Great post.
You wrote, “In fact, John B. Cocke was the last known colonel of the regiment.”
Really?
Then who commanded after Cocke died, from May 1864-May 65? I thought Polk commanded (at least from August-November 1864) the 39th, known as Cocke’s regiment (or Johnson/Hawthorne/Cocke/Polk’s regiment). Jacob C. Moles, entered with Tumlinon’s Cavalry 7-4-1862, served under "Cocke’s" regiment until the close of the war. Moles was referenced as “Lieutenant Colonel of Polk’s Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry,” in Aug. and Nov. 1864 according to a letter (6-3-1911) from the Adjunct General, War Dept. Thus, Polk was in charge of this regiment, at a minimum, from Aug through Nov. 1864. Right?