Into the Mouth of the Cannon A Historical Biography of the 18th Arkansas
Robert E Reynolds

Confederate Veteran Vol XVII 1909 Reminiscences of an Arkansan - R T Martin of Co G

ROWLAND B. SMITH CIVIL WAR LETTERS
UALR
http://arstudies.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/findingaids/id/847

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Re: 18th AR Infantry - W.B. Howell
Posted By: Bryan Howerton Date: Tuesday, 9 April 2002, at 8:00 a.m. n Response To: Re: 18th AR Infantry - W.B. Howell (Doyle Taylor) Jim and Doyle -- thought you might be interested in this veteran's account of the earliest days of the 18th Arkansas --
"I enlisted at Cotton Plant, Ark., in March, 1862, before I was sixteen. We marched across the country to Des Arc, on White River, and embarked on a small steamboat, the Oker Bell, for Pittman's Ferry, from which place we were ordered back to Little Rock, and landed at DeVall's Bluff on March 9. Rain fell in torrents that day; but we pursued our journey by the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad to Argenta, across the river from Little Rock, where we were sworn into service in the presence of Governor Rector and ordered to Corinth, Miss. The order was countermanded at Memphis, and we were sent to Island No. 10, on the Mississippi River. Before we reached that place the Federals had possession of it, and we fell back to Fort Pillow. I remember seeing some of our unfortunate comrades floating down that river on logs, who were rescued by members our our company. From Fort Pillow our company was again ordered to Corinth, where we remained some time. We engaged in the battle of Farmington, between Corinth and Shiloh, our first battle."

Doyle Taylor Date: Tuesday, 9 April 2002, at 7:37 a.m. In Response To: Re: 18th AR Infantry - W.B. Howell (Bryan Howerton)
Carroll's 18th Arkansas was one of the few Arkansas "Volunteer" regiments raised in 1862. In first was organized in February at Pine Bluff from individual companies, well before the Conscript Act of April 1862.
So in that fact it was an unusual organization, in that it was a "Volunteer Unit". And was appearently organized for the sole reason of going east of the Mississippi River. It appearently was not being organized for Van Dorn's Army here. But just why and for whose command it was being organized for is somewhat of a mystery.
In any case Carroll's 18th Arkansas was a "Hard Luck" regiment, being hit by severe sickness almost at the first day with measles and other illnesses, leaving men all along the line of march to Memphis.

Posted By: Bryan Howerton Date: Monday, 8 April 2002, at 8:39 p.m. In Response To: 18th AR Infantry - W.B. Howell (Jim Martin (Webmaster))
The 18th (Carroll's) Arkansas Infantry was sent to Fort Pillow, Tennessee, around the end of March 1862, and garrisoned that place until ordered to join Van Dorn at Corinth, Mississippi, toward the end of April 1862.
The 18th Arkansas suffered very heavy losses from a measles epidemic while at Fort Pillow. Many of the men were sent to Overton Hospital at Memphis; those who died were buried in Elmwood Cemetery there, in the area known as "Soldiers' Rest".

Posted By: Bryan Howerton Date: Monday, 6 May 2002, at 3:14 p.m. In Response To: W.F. BOWERS Co, G, 18th Arkansas Volunteers (Nancie O'Sullivan)
W. F. Bowers enlisted in the "Cotton Plant Guards", Co. G, 18th (Carroll's) Arkansas Infantry, in St. Francis County and was mustered into service as fifth sergeant at Little Rock on March 2, 1862; age 26. He was reduced to private on June 20, 1862. He was captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, on July 9, 1863; and paroled on July 12, 1863. After returning to Arkansas, he was elected first lieutenant of Co. F, 44th (McGehee's) Arkansas Mounted Infantry, and served with this command until the surrender at Wittsburg on May 25, 1865.

Capt. J.W. Barnett - 18th Ark. Inf. Reg.
By:Janie Harrison
Date: Saturday, 13 December 2008, 2:16 pm

According to records for my great-great grandfather, J.W. Barnett, he joined the 18th Regiment Arkansas Infantry 3 March 1862. By lot, he was selected Captain of company F. Muster Roll for March to June 30, he was present; Aug 31 to December 31 he was absent. He was granted leave of absence on application for resignation. Muster roll Jan to Feb 1863, states resigned - resignation accepted 31 December 1862.
He was a surgeon and physician, graduating from Louisiana Medical College in 1854. He had worked at Charity Hospital during his schooling, I’m told. Family has always said he worked in a hospital in New Orleans during the war.
The following letter was with his records, “Port Hudson, La. Dec 6/62 - Genrl S. Cooper, Ajt and Inspt Genrl Sir, I have the honor to represent respectfully that for 5 months time out of 9 months service I have not been able to discharge the duties of my office in this branch of the service, without doing violence to my constitution, & that I have been offered the position of Surgeon of a Regiment & being educated a physician & having had ten years practical experience as such I am confident that I can much more efficiently serve my country as surgeon than in the office I now hold. The active duties on foot being less laborious while those of Surgeon are in harmony with my early education & subsequent vocation of life. Therefore I beg leave to tender my immediate & unconditional resignation as Captain of Co. “F” !8th Ark Regt Vols.”
I have a photograph of him in uniform - very nice, like a studio photo. The little hat he has on has crossed rifles - a “2” above and an “E” below. A bit of a white collar almost like priests wear shows above a jacket buttoned up. I was told the 2 stands for 2nd regiment and the E for company. I can find no records for this.
This is the info I have obtained through my feeble attempts at researching his history. As I understand, the regiment was sent to Fort Pillow. In the book, Into the Mouth of the Cannon, it states, Company G and H of the 18th Reg. traveled by rail and steamer. On the couchgenweb.com, “the regiment was literally decimated by measles epidemic…forcing a major reorganization.” I believe the 18th evacuated Fort Pillow 4 June being ordered to Corinth, MS. The siege of Corinth being 29 April to 10 June 1862. The 18th was at Port Hudson.
I understand I probably cannot find out every thing, nevertheless, my questions:
Can I find out how Company F traveled to Fort Pillow? Where would the muster record for July and August be? Should I assume he was still with the 18th? When he was absent would he have gone home or was he with the Regiment which offered him the position of surgeon? Is there any way to find out about the other regiment? Did he go with the regiment to Port Hudson? Any way to find out if he was working at Charity hospital?