1st Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (Monroe's)

1st Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate)
James Fleming Fagan, the original commander of Monrow's 1st Arkansas Cavalry Regiment
Active	May 9, 1862–
Country	Confederate States of America
Allegiance	CSA
Branch	Cavalry
Size	Regiment
Nickname(s)	Monroe's Regiment
Engagements	American Civil War Battle of Cane Hill Battle of Prairie Grove Marmadukes' Expedition into Missouri Battle of Fayettville Battle of Devil's Backbone Battle of Pine Bluff Red River Campaign Battle of Elkin's Ferry Battle of Poison Spring Battle of Marks' Mills Price's Missouri Raid Battle of Fort Davidson Fourth Battle of Boonville Battle of Glasgow, Missouri Battle of Sedalia Second Battle of Lexington Battle of Little Blue River Second Battle of Independence Battle of Byram's Ford Battle of Westport Battle of Marais des Cygnes Battle of Mine Creek Battle of Marmiton River Second Battle of Newtonia

The 1st Arkansas Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment of the Confederate States of America. Officially designated by the Arkansas State Military Board as the 6th Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, it was almost never referred to as such during the Civil War. It was usually called Monroe's 1st Arkansas Cavalry, occasionally the 4th Arkansas Cavalry, and more rarely the 1st Trans-Mississippi Cavalry. It is also found in the Official Records of the American Civil War as Fagan's Cavalry and Monroe's Cavalry. The Compiled Service Records of the men are filed under the designation "1st (Monroe's) Cavalry," Rolls 4 and 5.^[1]

Organization

The origins of Monroe's Cavalry can be traced back to two smaller units, O'Neill's 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry and Wheat's Squadron Arkansas Cavalry. Captain James McCarney O'Neill was appointed to command the 13th Arkansas Battalion on August 1, 1862. It was composed of three independent troops: O'Neill's (raised in Bradley County), Capt. Americus V. Rieff's (raised in Hempstead County), and Capt. Columbus C. Wolfe's (raised in Drew County). Capt. Patrick Henry Wheat's squadron consisted of two Prairie County companies: Wheat's and Raulston's. In September 1862, these units were combined with other independent cavalry troops and partisan ranger companies to form the 6th (1st) Regiment Arkansas Cavalry. The regiment was made up of the following volunteer companies:^[1]

• Company A – This company was organized at Hickory Plains, Prairie County, Arkansas, on May 9, 1862, by Captain Patrick Henry Wheat. The company was composed mostly of Prairie County men. The other Prairie County company of this regiment, Raulston's, joined with Wheat's company to form a cavalry squadron commanded by Wheat as senior captain. Wheat's squadron was consolidated with Witherspoon's 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry to form the 6th Arkansas Cavalry on September 1, 1862. When Captain Wheat left the service in April 1863, Robert M. Barnes succeeded him as captain.^[2]

• Company B – This company was organized at Warren, Bradley County, Arkansas, on May 12, 1862, by Captain James McCarney O'Neill. The company was composed mostly of men from Bradley and Calhoun counties. It was initially assigned to Witherspoon's 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry. Captain O'Neill was assigned to command the battalion, as senior captain, on August 1, 1862. The next month, the battalion was consolidated with Wheat's squadron to form the 6th Arkansas Cavalry. When O'Neill was promoted, G. S. Van Valkenburgh succeeded him as captain.^[3]

• Company C – This company was organized at Washington, Hempstead County, Arkansas, on May 15, 1862, by Captain George A. Davis. The company initially operated as an independent partisan ranger company before being assigned to the 6th Arkansas Cavalry. In late 1862, about half the men of the disbanded Company I were transferred to Company C.^[4]

• Company D – This company was organized at Washington, Hempstead County, Arkansas, on May 19, 1862, by Captain Americus V. Rieff, and enlisted in Confederate service on May 22, 1862. Initially assigned to the 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry, it became a part of the 6th Arkansas Cavalry on September 1, 1862, when the battalion was consolidated with Wheat's squadron.^[5]

• Company E – This company was organized at Brownsville, Prairie County, Arkansas, on May 26, 1862, by Captain W. E. Raulston. The company was composed mostly of Prairie County men. The other Prairie County company of this regiment, Wheat's, joined with Raulston's company to form a cavalry squadron commanded by Wheat as senior captain. Wheat's squadron was consolidated with Witherspoon's 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry to form the 6th Arkansas Cavalry on September 1, 1862. When Captain Raulston left the service in April 1863, James W. Blanton succeeded him as captain.^[6]

• Company F – This company was organized at Arkadelphia, Clark County, Arkansas, on May 8, 1862, by Captain John W. Hanson. It operated as an independent cavalry troop before being assigned to the 6th Arkansas Cavalry.^[7]

• Company G – This company was organized at Plum Bayou, Jefferson County, Arkansas, on June 17, 1862, by Captain M. D. Davis. It initially operated as an independent cavalry troop before being assigned to the 6th Arkansas Cavalry. In late 1862, about half the men of the disbanded Company I were transferred to this company.^[8]

• Company H – This company was organized at Benton, Saline County, Arkansas, on June 19, 1862, by Captain G. W. Brown.^[9]

