Damon -- The State Troops in the Northeast Division were, pursuant to the "Articles of transfer of Arkansas Volunteers to the Confederate States", mustered out of State service at Pitman's Ferry and Pocahontas on July 26, 1861, and mustered into Confederate service on July 27, 1861. A handful of companies refused to transfer to Confederate service and disbanded, but the overwhelming majority of the troops agreed to transfer.

The status of the Northwest Division is pretty convoluted. The short answer is that all but about 30 men were mustered out of State service on August 30, 1861, at Camp Rector in Benton County, Arkansas. Brig. Gen. Nicholas B. Pearce, commanding division, was accused of influencing the troops' decision not to transfer to Confederate service. Pearce denied the allegation, but the Governor felt there was sufficient evidence to write to the Secretary of War, as follows:

Little Rock, September 4, 1861.

Hon. L. P. Walker.

Your dispatch received dated to-day, saying Arkansas troops mustered out of service and taken with them their arms. Such, I regret, seems to be the case. From intelligence received to-day from Fort Smith this has been induced by the advice of General N. B. Pearce, whose conduct deserves the severest reprehension. I understand he is an applicant for promotion by Confederate appointment against which I protest solemnly, until his conduct can be investigated by the authorities here. All will be done here that is possible to take care of McCulloch. All things look portentous now.

H. M. RECTOR.