. . . . The battle of Pea Ridge over, the effect of this disaster to the rebel arms began to appear in scattered bands of lawless soldiery, and growing boldness in Union men.  Prior to that event the loyal citizens of Arkansas were cowed and powerless.  With difficulty they had avoided enlistment in the rebel army, and now that the reins of persecution began to slacken, they availed themselves of every opportunity to strike for the Federal lines.  The Army of the South-west moved to Batesville, and Cassville, Barry county, Missouri, became the out-post of the frontier, with Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Holland, of "Phelps' Missouri Volunteers," as commander of the post, and M. La Rue Harrison, then of the Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry Volunteers, as Quartermaster and Commissary of Subsistence.  Cassville was also at this time the seat of a general hospital, and in other respects a position important to hold.

On the tenth of May, 1862, there came to its pickets a band of eleven Arkansians, led by Thomas J. Gilstrap and Furiben Elkins, of Crawford County.  Listening to their story of suffering and wrong, and learning that others still were toiling their way northward, the idea occurred to Harrison of applying for authority to raise a regiment of loyal Arkansians, for the cavalry arm of the service.

Believing that, "The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it," the necessary application was made at the earliest feasible moment.

On the sixteenth of June, 1862, a special order of the War Department was issued, authorizing the raising of the regiment, and Colonel Harrison, with unceasing zeal, now bent his energies to the task.  Meantime, other fugitives had crossed the Missouri line.  On the fourteenth of May there came into Cassville a band of thirty, led by Thomas Wilhite, of Washington County, men of nerve and activity, whose undesirable life on the Boston Mountains had, nevertheless, fitted them admirably for the wild-wood skirmishing in which they were destined to act a conspicuous part.

On the twentieth of June there arrived another detachment of the yeomanry of Washington County, one hundred and fifteen strong, under the leadership of Thomas J. Hunt.  Jesse M. Gilstrap, of Crawford County, and others whose loyalty rose with their danger, were likewise successful as recruiting officers, and on the tenth of July the first battalion was formally organized, with James J. Johnson, of the 36th Illinois Infantry Volunteers, and who had heartily co-operated with Colonel Harrison from the incipiency of his project, as Major.  On the seventh of August the Colonel was mustered, and early in October a maximum regiment was in the field.

In June it rendezvoused at Springfield, and as rapidly as men were enlisted, they were placed on post duty.  The hardships of their lot had but poorly prepared them for the active labors in which they were engaged, and it has always been regretted that the regiment could not have been permitted, even for a month, the life and discipline of a camp of instruction.  However, the grand object was to raise a regiment of loyal men from a seceded State, and Colonel Harrison succeeded.  There are officers in the army who knowingly shook their heads at the project, and prophesied nothing but failure.

Generals Commanding gave the idea encouragement, especially Brigadier General E. B. Brown, then in charge of the South-western Division of the District of Missouri, but others of lesser rank, influence and calibre, derided what they could not appreciate.  To those who are familiar with the political history of Arkansas, since its secession, nothing can suggest itself as more important than to nurture the Union sentiment, and the discernment and energy of Colonel Harrison have resulted not only in raising the First Arkansas Cavalry, but a regiment of infantry and a battery of artillery.  Nay, more, while we write, a second regiment of infantry is forming under his supervision, and, looking beyond fact to moral influence, we do not hesitate to say, that events and successes of this description are more to be relied upon than the victories of strange troops in a strange country.

SOURCE:  A. W. Bishop, Loyalty on the Frontier or Sketches of Union Men of the South-West with Incidents and Adventures in Rebellion on the Border (1863), pages 201-203.

HEADQUARTERS SOUTHWEST DIVISION
SPRINGFIELD, June 20, 1862.

Col. F. Salomon,

Colonel, Commanding Brigade, Neutral Strip, Kansas:

COLONEL:  Will you send a regiment of troops, under command of Colonel Doubleday, and occupy Neosho and Pineville, in Newton and McDonald Counties, in this State?  I will order the commands at Cassville and Mount Vernon to co-operate with them.  I have ordered a strong mounted force to move toward Bentonville and scour the country and another into McDonald County.  My information is that the Confederate troops have left Western Arkansas and are centralizing toward Little Rock, leaving the irregular troops and Indians in the west.  This is not entirely reliable, yet enough so as to make it worthy of attention.  They have formed a chain of scouts to prevent the citizens leaving who are trying to escape the conscript law and get into Missouri.

I am, truly, your obedient servant,

E. B. BROWN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 13, Page 440.

SPRINGFIELD, June 21, 1862.

Col. JULIUS WHITE, Cassville:

Organize the Arkansas men, and muster them so that they can be paid.  The arms are being cleaned, and will be sent to companies as fast as they are ready.  We may be compelled to move from Cassville, and the arms better be kept here until wanted.  We will have to get an order to legalize the muster.  Go through all the forms, if it takes a little longer.

E. B. BROWN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 13, Page 442.

SPRINGFIELD, June 22, 1862.

Brig. Gen. JOHN M. SCHOFIELD, Saint Louis:

Mr. Fishback, a lawyer, from Fort Smith on the 17th, left here this morning for Saint Louis and will call on you.  From him and from other sources I learn that all regular forces of the enemy have been moved to Little Rock.  A few irregular troops have possession of Western Arkansas.  Confirms the report of line of scouts to prevent the people leaving.  The conscription is making Union people fast.  That 4,000 or 5,000 men can be armed against the South in Western Arkansas.  The enforcement of the conscript law began on the 20th.  Wheat crops large and well secured; oats poor; no other grain in the country.  Some of the mills have been burned; enough left to supply flour to the army if not destroyed.  Refugees from Arkansas are arriving at all our posts; 20 came in a body to our picket at Forsyth; showed a white flag; arrived here yesterday; 17 of them have enlisted, and want to go back to fight.  I have ordered that no subsistence be given to able-bodied refugees who do not enlist in the army; that at Cassville they be organized into companies and sent to this post for muster, arms, and subsistence, and join one of our regiments ordered into service.  A strong mounted force left Cassville this morning to break up McBride�s camp, who has reappeared, with about 1,000 men, in the vicinity of Yellville.  Two smaller detachments left at the same time for south and southwest to break up the line of scouts and bring out the refugees.  A movement may be made up the west bank White River toward Forsyth.  I shall be prepared to meet it.  By a rapid move of General Blunt�s column and this brigade we could take possession of Boston Mountains, and probably Fort Smith, before the enemy could move to prevent it.  If it can be supported it would cut off their Indian allies, besides a large country that gives them subsistence, and make a diversion in favor of General Curtis when he is ready to move.  We can subsist our troops in Arkansas.

I am working hard to fit the troops for service.  It is important that all requisitions for ordnance and quartermaster�s stores that have been sent up to this time should be filled as soon as possible, as they are required for immediate use.

Re-enforcements are necessary, but I will do the best I can until they can reach me.  Having been in the northern part of the State, I am certain that the necessity of troops is much greater here than in any other portion of the State.

E. B. BROWN,
Brigadier-General

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 13, Pages 444-445.

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