The 47th Arkansas Infantry (Mounted) (1864–1865) was a

Confederate Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

Mounted Infantry Mounted infantry were infantry who rode horses instead of marching. The original dragoons were essentially mounted infantry. According to the 1911 ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', "Mounted rifles are half cavalry, mounted infantry merely specially m ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. While authorized by the State Military Board as an infantry regiment, the unit was mounted for

Price's Missouri Expedition Price's Missouri Expedition (August 29 – December 2, 1864), also known as Price's Raid or Price's Missouri Raid, was an unsuccessful Confederate cavalry raid through Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the Amer ...

and was officially designated as mounted infantry. Due to its mounted status, the unit is sometimes referred to as the 47th Arkansas Cavalry when a numerical designation is used. The unit is most often referred to as Crandell's Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, after its commander Colonel Lee Crandell.

Organization

In May 1864 General J. O. Shelby occupied Northeast Arkansas, well behind Union Army lines. In early June 1864, General Shelby commissioned Colonel Thomas Hamilton McCray, among others, to begin raising regiments in Northeast Arkansas. By June 13 Shelby reported to General Sterling Price that McCray's efforts were bearing fruit. McCray's efforts led to the recruitment of at least three new regiments, the 45th, 46th and 47th Arkansas Infantry Regiments. These 40-series regiments consisted mostly of teenagers, conscripts, and absentees from existing units, all organized around a small cadre of veterans detailed from infantry regiments expected to be idle during the fall and winter. The decreasing availability of fodder for horses in 1864 led the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department to prohibit the raising of additional mounted regiments in Arkansas. However, when General

Sterling Price Major-General Sterling "Old Pap" Price (September 14, 1809 – September 29, 1867) was a senior officer of the Confederate States Army who commanded infantry in the Western and Trans-Mississippi theaters of the American Civil War. Prior to ...

received authorization to conduct a campaign in Missouri, some of the new regiments were mounted to accompany him. The 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, and 48th officially became mounted infantry regiments. They were rarely referred to in reports and orders by their numbers, and Price referred to them as McGehee's Cavalry, Crabtree's Cavalry, etc. This later resulted in their being known as the 44th Cavalry, 46th Cavalry, etc. No muster rolls of the 47th Arkansas Mounted Infantry are known to survive. Except a few prisoner of war records, the regiment's existing records consist of only paroles of the soldiers who surrendered at Jacksonport, Arkansas, on June 5, 1865, supplemented by the pension records of some of its veterans.Howerton, Bryan R.: "In Response To: 45th Arkansas Cavalry (Jo Bennett)", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 16 April 2004, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=7086 Officer appointments in the 40-series regiments date from June to August 1864, so it is assumed that the regiments were mustered into service about the same time at various points in northeast Arkansas. The list of regimental officers follows:Howerton, Bryan R.: "47th (Crandall's) Arkansas Cavalry Regiment", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 2 January 2012, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/47thf&s.html * Crandall, Lee S. – Colonel * Davis, R.M. – Lieutenant Colonel * Graves, T.D. – Surgeon * Nanna, W.S. – Major * Hewitt, E. – Captain Adjutant * Brady, S.H. – Surgeon * Walker, C.M. – Assistant Surgeon * Clayton, R. – Commissary * Mayberry, Randolph P. – Commissary Sergeant Based on the parole records from Jacksonport, and a few prisoner of war records the follow is known about the companies:Howerton, Bryan, "Re: 47th Arkansas Mounted Infantry", The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, posted 28 November 2017, Accessed 4 December 2017, http://www.history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs62x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?page=1;md=read;id=31934 * Company A – Commanded by Capt. Lilburn T. Cox, * Company B – Commanded by Capt John Wilson,Odom, Danny, "Re: 47th Arkansas Mounted Infantry", The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, posted 28 November 2017, Accessed 4 December 2017, http://www.history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs62x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?page=1;md=read;id=31932 * Company C – Commanded by Capt. William Montgomery Mayo, * Company D – Commanded by Capt. John Wilson, * Company E – Commanded by Capt. William O. Purssell, * Company F – Commander is unknown, * Company G – Commanded by Capt. David M. Burks (possibly Burns), * Company H – Commanded by Capt. James F. Lawler, * Company I – Commanded by Capt. James Martin Lay, * Company K – Originally commanded by a Captain Blakeney, commanded at the surrender by 2nd Lt J W Wills. There are additional company commanders mentioned in various records, including Capt. Charles Mason, Capt. McCoy, and Capt. Williams. Lee Salmon Crandall (1832–1926) was born in South Berlin, New York. As a young man he moved to Louisiana, where he married and made his home. Crandall entered the Confederate Army as captain of Company I, 8th Louisiana Infantry Regiment, and he led his company in the first Battle of Manassas. He was with General

Stonewall Jackson Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, considered one of the best-known Confederate commanders, after Robert E. Lee. He played a prominent role in nearl ...

through the Valley Campaign in Virginia, and was wounded in the wrist at the

Battle of Cross Keys The Battle of Cross Keys was fought on June 8, 1862, in Rockingham County, Virginia, as part of Confederate Army Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's campaign through the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War. Together, the batt ...

