James W. Beard, Private, Company H, McGehee's Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry
McGehee's Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry
McGehee's Cavalry Regiment was organized during the fall of 1863. It saw some light action in Arkansas, then was assigned to A.S. Dobbin's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department. The unit took an active part in Price's Missouri Expedition and after suffering heavy casualties at Westport, disbanded. Its field officers were Colonel James McGehee and Lieutenant Colonel Jesse S. Grider.
http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm
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James W. Beard
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted as a Private (date unknown).
"H" Co. AR McGehee's Cavalry
Other Information:
Buried: Fairplay Cemty, Saline Co., AR
(Mid initial W or M)
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records
- Various Cemetery listings on the internet
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James W. Beard, Private, Company H, McGee's Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry, captured December 5, 1864 in Independence County, Arkansas, confined at Little Rock December 11, 1864, received from Brownsville, Ark., released on taking the Amnesty Oath and Oath of Allegiance to the United States May 7, 1865
Description: Resident of Independence County, Arkansas, light complexion, dark hair, gray eyes, 5' 11", age 19, P. O. Address Batesville, Ark.
Note: There are no surviving muster rolls for McGhee's regiment, as such we cannot ascertain when and where James enlisted or any other idea of his service
M317: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Arkansas
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See also: http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/mcgehedx.htm
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=McGehee's+Akansas+Cavalry&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
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Here is one excerpt of a report of an action in which Col. McGhee was killed.
O.R.**--SERIES I--VOLUME XLI/1 [S# 83]
** Official Records of the War of Rebellion
AUGUST 29-DECEMBER 2, 1864.--Price's Missouri Expedition.
No. 89.--Organization of Price's Army.
FAGAN'S DIVISION.
Maj. Gen. JAMES F. FAGAN.
Dobbin's Brigade.
Col. ARCHIBALD S. DOBBIN.
Dobbin's (Arkansas) Cavalry, Col. Archibald S. Dobbin.
McGhee's (Arkansas) Cavalry, Col. James McGhee.
Witt's (Arkansas) Cavalry, Col. A. R. Witt.
Blocher's (Arkansas) Battery (one section), Lieut. J. V. Zimmerman.
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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLI/1 [S# 83]
AUGUST 29-DECEMBER 2, 1864.--Price's Missouri Expedition.
No. 81.--Report of Col. Charles R. Jennison, Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry, [USA] commanding First Brigade.
[Partial, pp. 585/7]
. . . . On the morning of the 23d the brigade was under arms at daylight, and after having supplied itself with ammunition from the train sent out from Kansas City, retraced its march of the previous evening, coming upon the rebel lines about three miles from the town, where it assumed position as the center of the line, with the brigades of Colonels Ford and Moonlight on the flanks. The First Brigade was deployed on the right of the road, in a large field traversed by rail and stone fences, which to some extent impeded active cavalry operations, though affording excellent protection to dismounted troops. Our skirmish lines were immediately formed and had advanced but a few rods when severe and incessant fire of small-arms was commenced upon them and replied to with the utmost spirit, the enemy commencing almost instantly to, fall back. Our lines were then advanced some distance, a rapid fire being kept up from either side, until the rebels, having received a re-enforcements, made a desperate stand and succeeded in temporarily pressing us back beyond our original position, and to the edge of a small body of timber skirting the wood upon which the Second Colorado, with the Colorado Independent Battery, was posted. At this point the fighting became again severe, and a second time we were compelled to retire, a movement participated in by the entire division; the First Brigade, however, forming the right of the new line about 200 yards in rear of its first position, the Second Brigade hating left the field. At this point a desultory fire was kept up for some time, the rebels making no positive demonstrations, our lines being re-enforced by the militia under Colonel Blair. At length, however, the enemy pressed forward, and succeeded in planting one section of a Parrott battery on the Line road, rendering our position one of extreme danger, his lines being heavily re-enforced at the same time. Leaving the position we fell back on the Line road almost to suburbs of Westport, where the army was reorganizing and concentrating for a final effort, and soon the order was received for a general advance along the entire line, which was obeyed with the utmost alacrity. The First Brigade, with a detachment of the Second Colorado and McLain's (Colorado) battery, took position on the right of the road, commencing an impetuous attack upon the rebels, who were rallying for a charge upon the battery, one section of which was posted directly in the road. Hardly had we taken position when the enemy charged in column upon the guns up the road, which were supported by the Second Colorado, the First Brigade being to the right in front as they