Pardon me for posting my personal usage notes, abbreviations and all; but perhaps you will find them of some interest.

Notes for this regiment extracted by me from "The Alexander Papers" and from various CSR's for the 30th Arkansas. Unless noted otherwise, these dates are from 1862.

30th Ark

5th TMI

6/8 Martin apptd Capt by Hindman

6/11 Hindman to Lt Col Burleson, Des Arc-not necessary to get any details from Parson's reg- move forward and organize forces rapidly arrest and punish marauders
-set up couriers with Col A J McNeill who will be on Crowley ridge near Madison and with Col Albert Johnson who will be in Phillips county in rear of Helena
-both are raising regts under orders similar to your own [becomes Matlock’s] I expect much of you

6/12 Army of the South West S O [2]
Col Johnson’s, Col Burleson’s & Major McNeil’s commands defined [by naming specific counties]
They are to conscript roving and unattached Co’s wherever raised

6/14 McNeill at Madison to Newton -Send me some copies of all Gen Hindman’s orders by Maj. [Mallors???]

6/14 McNeill at Madison to Hindman –I found no organization at all here. I think I will have three companies in this county in ten days. I start for the upper part of my district to organize it in the morning, which is in a better shape of organization. I have sent a scouting party toward Memphis to burn the boats on Blackfish River and ascertain the position of the enemy. I will not leave a stone unturned.

6/16 Special Orders 6 Army of the South West-
Capt E Mallory is authorized to raise co of mounted infantry for CSA and to report to Major McNeill or Col Johnson depending on where majority of men raised [becomes Co G 30 Ark-McNeill]

6/17 McNeill at Madison to Hindman-If you will order Capt. Allen back to report to me I can arm his company immediately. Please order my two Missouri Co’s at Camp Cache to report to me here and in three days. I can execute any command you may give me. I am getting on finely.

6/18 Hindman to Major McNeill, Madison-the 2 co’s of Missourians belong to Burleson but you can attach any you find in your district-attack enemy supply trains coming down from Ironton to Batesville

6/18 McNeil first reported the companies organized under authority given him to raise a regt

See 8/15 orders

6/18 QM Barton apptd

6/19 McNeill at Madison to Newton-Will I commence enrolling conscripts after tomorrow or wait for orders?

6/19 Deadrick’s Co B org this date/then consol w/Co B

6/20 Lt Col Matlock, Cotton Plant-Capt Allen's co now with you is from Crowley's Ridge and can be useful there so send it to Madison to report to Col McNeill-mount your infantry co’s if they can provide horses-that will give 10 co’s mounted infantry which you will then org into a regt and send recommendations for field and staff officers
Our little force of less that 100 at St Charles covered with glory

6/21 Special Orders 11 Army of the South West-
James Anderson apptd Capt and enrolling officer for all men under command of Cols McNeill, Matlock, and Johnson. He will report to Col Shoup’s agen for instructions
Capt Allen’s company having been raised in Major McNeill’s district is detached from Col Matlock and attached to Major McNeill

6/21 McNeill to Newton-Will I buy wagons and teams for my regiment or will they be furnished from Little Rock?

6/21 McNeil to Hindman-No obstructions have been put in St. Francis River. I will have fifty negroes at work tomorrow. I am informed that the transports only came up to the mouth at La Grange and returned. My scouts have not returned from there yet.

6/22 Matlock to Hindman-In compliance with order first received, I have forwarded to Madison Capt. Allen’s company with orders to report to Col. McNeill.

6/22 ...Men ______ sent off by Col McNeill to cut timber in the St. Charles ______ returned for instructions. The Federals came up as far as Coat Bayou Friday. Some 30 miles by water this side of the mouth of L’Auguille and said they would be back today. There are from reports some 30 or 40 Union men down there that are giving them all the …………

6/24 Newton to McNeill – Gen Hindman directs that you move with your whole force and all you can collect up Crawley (sic) Ridge to the Gr________(?) or Powhatan Turnpike if practicable.
Hold it and the ridge against the enemy.
Call out all the forces in the country to obstruct the road leading towards Mo or Black River.
Fell trees into the crossing of Cache and L’Anguille.
Keep open your communications with Madison by means of couriers every five miles.
The enemy is attempting to move down White River. He must not accomplish it.
Do not encumber yourself with transportation. Gather your supplies from the country and in case you are forced to retire obstruct roads and destroy forage and supplies.
You are expected to do your whole duty.
Obey orders from Gen Rust. Communicate with him.
Send receipt back to telegraph opr. Madison for this dispatch

6/24 McNeill to Hindman acknowledging receipt of various messages. Received of telegraph operator Madison two dispatches for myself and one for Col Albert Johnson all right -I will encamp near [Hillsburg?] tomorrow night with eight companies

6/24 Operator at Madison to Newton-Messages to Col. McNeill and Johnson were partially received at 12:25. Owing to some obstruction on the line we were not able to get them entire until 5.30 when we delivered them both to Col. McNeill in person.

