The Arkansas State Archives preserves a vast collection of research materials pertaining to the Civil War in Arkansas. These materials include official military records, pension applications, personal and official correspondence, photographs, artifacts, battle maps, and more. The selection below is only a small portion of our holdings on the Civil War.
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Maggie E. Walker Benton diary
Listed here are the records of individual slaves by the weight of cotton they picked each day between November 4th and 11th, 1861. The number of pounds picked per day are listed, with a total at the bottom. After 8 days, 22,869 pounds of cotton were picked in this particular instance.
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Mary A. Nelson, Possom Hollow, Arkansas, to William H. Woodruff
Mary A. Nelson, the cousin of William H. Woodruff, who was currently serving in the Confederate Army, keeps him informed about life back home. She jokes about her experiences on horseback. Also, she mentions the lack of young men in the street, and a church service she went to. The preacher talked about relying too much on the North. She goes on to discuss matters about family.
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Mary E. Weaver, Little Rock, to Omer R. Weaver, Pulaski Artillery, Camp Walker
In her letter, Mary E. Weaver sends her son news from Little Rock, describing how the town "looks deserted" and including descriptions of an Arkadelphia company drilling at the arsenal.
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Military order, General Ben McCulloch
Military order from General Ben McCulloch posting pickets on the road from Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Springfield, Missouri, to watch for Union troops.
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Muster Roll, Company E, 15th Arkansas Infantry, "Monroe Blues"
Muster roll for the "Monroe Blues" of the Company E, 15th, Arkansas Infantry. Names include Capt G.W. Baldwin, 1st Lieut L.B. Burrns, 2nd Lieut J.W. Johnson, 3rd, Lieut J.W. Manning, 1st Sergent L.N. Vann, 2nd " J.M. Harkelroad, 3 " W.W. Barnes, 4th " Jas. Mayo, 5th J.J.W. Edwards, 1st corporal P.C. Ewan, 2nd " Thomas Rogers, 3rd " P.T. Darling, 4th " J.D. Wilder, Dr. J.B. Boushell, Jerry Ables, Wm. J. Ables, Wm. H. Barnes, A.J. Browning, Lafayette Byrd, Wm. Connel, Wm Dorres, John S. Duferee, James Doyle, L.H. Durden, Thomas J Durden, L.W. Depoyster, Josiah Fulford, Thomas Fleming, E.F. Friend, George Follice, Wm. Garrett, Robert Gordon, Jas. W. Goings, D.C. Goings, John Glenn, R.V. Hartless, Hiram Higgs, Tilman Higgs, David Hoskins, Wane Haney, F.M. Jackson, Anthony Kelly, John Kendrick, Moses Langley, W.J. Langley, John Little, John McGriggan, John McBride, Isaac McBride, A. McCravy, L.W. Miles, Jas. M Miles, John W. Potter, P.N. Payne, Scott(?) Payne, N.J. Phelps, Lemuel Rogers, A.B. Riley, L.S. Rushing, Alfred Smaley, Meridith Stewart, J.C. Sutherland, J.N. Thompson, Joseph Taylor, W.J. Tarlton, E.C. [illegible], George Wilson, Moses Williams, Thomas Wellingham, and J.R. Walker.
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Muster Roll, Company H, 12th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry
A muster roll with a list of men in Company H, 12 Regiment, Arkansas Infantry. Names include: Alexander C. Lovett, William J. Smith, Jerry M. Perry, James M. David, Walter P. Va(?), William D. Rhodes, Morgan G. Rhodes, William L. Rider(?), John N. Hicks, William A. Davis, James A.C. Scott, George W. Hunt, Samuel J. Calvert, Aphraim Bradshaw, William H. Coleman, Charles H. Adams, Madison O. Aubry, George Aarons, John Aarons, Henry J. Alexander, James M. Bailey, James H. B(?), Elijah Bishop, William C. Bailey, P(?) G. Bailey, Francis M. Burks, James M. Conn, William H. Conn, John S. Conn, John S. Conner, Charles P. Coleman, Robert Davis, James H. Elder, William Grimage(?), Green H(?), John J. H(?), William E.H. Hatton, Elisha D. Harborn(?), William J. Hinton, Henry J. Joyner, Salathice(?) H. Jackson, William S. Jackson, John H. Johnson, John W. Joyner, William Laflore, Charles J. Lee, Benjamin Love, Eshrim P. Linzoe(?), William D. L(?), John W. Morrow, Andrew J. McLeod, Jasper McLeod, John S. McIntyre, Robert Miller, Izard(?) R. Martin, Joseph Pendola, Charles T. Pope, James H. Priest, Joseph P. Parker, James L. Pollard, Benjamin F. Phillips, James S. Rhodes, Robert M. Scott, James Se(?), Smith R. Turner, Middleton F. Turner, R Preston Taylor, Joseph E. Threadgill, and John M. Aubrey.
