Arkansas 13th Infantry Regiment

HISTORICAL NOTES:
The Arkansas 13th Infantry Regiment was organized during the late spring and mustered in Confederate service in July, 1861. Its members were recruited in Phillips, Arkansas, and Monroe counties. Serving in the Western Department it fought at Belmont, then moved east of the Mississippi River. After taking an active part in the Battle of Shiloh and the Kentucky Campaign, the unit was assigned to General Liddell's and Govan's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. It was consolidated with the 15th (Cleburne's-Polk's-Josey's) Regiment at Murfreesboro and with the 5th Regiment in September, 1863. The regiment participated in the campaigns of the army from Chickamauga to Atlanta, was with Hood in Tennessee, and saw action in North Carolina. It lost thirty-three percent of the 306 engaged at Shiloh, and there were 6 killed and 23 wounded at Richmond. The 13th/15th reported 68 casualties in the fight at Murfreesborough. The 5th/13th lost forty-five percent of the 450 at Chickamauga, had 21 men disabled at Ringgold Gap, totalled 321 men and 222 arms in December, 1863, and reported 112 casualties at the Battle of Atlanta. It surrendered on April 26, 1865. OFFICERS:

James C. Tappan, colonel

Colonels L. Featherston, James A. McNeely, John E. Murry, and James C. Tappan; Lieutenant Colonels A.R. Brown, R. A. Duncan, A. D. Grayson, and Peter V. Green; and Majors E. A. Howell and George B. Hunt.

James A. McNeely, major

William N. Mercer, adjutant

P. Van Patten, surgeon

E. T. Wimpy, hospital steward

ASSIGNMENTS:
Assigned to General Liddell's and Govan's Brigade, Army of Tennessee BATTLES:

Battle of Belmont

Battle of Shiloh

Siege of Corinth

Kentucky Campaign

Battle of Richmond

Battle of Perryville

Battle of Murfreesboro

Tullahoma Campaign

Battle of Liberty Gap

Chickamauga Campaign

Battle of Chickamauga

Chattanooga Campaign

Battle of Missionary Ridge

Battle of Ringgold Gap

Atlanta Campaign

Battle of Rocky Face Ridge

Battle of Resaca

Battle of New Hope Church

Battle of Pickett's Mill

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain

Battle of Peachtree Creek

Siege of Atlanta

Battle of Jonesboro

Franklin–Nashville Campaign

Battle of Franklin

Battle of Nashville

Carolinas Campaign

Battle of Bentonville

ROSTER: The roster of this regiment contains the names of 1261 men.

Company A – the "Tappan Guards" commanded by Captain Robert B. Lambert, was originally organized as a volunteer militia company under the 12th Militia Regiment of Phillips County on May 23, 1861, under the command of Captain James C. Tappan. For an unknown reason, the company officers were issued new militia commissions as belonging to the 14th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia on August 1, 1861.

Company B – the "Richland Rangers", originally organized as a volunteer militia company in the 19th Militia Regiment of St. Francis County, Arkansas, enlisted August 1, 1861, at Madison, Arkansas, under the command of Captain John C. Johnson, Captain J. R. Shelton succeeded Johnson in command.

Company C – the "Harrisburg Vindicators", commanded by Captain Benjamin Harris from Poinsett County, Arkansas, by the time of the Battle of Shiloh, 1st Lieutenant J. H. Hall had assumed command. The company was originally organized as a volunteer militia company under the 14th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia of Poinsett County, Arkansas, with commissions being issued to the company officers on August 1, 1861.

Company D – Commanded by Captain Andrew Balfour from Lawrence County, Arkansas. The company officers were issued militia commissions as officers of a volunteer militia company under the 14th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia of Poinsett County, Arkansas, with commissions being issued on August 12, 1861.

Company F – "Rough and Ready", commanded by Captain Thomas Wilds from Greene County, Arkansas. The company was originally organized as a volunteer militia company in the 14th Militia Regiment, under the command of Captain William F. J. Clements with commissions being issued on August 10, 1862. The clerk which recorded the commissions inserted a note "Greene County" in the list of Commissioned Officers with this company.

Company G – Commanded by Captain Hogan W. Murphy from St. Francis County, Arkansas.

Company H – the "Mound City Greys", commanded by Captain Braxton C. Crump from Crittenden County, Arkansas. The company was originally organized as a volunteer militia company under the 30th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia of Poinsett County, Arkansas, with commissions being issued to the officers on July 5, 1861.

Company I – the "Confederate Greys", commanded by Captain James M. Pollard from Craighead County, Arkansas. The company was originally organized as a volunteer militia company under the 55th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia of Craighead County, Arkansas, with commissions being issued to the officers on August 18, 1861.

Company K – the "Erin Guards," commanded by Captain George B. Hunt from Washington County, Missouri. This company contained a large number of Irish immigrants that had been working in Missouri before the war. These immigrants were led south by Patrick Ahearn. Ahearn had belong to a Missouri State Guard company which was captured at Camp Jackson, outside of St. Louis. Ahearn had disguised his men as a gang of laborers, and moved south, eventually coming in contact with a Captain Hunt, whose company apparently also contained Irishmen. The two groups united to become Company K.

As a result of the reorganization in April 1862, the companies were re-lettered and new commanders were elected as follows:

Company A – Captain George B. Hunt (originally Company K)

Company B – Captain Hiram F. Tennison (originally Company E)

Company C – Captain D. W. Hoshall (originally Company A)

Company D – Captain Thomas R. Shelton (originally Company B)

Company E – Captain Reginald H. Thompson (see note)

Company F – Captain James H. Lloyd (originally Company D)

Company G – Captain Luther Dunn (originally Company G)

Company H – Captain Henry M. Ellis (originally Company H)

Company I – Captain Ivey S. Hughes (originally Company I)

Company K – Captain James M. Levesque (originally Company C)

Note: Company E (originally commanded by Captain R. C. Flournoy), from Desha County, had been attached to the 7th Kentucky Infantry as (old) Company K. It was transferred to the 13th Arkansas in the reorganization.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
REFERENCES: REF: Wikipedia
Crute - Units of the Confederate States Army
Sifakis - Compendium of the Confederate Armies