Billy,
You wrote-I noticed you said "Hebert’s Bgde with Whitfield cdg in Hebert’s absence" and I had thought that Col. Evander McNair took over Hebert's brigade until he returned from captivity. Was McNair originally filling in for Hebert and then Whitfield became the more "permanent" replacement until Hebert returned? Because in the ORs it shows Special Order # 86 from Asst. Adj. Gen. W.H. Brand by order of Van Dorn part of which says "Rector's regiment is assigned to the Second Brigade, Col. McNair commanding" but this is from 20 March of '62

Hebert himself was captured at Pea Ridge leaving McNair in temporary command. Although soon exchanged, it would take a while for the brigade to regain its strength. Rector's regiment was virtually disbanded as a result of Pea Ridge and needed time to reform. Also, the 3rd Louisiana was detached as provost guard at Fort Smith and also at Van Buren at different times,

These, and other factors, put Hebert's Brigade behind the timetable of the rest of the Army of the West on their journey to Des Arc, Memphis and ultimately Corinth.

Hebert's illness often kept him absent from brigade command and thus the brigade was commanded at times by McNair and later Whitfield.

Here is what I have:

3/7-3/8 Battle of Pea Ridge
Hebert Bgde

• 3rd La
• 4th Ark
• 14th Ark
• 15th Ark
• 16th Ark
• 17th Ark
• 1st Ark Mtd Rifles (dismted)
• 2nd Ark Mtd Rifles (dismted)
• 4th Texas Cav Bn (dismted)

3/17/62 Announcing the organization of Price’s 1st Div of the Army of the West
Hebert-2nd Bgde
3rd La
4th Ark
Hill Ark Regt [16th Ark]
Whitfield Tex Cav
McDonald Btry

3/19 to Churchill-proceed with your Bgde & Gates' Bn of cav as rapidly as possible to Forsyth, on White River-You will march without tents & with only sufficient wagons to carry the rations of your men. You will leave your wagons at Forsyth, march upon Springfield by a forced march, & endeavor to capture & destroy the stores of the enemy at that place.

Churchill

3 Tex

6 Tex

11 Tex

1 Ark MR

Mo cav Regt

The infantry, meanwhile, were marching from Van Buren. McNair had command of the 4th Ark, 14th Ark, 17th Ark & McDonald’s Btry & marched to Clarksville
McNair
4th Ark
14th Ark
17th Ark
McDonald’s Btry

3/20 -S.O. #86 HQ MSG, Camp Ben McCulloch
The following changes are made temporarily in the organization of the Bgdes of the 1st Div of the West, viz:
-Hill’s Regt is assigned to the 1st Bgde, Col Little cdg;
-Rector’s Regt is assigned to the 2nd Bgde, Col McNair cdg.
They will at once report accordingly.

3/24-Col Hebert & Maj Tunnard arrive at Ft Smith after being exchanged.

“The work of reorganizing was now set about vigorously. Price's army had already proceeded towards the Ms River, on its way to join the Army of the Centre. The 1st Bgde of our division also proceeded in that direction; but the 2nd Bgde, and especially our Regt, [3rd La] was too much cut up and crippled to proceed, until some of the wounded had recovered and the missing stragglers returned, and the prisoners, among whom there were a good many officers, had been exchanged and again joined the Bgde.
Our Regt [3rd La] was ordered up to Fort Smith, to garrison that place and recuperate, and wait for the return of the Col, major, and other officers and men, who were prisoners in the enemy's camp.”

“A Day or two after the officers and men who had been exchanged had returned to duty we were ordered with all the remaining troops of the Army of the West to proceed to Memphis, and join the Army of the Centre.
We were not to be taken down the river as we had come, but were to march by land as far as Little Rock at least.
The distance by the road to Little Rock was about 250 miles, but 20 miles in a day, if the roads were anything good, was now to us mere child's play, if we had trains to supply us with food and tents and blankets to enable us to sleep at nights.”

3/27 Hqs 2nd Bgde, Camp Ben McCulloch -Special orders No [blank]
The Troops composing the 2nd Bgde will march at 7 o'clock am tomorrow and the following order viz
1--4th Ark Regt
2- Capt Macdonald's Btry
3- 17th Ark Regt
4th- 14th '' ''
Each cdg officer will keep his command Distinct & will be responsible for any depredations committed by his command on private property or citizens - By order of Col McNair &c Hqs.

