Williamson's Arkansas Infantry Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Williamson's Arkansas Infantry Battalion (1862) was a Confederate Army infantry
battalion
during the American Civil War
.
for this battalion were recruited from Pope County, including several former 15th Militia Regiment members. It was apparently intended to be recruited to a full regiment
but the battalion was still recruiting and organizing when it was swept up by General Earl Van Dorn
when he transferred his army to Mississippi following the Battle of Pea Ridge
. The battalion was formally organized at Camp Churchill Clark, near Corinth, Mississippi
, on May 8, 1862. However, it was decided to disband the battalion instead, so the election of officers was invalidated and the battalion formally broken up on May 25, 1862. The battalion was composed of companies from the following counties:
The component companies were distributed among other Arkansas battalions and regiments as follows:
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Organization
The battalion was organized in March 1862 by Colonel John L. Williamson, apparently immediately following the final muster of the 15th Arkansas Militia Regiment. Williamson had also commanded the 15th Arkansas Militia Regiment from Pope County. Three companiesCompany (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
for this battalion were recruited from Pope County, including several former 15th Militia Regiment members. It was apparently intended to be recruited to a full regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
but the battalion was still recruiting and organizing when it was swept up by General Earl Van Dorn
Earl Van Dorn
Earl Van Dorn was a career United States Army officer, fighting with distinction during the Mexican-American War and against several tribes of Native Americans...
when he transferred his army to Mississippi following the Battle of Pea Ridge
Battle of Pea Ridge
The Battle of Pea Ridge was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 6–8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Garfield. In the battle, Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis defeated Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. The outcome of the...
. The battalion was formally organized at Camp Churchill Clark, near Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth is a city in Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,054 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Alcorn County. Its ZIP codes are 38834 and 38835.- History :...
, on May 8, 1862. However, it was decided to disband the battalion instead, so the election of officers was invalidated and the battalion formally broken up on May 25, 1862. The battalion was composed of companies from the following counties:
- Company A—Franklin County (enlisted at Ozark, ArkansasOzark, ArkansasOzark is a city in Franklin County, Arkansas, United States, and one of the two county seats of Franklin County. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,525 at the 2000 census, making Ozark the ninth largest municipality in the metro area...
, February 8, 1862) - Company B—Franklin County (enlisted at Ozark, ArkansasOzark, ArkansasOzark is a city in Franklin County, Arkansas, United States, and one of the two county seats of Franklin County. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,525 at the 2000 census, making Ozark the ninth largest municipality in the metro area...
, February 15, 1862) - Company C—Pope County (enlisted in Pope County, Arkansas, February 15, 1862)
- Company D—Pope County (enlisted at Russellville, ArkansasRussellville, ArkansasRussellville is the county seat and largest city in Pope County, Arkansas, United States, with a population of 27,920, according to the 2010 Census. It is home to Arkansas Tech University and Arkansas Nuclear One, Arkansas' only nuclear power plant...
, February 13, 1862) - Company E—Pope County (enlisted at Dover, ArkansasDover, ArkansasDover is a small town in Pope County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,329 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.- Geography :Dover is located at ....
, February 22, 1862) - Company F—Yell County (enlisted at Bata’s Mill, Arkansas, February 28, 1862)
- Company G—Yell County (enlisted at Dardanelle, ArkansasDardanelle, ArkansasDardanelle is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,228 at the 2000 census. Along with Danville, it is one of two county seats for Yell County...
, February 28, 1862) - Company H—Conway County (enlisted at Portland, ArkansasPortland, ArkansasPortland is a city in Ashley County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 552 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Portland is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, March 1, 1862).
The component companies were distributed among other Arkansas battalions and regiments as follows:
- Companies A and B became Company 2nd I and K of the 21st (McCrae's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment
- Companies C and D became Companies G and F, of the 1st Brook's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion
- Companies E, F and H became Companies E, K and I of the 3rd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment3rd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment-External links:* * * * -See also:* List of Arkansas Civil War Confederate units* Lists of American Civil War Regiments by State* Confederate Units by State* Arkansas in the American Civil War* Arkansas Militia in the Civil War...
- Company G became Company K of the 31st Arkansas Infantry Regiment31st Arkansas Infantry RegimentThe 31st Arkansas Infantry was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War from the state of Arkansas.-Organization:...
.
See also
- List of Arkansas Civil War Confederate units
- Lists of American Civil War Regiments by State
- Confederate Units by State
- Arkansas in the American Civil WarArkansas in the American Civil WarThe state of Arkansas was a part of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, and provided a source of troops, supplies, and military and political leaders for the fledgling country. Arkansas had become the 25th state of the United States, on June 15, 1836, entering as a...
- Arkansas Militia in the Civil WarArkansas Militia in the Civil WarThe units of the Arkansas Militia in the Civil War included militia organizations to which the current Arkansas National Guard has a connection: the militia, Home Guard, and State Troop regiments raised by the State of Arkansas. Like most of the United States, Arkansas had an organized militia...