Henry Crockett Earhart enlisted in the "Rector Guards", Co. D, 1st Regiment Arkansas State Troops, at Des Arc, Arkansas, on April 28, 1861, and was mustered into Confederate service with his company at Camp Yell, Pitman’s Ferry, Arkansas, on July 23, 1861. After some reorganizations, his company eventually became Co. H, 15th Arkansas Infantry. He was wounded and captured at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862.