Col. Allan R. Witt was commanding Merrick's 10th Arkansas Infantry when it was captured at Port Hudson July 9, 1863, it was paroled on July 12-13, 1863 and declared exchanged in 1864. Col. Thomas D. Merrick, the first commander of the 10th Arkansas Infantry resigned and was removed from command at the reorganization of the army at Corinth, Mississippi on May 14,1862.
Col. Witt came back to Arkansas and during the summer of 1864, he mounted what was left of the 10th Arkansas Infantry, along with men from other units like Crawford's Cavalry, He also took in some conscripts. He opened a training camp he called Camp Merrick about 5 miles southeast of Quitman, Arkansas and 5 miles west of modern day Rose Bud, Arkansas. The location I have described in the prior post. The reason he chose this location it was his old stomping grounds and he lived in the area.