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Muster Roll, Company H, 1st Regiment Infantry of the Arkansas Volunteers
Muster roll for Company H of the 1st Regiment Infantry of the Arkansas Volunteers under Captain Cabell. Names include A.S. Cabell, William Sharpe, Alexander Parker, Charles Barker, Chas D. Carroll, Andrew J. Weldon, William Ayers, Andrew H. Banister, Samuel Wilburn, Jacob A. Beam, Charles Killgore, Guifford Thomas, Albert Aldridge, Joseph Brown, James B. Cabes, Robert H. Cummings, Dennis Clary, Jasper Holmes, John C. Holmes, Joseph Harper, James Kerewin, John D. Keller, Andrew J Lovel, Terry T. Martin, John Conway, Cyms S. Nothum, Joseph Perkins, Surg M. Parker, Bailey Reed, Randolph Sharpes, William Scaggs, Harder Vickery, Alexander Williams, Thomas P Wilson, John W. Oliver, James Robertson, Lewis Perkins, Melvin Harper, Smith Gunter, John B. Clarke, Francis M. Wisdom, Minor Martin, George Gage, Frank Yancey, Geo. Kersey, Thos. Kersey, Thos. Coleridge, Thos. McFarren, Wilburn Hobbs, David Kenedy, Nikolas T. Boon, Thos B. Gewin, Isac Barnard, Holland C Mustain, Henry McCaslin, Shelby C. Holmes, Robert Oliver, Isac Reed, Francis M. Montgomery, Thos. Scaggs, and Standford H. Wisdom.
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Muster roll, First Regiment, Arkansas Infantry Volunteers
Muster roll of Captain James M. Dowd's company in the 1st Arkansas Infantry. Names include: James R Dowd, John E. Hull, John W. Methvin, S.L. Wiggins, Maloy L. Hollis, John H. Dozier, John C. Patterson, James A. Hitchcock, James W. Williams, James Estes, John Cooper, George M. Williams, Stephen B Drake, Joseph E Allen, Bithan(?) Allen, Wesley A. Austin, Champion H Bennett, William Billingsley, Pinson Burch, David M. Barrett, Austin Brown, Joseph Bennett, and Anderson J. Blyth.
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Muster roll, Third Regiment, Arkansas Infantry Volunteers
Muster roll for Captain John R. Titsworth's Company, Third Regiment, Arkansas Infantry Volunteers. Names include: John R. Titsworth, Stone Lefwick(?), John Council, Stephen Chism, Marti(?) Robinson, William D. Abernathy, John Evans, John W Williams, A(?) Stone, Mike Stone, Gabriel Peavler(?), Beny Adams, John Abernathy, Peter Adams, F.M. Atterberry, John Briant, Joseph Briant, Isaac R Brick, Zeph Bell, Sam Bell, Lorenzo(?) Clark, Bary D Colvard, W H Colvard, Bery(?) B. Chism, William J. Dugan, E.J. Dearmore, Samuel Dyre, Abner Fitzgerald, L(?) Fort, Robert K. Fort, Wily(?) Fort, John S. Fort, Alex Haigler, Tom M. Hickerson, Arthur Henry, James Hart, J(?) Jones, John B. Jones, Thomas T Kirksey, John Minks, Mark Mastiller, James O. Mainord, Jasper Mantooth, Isaac Mainord, William N. Miles, Jack S. McCord, Gideon W. Ma(?), John P. Nolen, William D. Nafries(?), Christopher Ohaver(?), C.C. Ohaver(?), R.L. Petty, James Petty, Eowin R. Quinn, John C. Rigney, Charles Rigney, William J. Rogers, G.B. Rogers, William D. Rhiley, John Rider, Harrington Sewell, James Stubblefield, L.D. St Clair, John H. Sprillers, Henry H. St Clair, Ebert H. Sunderland(?), Williams Wells, James H. Williams, William P. Willis, W.J. Woods, and John O. Woods.