advanced, Company E, Fifteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, forming the left of the brigade line and deployed as skirmishers. Seeing that a desperate effort was required to save the battery I immediately rallied Company E and led in person a charge upon the flank of the rebel column, a movement which was entirely successful, though a desperate hand-to-hand contest ensued, after maintaining which for a short time the enemy withdrew in disorder toward his main lines southward. In this action especial praise is due to officers and men engaged, and more particularly to Capt. Curtis Johnson, commanding Company E, Fifteenth, which was alone in the charge. During the actions Captain Greene, commanding the squadrons of the Second Colorado, brought his troops to our assistance, by which we succeeded in killing and wounding a large number of the rebels, and taking nearly 100 prisoners. In the charge Company E sustained a loss of 13 men wounded. To Captain Johnson I would express the highest sense of his excellence and soldierly ability in one of the most trying situations of that day. In this action Captain Johnson personally encountered Colonel McGhee, of an Arkansas regiment, both firing with revolvers, the result of which was that Colonel McGhee was killed, the captain receiving a ball in the arm, which inflicted a very severe and painful wound, from which he has not yet recovered. The enemy having fallen back upon the road, our lines were reformed and again advanced through the fields on the right of the road, driving the rebels at all points. Directly in the road, at the summit of a slight slope, a body of the enemy seemed determined to make a stand, when I was ordered by General Blunt to charge the hill with his body guard and one squadron of the Second Colorado--all of the troops available at that instant. Drawing sabers mid forming columns of fours the squadrons dashed with reckless courage up the hill into the very midst of the rebels, who, not waiting to ascertain our strength, and hardly making a show of fighting, broke and fled, some into the timber on the left, but a majority down the road. A detachment was then dismounted and deployed along a stone fence skirting the woods and a spirited fire opened on the rebels in the woods to the left, but these soon made their way out and joined the main rebel body about a mile distant, where the enemy's lines were yet unbroken and upon which at this period a section of McLain's battery, under Lieutenant Eayre, was brought to bear with telling effect. Generals Curtis and Blunt having reached the scene in person I was directed to charge the rebel lines with the First Brigade on the right and left of the road, under cover of a heavy fire from the Colorado battery, which was worked with rapidity and the utmost precision by Captain McLain and his lieutenants. Lieutenant-Colonel Hoyt, with six squadrons of the Fifteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, was directed to advance on the left, while, with one company of the Fifteenth, the Third Wisconsin detachment, two companies of the Second Colorado, and General Blunt's body guard, I took the right. The brigade thus formed advanced, charging the rebel lines with an impetuosity that overcame opposition. The enemy then, confused and demoralized, broke and fled, scattering arms and equipments along the route, and covering the ground with the debris of a routed army. For more than a mile the brigade pursued, never drawing rein, while the rebels, too demoralized to attempt a halt, seemed each determined to save himself as best he might. In this charge, one of the most glorious in its results during the war, and perhaps performed with less loss to the attacking party, acts of individual daring might be mentioned deserving special commendation. The conduct of Lieutenant Colonel Hoyt, in particular, upon this occasion, as indeed throughout the campaign, was such as to elicit the highest encomiums from all, and deserves to be recorded as worthy of particular emulation. The First Brigade, in advance of the pursuing column, maintained its position during the remainder of the day, coming up with the enemy below Little Santa Fe and skirmishing with his rear until dark. During the pursuit I was accompanied by Major McKenny, of Major-General Curtis' staff, who is entitled to special mention for assistance rendered here and elsewhere, as well as for his assured and courageous bearing upon the field. Early upon the following morning, having encamped near Little Santa Fe, the pursuit was resumed, but the First Brigade being in rear did not again encounter the enemy. We passed the station known as Trading Post, Linn County, Kans., on the morning of the 25th, and learning that General Pleasonton's command was engaged in a running fight with the enemy some few miles in the advance, pressed forward to the front, but reached Mine Creek too late to participate in the battle at that point, the rebels having continued their retreat southward, leaving several general officers and a large number of prisoners, artillery, &c., in our hands. Evidences of the total demoralization of the retiring army were visible on every hand. Hundreds of muskets, horse equipments, disabled wagons, &c., encumbered the field, while the number of dead and wounded abandoned by the enemy gave proof that his rout was again complete. Early on the morning of the 26th the brigade reached Fort Scott, at which it was compelled to halt for a short time in order to procure supplies, then entirely exhausted, as all rations were carried by the troops upon their horses.