. He was promoted to major, and later was ordered to report to Major General

Little Rock, Arkansas (The Little Rock, The "Little Rock") , government_type = council-manager government, Council-manager , leader_title = List of mayors of Little Rock, Arkansas, Mayor , leader_name = Frank Scott Jr. , leader_ ...

. He was captured during Price's Missouri raid and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner at Johnson's Island, Ohio.

Service

The 47th Arkansas Mounted Infantry was assigned to Colonel Thomas H. McCray's brigade and operated as part of General Shelby's division in northeast Arkansas in the summer of 1864. The regiments organized by Colonel McCray were apparently ready for operations by July 25, 1864, when Brigadier General Shelby ordered McCray's Brigade to move south and attack the railroad near Brownsville, in current day Lonoke County, Arkansas.United States. War Dept.. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 41, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports., Book, 1893; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth145053/m1/45/?q=McCray : accessed March 29, 2013), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas. These attacks were to cut off supplies to the Union army under General Steele in Little Rock, which was dependent on supplies sent up the Arkansas River and down the railroad from Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas. In response to Colonel McCray's movements, Union Brigadier General Joseph R. West conducted an expedition from Little Rock to the Little Red River, August 7–14, 1864 in attempt to destroy McCray's forces. Wests forces encountered some of McCray's men at

Hickory Plains, Arkansas Hickory Plains is an unincorporated community in Prairie County, Arkansas, United States. Hickory Plains is located at the junction of Arkansas highways 13 and 38, west of Des Arc. Hickory Plains has a post office A post office is a pu ...

, on August 7, 1864, and captured seven prisoners. Nevertheless, Shelby reported that McCray had succeeded in tearing up track and burned several railroad bridges. In late August 1864, Colonel McCray and his brigade accompanied General Shelby in a raid against Union hay cutting operations west of DeValls Bluff in Prairie County, Arkansas. The purpose was to draw Union forces east of Little Rock, to provide a diversion while General Price crossed the Arkansas River west of the city. McCray's brigade was the reserve for Shelby's attack on Ashley's Station and four other hay cutting stations west of DeValls Bluff, during which Shelby captured Colonel Greenville M. Mitchell and over 500 men of the 54th Illinois Infantry Regiment. Price crossed the Arkansas River near Dardanelle on September 7, 1864, on his way to link with General Shelby at Batesville to prepare for his raid on Missouri. Colonel McCray's brigade was assigned to Maj. Gen.

James F. Fagan James Fleming Fagan (March 1, 1828September 1, 1893) was an American farmer, politician, and senior Officer (armed forces), officer of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. His brigade distinguished itself in the Camden Exp ...

's division, of Price's

Army of Missouri The Army of Missouri was an independent military formation during the American Civil War within the Confederate States Army, created in the fall of 1864 under the command of Maj. Gen. Sterling Price to invade Missouri. Price's Raid was unsuccessfu ...

. The 47th was assigned to Colonel Thomas H. McCray's brigade, Maj. Gen.

's division, for

, September and October 1864. :

Battle of Fort Davidson A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

(September 27, 1864) : Fourth Battle of Boonville (October 11) :

Battle of Glasgow, Missouri The Battle of Glasgow was fought on October 15, 1864, in and near Glasgow, Missouri, as part of Price's Missouri Expedition during the American Civil War. The battle resulted in the capture of needed weapons and improved Confederate morale, ...

(October 15) : Battle of Sedalia (October 15) :

Second Battle of Lexington The Second Battle of Lexington was a minor battle fought during Price's Raid as part of the American Civil War. Hoping to draw Union Army forces away from more important theaters of combat and potentially affect the outcome of the 1864 United S ...

(October 19) :

Battle of Little Blue River The Battle of Little Blue River was fought on October 21, 1864, as part of Price's Raid during the American Civil War. Major General (CSA), Major General Sterling Price of the Confederate States Army led an army into Missouri in September 1864 ...

(October 21) :

Second Battle of Independence The Second Battle of Independence was fought on October 22, 1864, near Independence, Missouri, as part of Price's Raid during the American Civil War. In late 1864, Major General Sterling Price of the Confederate States Army led a cavalry fo ...

(October 21–22) :

Battle of Byram's Ford The Battle of Byram's Ford (also known as the Battle of Big Blue River and the Battle of the Blue) was fought on October 22 and 23, 1864, in Missouri during Price's Raid, a campaign of the American Civil War. With the Confederate States of ...

(October 22–23) :

Battle of Westport The Battle of Westport, sometimes referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West", was fought on October 23, 1864, in modern Kansas City, Missouri, during the American Civil War. Union Army, Union forces under Major General (United States), Major G ...

(October 23) :

Battle of Marais des Cygnes The Battle of Marais des Cygnes () took place on October 25, 1864, in Linn County, Kansas, during Price's Missouri Raid in the American Civil War. It is also known as the Battle of Trading Post. In late 1864, Confederate Major General (CSA), Ma ...

