I have been transcribing the Volunteer Companies from each militia regiment listed in Arkansas Military Department Records, List of Commissioned Officers of the Militia 1827–1862, Arkansas History Commission, Microfilm Roll 38-8, and attempting to track down what became of them. I decided to transcribe all the officers from Hempstead County because the 8th Militia Regiment it is fairly typical of the other antebellum militia regiments. Like most counties there is a large break in the list of officers between 1849 and 1860. In most regiments, the first entry in 1860 is for the election of a new Colonel Commandant, usually in February, with company elections following. In a few counties, the Colonel Commandant who was elected in the late 1840’s continued to serve in 1860. Company Names for the standard militia companies before 1860 vary, some times the companies are numbered, at other times, the companies are named for their township or for the company commander. Most volunteer companies are designated as either a Volunteer or and Independent Company. Most Volunteer Companies have a name with relates to the type of company, Guards for Infantry Companies, Rifles for Rifle Companies, Horse or Rangers for Cavalry, etc. One difference between standard militia companies and volunteer companies is the authorization of a 3rd Lieutenant. Only volunteer companies were authorized a 3rd Lieutenant. Where I could not decipher the hand writing, I have tried to insert the number of questions marks that represent the number of letter that I think are present. If you recognized a name that I have butchered, please correct it. From what I can tell by comparing the list to the Kie Oldham Papers, which contain many the actual election returns, the dates represent the date the commission was issued, and is usually a couple of weeks after the date of the election. I don't mean to imply that all regiments were developed to this degree. Several of the new regiments that were formed in 1861 never seem to have conducted full elections, or at least they are not recorded in the offical list.

Hempstead County, 8th Regiment

Date Name Office Remarks
1837 January 6, Benjamin F. Jett Col. Commandant.

February 17, Matham V. Chistham 2nd Lieut, South Blues Indep. Rifles

June 18, Stuart Hapsow Capt. Saline Township Co.

John Johnson 1st Lieut. Saline Township Co.

William J. Johnson 2nd Lieut. Saline Township Co.

William D. Ward Major, 2nd Battalion

Aug. 14, John W. ?aup Lieut. Col.

W. ?. Baldwin Capt 2nd Co. 1st Batt.

J. C. Jackson 1st Lieut, 2nd Co. 1st Batt.

H. McLinton 2nd Lieut, 2nd Co. 1st Batt.

William Morgan 1st Lieut, 3rd Co. 1st Batt.

R. F. Cook Capt. 4th Co. 1st Batt.

W. B. Williams 1st Lieut, 4th Co. 1st Batt.

J. M. Davis 2nd Lieut, 4th Co. 1st Batt.

Sept. 23 Edwin Britten Capt 5th Co. 2nd Batt.

Jon D. ????ble 1st Lieut, 5th Co. 2nd Batt.

Thomas Conway 2nd Lieut, 5th Co. 2nd Batt.

June 23 James Canttey Capt. 6th Co. 2nd Batt.

June 23 James W. ??uley Lieut. Colonel

March 12 James Guard Capt. 1st Co. 2nd Batt.

J. Mas?k Capt. 2nd Co, 2nd Batt

?zury Ward 1st Lieut. 2nd Co, 2nd Batt

???K C?????usth?? 2nd Lieut. 2nd Co, 2nd Batt

John ?????fs 1st Lieut. 3rd Co. 2nd Batt

????? Bren 2nd Lieut. 3rd Co. 2nd Batt
1840, April 7 Chambers Cotter Capt. 1st Co. ?? Batt
Jun 10 Amaseuh Luns Major 2nd Batt.

George H. Han??h 1st Lieut. Capt Baldwin’s Company

John L Boulden 2nd Lieut. Capt Baldwin’s Company

Dec 21 Chambers Cotter Capt. 1st Batt.

Hugh O ???she 1st Lieut. Capt Cotter’s Company

William ?. Kirkland 2nd Lieut. Capt Cotter’s Company
1841, Apr 15 John F. Whiteside 1st Lieut. Capt. Boggus Company

John R. Atkins 2nd Lieut. Capt. Boggus Company

Apr 24 William Ferguson 1st Lieut. Capt Baber’s Company

Thomas ?. Parker 2nd Lieut. Capt Baber’s Company

F. S. Roy Capt. 2nd Batt.

R. Scallion 1st Lieut. Capt. Roy’s Company

??aao Story 2nd Lieut. Capt. Roy’s Company

James J. Johnson Capt. 2nd Batt.

John Launders 1st Lieut. Capt Johnson’s Company

James ??ds 2nd Lieut. Capt Johnson’s Company

Robert Baber Capt, 2nd Co. 2nd Batt

Aug 23 George W. Greeen Capt, 1st Batt.
1842 April 23 Rucker Jackson 1st Lieut. Capt Baber’s Company

George. W. Stewart 2nd Lieut. Capt Baber’s Company

May 14 Sammuel Baldwin Lieut. Colonel. of the 8th Regiment vice James Finely resigned

July 14 T.M. R. Bankhead 1st Lieut. Capt Baldwin’s Company Promoted

Charles F. Nelson 2nd Lieut. Capt Baldwin’s Company
1843 Dec 26 Thomas C. Smith Capt. 1st Batt
1844 Nov 19 Samuel Baldwin Colonel Commandant
1845 Mar 17 Samuel Moore Lieutenant Colonel

D. F. W. Morrison Capt. 1st Batt.

James S. Foster Capt. 1st Batt.

