Company K was from Carroll County and was commanded by Capt. Elbert B. Dawson, and it was transferred to Hawthorn’s 39th Arkansas Regiment as (new) Company G, when Adams’ Regiment was disbanded.
Bunch's Company was re-assigned to the 27th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, and
Bishop's Company was re-assigned to Harrell's battalion of cavalry with Cabell.
I know that many of the companies basically ceased to exist at Prairie Grove, but I am still wondering about their origins. Thanks!
Damon
Adams' Regiment -- Mystery Solved
Posted By: Bryan Howerton
Date: Thursday, 2 September 2004, at 2:27 p.m.
I’d like to announce the solution to a long period of detective work.
One of the most obscure Arkansas regiments was Adams’ Arkansas Infantry, known as the 3rd Regiment, Northwest Divison, Trans-Mississippi Army (and therefore, erroneously, as the “3rd Arkansas Infantry”). The regiment was mustered into service at Elm Springs on September 12, 1862, and was disbanded just three months later, December 16, 1862, for shameful conduct in the presence of the enemy at Prairie Grove.
The only known regimental records I had previously been able to find are the muster-in roll of Company G, dated September 12, 1862; a final payroll, dated February 26, 1863, covering about 100 men in seven companies; and a postwar letter from Col. Samuel Peel, dated May 8, 1897. Following those leads, some time back I reached the point where I had identified nine of the ten companies, but hit a brickwall in trying to find the elusive Company K.
I finally solved the mystery! Company K was the Carroll County company commanded by Capt. Elbert B. Dawson, which was transferred to Hawthorn’s 39th Arkansas Regiment as (new) Company G, when Adams’ Regiment was disbanded. I've found a company roster, which I'll post in the near future, in case anyone is interested in this regiment.
Dawson’s company was organized at Kings River P.O. on September 3, 1862, and was mustered into service at Elm Springs on September 12, for three years or the war.
Posted By: Danny Odom
Date: Thursday, 2 September 2004, at 4:57 p.m.
In Response To: Adams' Regiment -- Mystery Solved (Bryan Howerton)
Bryan,
Congratulations, and I'm not surprised that your persistence and knowledge has finally paid off in the pursuit of information on this unit.
I once tried to research this unit at the National Archives, but it proved too elusive for my short visit, long list, and limited abilities. There was a reference in the NA files to organizational information as "stated by Col Peel in personal papers, and that correspondence with the AIG office shows it was illegally organized from conscripts."
Of course, I think that was true of many of the regiments that Hindman organized.
I tried tracking some of the companies after the regiment disbanded, and as you know, some [including Bunch's Company among others] were assigned to the 27th regiment, some [including Bishop's company] to Harrell's battalion of cavalry with Cabell.
Further notations in those records refer to a succession of regimental Colonels namely S.W. Peel, Fitzwilliams and C.W. Adams with the notation that the latter was appointed illegally.
I presume the designation 3rd infantry regiment indicated their position in the "2nd" brigade. I also believe this was Brooks brigade at one time, which would then infer that Brooks' own regiment [the 34th] was also in the brigade. The NA files for the 34th indicate an alternate designation for that unit as the 2nd Arkansas infantry, which again is presumably thei relative position within the brigade.
Based on all these inferences and presumptions, I continue to "presume" that Rector's 1st Arkansas Infantry NorthWest Division Trans Mississippi Department was also in the brigade, as the "1st" regiment.
Was this brigade ever under the command of Colonel Carroll or General Raines? If this was the 2nd brigade, then who and what was the 1st brigade?
I vaguely recall that Adams regiment may also have been referred to as the 4th, but this may have been due to a temporary brigade adjustment, such as the inclusion of Carroll's cavalry regiment?
Also, in Vol 2 of the Publications of the Arkansas Historical Association, there is an article by C.W. Walker of the 34th Ark who said the 3rd Arkansas was known in camp as the "Bloody Third". I can't help believe but that the writer was confusing events and dates, since the 3rd had yet to be "bloodied."
You mention "in case anyone is interested in this regiment", well you know that it is the obscure that fascinates me the most, so by all means please continue with the information on this short-lived regiment.
I know how satisfying it must be for you to have finally solved a mystery of long standing, because you do that for many of us on a regular basis.