Yes, there were about that number of new Confederate recruits that happened upon Quantrill's group riding toward the Kansas border. Their commander asked if they could join in the raid in order to "blood his men," and they were accepted. They were "blooded" for sure; horrified at what they saw at Lawrence; and then because of their inexperience many of them were found hiding and killed in the Union dragnet of west-central Missouri in the weeks that followed the raid.

These recruits were from the Clay and Ray County area of northwest Missouri and their commander was Colonel John D Holt of Missouri City, south Clay County. Some may have had Arkansas roots or connections, but these were Missourians not Arkansas men. Sorry.

I am curious about your source.

Bruce Nichols