3/28-- 3rd La left Ft Smith for Little Rock. Price had already gone by the land route toward Memphis. We had to wait at Little Rock for boats to come & take us to Memphis
The 3rd La Regt was now attached to the 2nd Bgde of Gen Price's army, under command of Col Hebert who was reported as having received a commission as Brig-Gen The sick-list of the Regt was very large-— the result of late hardships. They had, however, comfortable hospitals both for the sick & wounded at Little Rock

3/28 [3rd La] left Fort Smith and reached Little Rock in about 13 days.
When we got opposite Little Rock we learned that the road from there to Memphis was perfectly impassable, and that it was quite impossible to get there by the land route. Price, who was most indefatigable in his exertions, had taken his army that way, but had to leave a large part of his baggage trains, and some of his artillery sunk in the mud in the neighborhood of "Des Ark," and since then the Ms had risen, and much of the country and the roads were flooded. It was quite evident that the Ms must be very high, as the Ark River was very high at Little Rock, from the waters of the Ms backing up.
There was, therefore, no help for it, and we were ordered to camp where we were and wait until transport steamers could be sent to take us by water to Memphis. We were camped on the north or left bank of the Ark River, opposite Little Rock. There was no town or houses on this side of the river, but a large and substantial ferry-boat plied back and forward to maintain the connection of the roads which passed through at this part.
Col Hebert, who still commanded the Bgde, had with his staff taken up his Hqs at the principal hotel in Little Rock.
On the day after our arrival I was sent to his Hqs with reports and a statement of some articles in the way of clothing for the men, which were supposed to be obtainable in Little Rock.

4/3 Hqs 2nd Bgde 1st Div. C.S. Army of the West Camp near Dover, Ark G O #1
In accordance with orders #24 of Hqs of Trans Miss Dist. the undersigned assumes command of the 2nd Bgde, 1st Div, Army of the West.
The Bgde is composed at present of the following forces
1. Macdonald's Btry of 6 Guns
2. Whitfield's Cavalry
3- 3rd Regt La Vols Infy
4- McNair's 4th Ark ''
5. Mitchell's 14th '' ''
6. Rector's 17th '' ''
By order of Col Louis Hebert Cdg S. M. Hyams Jr Capt & AG

4/3 Hqs 2nd Bgde 1st Div Army of the West Camp near Dover G O #2 The forces of the Bgde now collected will take up the line of March at 6 am tomorrow 4th in the following order viz
1st McNair's 4th Ark Regt
2nd McDonald's Btry 3
3rd Mitchell’s 14th Ark Regt
The Trains of the different Commands will follow immediately in the rear of their respective troops By order of Col Hebert Cdg

4/7 Little’s Bgde leaves Des Arc
-rest of army far behind
-Churchill’s cav Bgde returning from Little Rock
-Hebert Bgde was 1st to leave Van Buren, did not reach White River till 4/15, and did not get away till 4/24 or 4/25

4/11--Hqs 2nd Bgde 1st Div Army of the West Camp on B. F. Cadron G O #14 The forces of the Bgde now collected will hold themselves in readiness to take up the line of march at 6 am the 12th most but will not strike tents until ordered They will move in the following order viz:
1st Mitchell’s 14th Ark Regt
2nd McDonalds St Louis Btry
3rd McNair’s 4th Ark Regt
The train of the 14th Ark Regt will move in rear of Btry with that of Btry, the other trains will move in rear of their respective commands by order Col Hebert Cdg

4/13 Mouth of the Cadron-Col Hebert cdg Bgde to senior CSA officer-After making all attempts to go from Springfield to Des Arc I have been forced to turn back & south to cross the Cadron at this point. I will move again tomorrow. Can you give me definite information of the operations on the Ms? Should the enemy take the mouths of White & Ark Rivers my going to Des Arc would be useless & expose me. Please therefore give me all information possible. I have with me 1,870 men, leaving out teamsters, and one Btry of 6 guns, transportation, &c. Can boats be furnished at Des Arc? Any news would be of great moment to me.

