| 8th Arkansas Infantry (Confederate) | |
|---|---|
Flag of the 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. |
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| Active | 1861 — 1865 |
| Country | Confederate States of America |
| Allegiance | CSA |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Engagements | Battle of Shiloh Siege of Corinth Battle of Perryville Battle of Murfreesboro Tullahoma Campaign Battle of Liberty Gap Battle of Chickamauga Battle of Chattanooga Battle of Missionary Ridge Battle of Ringgold Gap Atlanta Campaign Battle of Dalton Battle of Resaca Battle of New Hope Church Battle of Kennesaw Mountain Battle of Peachtree Creek Battle of Atlanta Siege of Atlanta Battle of Jonesboro Battle of Spring Hill Battle of Franklin Battle of Nashville Carolinas Campaign Battle of Bentonville |
| Arkansas Confederate Infantry Regiments | |
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The 8th Arkansas Infantry (1861−1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War from the state of Arkansas.
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The unit was enrolled in state service on July 13, 1861 at Camp Price[1] near Jacksonport, Arkansas.[2] The unit was inducted into Confederate Service on September 10, 1861.[3] The unit was originally composed of units from the following counties:[4]
The original regimental officers of the 8th Arkansas were[5][6]:
The unit moved east of the Mississippi River and lost heavily at the Battle of Shiloh. It took part in that engagement, under command of Colonel Patterson, and lost heavily both days. Lieut. Thomas Bateman was killed, and Lieutenants Perryman, Cates, Harris and Richardson were wounded. Major Kelly, who commanded four companies, A, B, C and D, 122 men, of whom 62 were killed or wounded. On April 26, 1862, the entire regiment totalled 272 men.
In May 1862 the Confederate Army underwent an army-wide reorganization due to the passage of the Conscription Act by the Confederate Congress in April 1962. All twelve-month regiments had to re-muster and enlist for two years or the duration of the war; a new election of officers was ordered; and men who were exempted from service by age or other reasons under the Conscription Act were allowed to take a discharge and go home. Officers who did not choose to stand for re-election were also offered a discharge. The reorganization was accomplished among all the Arkansas regiments in and around Corinth, Mississippi, following the Battle of Shiloh.[7]
The original members of the 8th Arkansas regiment were consolidated into five companies and united with the 7th and 9th Arkansas Infantry Battalions.[8] The reorganized regiment was composed of the following companies:[1]
Upon reorganization, John H. Kelly was elected Colonel; Wilson, Lieutenant Colonel, and Capt. G. F. Baucum, Major. Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson resigned, and Anderson Watkins was elected Major. Upon the promotion of Colonel Kelly to brigadier-general, Baucum became Colonel, and Anderson Watkins, Lieutenant Colonel.[9]
The regiment took part in the battle of Murfreesboro, as part of Liddell's brigade, and captured two stand of colors, which were taken by Private James Riddle, of Company C, and Corporal N. A. Horn, of Company E. Colonel Kelly was wounded the second day and borne off the field, and Lieutenant Colonel G. F. Baucum assumed command of the regiment. Lieuts. T. H. Beard, S. B. Cole, Colvin Ead and H. J. McCurdy, of the Eighth, were killed. The regiment was in the battles of Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold Gap (consolidated with the 19th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel Alexander T. Hawthorn, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Ezra Church and Atlanta or Decatur Road. The 8th Arkansas was assigned to Major General Patrick Cleburne's division. Its casualties were 29 killed and 124 wounded at Murfreesboro, and 14 killed, 92 wounded, and 65 missing at Chickamauga. The 8th/19th lost 16 men at Ringgold Gap, totalled 363 men and 265 arms in December, 1863, and had 97 disabled at the Battle of Atlanta.[10]
The 8th Arkansas would be credited with participation in the following battles:
There are two surviving examples of the battle flags of the 8th Arkansas Infantry:
| A circle of ten stars appears in this flag, elaborated by an "A" superimposed over the central and eleventh star. Presumably, the star outside the circle represents Missouri, admitted in August, 1861 by the Provisional Congress. The flag was presented to the unit raised in Jacksonport by William Patterson in the summer of 1861. Ladies of the town distinguished the flag with gold embroidered chain stitch, "March on! March on! All hearts resolved on victory or death." This flag was most likely retired when flags in the Hardee pattern were issued to the Army of Central Kentucky in early 1862. First Confederate National Flag pattern variation. Cotton, red wool, red silk fringe and gold embroidery, 21" x 39". Currently held at Old State House Museum, Little Rock Arkansas | 1st National Flag Pattern | |
| The Flag of the 8th and 19th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry Regiments. Flag is an example of the 1864 issue of Hardee flags. This was produced and decorated specifically for the combined unit, displaying battle honors of each. The poorly dyed blue field, now faded to pea green, is typical of the 1864 flags. When it was captured at Jonesboro, Georgia, on 1 September 1864, the flag was identified as that of an artillery battery. The honor of crossed cannon, as well as the unit's po sition supporting Key's Battery, caused the confused attribution. Hardee Battle flag pattern, Cleburne's Division 1864 issue.Cotton with black and white paint, 35" x 34 1/2" remaining. War Department Capture Number 206. Currently located at the Old State House Museum, Little Rock Arkanas | 2nd Pattern Hardee |
The remnants of ten depleted Arkansas regiments, along with one mostly-Arkansas regiment, in the Army of Tennessee were consolidated into a single regiment at Smithfield, North Carolina, on April 9, 1865. The 1st Arkansas, was lumped together with the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 15th, 19th and 24th Arkansas Infantry Regiments and the 3rd Confederate Infantry Regiment as the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry on April 9, 1865.[11] On April 26, 1865 the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment was present with the Army of Tennessee when it surrendered in Greensboro, North Carolina.[12]
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