The Seventeenth Arkansas regiment (there was another of the same number afterward consolidated with the Twenty-first) was organized in August, 1861, at Fairfield, Yell county, under orders of the State military board, from nine companies. The field and staff officers were: Col. George W. Lemoyne, Lieut.-Col. S. W. Williams, Major Lawrence, of Danville, and Adjt. William A. Dowdle, of Conway county. The commanders of companies were: Company A, Capt. J. M. Dowdle, Conway county; Company B, Capt. Bryan B. King, Conway county; Company C, Captain Harsell, Pope county; Company D, Capt. John Mills, Yell county; Company Et Capt. John Perry, Johnson county; Company F, Captain Bone, Yell county; Company G, Captain Bull, Prairie county; Company H, Captain J. Homer Scott, Pope county; Company I, Capt. William Herrod, Yell county. Major Lawrence was accidentally killed near Pocahontas on the march into Missouri, and Capt. J. M. Dowdle was made major; Jordan E. Cravens being elected from the ranks to succeed him. After being ordered with the Arkansas regiments to Fort Pillow (old Randolph) in Tennessee, the regiment was held to duty in the vicinity of Memphis and joined the combined forces of Price and Van Dorn in north Mississippi. It participated with credit in the battle of Corinth. Maj. Robert H. Crockett became colonel by promotion and Capt. W. N. Parrish was promoted lieutenant-colonel ‘for gallant conduct on the field.’ After the battle of Corinth, the Seventeenth and Twenty-first (Colonel McCarver's regiment) were consolidated. Col. Jordan E. Cravens, of Clarksville, who was a private in Company G, was elected colonel of the consolidated regiment, which was thereafter known as the Twenty-first, and assigned to duty at Vicksburg. It took part in the battle of Black River Bridge, May 17, 1863, and endured the siege of Vicksburg until the capitulation of Pemberton, July 4, 1863. Colonel Cravens was captured at the Big Black and, with the other officers, was sent a prisoner to Johnson's island. Colonel Cravens became circuit judge and representative in Congress; Colonel Pitman, circuit judge and State senator; Capt. B. B. Chisom, secretary of State; F. J. Spurlin, private, who lost a leg, was many years treasurer of Garland county; Col. O. P. Lyles became representative in Congress.
The Eighteenth Arkansas was organized at Devall's Bluff on White river, by the election of Col. D. W. Carroll, of Pine Bluff; Lieut.-Col. John L. Daly, of Camden, and Maj. Robert H. Crockett, of DeWitt. The company commanders were: Company A, Captain Thompson; Company B, Capt. (Rev.) R. B. Thrasher; Company C, Capt. James Peel; Company D, Captain Robertson; Company E, Captain. Barnett; Company G, Capt. Charles Lynch; Company H, Capt. W. N. Parrish; Company I, Capt. Samuel Southerland; Company K, Capt. D. W. Carroll, succeeded by W. F. Owen. The regiment numbered 1,000 when it was sent to Fort Pillow, but was decimated by disease and ordered to Corinth, Miss., where it continued to suffer from sickness, as did the entire army, due to rain and unwholesome water from pits dug about the camp. Colonel Carroll was compelled to relinquish his position because of ill health. Thereupon J. L. Daly was chosen the commanding officer of the regiment. The regiment took part in the battles of Iuka and Corinth, and suffered severely. Its colonel was killed, and many men and officers were killed and wounded. After the colonel received his death wound, Capt. W. N. Parrish, of Company H, led the regiment through the battle with such courage and ability that he was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the regiment ‘for gallantry on the field of battle.’ Maj. R. H. Crockett became colonel by order of seniority, and thenceforth led the regiment. It was ordered to Port Hudson and went through the siege of forty-eight days. The officers were imprisoned on Johnson's island, and the privates were paroled as prisoners of war until exchanged. As the prisoners were being transported up the Mississippi river, Lieuts. James Hellums and Dink Atkins, of Company K, leaped from the steamer into the Mississippi between Napoleon and Helena, and made their escape by swimming ashore.