McNeill’s Arkansas Regiment aka 5th T/M
[1862 Material compiled from Message Board Archives, The Alexander Papers and Compiled Service Records]

1862-
6/11 Hindman to Lt Col Burleson, Des Arc-... set up couriers with Col A J McNeill who will be on Crowley Ridge near Madison and with Col Albert Johnson who will be in Phillips County in rear of Helena-both are raising regts under orders similar to your own -I expect much of you

6/12 Hqs Army of the Southwest S.O. #2
II. Col Johnson’s command will be confined to the counties of Phillips, Desha, Monroe, and that part of St Francis west of the L’Anguille and east of Bayou DeView.
Major McNeill’s command will be confined to the section of country east of L’Anguille.
Each...will conscript roving and unattached companies wherever raised...

6/13 Hindman to Cobbs at Madison- apply to Maj McNeill-he will receive companies of mounted Infy

6/13 Hindman to:
Col Johnson-cmdg. Forces Phillips county
Col McNeill-cmdg. Forces Crowley ridge
-organize rapidly and put each company in the field as soon as completed and attack the enemy…
-keep open communication with Lt Col Burleson who commands at Camp Cache…

6/13 McNeill at Madison to Hindman – I found no organization at all here. I think I will have three companies in this county in ten days. I start for the upper part of my district to organize it, in the morning, which is in a better shape of organization. I have sent a scouting party toward Memphis to burn the boats on Blackfish River and ascertain the position of the enemy. I will not leave a stone unturned.

6/16 Special Orders #6 Army of the South West
Capt E Mallory authorized to raise company of mtd Inf for C.S.A. Said company to be raised east & south of L’Anguille and to report to Maj McNeill or Col Johnson depending on where majority of men raised. [Co G 30th Ark-McNeill]

6/17 McNeill at Madison to Hindman re Capt. Allen-If you will order Capt. Allen back to report to me I can arm his company immediately. Please order my two Missouri Companies at Camp Cache to report to me here and in three days. I can execute any command you may give me. I am getting on finely.

6/18 McNeil first reported the companies organized under authority given him to raise a regt

6/18 Hindman to Major McNeill, Madison - the 2 companies of Missouri men belong to Burleson, but you can attach any you find in your district-attack enemy supply trains coming down from Ironton to Batesville

6/18 McNeil apptd Col
6/18 QM Barton apptd
6/19 Deadrick’s Co B organized this date
6/19 Cobbs to Captain

6/19 McNeill at Madison to Newton -Will I commence enrolling conscripts after tomorrow or wait for orders?

6/20 Newton to Major McNeill at Madison- begin enrolling conscripts at once [note this is end of volunteer period]

6/20 Hindman to Lt Col Matlock, Cotton Plant-Capt Allen’s company now with you is from Crowley Ridge and can be useful there so send it to Madison to report to Col McNeill-mount your Inf companies if they can provide horses that will give 10 companies mtd Inf which you will then organize into a regt and send recommendations for field and staff officers...

6/21 Special Orders 11 Army of the South West
James Anderson apptd Capt and enrolling officer for all men under command of Cols McNeill, Matlock, and Johnson- He will report to Col Shoup, AAG for instructions
Capt Allen’s Company having been raised in Major McNeill’s district is detached from Col Matlock and attached to Major McNeill

6/21 McNeill to Newton-Will I buy wagons and teams for my Regt or will they be furnished from Little Rock?

6/21 McNeil to Hindman-No obstructions have been put in St. Francis River. I will have fifty negroes at work tomorrow. I am informed that the transports only came up to the mouth at La Grange and returned. My scouts have not returned from there yet.

6/22 Matlock to Hindman-In compliance with order first received, I have forwarded to Madison Capt Allen’s Company with orders, to report to Col McNeill. I now have only 8 Co’s of mtd men.

6/22 Hindman to Col A J McNeill-copy of order attaching Capt Allen’s company to his command- copy of order defining his, Col Johnson, Col Matlock’s commands

6/23 Matlock to Hindman -I have obeyed your order. Capt. Allen’s Company left yesterday morning for Col. McNeill’s command and I telegraphed you.

6/24 -McNeill to Hindman acknowledging receipt of various messages-Received of telegraph operator Madison two dispatches for myself and one for Colonel Albert Johnson all right. I will encamp near [Hillsburg??] tomorrow night with eight companies.

