The Army of Arkansas was a

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

Army that served in the Trans-Mississippi Theater 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 ...

. This force functioned exclusively in the state of

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...

History

The Army of Arkansas was created on July 27, 1863, with Major General

Frederick Steele Frederick Steele (January 14, 1819 – January 12, 1868) was a career military officer in the United States Army, serving as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for retaking much of secessionist Arka ...

in command. The army was created in the wake of the Union victories at

Vicksburg Vicksburg most commonly refers to: * Vicksburg, Mississippi, a city in western Mississippi, United States * The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign * The Siege of Vicksburg, an American Civil War battle Vicksburg is also the name of ...

and Helena, both of which occurred on July 4, 1863, resulting in the complete consolidation of federal control of the Mississippi River and the opportunity to seize Little Rock and begin pacification efforts to return Arkansas to the Union. It was composed of troops in Union-occupied areas of the state of

. General Steele led the army in its two most significant campaigns: The Little Rock Expedition and

Camden Expedition The Camden Expedition (March 23 – May 3, 1864) was the final campaign conducted by the Union Army in Arkansas during the Civil War. The offensive was designed to cooperate with Major-General Nathaniel P. Banks' movement against Shrevepo ...

. At Little Rock the army consisted of three divisions under John W. Davidson,

Adolph Englemann Adolph Engelmann (February 11, 1825 – October 5, 1890) was a farmer, lawyer, postmaster, Mexican–American War veteran, and Union Army colonel during the American Civil War. On May 18, 1866, the United States Senate confirmed his appointment as ...

and Samuel A. Rice. During the Camden Expedition the army consisted of one corps – the

VII Corps 7th Corps, Seventh Corps, or VII Corps may refer to: * VII Corps (Grande Armée), a corps of the Imperial French army during the Napoleonic Wars * VII Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Army prior to and during World War I * VII ...

– and the two were virtually synonymous. It was composed of the divisions of Frederick Salomon,

John M. Thayer John Milton Thayer (January 24, 1820March 19, 1906) was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and a postbellum United States Senator from Nebraska. Thayer served as Governor of Wyoming Territory and Governor of Nebraska. ...

and Eugene A. Carr.Union – 7th Corps (Department of Arkansas)
Steele was replaced as commander of the army on December 22, 1864, by Major General

Joseph J. Reynolds Joseph Jones Reynolds (January 4, 1822 – February 25, 1899) was an American engineer, educator, and military officer who fought in the American Civil War and the postbellum Indian Wars. Early life and career Reynolds was born in Fleming ...

. Reynolds commanded the army during

Price's Missouri Raid 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 Am ...

but his troops actively involved in the Union pursuit. Reynolds remained in command until the war's end.

Commanders

* Major General

(July 27, 1863 – December 22, 1864) * Major General

(December 22, 1864 – August 1, 1865)

Major Battles

Battle of Bayou Fourche The Battle of Bayou Fourche, also known as the Battle of Little Rock and the Engagement at Bayou Fourche, took place on September 10, 1863, in Pulaski County, Arkansas, and was the final battle of the Little Rock Campaign, also known as the Ad ...

(Steele) *

(Steele)

References

{{Union Army Formations Arkansas, Army of Arkansas in the American Civil War Military units and formations established in 1863 1863 establishments in the United States Military units and formations disestablished in 1865