I had been trying to read the name of the commander of a Volunteer Rifle Company in the 53rd Militia Regiment who was issued a militia commission on 21 May 1861. I still haven't made out the commander's name, but the 1LT was a little more familiar!

CPT Lafi**
1LT Van Manning
2LT I Denson
3LT Frank Lowe

This clearly looks like Company K, 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment. The ”Ashley Volunteers”. The date given for the enlistment of the ”Ashley Volunteers” is 20 May 1861. My source for the date of the issuance of the commission is Arkansas Military Department Records, List of Commissioned Officers of the Militia 1827–1862, Arkansas History Commission, Microfilm Roll 00000038-8, Page 471.

In the List of Commissioned Officers, the date that the commission was issued was not the date of the election. Once the election was certified by the Colonel Commandant of the local militia regiment, the results were mailed to little rock, so there is often a difference of two weeks or so between election and the issuance of the commissions. That would indicate that the Ashley Volunteers probably had their first election around the first week of May.

Any idea's on the name of the first commander? I just can't make it out.