4/13 EVD/DHM HQ TMD Des Arc, Col Louis Hebert 1st Bgde 1st Div At Camp on Cadron – if the Col’s position allows, go to Little Rock & take train to Devall’s Bluff. EVD desires that [the] Col’s Bgde reach Memphis as soon as possible. Report when he reaches Devall’s Bluff

4/16 The 3rd La Regt reached Little Rock on the 16th & we were warmly welcomed. With 5 days' rations cooked, the Regt left Little Rock for Beauregard’s army at Corinth, on board the steamers Louisville & Kentucky

4/20 McNair’s command of the 4th Ark, 14th Ark, 17th Ark & McDonald Btry arrives Little Rock & left by boat for Memphis
McNair’s command
4th Ark
14th Ark
17th Ark
McDonald Btry

4/20 At least 3 Ark Regts were delayed en route to Little Rock until 4/20. Here, they were halted again because the Memphis road was flooded

4/23 HQ 2nd Bgde 1st Div Army of the West S O #34-The following commands will have 6 days rations cooked immediately & hold themselves ready to move at moment’s notice:
3rd La
14th Ark
St Louis Btry
Williamson’s Bn Ark vols
By order Gen Hebert cdg

4/24 S. O. #64 Memphis
XI. Col James P Major to report to Maj Clark, Chief of Arty, for assignment to an Arty command
XV. Whitfield’s Regt will proceed to Corinth at once and occupy the ground designed for Hebert’s Bgde until its arrival.

Col Whitfield date [election] 4/2 to LtCol 4/15

4/24 Hebert still on boats [so] Whitfield’s Tex Regt will proceed to Corinth at once & occupy the ground designed for Hebert Bgde until its arrival

4/24 Corinth-Beauregard to Van Dorn, Memphis- Hurry up the movement- Enemy begin to threaten our advance

4/24 Memphis -Van Dorn to Col Hebert: Hurry forward. You are wanted immediately. Crowd the boats, if necessary, to expedite you. Bring all the ammunition you possibly can.

4/29 Gen Orders #17- Memphis- Following is the organization of the Army of the West:
Price’s Div-Hebert 2nd Bgde
14th Ark
17th Ark
3rd La
3rd Tex DC
27th Tex DC

4/29 HQ Army of the West, Memphis-Maury to Col Hebert cdg Bgde-The Gen desires you to remain here and give your attn. to the fitting out and forwarding to Corinth of the troops of this army now here and en route from Ark. You will determine from Col Rosser & the city Provost what instructions may have been given to them relative to the removal or destruction of the public & private property & stores & see that they are carried out.
Please hasten by every means in your power the transportation of the troops & their supplies. You will remain here until the last of these have passed on, and until the orders have been carried out regarding public & private property, unless a battle shall take place at Corinth before then, in which case you will be notified & come by special train to command your Bgde.

5/1 Van Dorn to Col Hebert at Memphis – the Col is to give instructions from Van Dorn to Col Rosser to carry out. Hebert may return to his Bgde when health permits

5/1 the troops boarded trains toward Corinth. [3rd La]

5/1 Hebert’s Bgde arrives Corinth

5/4 Price Div
….Bgde 3,327/4,371
14 Ark 431
17 Ark 446
3 La 636
3 Tex DC 707/989
27 Tex DC 1,007
McDonald Btry 100

5/5 Whitfield has been cdg Bgde since about this date [see 6/8 entry]

Col Hebert, of the 3rd La, though a prisoner in the hands of the enemy, was promoted Gen, & to this Bgde the 3rd Tex Regt was transferred. The Bgde, in the absence of Gen Hebert, was commanded by Col J. W. Whitfield, of the 1st Tex Legion. This Bgde did not participate in any of the actual fighting at the battle of Farmington,

5/19 Canton-Hebert [late Col of 3rd La] to Price-asks for extension of leave of absence based on surgeon’s certificate. Current leave expires
Canton, Ms-Surgeon certificate supporting this request-During the march from W. Ark, he contracted a fever. When he reached the army at Summit, Ms, in May, the same month he was promoted to Gen, he was sent to the hospital at Canton by the surgeon. He remained there for 20 days & then returned to the army
Maj Tunnard 3rd La-was acting Cdr of Regt from Elk Horn till we came to Corinth in May, when I declined a re-election

5/23 Surgeon certifies that Col Hebert unable for duty due to camp fever; asks for 3 weeks leave