"Head Quarters District of Arkansas
Little Rock, Arks., Oct. 7, 1862
Captain:
General Hindman directs that you turn over all the guns you now have, to Col. J. W. Dunnington, Chief Ordnance Dept. at once, who will furnish you with a new battery.
Respectfully,
R. C. Newton
Capt. Etter } A. A. Genl.
Comdg Arty Co.} "
NOW the question arrises was Capt. Etter's guns the Parrot Guns noted inside the fortification at Fort Hindman at Arkansas Post or Not? Were they turned over to Col. Dunnington at Arkansas Post, or were they turned in at the Ordinance Department/Arsenal at Little Rock?
Supposedly Dunnington was both Chief of Ordinance for the Trans-Miss.Department and commander of Fort Hindman and was given the rank of Colonel so as to be in command over Col. Dawson of the 19th Arkansas assigned to Fort Hindman. In early October Fort Hindman was just beginning to be constructed. I am a bit confused by the reference here to Colonel Dunnington at this early date. I believe that at this time Dunnington was "Officially" a Navy Captain and that the rank of Colonel was not "Officially" conferred on him until November.