I hope someone can still help with a lookup on the second part of the request, as it may related to loyalty oaths signed by Delaware Indians (promising not to be combatants in exchange for being allowed to remain in AR). Would like to confirm that and see the entry regarding the Dennis being "on the roster." What roster, I wonder.

This is quite interesting. I am quoting from your reply:

Under General Hardee, as division commander, it was part of the Third Arkansas brigade, made up of the Seventh (Shaver's), Eighth (Kelly's), a battalion of the Ninth Arkansas (Bradley's), and the Nineteenth Tennessee (Allison's), commanded by Col. R. G. Shaver. The brigade remained at Bowling Green until February, 186z, when that place was evacuated, Shaver's brigade guarding the rear, being shelled by the artillery of Buell's advance while the last trains of stores were being loaded. On leaving, Colonel Shaver, by order of Colonel Hardee, burned the depot and took down the telegraph wires. It was during the worst month in that climate, with rain and snow and the thermometer at night below zero, when this retreat was made. The Seventh was caused to stand to arms all night by a report that a large force of Buell's army was on its heels, which turned out to be Helm's Kentucky cavalry coming in the rear by an unexpected order of march. General Johnston, at Nashville, dispatched General Shaver that the enemy's cavalry was advancing upon his rear. This was made known to General Wood, of Alabama, who had taken command of the brigade on the retreat. General Wood refused to wait for the rear guard, and for this reason Colonel Shaver applied for and secured a transfer of the Seventh to Hindman's brigade.

There was a census in 1863 of indigent Confederate soldiers and their families who were living in Jackson Co, AR. It can be found at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~arjackso/soldiers.htm

Per the transcription, the men were from these identified units:
Shaver's 7th Ark Vol--John Dennis is listed in this group
Shaver/Adams
Matlock's Gauses
Paterson's 8th Ark Vol
McNeill's 5th Ark Vol
McCauley's
Daly's 18th Ark
McCray's
Batesman's Co
McCray's/McRae's
Johnson's
Artillery-Hubbard's/Thrall's
1st Ark Churchill's
1st Ark Infantry
Hunter's Co

I believe this may be the above John Dennis:
COMPANY B 7TH ARKANSAS INFANTRY REGIMENT CSA Better known as SHAVER'S REGIMENT
(thank you again to http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/shaversb.htm for the roster and info)
The following Roster of Personnel was transcribed from the microfilm copies of the service records of the personnel of the above company of which most records indicate that they enlisted at SMITHVILLE, LAWRENCE CO, ARKANSAS --DENNIS, JOHN Pvt Paroled 28Apr1865 at Greensboro, NC

There are several Dennises in Jackson County around that time and later. There are loads of John Dennises in southern MO and northern AR at about that time. I am working on finding THE John Dennis ancestor of ours who has been so elusive. This is probably not him below. The John Dennis from Shaver's 7th Ark Vol, IMHO, may be the one buried in Woodruff County, AR, possibly killed in one of the battles in that area in which the 7th Ark Vol participated. The John Dennis in these census records (married Amanda Ellen Givens), would have been too young to enlist.

1870 United States Federal Census
Cow Lake, Jackson, Arkansas
Post Office: Jacksonport
Charles Dennis 45 housekeeping $400 $500 KY, can't read or write
John Dennis 21 farmer KY, can't read or write (b. abt 1849)
Richard Dennis 12 at home AR, can't read or write

From: johndoylemc@yahoo.com
Subject: [ARJACKSO] Re: Dennis and Jenkins families
Date: 26 Jul 2003 19:56:38 -0600
Surnames: Dennis, Givens, McFadden
Classification: Query
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/RV.2ADI/419.2

Robert D. Dennis was the son of John Dennis.
John Dennis (14,Nov,1849 - 8,Sep,1883) is buried in the Givens Cemetery in Cow Lake TWP., Jackson Co., AR. John's wife was Amanda Ellen Givens, daughter of George & Mary T. Givens. Amanda Ellen Givens had brothers & sister
Wesley E. Givens
Napoleon B. Givens
Altessie Doria Givens (wife of Samuel A. McFadden)

I have a copy of the sworn testimony stating this by Amanda Ellen Dennis and Doria McFadden.
I hope this helps

http://jacksoncountyclerk.0catch.com/1870-1874.html (Jackson Co, AR marriages): GIVENS, WESLEY 24 ARKANSAS, WALKER, SARAH 16 ARKANSAS, 11/5/1874 book C page 227 (this tends to place the Givens family still in Jackson Co in 1874)

1880 United States Federal Census
Cow Lake, Jackson, Arkansas
John Dennis 30 farmer KY/KY/KY
Ellen Dennis 28 (Amanda Ellen Givens?) wife MS/SC/MO
Willie Dennis 5 son AR
Minne Dennis 1 dau AR
Richard Dennis 21 brother, single, laborer for 5 months, TX
Joseph Ball 21 single, laborer for 5 months, can't read or write, TX
Sam Griffen 18 single, laborer for 5 months, can't read or write, MS
Jane Gosden 18 single, servant for 3 months, can't read or write, AR

Arkansas Civil War soldier burials in Dennis Cemetery, Woodruff Co, AR:

DENNIS, JESSIE A. Co D, 2nd Ark Vol (30 days) CSA
DENNIS, JOHN Co B, 7th Ark Inf, CSA
DENNIS, J.D. Co D, 45th Ark Inf, CSA --related

This man buried in Faulkner County served in the 7th Ark Vol, as well. :
DENNISON, J.M. Rev., Co F, 7th Ark Inf, CSA headstone: 25 Jan1838-7 Nov1925 Oak Grove Cemetery, Conway, Faulkner Co, AR

Thank you again for the information.