10th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (Witt's)

Witt's 10th Arkansas Cavalry (1863–1865) was a Confederate Army Cavalry regiment during the American Civil War from the state of Arkansas. The unit was originally known as the 10th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, but was converted to cavalry after being exchanged following the fall of Port Hudson, La.[1]

Witt's 10th Arkansas Cavalry
Active1861–1865
DisbandedMay 28, 1865
CountryConfederate States of America
AllegianceDixie CSA
BranchInfantry
SizeRegiment
EngagementsAmerican Civil War
  • Battle of Shiloh
  • Battle of Baton Rouge
  • Battle of Port Hudson, Louisiana
  • Skirmishes, Clear Creek and Tomahawk, Arkansas
  • Skirmish, Rolling Prairie, Arkansas
  • Skirmish, Sylamore Creek, Arkansas
  • Skirmishes near Burrowsville, Arkansas
  • Skirmish, Crooked Creek, Arkansas
  • Skirmish, Bayou Des Arc, Arkansas
  • Skirmish, Gum Swamp, Arkansas
  • Skirmish, Austin, Arkansas
  • Operations against Expedition from Little Rock to the Little Red River, Arkansas
  • Price's Missouri Expedition
  • Skirmish near Quitman, Arkansas (detachment)
  • Skirmish, Ironton, Mo.
  • Skirmishes, Arcadia and Ironton, Mo.
  • Battle of Marmiton (Charlot), Mo.
  • Battle of Mine Creek, Little Osage River, Marias des Cygnes, Kansas
  • Skirmish near Lewisburg, Arkansas

Organization

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The unit was mustered into Confederate Service in July 1861 at Springfield in Conway County. Its members were drawn from the counties of Cleburne, Van Buren, Conway, and Perry.[2] The unit comprised the following volunteer companies:[3]

  • Company A – "Quitman Rifles" – commanded by Captain A. R. Witt.[1]
  • Company B – "Ready Rifles" – from Conway County.[citation needed]
  • Company C – "Choctaw Riflemen" – from Van Buren County.[citation needed]
  • Company D – "White County Volunteers" – from White County.[citation needed]
  • Company E – "Conway Invincibles" – of Conway County.[citation needed]
  • Company F – "Muddy Bayou Heroes" – of Conway County.[citation needed]
  • Company G – "Red River Riflemen" – Captain John B. Miller.[citation needed]
  • Company H – "Perry County Mountaineers" – from Perry County.[citation needed]
  • Company I – "Conway Tigers" – of Conway County.[citation needed]
  • Company K – "Springfield Sharpshooters" – of Conway County.[citation needed]

The unit's first commander was Colonel T. D. Merrick, a former Major General of the Arkansas Militia.[4]

Battles

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The regiment moved to Union City, Tennessee, where 150 men died from the effects of measles. Later it was involved in the conflicts at Shiloh and Baton Rouge, and in October, 1862, contained 249 effectives. Attached to Buford's and Beall's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, the 10th was part of the garrison that surrendered at Port Hudson on July 9, 1863. After being exchanged, the men returned to Arkansas and were reorganized as the 10th or Witt's Cavalry Regiment.[2]

The 10th Arkansas Infantry fought in the following engagements:

After being reorganized as Witt's Cavalry Regiment, the unit was involved in the following engagements:[1]

  • Skirmishes, Clear Creek and Tomahawk, Arkansas – January 22, 1864.
  • Skirmish, Rolling Prairie, Arkansas – January 23, 1864.
  • Skirmish, Sylamore Creek, Arkansas – January 23, 1864.
  • Skirmishes near Burrowsville, Arkansas – January 23, 1864.
  • Skirmish, Crooked Creek, Arkansas – February 5, 1864.
  • Skirmish, Bayou Des Arc, Arkansas – July 13–16, 1864.
  • Skirmish, Gum Swamp, Arkansas – July 17, 1864.
  • Skirmish, Austin, Arkansas – July 17, 1864.
  • Operations against Expedition from Little Rock to the Little Red River, Arkansas – August 6–16, 1864.
  • Price's Missouri Expedition – August 29-December 2, 1864.
  • Skirmish near Quitman, Arkansas (detachment) – Septetember 2, 1864.
  • Skirmish, Ironton, Mo. – Septemteber 26, 1864.
  • Skirmishes, Arcadia and Ironton, Mo. – September 27, 1864.
  • Battle of Marmiton (Charlot), Mo. – October 25, 1864.
  • Battle of Mine Creek, Little Osage River, Marias des Cygnes, Kansas – October 25, 1864.
  • Skirmish near Lewisburg, Arkansas - Feb. 12, 1865.

Surrender

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The 10th Arkansas surrendered with the garrison of Port Houston, Louisiana on July 9, 1863. After being exchanged, the men returned to Arkansas and were reorganized as the 10th or Witt's Cavalry Regiment. The unit then skirmished in Arkansas and on May 28, 1865, requested from the Federals terms under which it could surrender.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Cleburne County Historical Society, 10th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, Accessed 19 January 2011, http://www.cleburnehistory.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17:10-ark-inf-regt&catid=14:civil-war&Itemid=35
  2. ^ a b c "National Park Service, Soldiers and Sailors System, Confederate Arkansas Troops, 10th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry". Retrieved October 4, 2021.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, 10TH REGIMENT ARKANSAS INFANTRY, CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, Accessed 19 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/10thidx.html
  4. ^ The War Almost Started in Little Rock, Seizing the U.S. Arsenal at Little Rock, The Capitol Guard, Company A, 6th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, Accessed, 31 October 2010,
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  This article incorporates public domain material from Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. National Park Service.