I've read the same thing, I believe in Confederate Military History of Arkansas. The remark was made in regards to the percentage of soldier compared to the population second only to Virginia. These figures would seem to confirm that.

Considering the "black holes" of missing or destroyed records compared to the 1860 census it is truely amazing. It is truely a testiment to the details work that Bryan has done. It also goes against this modern idea that Arkansasawyers was only halfhearted in their commitments to the Confederacy.