The 1st Arkansas State Troops, the predecessor of the 15th Arkansas Infantry, consisted of ten companies; however, two of the companies refused to muster in to Confederate service with the regiment on July 23, 1861, so were disbanded. They were the "Yell Guards" (Capt. Francis M. McNally) and the "Hindman Guards" (Capt. Henry B. Blakemore). The 15th Arkansas thus continued the war with only eight companies.

The Border Rangers was organized at Searcy, Arkansas, in April 1861, composed mostly men from White County. The company enlisted in State service at Searcy on June 5, 1861; and enlisted in Confederate service at Pitman’s Ferry, Arkansas, on July 25, 1861, and was assigned to Solon Borland’s 1st Arkansas Mounted Volunteers as Company E. In September 1861, the Border Rangers was attached to the 6th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry as Company E. On April 20, 1862, the Border Rangers was consolidated with Company C, the Crittenden Rangers of Crittenden County; and on May 15, 1862, the consolidated Rangers troop became Company A, 2nd Regiment Arkansas Cavalry. In January 1863, the company was transferred to the 3rd Arkansas Cavalry as Company E.