The history of the Arkansas State Guard and the War with Spain begins with the reorganization of the state militia following the end of Reconstruction. In 1879 the Arkansas Legislature had abolished the office of Adjutant General in retaliation for the use of the state militia to interfere in local political matters during reconstruction. During this period the Governor's Private Secretary performed the duties of the Adjutant General as an additional duty, and the legislature provided no appropriated funds for the state guard. Several companies existed during this period, including the Quapaw Guards and the McCarthy Guard in Little Rock. In 1897 the Arkansas State Guard was reorganized to consist of four infantry regiments, two artillery batteries and a cavalry squadron. In 1897, the state provided two volunteer infantry regiments for the Spanish-American War and although these two Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiments were not deployed overseas and did not see actual combat, they did suffer a number of casualties from disease.
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Interest in the state militia waned following Reconstruction. Officially the state militia consisted of two regiments of infantry, one battery of artillery, one troop cavalry, and one signal unit. The Regimental headquarters of the 1st Infantry, Arkansas State Guards was located in Little Rock, but with little or no state funding, the militia units that existed were supported with private funds. Local militia companies, such as the McCarthy Light Guards and the Quapaw Guard in Little Rock, participated in drill and ceremony competitions, with all the funding for travel, uniforms and equipment coming from private sources.[1] Pursuant to the Governor's direction the Regiments were organized as follows:[2]
The Quapaw Guard was organized in Little Rock in 1880. The unit was deployed to Perry County in the summer of 1881 for three weeks to deal with a general spirit of lawlessness, reported by the county judge. The unit won drill competitions at the state fair against units from Memphis and St. Louis. The unit's armory was located in Little Rock at the corner of Markham and Chester Streets.[2]
The McCarthy Light Guards were organized in Little Rock in 1887, being named for the local business man who provided their uniforms, John H. McCarthy. The unit competed in several drill competitions, including the Interstate Competitive Drill at Galveston, Texas, where the unit placed third, at Atlanta in 1889 where they placed second, in Omaha in 1891 where they took second, and at Nashville Tennessee where they took first place. The unit was invited to attend the Chicago Worlds Far in 1893. The unit took fourth prize at the Interstate Competitive Drill conducted in its home town of Little Rock in 1894. In 1894 the unit was mobilized to deal with a rail road worker's strike.[2]
In January 1897 Governor Daniel W. Jones took office and appointed Brigadier General Arthur Neill as his Private Secretary and Acting Adjutant General (the position of Adjutant General had still not been re-authorized by the state legislature at this time). The new Governor and Adjutant General began a massive re-organization of the Arkansas Sate Guard. Two additional regiments of infantry, another troop of cavalry, and another battery of artillery were added to the organization.[1] The state was divided into two military districts, with the Arkansas River being the dividing line. Major General R.G. Shaver was commissioned and placed in overall command of the state's Forces. Brigadier General C. R. Shaer was commissioned and placed in command of the Southern District, which included the 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments, two batteries of artillery and a signal company. Major General V.Y. Cook was commissioned and placed in command of the Northern District, consisting of the Second and Forth Regiments of infantry and a squadron of Cavalry.[3] The units were poorly equipped and had outdated equipment.
In 1891, Captain E. D. Thomas, a captain of the 5th Cavalry was ordered to make an inspection of Arkansas State Guard on behalf of the Inspector General of the Army. Upon reaching Little Rock, Captain Thomas found that the only military organizations in existence at that time in the state were at the local level. Captain Thomas indicated that regimental and brigade level organizations had not been maintained in several years. Thomas indicated that the existing local companies were supported through "benevlance and that the state had not even applied to utilize funds for the support of the militia which had recently been approved of by Congress. Captain Thomas' visit apparently spurred the state in to action because he indicated that the following order had been issued prior to his departure from Little Rock:
The First Regiment Arkansas State guard is hereby authorized, constituted, and organized, and will be composed of the following companies of the State guard troops, and will hereafter be known and designated as such in official reports and orders from these headquarters. Returns and reports from the different companies composing the same as the First Regiment Arkansas State guard, viz:
- Executive Office, Headquarters Arkansas State Guard,
- Little Rock, October 5 1901.
- Order No. 14.
The companies will be permitted to retain, when operating independently, their local designation or name. The captains of the companies will report by letter to the colonel commanding the regiment of the exact condition of arms, amount of instruction, uniforms, and number of men available for active service and the average attendance at all the drills.