6/25 Hindman to Col Matlock, Col McNeill, Col Albert Johnson-some 300 armed Missourians have crossed or are crossing Ms River-take command of them and send to Col Nelson at once

6/26 Special Orders 16 Army of the South West-Capt’s West & Harris and Lt Tollison are authorized to raise in Crittenden Co one co of mtd inf to report to Col A McNeill’s regiment

6/29 Co M mustered in by Capt Hunter

6/30 McNeill at Madison to Hindman-I received dispatch from Capt Allen last night. He says one Union company and one or two Federal companies came back to Green County and are depredating highly. I have sent another company to Allen. I am waiting for my scouts to return from Camp Cache before I send off mine.

7/5 Special Orders 24 Army of the South West, Gen Roan cdg Ouachita Dist
...
2 conscripts to report to Capt McGehee at Pine Bluff
Mr Geo B Rutherford authorized to raise a Co

7/10 Co A muster roll-Jonesboro

7/11 Hindman to Gen Rust- In the reorganization now being effected, Hindman intends that each brigade shall consist of three regiments of Infy one btry of arty and one sqdrn of cav converting the excess of cavalry above this allotment to infantry ASAP and send the horses home
When the Texans are organized a suitable org of the Ark troops is desired. Looking to all the contingencies, I think the following would be the best arrangement
1st brigade-McRae and Pleasants regiments and a regiment to be formed by consolidating Matlock and McNeill commands
2nd brigade-Morgan regt Albert Johnson regiment and another to be formed of loose Co's.
Matlock is not a Col but rather a Lt Colonel I am of the opinion that McNeill would make a better regimental cdr. If there seems to be a reasonable possibility of McNeill’s other co's arriving it would probably not be best to consolidate the 2 commands

7/28 Adj Biscoe to Capt Co B

7/28 Special Orders 47 Army of the South West
Following officers of McNeill's regt apptd to duty as:
Maj G Baldwin Lt Col etc

8/2 LtCol Baldwin dies at Camp Crystal Hill

8/8 Special Orders 60 Army of the South West
Col A J McNeill cdg Regt is authorized to send an officer east of White River to bring into his camp the following Co’s:
Allen’s
Martin’s
Kirkendall’s
Byer’s
Miller’s

8/15 Special Orders 67 Army of the South West
Major R Hart ADC is hereby apptd Lt Col of McNeill’s regt Ark Infy to rank from 8/8
Capt. J Rogan is apptd Major of McNeill’s regt to rank from 8th inst [both later cdrs 30th Ark]
A J McNeill cdg McNeill's regt of Ark inf is apptd Col of inf to date from 6/18 as the date first reported the companies organized under authority given him to raise a regt

8/20 marched from Crystal Hill to Austin thence to Des Arc on 10/1

9/8 Cobb’s Co A consol w/...?
9/8 Co L consol w/ Co A
9/8 Co M consol with Capt Briscoe’s Co B

9/22 Letter of Jas. H. McGehee, Capt., Col McNeil’s regt., asking that his Co be removed
endorsed - referred

9/28 Adj Bevins date of rank-apptd Adj this date

9/29 Co I-Capt James H McGehee transferred to Maj Chrisman-subsequently Co C Dobbins cav

10/1 to Des Arc from Austin thence to Van Buren

11/6 Camp on Mulberry-McNeil tenders resignation
11/7 forwarded by McRae & Shoup

11/7 Camp on Mulberry & etc S O #34
IX. Col A. J. McNeill, of McNeill’s regt of Ark inf, having tendered his resignation which being forwarded approved by the Genl cdg leave of absence is hereby granted Col McNeill until the action of the War Dept.

11/12 Col A J McNeil resigns

11/12 Hart to Col and Rogan to LtCol

12/18 S O #68
IX. Col McNeil will proceed at one to the country east of White river and will collect all parties in that district absent from their commands without proper authority.
X. Capt McGhee with his command will at once report to Col A. J. McNeil for duty.
XI. The agent or agents of Sutton & Spring will be permitted to purchase cattle in the Indian country. All C. S. officers will protect and afford them every facility in purchasing.
XII. Col A. J. McNeil cdg McNeil’s regiment of Ark Inf will proceed at once to the section of country lying west of White river for the purpose of hunting up all the officers and men of this corps who were absent without proper authority. To assist him in the execution of this order, cdg officers of regts, Bns, or unattached Co’s in that section are earnestly requested to afford him any assistance that he may call for.
Capt McGhee is requested to lend Col McNeil assistance if necessary.

2/12/63 Little Rock HQs for Hart’s regt Ark Inf formerly McNeil’s