Linn County, Kansas Linn County (county code LN) is a county located in east-central Kansas and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 9,591. Its county seat is Mound City, and its most populous city is Pl ...

, (October 25) :

Battle of Mine Creek The Battle of Mine Creek, also known as the Battle of the Osage, was fought on October 25, 1864, in Linn County, Kansas, as part of Price's Missouri Expedition during the American Civil War. Major General Sterling Price of the Confederate Stat ...

(October 25) :

Battle of Marmiton River The Battle of Marmiton River, also known as Shiloh Creek or Charlot's Farm, occurred on October 25, 1864, in Vernon County, Missouri during the American Civil War. Major General Sterling Price of the Confederate States Army commenced an exped ...

(October 25) :

Second Battle of Newtonia The Second Battle of Newtonia was fought on October 28, 1864, near Newtonia, Missouri, between cavalry commanded by Major General James G. Blunt of the Union Army and Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby's rear guard of the Confederate Army of ...

(October 28) At the Battle of Mine Creek, Colonel Crandall and five other field officers were captured and sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio, where Crandall remained a prisoner until the close of the war. After Price's raid, the 47th was furloughed to return to northeastern Arkansas to forage and recover absentees, and then return to the army. A scouting report by Major Harris S. Greeno, of the 4th Arkansas Cavalry (U.S.), dated November 15, 1864, at Devalls Bluff, described the condition of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry. Maj. Greeno had learned from deserters and captured Confederate soldiers that Colonel T. H. McCray was en route by way of the White River to Jacksonport, with the 45th, 46th, and 47th Arkansas Regiments. He gave the strength of the 45th Arkansas as about 250 men; his description of the morale of the regiments after the disastrous end of the raid was probably quite accurate:A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by James Logan Morgan; The Stream of History, Volumen 16, Part 4 (Oct. 1978). Page 3. Accessed 6 January 2012, http://jackson.sdlhost.com/digital/3/237/3/2.pdf

Surrender

Brigadier General

M. Jeff Thompson Brigadier-General M. Jeff Thompson (January 22, 1826 – September 5, 1876), nicknamed "Swamp Fox," was a senior officer of the Missouri State Guard who commanded cavalry in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War. The () ...

, Commander of the Military Sub-District of Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri, to which the 47th Arkansas was assigned at the close of the war, surrendered his command at Chalk Bluff, Arkansas, on May 11, 1865, and agreed to have his men assemble at Wittsburg and

Jacksonport, Arkansas Jacksonport is a town in Jackson County, Arkansas, United States, along the White River at its confluence with the Black River. The population was 212 at the 2010 census. History Jacksonport was once an important steamboat stop on the White R ...

, to lay down their arms and receive their paroles. Thompson's command was widely dispersed throughout northeast Arkansas, more for reasons of available forage than anything else. About a third of his men refused to surrender. Many men simply went home. The 45th Arkansas Cavalry surrendered and was paroled at Jacksonport on June 5, 1865.Howerton, Bryan R. "Re: Jacksonport 1865 surrender list?", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 1 January 2004, Accessed 1 January 2012, http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/archive_index.cgi?noframes;read=6006 At the time of the surrender, the regiment was assigned to the following command: Military Sub-District of Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri, commanded by Brigadier General M. Jeff. Thompson (surrendered at Jacksonport), McCray's Brigade, commanded by Colonel Thomas H. McCray (surrendered at Jacksonport), 47th Arkansas Mounted Infantry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Richard M. Davis (surrendered at Jacksonport).

References

Bibliography

* Allen, Desmond Walls. ''Forty-fifth Arkansas Confederate Cavalry''. Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, 1988. * Castel, Albert. ''General Sterling Price and the Civil War in the West''. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 1968. * Donat, P. "Fagan's Attack on Fayetteville." Flashback, 35, No. 4 (November 1985): 8–13. * Feathers, Tom C. "The History of Military Activities in the Vicinity of Fayetteville Arkansas, Including the Battle of Fayetteville and the Siege of *Fayetteville During the War Between the States." Washington County Flashback, 3 (April 1953): 2–33. * Kerby, Robert L. ''Kirby Smith's Confederacy: The Trans-Mississippi South, 1863-1865''. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: The University of Alabama Press, 1972. * Morgan, James Logan. "A Brief History of the 45th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A." in ''The Stream of History'', Volume 16, Number 4 (Oct. 1978). p. 3. * Mobley, Freeman. ''Making Sense of the Civil War in Batesville-Jacksonport and Northeast Arkansas, 1861–1874''. Batesville, Arkansas: P.D. Printing, 2005. * Monaghan, Jay. ''Swamp Fox of the Confederacy: The Life and Military Services of M. Jeff Thompson''. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Confederate Publishing Co., 1956. * Monnett, Howard N. and Monnett, John H. ''Action before Westport, 1864''. University Press of Colorado, 1964. .

External links