1/25/62-McCray’s Bn organized & the "Quitman Sharpshooters" assigned to Co B.
2/5 McCray reports he has 4 Co’s agg of 300 and has 4 more that want to join his command and would like authority to increase his command to a regt & I was elected Major 1/25
-signed McCray-Maj cdg Bn of SS
2/8 ordnance requisition at Memphis-McCray signs for 500 each canteens, haversacks, knapsacks, etc for Maj McCray’s Bn
4/6 Jacksonport -W L Cabell Acting B Gen to Gen Van Dorn-I am enclosing a letter from Col McCarver cdg. You will see that he only started this morning instead of yesterday as I expected. He will be here on the 8th. By then I will have all the sick and the public property put on boats ready to leave as soon as they arrive,
I will try & reach you within a few days. McCray’s Bn left this morning to march thru by land. I shall also send a Bn of 3 Co’s under Capt McCoy by land. They will leave in the morning…
4/8 EVD/Col WNR Beall, AAG HQ TMD Des Arc, Col McCray’s Ark Infantry-Discharge Dr. Morrow from service & hire him as Acting Assistant Surgeon. Dr. Gaensten will approve the contract. Dr. Morrow will be paid as Assistant Surgeon
4/15 McCray’s Ark Bn camped near Des Arc [may be camped at Clarendon]-morning report 21 off & 256 men present
4/15 Abstract from Morning Report of the TM Dist, commanded by Van Dorn,
Agg present
Troops sent from Devall’s Bluff
White River forces 80 1,079 1,720
8 Co’s at Jacksonport 27 459 546
McCray’s Bn 21 256 342
4/22 after this date there are references to soldiers of McCray’s Ark Bn left sick in Memphis
4/22 “around” this date McCray’s Ark Bn got orders to move to Corinth. The Bn was not a part of Hogg’s bgde at this time. Hogg wrote a letter listing his regts while on trip to Corinth.
4/27 Capt Rittenbury to Maj of McCray’s Bn
4/27 HQ Army of the West, Memphis-Maury to Capt Johnson, You will proceed in the steamer furnished for the purpose by the QM along the Ms River. You will inform the planters on its banks that the river is now open to the enemy, & that the interests of our country demand that they shall at once destroy all of their cotton.
No time is to be lost in the execution of this duty. Should any hesitate or fail to comply with your call upon them, you will yourself take possession of and burn the cotton, taking care to injure no other property.
It is made your duty to see that all of the cotton within reach of the river is destroyed at once. The proprietors will take an accounting of the amount destroyed, as you will of all which you may have to destroy yourself.
These orders are given to you by Gen Van Dorn under instructions from Gen Beauregard.
In executing the above orders you will go as far up and down the Ms as the gunboats of the enemy will allow; and in the event of your being pursued by them, if you cannot run your boat into a place of security from them, you must, on abandoning, destroy her, to prevent the enemy from getting possession of her.
(Copies to Lt Hill, Capt Lyles, Capt Clendenning, Memphis) -All of Col McCray’s Bn, Memphis
4/28 S.O. #68 Memphis, HQ Army of the West,
McCray’s Bn to hold election for Lt. Col
4/29 Gen Orders # 17- Memphis- Following is the organization of the Army of the West:
McCown Div
____Bgde [Hogg]
Young reg’t Tx dismtd Cav
Locke reg’t Tx dismtd Cav
Crump reg’t Tx dismtd Cav
McCray’s Ark Bn Inf
5/1 S.O. #69-Election of officers to be held today in Maj McCray’s Bn today
5/4 Return of the Army of the West, Corinth
McCown's Div
Hogg's Bgde Agg pres
DiamondTx DC 599
Locke Tx DC 565
Crump Tx DC 472
McCray Ak Bn 376
Goode bty 92
2104
5/5 HQ Army of the West, Camp McIntosh, Maury to LtCol J H McCray-The accompanying letter as all other communications should come through the channels…
But I can assure you that Cabell has been placed in command of Hogg’s bgde & will continue so until further orders. The order assigning Cabell has been duly forwarded.
5/6 HQ Army of the West, Camp McIntosh, Maury to LtCol J H McCray-Per regulations, chaplains are appointed on recommendation of cdrs of posts & regts. Therefore, Mr Barnes will have to wait a little longer.
5/10 S O #80 Morgan's Inf Co now attached to McCarver's regt is permanently transferred to McCray's Ark Inf Bn as Co A
5/14 HQs Army of the West, Camp Churchill Clark, Maury to Col McCray cdg Ark Bn-Better send for rations if you need them since you may remain where you are for 3 days.
5/21 HQs Army of the West, Maury to Col McCray-You are not expected to hold your present position if attacked by a superior force-retire before it giving the army time to form line of battle. A few mounted men were sent to you last night as couriers.
5/24 S.O. #97
-Listing officers newly elected, confirmed & now appointed [including:
LtCol McCray & Maj J W Rittenburg of McCray’s Ark Bn
5/25 S.O. #98
Williamson’s Bn is broken up and 1 co to McCray’s bn and 3 Co’s to 3rd Ark Cav; balance to Brooks’ Ark Bn
Co G to be Co K 31st Infy. Co’s C & D to be Co’s G & F, Brook's 1st Cav Bn & Co’s E, F & H to be Co’s E, K & I, 3rd Cav Regt
5/26 elections held in new 31st Ark regt
5/27 McRay’s Bn was reorganized as the 31st Ark Inf Regt. [most Co officers dropped]
Maj Rittenbury dropped
6/1-11/1-McCray says he was in brigade command in this period
6/27 Tupelo, Bragg issues orders:
II. Major-Gen McCown will repair with all practicable dispatch with his division of the Army of the West to Chattanooga and report for duty to Gen Kirby Smith.
III. The QM's dept will make arrangements for the speedy movement of these troops hence to Mobile, and thence by the most expeditious route.
6/28 McCray cdg 1st bgde McCown div-report of items lost in evacuation of Corinth, refers to each command:
McCray
McCray's regt Ark vol
14 Tx DC
11 Tx DC
[10?] Tx DC
Andrews Tx DC