6/24 Newton to McNeill – Gen Hindman directs that you move with your whole force and all you can collect up Crowley (sic) Ridge to the Gr________(?) or Powhatan Turnpike if practicable.
Hold it and the ridge against the enemy.
Call out all the forces in the country to obstruct the road leading towards Missouri or Black River.
Fell trees into the crossing of Cache and L’Anguille.
Keep open your communications with Madison by means of couriers every five miles.
The enemy is attempting to move down White River. He must not accomplish it.
Do not encumber yourself with transportation. Gather your supplies from the country and in case you are forced to retire obstruct roads and destroy forage and supplies.
You are expected to do your whole duty.
Obey orders from Gen Rust. Communicate with him.
Send receipt back to telegraph opr. Madison for this dispatch

6/26 Special Orders 16 Army of the South West
I have ordered Col McNeill to reinforce you he will bring about 300 men and is now at Pineville in Poinsett County hold line of Cache if you can
Capt’s West & Harris and Lt Tollison are authorized to raise in Crittenden County one company of mtd inf to report to Col A McNeill’s regiment

6/29 Co M mustered in by Capt Hunter

6/30 McNeill at Madison to Hindman-I received dispatch from Capt Allen last night. He says one Union company and one or two Federal companies came back to Green County and are depredating highly. I have sent another company to Allen. I am waiting for my scouts to return from Camp Cache before I send off mine

7/8-Rust to Hindman-McRae and Matlock urging appt of Moore and Hicks as Lt Col and Major of Matlock’s regt- If his command amounts to a regt and you approve they may be so named but if Matlock not a full regt probably best to consolidate with McNeill to form a regt

7/8 Hindman to Maj McNeill -Des Arc-No order has been given to consolidate your command with McRae’s regt that I am aware of. I did suggest that if Matlock command was not a full regt that you could consolidate with him, but this was merely a suggestions and the matter rests with Rust

7/10 Hindman to Col McRae-Brownsville dismount McNeill and Matlock’s commands and send horses home as suggested

7/10 Co H muster roll-Jonesboro

Head Quarters Army of the South West

Little Rock, Arks., July 11th, 1862

General:

In the reorganization now being effected, Genl. Hindman intends that each brigade shall consist of three regiments of Infantry, one battery of artillery and one squadron of Cavalry. The excess of cavalry above this standard he directs you to convert into infantry, as soon as possible and send the horses home, in charge of reliable details…

…Having thus organized the Texans, a similar organization of the Arkansas troops is desired. Looking to all the contingencies the General thinks that the following would be the best arrangement - 1st Brigade - Mc Rae’s regiment, Pleasant’s regiment and a regiment to be formed by consolidating Matlock’s and McNeil’s commands. 2nd Brigade - Morgan’s regiment, Albert Johnson’s regiment, and another to be formed of loose companies.

Matlock is not a Colonel - his rank is that of Lieut. Col. - Genl. Hindman is of the opinion that Col. McNeil would make a better regimental commander. If there seems to be a reasonable probability of McNeil’s other companies arriving, it would probably be best not to consolidate the two commands…

.

Very respectfully,

Brig. Genl. A. Rust } R. C. Newton

Comdg. & etc. } A. A. Genl.
______________________________________________________________________________

7/28 Adj Biscoe to Capt of Co B

7/28 Special Orders #47 Army of the Southwest…following officers of McNeill’s regt apptd to duty as:
Maj Baldwin to Lt Col etc

8/2 LtCol Baldwin dies at Camp Crystal Hill

8/1 John Henry Cathey enlisted in Co. K, 30th Arkansas Infantry, at Jacksonport for three years or the war

8/8 Special Orders 60, Army of the South West
Col A J McNeill cmdg regt authorized to send an officer east of White River to bring into his camp the following companies:
Allen’s
Martin’s
Kirkendall’s
Byers’
Miller’s
A J McNeill commanding McNeill’s regt of Ark infantry is apptd Col of infantry to date from 6/18 when he first reported the companies organized under authority given him to raise a regt

8/15 Special Orders #67-Army of the South West
Capt J Rogan is apptd Major McNeill’s regt to rank from 8th inst

9/8 Allen’s Co L consol w/ Co A

9/8 Hunter’s Co M consol with Capt Briscoe’s Co B

9/22 Letter of Jas. H. McGehee, Capt., Col McNeil’s regt., asking that his Co be removed
- referred

9/29 Capt Cobbs, Co A, sent to St Francis County after clothing

9/29 Co I-Capt James H McGehee transferred to Maj Chrisman-subsequently Co C Dobbins’ cavalry

11/7 Camp on Mulberry & etc S O #34
IX. Col A. J. McNeill, of McNeill’s regt of Ark inf, having tendered his resignation which being forwarded approved by the Genl cdg leave of absence is hereby granted Col McNeill until the action of the War Dept.

11/12 Hart to Col; Rogan to LtCol

12/18 S O #68
IX. Col McNeil will proceed at one to the country east of White River and will collect all parties in that district absent from their commands without proper authority.
X. Capt McGhee with his command will at once report to Col A. J. McNeil for duty.
XII. Col A. J. McNeil cdg McNeil’s regiment of Ark Inf will proceed at once to the section of country lying west of White river for the purpose of hunting up all the officers and men of this corps who were absent without proper authority. To assist him in the execution of this order, cdg officers of regts, Bns, or unattached Co’s in that section are earnestly requested to afford him any assistance that he may call for.
Capt McGhee is requested to lend Col McNeil assistance if necessary.