Here is correspondence that relates or refers to some of these actions by Governor Rector.

Sources:
Davis Papers Vol 8 [1862]
Samuel Ritchey Collection

3/25 Head Qtrs. Trans Miss Dist Little Rock, [signed by Maury]- Addressed to Brig. Gen. Albert Rust, with a copy to Col. J P Morgan
Gen: I am instructed by Maj. Gen. Van Dorn, Cdg this Dist., to say that he desires you to assume command of the Troops in the region of country [sic] about the River Ark, from Clarksville to the mouth of the river and about White River from Des Arc to its mouth.
You will proceed at once to organizing Reg’ts from the Co’s organized. The Co’s now at Little Rock will be sent to Devall’s [sic] Bluff under the command of Col. James P. Major, where the organization will take place. The Co’s North of the Ark River, that were formerly ordered to proceed under the command of Col. Major to Jacksonport, will proceed under his command to Des Arc, where they will be organized into Reg’ts and Bns under your direction.
The Co’s organized under the call of Gov. Rector for the Confederate Service, and heretofore directed to proceed to Jacksonport under the control and supervision of Col James. P. Major, are hereby directed to change their march to Des Arc on White River. Col. Major will make the necessary arrangements to carry out these instructions.
The Co’s now at Little Rock will proceed at once to Devall’s [sic] Bluff, where they will go into camp, be assessed, and await orders. Col. Major will superintend and control their movement also, and will make the necessary measures for the prompt execution of their orders, and for the proper care of the men.
Gen. Rust, after assuming command as heretofore directed, will cause all the Ark Troops who may report to him to be organized into Reg’ts after their arrival on White River.

4/15 to the President-R W Johnson, G W Mitchell, [& 3 others]-The undersigned do now, as the representatives of the people and State of Ark, petition and earnestly urge that you will take immediate steps with reference to the defense and protection of the State of Ark against future invasion and of the Indian nations, whose warriors may be readily turned upon our frontiers when the enemy invade and make treaties with them.
We can be silent no longer and hold ourselves to be justly free from bitter condemnation. We therefore do again, as has been heretofore done, ask that a separate military Dept be promptly created, having for its eastern boundary the sunk lands and the Saint Francis River to its mouth and thence down the Ms river; and we ask that Gen Bragg or Gen Price may be assigned command of the Dept and required at once to organize its defense.
Island Numbers 10 has fallen. The river to Vicksburg must very soon and inevitably also be taken. The fortifications at Helena are too late for this campaign. The probability of this condition of affairs has long since been pointed out. The States of Ark, Mo, and the Territories are now bound to be the theater of a separate war, beyond the reach and cut off from all aid by the Confederacy, whether of men, arms, or ammunition.
So far from those preparations [being] dictated by a wise foresight on the part of those who have heretofore had command, we submit respectfully that we have been brought to the verge of ruin by their action and orders. Gen Van Dorn commenced a retreat down the Ark orders. Gen Van Dorn commenced a retreat down the Ark River with all his forces except Gen Pike's division of Indians (which he declines to have anything to do with), broke up the military depot at Fort Smith, causing the material, much of it Gen Pike's, to be shipped down the Ark River, leaving Gen Pike unsupported with either men or supplies at the usual depot and base of operations. All this was done at much loss and cost, to the alarm and terror of all that section of country, and without excuse of real danger, as the enemy were in no condition to pursue and have actually retreated for the interior of Mo, thus evidently abandoning the valley of the Ark River and the heart of the State of Ark, although leaving behind him Pike's division, which our treaties compel us to sustain and strengthen for the Indian protection.
Gen Van Dorn ordered the telegraph line from Fort Smith to Little Rock, then just completed at great cost, to be torn down, which order was obeyed, and is now in progress of execution, if not already executed.
We further understand, prosecuting his retreat, he received orders from the commander of the Dept east of the Ms to march all his forces for Memphis and Corinth, which he is doing effectually, and thereupon ordered Little Rock to be abandoned as a depot and all the public works at the arsenal to be torn down, and everything, carried to Napoleon, at great cost, loss, and public damage, which is done; and all this upon the ground that he did not and does not consider Little Rock safe, though it is over 300 miles of land travel from the enemy's base of operations and is full 250 miles from their nearest present position, and all this property is carried to Napoleon, where it is in daily danger of capture or destruction by the enemy.
Ark has with unparalleled spirit answered every call for men and arms; almost all her fighting men, full 30,000, all her public arms, and nearly all the private arms of her people gone into this war, and by the orders of the commanders east of the Ms almost every Regt has been drawn off, with Texans, Louisianans, and even Missourians, to defend the boundaries of old States, by the side of whom we are as nothing in wealth, numbers, and resources.
Our State is thoroughly disarmed by this policy; our fighting men are carried away and will soon be cut off from us permanently; our women and children are left defenseless; our Indian treaties are disregarded and broken, and our borders north and west thrown utterly open to the invasion of Yankees and the bloody incursions of savages and Kansans so completely that 10,000 men could actually march from one end of the State to the other in the midst of plenty and wholly unopposed.
1st. We do respectfully ask the Dept west of the Ms to be at once established.
2nd. we request that Gen Bragg, or a man of our own region, Gen Price, be assigned there speedily to organize for our own defense, and that Gen Van Dorn be taken away from us. We protest against him as our commander in the name of our people, and we appeal to you, who alone can relieve and protect us.
3rd. We ask that all the supplies, arms, ammunition, public works, machinery, and materials of every character taken from Little Rock and Fort Smith may be ordered back from Napoleon or Vicksburg to Little Rock, to await the orders of your general of the Dept.
4th. that the telegraph wire from Little Rock to Fort Smith be required to be again put upon the poles and the line immediately reconstructed.
5th. We also hope and pray that any of the troops who may not yet have left Ark may be ordered to remain there, and that all those from Ark, Texas, and Mo already in Tn may be ordered back as soon as may be possible consistent with your judgment of public interest.
6th. We earnestly pray that you will order forward a goodly supply of arms, ammunition, and military stores by way of the Ark and White Rivers before the Ms is closed against us; and, in conclusion, we will express, as we feel, a respectful reliance and confidence that in our present strait and with the palpable disastrous prospects ahead of us, we will not appeal in vain to your foresight and justice in behalf of a feeble State against the injustice and impolicy on so many important points of stripping us, who are the weak, to arm, strengthen, and defend the strong. A vast deal could also be said upon the public policy and the political features of this system which impoverishes and disarms Ark and the west of the Ms, but we prefer to confine ourselves to the direct rights and the decided and immediate interests of our own State.