- Company A, Capt. S. A. Horton, Fayetteville, Ark.;
- Company B, Capt. G. N. Skelton, Fayetteville, Ark.;
- Company C, Capt. John M. Dungan, Little Rock, Ark.;
- Company D, Capt. John A. Mitchell, Little Rock, Ark.;
- Company E, Capt. Ruff Boyett, Hope, Ark.;
- Company F, Capt. Win. Nichol, Pine Bluff Ark.;
- Company G, Capt. R. G. Grant., Fort Smith, Ark.;
- Company II, Capt. J. H. Sarber, Clarksville, Ark.;
- Company I, Capt. V. J. Stowers, Morrillton, Ark.;
- Company K, "Stone's Company," Little Rock, Ark.
- James P. Eagle,
- Governor of Arkansas[4]
The following regimental officers were appointed by Adjutant General Files:
Col. Waldron was ordered to take necessary steps to completely organize, and equip his regiment, making all necessary appointments of non-commissioned officers. He was authorized to make such visits and inspections as he deemed proper in the performance of his duty.[5]
| 1st Regiment, Arkansas State Guards[6] | Colonel F.B.T. Hollenberg, | Station |
|---|---|---|
| Company A, | Not yet formed | |
| Company B, | CPT James Wood | Little Rock |
| Company C, (McCarthy Light Guards) | CPT C.M. Wright | Little Rock |
| Company D, (Fletcher Rifles) | CPT R.M. Pearson | Little Rock |
| Company E, | CPT Grant White | Hope |
| Company F, | Not yet formed | |
| Company G, | Not yet formed | |
| Company H, | CPT Edward Lucas | Star City |
| Company I, | Not yet formed | |
| Company J, | Not yet formed | |
| Company K, | Not yet formed | |
| Company L | CPT R.W. Reynolds | Lake Village |
| 3rd Regiment, Arkansas State Guards[7] | Colonel J.F. Smith, | Station |
|---|---|---|
| Company A, | CPT W.E. Wooten | Hot Springs |
| Company B, | CPT D.P. Terry | Nashville |
| Company C, | CPT R.A. Gilliam | Lockesburg |
| Company D, | CPT C.F. Armistead | Fort Smith |
| Company E, | CPT E.K. Braley | |
| Company F, | CPT J.W. Coffman | Benton |
| Company G, | CPT Leo Krause | DeQueen |
| Company H, | CPT Wiley Wright | Prescott |
| Company I, | CPT Henry Stroup, Paris | Paris |
| Company J, | Not yet formed | |
| Company K, | Not yet formed | |
| Company L | Not yet formed |
Artillery Batteries
| Unit | Commander | Station |
|---|---|---|
| Battery A | LT A.G. Crawford | Little Rock |
| Battery B | CPT C.E. Byers | Fort Smith |
| Unit | Commander | Station |
|---|---|---|
| Signal Corps | CPT J.F. Loughborough | Little Rock |
| 2nd Regiment, Arkansas State Guards[8] | Colonel J.B. Dent, | Station |
|---|---|---|
| Company A, | CPT S.L. Jeffers | Van Buren |
| Company B, | Not yet organized | |
| Company C, | CPT B.T. Bullion | Conway |
| Company D, | CPT P.W. Mooss | Paragould |
| Company E, | CPT J.J. Cox | Marion |
| Company F, | CPT M.M. Stuckey | Newport |
| Company G, | CPT J.C. South | Moutian Home |
| Company H, | CPT J.E. Nichols, | Clarksville |
| Company I, | CPT M.D. Moody, | Judsonia |
| Company J, | Not yet organized | |
| Company K, | Not yet organized | |
| Company L | CPT R.W. Reynolds | Lake Village |
| 4th Regiment, Arkansas State Guards[8] | Colonel J.M. Phelps, | Station |
|---|---|---|
| Company A, | CPT R.H. Reed | Batesville |
| Company B, | CPT C.P.Sanders | Helena |
| Company C, | J.R. Newman | Harrison |
| Company D, | CPT G. W. Granberry | Cabot |
| Company E, | Not yet organized | |
| Company F, | CPT J.H. Yuckley | Stuttgart |
| Company G, | CPT W.J. Moss | Gillett |
| Company H, | CPT Mark Maxwell, | DeWitt |
| Company I, | CPT J.L. Long, | Springdale |
| Company J, | Not yet organized | |
| Company K, | CPT Collier | Berryville |
| Company L | Not yet organized |
| 1st Cavalry Squadron, Arkansas State Guards | Major M.C. House, | Station |
|---|---|---|
| Troop A, | 1LT J.D. Adams | Panola |
| Troop B, | CPT S.W. Murtishaw | Jacksonville |
On April 25, 1898, President William McKinley called upon the State to supply two infantry regiments for the Spanish American War. None of the Regiments were in acceptable condition to deploy and only two companies were determined fit to be mustered in to service intact. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Regiments of Infantry, Arkansas State Guard, were reorganized, redesignated and mustered into Federal Service between May 14–25, 1898 at Little Rock as the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry for service in the Spanish American War.[9] Governor Jones intended that all sections of the State be represented as far as possible, so the two new Regiments were created from selected State Guard companies and from different sections of the state.[1] Pursuant to the Governor's direction the Regiments were organized as follows:[10]
