The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board - Archive
Re: 20 Ark aka 41 Ark?
Posted By: Bryan Howerton
Date: Wednesday, 4 August 2004, at 2:03 p.m.
In Response To: 20 Ark aka 41 Ark? (Danny Odom)
Danny, someday I need to write up a history of wonderful world of Arkansas regimental designations. Arkansas had the most confusing and disorganized numbering system of any state in the Confederacy. Part of the problem was the lack of communication between the State Military Board and the Confederate War Department; and another part of the problem was just plain independent cussedness on the part of Arkansas regimental and brigade commanders, who often ignored the Board's designations.
Anyway, in answer to your query, the State Military Board assigned designators in the 40-series all the way up to the 48th Arkansas. Remember that the Arkansas State Militia had its own numbering system -- militia regiments were numbered at least up to the 62nd Regiment.
Of the 40-series regiments, the first four (40, 41, 42, 43) were assigned to some of the reorganized Vicksburg regiments. The 41st was assigned to the 20th Arkansas, the 42nd was assigned to the 23rd Arkansas. I am sure that the 40th and 43rd were assigned to the 15th (Northwest) and the 19th (Dockery's) Arkansas, but I can't tell which is which because of the illegibility of the document. All of these were assigned as mounted infantry designations, and all of them were ignored by the Confederate Army -- the old designations continued to be used.
Several months later, an additional five mounted infantry regiments were organized, as follows --
44th Arkansas -- Col. James M. McGehee
45th Arkansas -- Col. Milton D. Baber
46th Arkansas -- Col. William O. Coleman
47th Arkansas -- Col. Lee Crandall
48th Arkansas -- (uncertain -- very few records)