring Ts?, Jefferson County, Arkansas, Occupation: Farmer
*This company subsequently became Company F, 2nd Arkansas Cavalry
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James M. Shelby enlisted as a Private in Company G, 2nd Arkansas Cavalry* March 1, 1862 at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, advanced to 2nd Corporal, n.d., there is a notation on the October 31,1862 muster as "Age 26 years," swore allegiance to the United States ??, 1864 at Pine Bluff, Arkansas
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Second Arkansas cavalry (Confederate)
The Second Arkansas cavalry (Confederate) was formed
out of Phifer's battalion and other Arkansas companies,
notably the company of Captain Ragland, of Drew county,
of which William F. Slemons was first lieutenant, and
companies commanded by Capt. H. R. Withers, and
others under T. J. Reid, of Dallas county, who held the
rank of major. This command went under Hindman to
Columbus, Ky., thence to Bowling Green, and performed
post duty along the Green river, under the immediate
command of Hindman. It covered, with other cavalry
commands, the retreat of Gen. Sidney Johnston to Nash-
ville and into Mississippi. It was at the battle of Shiloh,
and helped to cover the withdrawal of Beauregard to
Corinth. At Corinth, May, 1862, it was consolidated with
Phifer's battalion and organized as the Second Arkansas
cavalry, Col. William F. Slemons, Lieut. -Col. H. R.
Withers, Maj. Thomas J. Reid, Adjt. Thomas Garrison,
Quartermaster W. Leeper, Commissary Wat Strong. Its
line officers were: Company A, Capt. A. H. Christian ;
Company B, Capt. Joseph Earle, afterward H. S. Hud-
speth; Company C, Capt. Thomas Cochran; Company D,
Capt. James Portis, afterward Capt. Watt Green; Com-
pany E, Capt. J. S. Somerville, afterward William Cooper;
Company F, Capt. 0. B. Tebbs; Company G, Capt. E. L.
Murtree, afterward C. Steil; Company H, Capt. Phil
Echols, later Capt. James Oliver; Company I, Capt. M. L.
Hawkins. On the retreat of Generals Bragg and Beaure-
gard from Corinth to Tupelo, Miss., the Second Arkansas
again formed part of the rear guard of the army, under
Gen. John C. Breckinridge. July 3, 1862, it was ordered
with Clayton's Second Alabama under Gen. James R.
Chalmers against the Federals at Booneville, Miss., who
were completely routed. Together with the Second Mis-
souri cavalry, it was ordered, under Gen. Frank C. Arm-
strong, to Tennessee, where it met at Middleburg, Tenn.,
the Federals under Colonel Leggett, and defeated the
enemy, killing and wounding large numbers of them.
About the last of July the Second Arkansas, under Col-
onel Slemons, the Second Missouri, under Col. Robert
McCulloch, and the Fourth Mississippi, under Wirt
Adams, engaged the escort of Federal cavalry and artil-
lery guarding a train of supplies at Britton's lane, Tenn.,
and after a stubborn conflict of three hours captured the
train and 300 prisoners and two pieces of artillery. The
Second Arkansas lost 7o men killed and wounded in this
engagement. In the campaigns of Price and Pemberton
in Mississippi, it was in continuous active service. Under
General Chalmers, in 1863, it participated in the battles
of Iuka, Coldwater, Colliersville and Salem. Under Gen.
N. B. Forest, 1864, it participated in the masterly move-
ments of that greatest of cavalry commanders, encircling
armies, taking cities, capturing trains and burning
bridges. It was then transferred to the Trans-Mississippi
department. There it served with Cabell's, Gano's and
Dockery's brigades, in the battles of Poison Spring,
Marks' Mills and Jenkins' Ferry. It was with Price's army
on the raid to the Missouri river, in the autumn of 1864,
and engaged in the battles of Pilot Knob, Independence,
West Point, and Marais des Cygnes, Kan. In the latter
fight, Colonel Slemons' horse was killed and he fell with
him, the saddle catching his leg under him so that he could
not disengage himself. A number of officers of the bri-
gade, 100 of his men and two pieces of artillery were cap-
tured with him. They were sent as prisoners of war first
to Johnson's island, then to Rock Island, where they were
detained until the end of hostilities. Colonel Slemons
was elected a representative to the Fifty-second and Fifty-
third congresses from his district after the people over-
threw the carpet-bag government. He lent substantial
assistance in bringing about that happy result.
Source: Confederate Military History, vol. XIV, p. 286
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2nd or Slemons Arkansas Cavalry Rgt.
Col. W. F. Slemons, LtCols. Thomas M. Cockran, H. A. Withers,
Majs. T. J. Reid, William J. Somervell
The regiment was organized in the spring of 1862 using Phifer's
Arkansas Cavalry Bn. as the nucleus. Many of the men were from Drew and
Dallas counties.
The unit served in the Army of the West and Departments
of Mississippi and East Louisiana. It fought at Iuka, Corinth and
Hatchie Bridge. Later it was assigned to W. A. Crawford's, J. C.
Wright's and W. F. Slemon's brigade in the Trans-Mississippi
Department.
It fought at Poison Spring, Ark. and took part in Price's 1864 Missouri
expedition. It was captured at Mine Creek on Oct. 25, 1864.