On May 23, 1861 the Arkansas True Democrat printed an article which originally appeared in the Memphis Daily Appeal on May 17:
Yesterday an event occurred at Camp Rector full of sadness. While the troops were arrayed for the purpose of receiving the banner presented by Miss Rozell, General McRae announced his retirement from the regiment.
and James W. McConaughey, McRae’s brother-in-law and adjutant-general, wrote in a memo to Senator Robert Johnson while as they Johnson and others were preparing to nominate McRae to Brig. Gen:
Col. McRae was captain of a company at the taking of the U.S. Arsenal Little Rock. Then he took his company to Hopefield & their organized the 1st Arkansas Regiment [state troops]. He had no confidence in Genl. Bradley and resigned, and went west, when Genl. McCuloch ordered him to take charge of the “emergency men” as they were called…