On March 20, 1862, Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn authorized James Clarkson "to muster into service and organize a battalion of CAVALRY of six companies--for six months if they furnish their arms and equipment, otherwise for the war" and ordered him to report back for further orders as soon as he raised his battalion. He quickly organized Clarkson’s Missouri Cavalry Battalion, Independent Rangers, composed primarily of men he had soldiered with since the beginning of the war. Michael W. Buster, Clarkson’s reckless but lucky adjutant at Wilson's Creek, signed on as his second-in-command.

Clarkson's Battalion was attacked in Indian Territory at Locust Grove on July 3, 1862. Clarkson and about 150 of his men were made casualties, the majority being captured. Michael W. Buster (Buster's Battalion) then assumed command and operated with D.H. Cooper during the Campaign North of the Boston Mountains which culminated in the battle of Newtonia, MO, September 30, 1862. After Newtonia and in preparatio for Prairie Grove, Hindman then stripped Cooper of his Texas regiments and after protest from Cooper, Hindman reassigned Buster's Battalion to Cooper's force in the Indian Terriotry.

"Clarkson's (Buster's) defeated battalion was instead divided from within: many of Clarkson's Missourians were merged into Col. John B. Clark, Jr.'s 9th Missouri Infantry, while others followed the faithful--and newly promoted--Lt. Col. Buster to form a new cavalry battalion in Arkansas." (Gaines, The Confederate Cherokees, 106; List of Field Officers, Regiments, and Battalions in the Confederate States Army, 1861-1865 (Macon, Ga.: The J. W. Burke Co., 1912), 39-40.

Buster's 15th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion was organized On September 20, 1863, for service in the Indian Territory, by taking the four Arkansas companies of Clark's 9th Regiment Missouri Infantry and organizing them as a cavalry battalion under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Michael W. Buster.

Co. I, 9th Missouri, became Co. A, Buster's Battalion.
Co. G, 9th Missouri, became Co. B, Buster's Battalion.
Co. E, 9th Missouri, became Co. C, Buster's Battalion.
Co. D, 9th Missouri, became Co. D, Buster's Battalion.

Company A was from Crawford County;
Company C was from Logan County;
Companies B and D are believed to have been from Benton County.

After Buster's departure the 9th Missouri Infantry was reconstituted as follows:

The 9th Reg. MO Inf. was formed by consolidation of the four Missouri companies of Clark's Regiment Missouri Infantry and the six companies of the 8th (also known as
Musser's) Battalion Missouri Inf. by S.O. No. 171. Headquarters Dist. of AR, dated Sept. 30, 1863. By S.O. 177. Headquarters Price's Div., dated Sept. 15, 1863, the reg. was designated the 9th Regiment Missouri Inf. Companies A, B, C, and H. Clark's Reg. MO Inf. became
Cos. B, C, D, and E, respectively, 9th MO Inf. and companies A, B, C, D, E, and F, 8th Battalion Missouri Inf. became A, F, G, H, I, and K, respectively, 9th Regiment Mo. Inf."

Short Bio Michael W. Buster

Born in Tennessee February, 1823 (from 1900 census info)
Moved to Greenfield, Dade County, Mo abt 1848 (from 1860 census, deduction from children's place of birth)
Is listed as "merchant" in 1860 census. In other places he is referred to as "dry goods merchant". Relocated after CW to Weatherford, Parker Co., TX and was still living in 1900. Don't know date of death. Haven't checked for pension.

Okay, here are some of my questions:

1) Was Clarkson's (Buster's) Battalion mounted or were they infantry? There are numerous references to Buster's Battalion after September 30, 1862 specifically referring to them as "infantry".
2) "The 9th Reg. MO Inf. was formed by consolidation of the four Missouri companies of Clark's Regiment Missouri Infantry and the six companies of the 8th (also known as
Musser's) Battalion Missouri Inf." This is from the National Archives. Is this referring to the initial formation of Clark's 9th Missouri Infantry and should "Clark's Regiment" actually be "Clarkson's Battalion" or is this the organization of Clark's Regiment after the departure of Buster's 15th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion?
3) Was Clarkson's Battalion according to the text above originally the 5th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 8th Division, MSG?

Any help would be appreciated,

Jim