Carter McSain 1st Lieut. Co. No. 3, 1st Batt.

Apr 28 John Arustt Capt. 1st Batt. Vice D.F.W. Morrison resigned.

May 24 Joseph ?. White 2nd Lieut. 3rd Co. 1st Batt.

Dec 3 William Grant Capt. 1st Batt, Vice Foster removed from county

Green Roberts 1st Lieut. Grant’s Company
1846 Sept 21 John W. Cooke Colonel Commandant Dead
1848 Sept 23 Thomas M. R. Bankhead Colonel Commandant 8th Regiment Vice Bankhead removed from county

William Lifsell Major 2nd Batt, 8th Regiment
1860 Feb 8 Daniel Griffin Colonel Commandant

May 14 Jesse A. Ross Lieut Colonel, 1st Batt.

Samuel Ogden Capt Co. A, 1st Batt

William S. Worsham 1st Lieut. Co. A, 1st Batt.

Charles Ohlston 2nd Lieut. Co. A, 1st Batt.

June 25 John H. Hall Capt Vol. Comp of Cavalry

John S. Williams 1st Lieut.

Nail G. Neal 2nd Lieut.

Oct 27 Joseph L. Neal Major 2nd Batt.

Nov 10 A. H. Carigan Capt Co. B, 1st Batt

J. B.Vaughn 1st Lieut. Co. B, 1st Batt.

Charles Carter 2nd Lieut. Co. B, 1st Batt.

A. D. Fowlkes Capt. Co. C, 1st Batt.

Arkansas Wilson 1st Lieut. Co C, 1st Batt.

John C. Greison 2nd Lieut. Co C, 1st Batt.

William P Pricle Capt. Co. D, 1st Batt.

William L. Hopkins 1st Lieut. Co. D, 1st Batt.

William Campbell 2nd Lieut. Co. D, 1st Batt.

John Johnson Capt. Co E, 2nd Batt.

H. Hill 1st Lieut. Co E, 2nd Batt.

W. E. Cheatham 2nd Lieut. Co. E, 1st Batt.

Francis W. Thomas Capt. Co F, 2nd Batt.

Simon McCown 1st Lieut. Co F, 2nd Batt.

Charles F. Williams 2nd Lieut. Co F, 2nd Batt.

Thomas Fennell Capt. Co. G. 2nd Batt.

W. C. Stephens 1st Lieut. Co. G. 2nd Batt.

James A. Willis 2nd Lieut. Co. G. 2nd Batt.

Samuel Bealey Capt. Co. H, 2nd Batt.

Francis E. Goodwyn 1st Lieut. Co. H, 2nd Batt.

William P. Stevenson 2nd Lieut. Co. H, 2nd Batt.
1861 Jan 25 John R. Gratiot Capt. Vol. Co. “Hempstead Riflemen”

Dan W. Jones 1st Lieut.

Benjamin P. Jett, Jr. 2nd Lieut.

George Taylor 3rd Lieut.

Jan 28 M. T. Hat Capt Co. I, 2nd Batt.

William B. Stewart 1st Lieut. Co. I, 2nd Batt.

J. W. Palies 2nd Lieut. Co. I, 2nd Batt.

Jan 31 William H. Hill 1st Lieut. Co E, 2nd Batt

Feb 15 D. B. James Capt. Co I, 2nd Batt

J. F. Sears 1st Lieut. Co I, 2nd Batt.

J. P. Askew 2nd Lieut. Co I, 2nd Batt.

Feb 19 Erasmus K. Williams Capt. Co. K, 2nd Batt

William G. Hayles 1st Lieut. Co. K, 2nd Batt.

John C. C. Williamson 2nd Lieut. Co. K, 2nd Batt.

Mar 6 H. J. Benous Capt. Co. L, 2nd Batt.

Henry Hol????? 1st Lieut. Co. L, 2nd Batt.

John C. ?????? 2nd Lieut. Co. L, 2nd Batt.

Mar 26 Sims McGowin Capt. Vol. Co. “Nashville Blues”

J. ?ish 1st Lieut.

M. A. Winn 2nd Lieut.

John W. Smith 3rd Lieut.

May 28 G. E. Gamble Capt. Vol. Co. Hempstead Cavalry

? A. Williamson 1st Lieut.

Charles Caster 2nd Lieut.

J. B. Vaughn 3rd Lieut.

June 24 J. Duffel Lieutenant Col. of the 1st Batt.

Benjamin F. Vaughn 1st Lieut. of Co. A.

July 8 P. A. Rowels Capt. Vol. Co. Confederate Guards

Samuel Ogden 1st Lieut.

G. B. ?ushey 2nd Lieut.

Augustus Kyle 3rd Lieut.

August ? ???ham B. Davis Capt Co. B, 2nd Batt.

James W. Wears 1st Lieut. Co B. 2nd Batt.

Gsham P. McCain 2nd Lieut. Co L. 2nd Batt.

E. M. Holt Capt Co. A, 1st Batt.

W. M. Gibbons Capt Co. C, 1st Batt.

Oct 28 Jacob F. Nades??des Capt Co. H. 2nd Batt.
1862 Jan 21 E. W. ??con Major, 2nd Batt.

Mar 10 James M. Barham Capt. Co. D, 1st Batt
1863 Oct 19 Eugene Block 1st Lieut.

Thomas H. Thompson 2nd Lieut.

William Beavers 3rd Lieut.