5/20 Davis to Van Dorn-ref the recent proclamation by the Gov of Ark which may hurt our cause…impression prevails we have abandoned Ark & the entire TM
Asks Van Dorn to send an address to the people…that your absence is merely temporary and you and troops were withdrawn by Dept cdr for urgent and special service
Wants him to consult w/Price on the subject and perhaps both sign the address

6/4 By telegram from Baldwin, Ms to President Davis from Van Dorn [rec’d at Richmond 6/4]-Do not send anyone just now to command the Trans Miss District-it will bring trouble to this army. Hindman has been sent there temporarily. Price will be on to see you soon. [Samuel Ritchey Collection]

6/9 Priceville, Van Dorn to President Davis-The movements of the army from Corinth to Tupelo and this place have occupied my attention so exclusively that I have found it impossible until today to answer your letter in regard to Gov Rector's proclamation. Before doing so now I must express to you my appreciation of your kindness in making me suggestions as to the propriety of making a reply to the people of the Trans-Miss Dist on the subject of that proclamation. I had previously thought of replying to Gov Rector, but found upon diligent inquiry that his people indignantly repudiated his pernicious opinions and that he stood almost alone with them. I had concluded therefore to act in the matter by sending someone to Ark in my stead during my absence to organize the troops from Ark, Texas, and Missouri already assembling there in considerable force, and to put them in the field against the common enemy. This I conceived would be a sufficient antidote to the poison of the Gov's proclamation and a refutation of his statement that the Government had sacrificed the States west of the Ms River.

Gen Hindman was therefore ordered to Little Rock to assume command, and was provided with all the ammunition, &c., that could be spared from this army. There were five or six regiments of troops already in Arkansas from Texas alone, and about fifteen regiments in the Confederate service on the march from that State to Little Rock to join them. Two gunboats were also sent up White and Ark Rivers. Already has Gen Hindman driven back the enemy, and from last accounts was in pursuit of them toward the northern portion of the State, having captured a considerable quantity of stores, &c.

These facts will be sufficient I think to set Gov Rector at rest, and to assure his people that the arteries of the Confederate Govt do extend across the Ms River. I was a little surprised at this proclamation of the Gov, as I had previous to leaving Ark taken particular pains to explain to him the military necessity of the Army of the West joining Gen Beauregard at Corinth and the advantages that would accrue thereby to the Confederacy as a whole of which Ark would reap her share of course. He professed to understand them and gave his hearty concurrence to the measure. Why he has changed since in his views I can't imagine, unless the dung-hill policy of fighting at every States' threshold was too alluringly pressed upon him by shallow politicians, too weak to see beyond the door and too cramped in patriotism to go beyond it. I think the matter is now at rest, and that his proclamation is buried with the unwise things of the past and has left no sting behind.

I learned a day or two since that Gen Magruder had been ordered to the command of the Trans-Miss Dist, and immediately telegraphed to you not to send any one at present, as it would have a bad effect. Gen Price goes tomorrow to see you, and will explain all on the subject. I wish here to suggest to you, general, that the love of the people of Missouri is so strong for Gen Price, and his prestige as a cdr there so great, that wisdom would seem to dictate that he be put at the head of affairs in the West. I see the alluring bait to my ambition-the fall of Saint Louis, the reclamation of a rich segment of our beloved South from the grip of the enemy, and the glory that might be mine, but I shut all this out from me because I think it is the best interest of the country to do so. I drop whatever glory there may be in it on the brow of Gen Price, than whom there is no one more worthy to wear it and than by whom I would rather see it worn.
Very truly, general, your friend and obedient servant

6/14 Van Dorn to Davis-Gov Rector is now all right again and is doing all he can to raise Confederate troops for Hindman. Can they be given some arms?