The first difficulty to be met, in the execution of this purpose, was the attempt of the Governor of Arkansas to raise a State force, upon the basis of his formal pledge not to transfer it to the Confederate service. Under the most favorable circumstances, two different military organizations would antagonize, rather than help each other. I had witnessed this result in Arkansas, at the commencement of the war. After much trouble and embarrassment. General Hardee had finally obtained tbe consent of the State authorities to transfer their troops ; but this agreement was trammelled with the condition that each and every soldier should decide the question for himself Taking advantage of this, the Adjutant General of the State, (E. Bitrgwin.) and two of the general officers, (James Yell and N. B. Burrow,) came near defeating the whole plan. In northwest Arkansas, out of over three thousand soldiers, only eighteen consented to be transferred.

In northeast Arkansas, nearly half of the first regiment, approached on the subject, decided to go home. To prevent further losses, General Hardee devolved on me the duty of effecting the transfer of the remaining four regiments. It was done by hurrying to their camps, and mustering them into the Confederate service, before the Adjutant General of the State could reach them. Warned by this experience, and remembering the Governor's late threat of secession, I represented to him that 1 should feel constrained to apply the provision of the "conscript act" to his troops, and to impress whatever stores he might accumulate.

He abandoned the attempt, and transferred to the Confcderacy the few troops already raised, together with all military property of the State. I now directed the enrollment and organization into companies and regiments, of all men in Arkansas subject to conscription.