8/19/61 Batesville, Ark. L _ Sims formerly of Mo to Leonidas Polk-[lengthy letter regarding men for 3 year enlistments impossible to get, but can get plenty for one year… Capt Franklin W Desha and Colonel Moseley have raised a regiment which is now at their command. The ask to be accepted into the Confederate Service for one year and to be armed and equipped by the Confederacy…]
War Department to Borland-“Does Col. J. S. McCarver’s command consist of only five Co’s, or a full Regt? If less than a Regt, it will be known as the Eighth Bn; if ten Co’s, the Fourteenth Regt Ark Volunteers. Please inform the Department at your earliest convenience the exact state and condition of his command. Maj. F. W. Desha’s command will be known as the Seventh Bn Ark Volunteers.”
HEADQUARTERS CAMP HARDEE,
Pitman's Ferry, October 23, 1861.
GENERAL: On the evening of the 18th instant received a dispatch from General M. Jeff. Thomson, inviting us to participate in the taking of Ironton, stating that he would burn Bir River Bridge, and soon afterwards be ready to attack the Knob. We responded. On the morning of the 19th started with 230 mounted men of the First Regiment (including 40 men of Casey's company) for Bailey's, the place indicated by the general; here expected to find troops to act with, or a messenger from him, but neither were there. On the morning of the 20th camped within 4 miles of that place; here remained, expecting to hear from General Thompson; did not do so. At 11 o'clock that night started back (just as we started received a vague dispatch); reached the Stoney battery; camped for the night; next day, 21st, camped 6 miles south of Patterson, on the road to Doniphan, and to-day reach[ed] this post about 4 o'clock p. m. White nea Ironton learned from a reliable gentleman living within 4 miles of that place that it had been re-enforced with artillery, cavalry, and infantry, and that the force then thee was at least 7,000 strong. This is reliable.
Soon after arriving in camp here, about five hours ago, a Missourian came in from Greenville, with news to the effect that Thompson had bee defeated a mile south of Fredericktown by a force from Cape Girardeau and Saint Genievieve, and that with the remnant of his commend was retreating towards this place. Thompson's force, form what I learned before the fight from a man of his at Bailey's, was 700 mounted men and 1,000 infantry. This defeat exposes the post here and a Pocahontas to imminent danger, and to be prepared to face it I am making every exertion my poor abilities are capable of. I have made call upon the people of the State generally, the governor, and some individuals of prominence. Hope to be able to hold our position at Pocahontas, to which point will fall back immediately. Captain Bridewell having taken all the teams and himself off in violation of orders, leaves me crippled in the way of transportation. Can you not and will you not help us?
In haste, your obedience servant,
D. F. SHALL,
Major, Commanding Post.
General HARDEE, Memphis, Tenn.
P. S. - Colonel Borland will probably be here in a few days.
[Indorsement.]
Respectfully forwarded.
Before leaving Pitman's Ferry, I gave orders to have all the stores of every description removed to Pocahontas, which is in steamboat communication, usually about twice a week, with Jacksonport and Memphis. It is 110 miles from Trenton to Pocahontas. I feel no apprehension that the force I left there will be attacked, or, if attacked, that it will not be able to make a successful resistance. This force consisted of 7 companies cavalry of Borland's regiment and 4 companies infantry of McCarver's and 1 independent company of infantry under Captain Roberts. I also authorized a battalion of infantry, under Desha[?] (5 companies), to be mustered into service, which I presume has been done, as Colonel D. informed me they were ready. It is proper to add that I ordered the company under Captain Roberts to join me here, but it has not done so, nor do I know that it has left Pocahontas. I would recommend that all the ammunition, except a limited supply for the troops immediately on duty there, should be shipped from Pocahontas to Memphis.
Respectfully,
W. J. HARDEE,
Major-General.
11/1_’61 Pocahontas, Borland Col cdg to Gen Polk-
Of the forces under my command I briefly report - for there are so few of them that a brief report will cover them easily.
1. My own cavalry Regt, 7 Co’s, number 460, and are stationed for purposes of observation, convenience of supplies, &c., between this and Pitman's Ferry, with several Co’s at and near the ferry, throwing forward scouts, &c. In this service it is very constantly occupied and has been all summer and fall, until pretty well used up.
2. Col McCarver’s 5 Co’s of infantry (raw troops), men and officers, number 378, indifferently armed and but slightly trained.
3. Major Desha's four Co’s infantry number 238, in the same condition as McCarver’s
1/2/62 Morning report of upper district of Ark-Col McCarver cdg
McCarver’s regt-6 Co’s
Capt Morgan’s co
Col Borland’s cav-8
Col Desha’s Bn-6
1/11/62 Memphis Daily Appeal, We have the Little Rock Journal of the 7th. It asserts that the prevailing impression that there are but 600 volunteers stationed at Pocahontas, is incorrect. There is a regt of cavalry under Borland, a regt of inf, under McCarver, and a bn of infantry under Desha—making a force of near 2000.
Two keelboats had arrived at Little Rock with large cargoes of army stores, tents, etc, for Jones' Missouri legion.
Another regt of Ark troops has just been formed at Camden, and J. M. Gee, late of Borland's cavalry, has been elected col. Maj Reid has also just organized a bn of cavalry in Dallas County. Both commands' will leave in a few days for Ky.
2/8/62 J Adams cdg Memphis post reporting to Mackall reporting arrival of troops at this place
Maxey's regt Tex vol
LtCol Desha 7th Ark bn agg for duty 384-This command leaves this evening for Bear Creek bridge
3 dtchmts from the hospital at Ft Henry some 20 men total
2/13/62 Date of appointment as Major of 7th Arkansas Bn for F W Desha; to take rank from 10/25/61
2/15/62 Date appointment as LtCol of 7th Arkansas Bn for F W Desha; confirmed 3/6/62; to rank from 1/31/62
2/14/62 Storekeeper at Memphis issues ordnance and ordnance stores to LtCol Desha, 7th Bn Ark Inf Vol
4/3/62 General A. S. Johnston ordered: "Bragg will detach 51st and 52nd Tennessee, Blount's Alabama, and Desha's Arkansas Battalion from his corps to form garrison for post and depot at Corinth."
4/28/62 Corinth, headquarters 7th Ark Bn-Desha to Fagan-[Assigning reasons why his Bn should not be incorporated with Fagan’s 1st Ark Inf as ordered by S O 39-4-Desha much prefers incorporating with the 8th Ark Inf as they are from same area of state]