I have a copy of a memoir in which my great great greatgrandfather R.H. Gardner made some interesting entries.
He transcribed his father family genealogy and added his own life experiences to it. I'm thinking he transcribed it in the late 1890s so his recollection is several decades old. He was raised for 11 years after his fathers death by Tolbert Fanning and worked on TF's farm and went to his college in Tn.

Quoting from his notes as best as I can read them.
Page 45. " I then ran for the assessor of the county (Greene)- moved to Gainsville the county seat and was appointed Deputy Clerk under HW Glasscock(?) which position I held until the breaking out of the Civil War. And in June 1861 I assisted Capt FS White to make up the first company of volunteers from the county. I was appointed quartermaster until the regiment was organized- was then elected to 1st Lt of the company with FS White Capt. The regiment remained at the campground 3 miles south of Gainesville. Col Cross(?) of Poinsett(?) being the Colonel until in the fall. I remained with the company until the reorganization in June 1862 and while Cornith the reorganization took place I took advantage of the general order that "officers not being re-elected should have permits to return home and act as recruiting officers". So I did not run for any office. I returned by way of Memphis and only got on the Arkansas side but a few days before the fall of Island No 10. And with the Federals becoming commandant of the Misssissippi River to ___burg.
I got up the White river as far as Des Arc and found my wife and the two children at Hickory Plains at my uncles Albert Thomas. I remained here for three weeks after making arrangments to have her taken home, I went to St Francis County and joined Capt Allen's Cavalry Company. it was soon made and infantry company and dismounted. I was elected Captain of the company and so remained until peace. I was with the company in every fight or skirmish and received not a scratch, was never sick, had but one furlough. Was elected clerk of our Co in 1864 but would not leave my company. Took the amnesty oath at Jacksonport in May 1865. Returned home tow miles north of Gainsville. Found my wife and the two children without food except as my friend HW Glasscock(?) could offer a portion of his very ______ allowance of very poor beef and some cornmeal. I put in 5-6 acres of corn having a broken down mustang pony to work. In July my wife picked and dried blackberries for winter."

After the war RH Gardner was the Co Clerk for several years then a surveyor. He died in 1906 in Odessa Mo. There is a picture of him from a CW reunion that I know of.