I have a question about all the Arkansas Officers east of the Mississippi River who returned to Arkansas in the late Spring and Summer of 1862. It has often been assumed that they returned out of a sence of "protecting their homes". But I am wondering if that was the whole reason.

In particular I am talking about the more notable Officers such as Gen Thomas Hindman, Colonels Robert G Shavers, and James Fagan. and Lieutenants Asa Morgan, William Crawford.

I am aware that of these men, Hindman was the only one who was ordered to return to Arkansas because he assumed command of the District from Gen. John Roane. Hindman being the former US Congressman for Arkansas was believed to have the political clout to calm the rebellious Gov. Rector down during the state of crisis caused by Jefferson Davis's decision in early 1862 to consolidate the various armys into larger fighting forces.

However, as for the rest, I am wondering if the reorganization of the various Confederate armys from "12 month enlistments" to "3 years" or "For the War" enlistments did not play a big role in these men returning home. The upshot/consolations of all that reorganization was that regiments were able to elect their Officers.

My question is, Did these men like Shavers, Fagan, Morgan, and Crawford and others fail to be re-elected as the reason for their returning to Arkansas?

Directives, in Hindman's Copybook of Telegraphs, sent to those regiments reorganizing at Camp White Sulphur Springs stated that those Officers who failed to win re-election in thier regiments would be subject to the Conscription Act. That would be a pretty compelling reason to return home to recieve a commission and appointment to a newly forming unit.

I know that R.G. Shavers had been wounded at Shiloh. But he seened to be an up and coming commander leading a brigade at Shiloh as a Colonel. Even if he was home recovering why did he not return to his original command?