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Poll book from Griffin, Daniel to Governor Henry M. Rector
Letter from Col. Daniel Griffin of the 8th Regiment, Ark. Militia to Gov. Henry M. Rector. Contains poll book, "Hempstead Riflemen" with list of elected officers and volunteers.
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President Abraham Lincoln to Governor Henry Rector
Joint resolution to amend the Constitution of the United States, adopted by Congress and approved March 2, 1861, with letters of authentication signed by Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State William H. Seward. The resolution was approved by Congress and President James Buchanan, but was never sent to the states for ratification.
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Prisoner list
List of jayhawkers taken prisoner and sent to Little Rock. They were to be put under the guard of Lieutenant Anderson, and his men. The accused jayhawkers' names, and occupation's are listed.
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Requisition, Colonel Latham to Captain Johnson
Requisition for state troops under command of Colonel Latham at Fort Smith.
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Return, Thomas C. Peek to Major D.F. Shall
Voucher from Thomas C. Peek, military storekeeper at Little Rock Arsenal, to Major D.F. Shall, quartermaster and commissary to Solon Borland. List contains an inventory of goods received at the Little Rock Arsenal.
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Sarah A. Woodruff, Bolivar, Tennessee, to William H. Woodruff
Sarah writes to her son that she is thankful he is willing to come to the defense of his country and serve courageously. She believes that by being faithful to God, her son may come home safely after the war. She wishes to know if she can send anything to him that might bring him comfort.
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Secession Preamble from the city of Atlanta
Letter from May William Ezzard to Governor Henry M. Rector recommending that the Secession Congress meet in Atlanta once members are appointed.
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Telegram, David Walker to David C. Williams
Telegram from David Walker of Fayetteville to David C. Williams reporting 600 votes were taken and that 10 to 1 are in support of the Union. The election mentioned is to determine whether to have a Secession Convention and elect delegates to the convention.
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Telegram, J.A. Eno to Postmaster in Van Buren
Telegram from J.A. Eno to the Van Buren postmaster about 500 armed men preparing to take the Little Rock Arsenal under Captain James Totten unless the federal troops surrender.
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Telegram, J.S. Roane to Robert W. Johnson
Telegram from Brig. Gen. J.S. Roane to Robert W. Johnson asking to hurry the gunboats while the river levels are high enough.
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Telegraphic bulletin, The True Democrat--Extra, May 2, 1861
Telegraphic bulletin from the Little Rock "True Democrat" extra containing a proclamation announcing that the Secession Convention will meet on May 6--not August 19--due to the hostilities between the North and the South.
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Telegraphic bulletin, The True Democrat, May 3, 1861
Telegraphic bulletin from the Little Rock "True Democrat" containing national news about northern and southern soldiers moving and the distribution of arms and ammunition.
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True Democrat Bulletin, November 7, 1861
This bulletin describes the current events of the war, and recent happenings in Confederate politics. Various states were voting in congressional elections. A correspondent reports that Union enlistment numbers are down.
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True Democrat Bulletin, September 20, 1861
This bulletin includes news from Richmond and Memphis, as well as a proclamation from Brigadier General Benjamin McCulloch pledging to raise five new regiments and urging men from Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana to join the Confederate Army. It also includes news from the North and the U.S. Supreme Court.
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True Democrat Bulletin, September 28, 1861
As threats of a Union invasion into Arkansas loomed, Brigadier General McCulloch and Colonel Thomas C. Hindman published proclamations urging Arkansas men to join the Confederate Army. McCulloch also reports the burning of Osceola, Missouri, by Kansas jayhawkers, and correspondents report the latest news from Kentucky.
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True Democrat - Extra, August 16, 1861
This True Democrat extra details the situation in the aftermath of a battle near Springfield, Missouri. It lists the dead on both the Union and Confederate sides, and names the officers who participated in the battle.