• Company I – This company was organized at DeWitt, Arkansas County, Arkansas, on June 20, 1862, by a Captain Young. It was composed of men from Arkansas and Jefferson counties. In the fall of 1862, it was disbanded, and its men were transferred to Companies C and G.^[10]

• Company K – This company was organized at Magnolia, Columbia County, Arkansas, on June 21, 1862, by Captain Isaac L. Adair. It operated as an independent cavalry troop until it was assigned to the 6th Arkansas Cavalry.^[11]

• Company L – This company was organized at Monticello, Drew County, Arkansas, on May 12, 1862, by Captain Columbus C. Wolfe. It operated as an independent partisan ranger company until it was assigned to the 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry. When the battalion was consolidated with Wheat's squadron, Wolfe's company became Company L of the 6th Arkansas Cavalry.^[12]

Colonel James Fleming Fagan was appointed to command the new regiment, with James Cade Monroe as lieutenant-colonel and James M. O'Neill as major.^[13] Fagan and Monroe had previously served together as colonel and lieutenant-colonel, respectively, of the famed 1st Arkansas Infantry. Fagan was promoted to brigadier-general a month later, and Monroe succeeded him as colonel commanding the regiment.^[1]

Battles

Monroe's Cavalry took part in the battles of Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, Fayetteville, Backbone Mountain, Pine Bluff, Elkins Ferry, Poison Springs, and Marks' Mills, in Arkansas; and in the many battles of Price's 1864 Missouri Campaign, including Pilot Knob and Independence, Missouri; and Marais des Cygnes, Kansas. The unit reported 13 were killed and 23 wounded during the Camden Expedition.^[14] The unit participated in the following engagements:^[15]

• Battle of Cane Hill, Arkansas, November 28, 1862
• Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, December 7, 1862
• Marmadukes' Expedition into Missouri, December 31, 1862 to January 25, 1863
• Battle of Fayettville, Arkansas, April 16, 1863
• Battle of Devil's Backbone, Arkansas, September 1, 1863
• Battle of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, October 25, 1863
• Red River Campaign, Arkansas Mar-May, 1864

• Battle of Elkin's Ferry, Arkansas, April 3 and April 4, 1864
• Battle of Poison Spring, Arkansas, April 18, 1864
• Battle of Marks' Mills, Arkansas, April 25, 1864

• Price's Missouri Raid, Arkansas-Missouri-Kansas, September–October, 1864

• Battle of Fort Davidson, Missouri, September 27, 1864
• Fourth Battle of Boonville, Missouri, October 11, 1864
• Battle of Glasgow, Missouri, October 15, 1864
• Battle of Sedalia, Missouri, October 15, 1864
• Second Battle of Lexington, Missouri, October 19, 1864
• Battle of Little Blue River, Missouri, October 21, 1864
• Second Battle of Independence, Missouri, October 21–22, 1864
• Battle of Byram's Ford, Missouri, October 22–23, 1864
• Battle of Westport, Missouri, October 23, 1864
• Battle of Marais des Cygnes, Linn County, Kansas, October 25, 1864
• Battle of Mine Creek, Missouri, October 25, 1864
• Battle of Marmiton River, Missouri, October 25, 1864
• Second Battle of Newtonia, Missouri, October 28, 1864

Never surrendered

The regiment was operating in southwest Arkansas and northeast Texas at the end of the war. Monroe's Cavalry never surrendered. Much of the regiment marched south towards the Rio Grande, with the intention of crossing into Mexico and somehow continuing the war. However, upon reaching the Trinity River, the soldiers voted to disband the regiment and return to their homes.^[1]

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

References

1. Gerdes, Edward G., Monroe's 1st/6th Arkansas Cavalry, Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavhist.html
2. Gerdes, Edward G., "6th (Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry, Company A", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavcoa.html
3. Gerdes, Edward G., "6th (Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry, Company B", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavcob.html
4. Gerdes, Edward G., "6th (Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry, Company C", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavcoc.html
5. Gerdes, Edward G., "6th (Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry, Company D", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavcod.html
6. Gerdes, Edward G., "6th (Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry, Company E", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavcoe.html
7. Gerdes, Edward G., "6th (Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry, Company F", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavcof.html
8. Gerdes, Edward G., "6th (Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry, Company G", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavcog.html
9. Gerdes, Edward G., "6th (Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry, Company H", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavcoh.html
10. Gerdes, Edward G., "6th (Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry, Company I", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavcoi.html
11. Gerdes, Edward G., "6th (Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry, Company K", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavcok.html
12. Gerdes, Edward G., "6th (Monroe's) Arkansas Cavalry, Company L", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 20 September 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/6cavcol.html
13. National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, Confederate Arkansas Troops, 1st Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Monroe's) , Accessed 20 September 2011
14. National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, Confederate Arkansas Troops, 1st Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Monroe's), Accessed 20 September 2011
15. Sikakis, Stewart, Compendium of the Confederate Armies, Florida and Arkansas, Facts on File, Inc., 1992, ISBN 0-8160-2288-7, page 50-51.

External links

• Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Home Page
• The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture
• The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
• The Arkansas History Commission, State Archives, Civil War in Arkansas

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service".