1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry
| Company | Former Organization | Station |
|---|---|---|
| A | Company A, 3rd Regiment, Arkansas State Guard (ASG) | Hot Springs |
| B | Company, E, 3rd Regiment, ASG (Jefferson Fensibles) | Pine Bluff |
| C | Battery B, ASG | Fort Smith |
| D | Company D, 3rd Regiment, ASG | Fort Smith |
| E | Co E, 1st Regiment, ASG and Co G, 3rd Regiment, ASG | Hope (Co E) and DeQueen (CO G) |
| F | Company I, 4th Regiment, ASG | Springdale |
| G | Company B, 4th Regiment, ASG (Helena Light Guards) | Helena |
| H | New Unit Organized for the War | |
| I | Company A, 1st Regiment, ASG | Van Buren |
| K | Company I, 3rd Regiment, ASG | Paris |
| L | Company L, 1st Regiment, ASG, (Chicot Rifles) | Lake Village |
| M (Greene Rifles) | New Unit Organized for the War |
2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry
| Company | Former Organization | Station |
|---|---|---|
| A | Company C, 1st Regiment, ASG (McCarthy Light Guards) | Little Rock |
| B | Company A, 4th Regiment, ASG, V.Y. Cook Rifles, | Batesville |
| C | Company G, 4th Regiment, ASG | Walnut Ridge |
| D | Company D, 2nd Regiment, ASG | ? |
| E | Company D, 1st Regiment, ASG (Fletcher Rifles) | Little Rock |
| F | Company F, 2nd Regiment, ASG (Hurley Rifles) | ? |
| G | Company D, 4th Regiment, ASG (Cabot Guards) | Cabot |
| H | Company I, 1st Regiment, ASG | Forrest City |
| I | Companies F, G, and H, 4th Regiment, ASG | Stuttgart (Co F), Gillett (Co G) and Dewitt (Co H) |
| K | Company A, 4th Regiment, ASG (Clendenin Rifles) | Harrison |
| L | Company C, 2nd Regiment, ASG | Conway |
| M | Company ?, 4th Regiment, ASG (Highland Sharpshooters) | Melbourne (with volunteers from Mounain Home) |
The newly formed Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiments did not see combat during the Spanish American War. The 1st Arkansas, commanded by Colonel Elias Chandler, along with the 2nd Arkansas, moved to Camp George H. Thomas at Chickamauga Park, Georgia in May 1898.[11] The two Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiments were still there participating in basic training when the war effectively ended with the fall of Cuba and the signing of an armistice in early August.[1] The 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry mustered out of Federal Service on October 25, 1899 at Little Rock, Arkansas.[12] The 2nd Regiment continued in service until February 25, 1899, when they were mustered out at Anniston, Alabama. While the units saw no actual fighting, the deployment did have its casualties. Fifty-four Arkansas Soldiers died of disease or accident during the mobilization.
While the Arkansas State Guard did not win any additional campaign participation credit for its mobilization as a part of the Spanish American War, the reorganization the occurred as a result of the war laid the ground work for the modern Arkansas National Guard. The 153rd Infantry Regiment and the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment each trace their lineage and honors to the units in existence just prior to and during the Spanish American War.[13] The nation's experience with a large scale mobilization of the state militias would result in new legislation that changed the nation's national defense strategy. The realization that the system of state funded and organized militia units had failed to provide the nation with a rapidly deployable army at a time when the United States was becoming an international power led to legislative provisions focused upon establishing a more reliable, standardized and federally funded reserve component. These provisions were enshrined in the Militia Act of 1903, which established the National Guard.
In 1894 the Arkansas State Guard was activated during a railroad strike. The ASG at this time was not funded by the legislature, but the legislature reimbursed the ASG for its expenses during the 1896 General Assembly.[2]
During an outbreak of "Yellow Fever" from August trough October 1905 the Arkansas State Guard was activated to enforce a quarantine. The ASG guarded the borders of the state "just as in time of war" and established relief camps.[14]