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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Letter, Josie King to Unnamed Friend
Letter from Josie King in Woodville to an unnamed friend. King apologizes for the delay in writing back to her friend. She writes that no Federals have discovered them but they do see the occasional Confederate soldier. She relays news she heard about his family members and responds to his request that she not marry until he sees her again with assurances that "there is no danger of that while this war lasts."
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Letter, Reubin Reed to Governor Harris Flanagin
Letter to Governor Harris Flanagin from Reubin Reed in Arkadelphia about an arrest order for Peter E. Greene by Colonel Trader. Reed states that he has enclosed a copy of the arrest order and appears to be hesitant to carry it out. He asks the Governor what he should do. Reed was a captain in the 1st Battalion Arkansas State Troops, Trader's Battalion. Enclosed is a copy of the orders written by Col. William H. Trader.
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Letter, R.J. Bryson to his sister
R.J. Bryson writes that recruiting is going slowly. He asks his sister to send him a pair of socks and to have his brother bring him a pony because "my mare is unfit for servise[sic] at present."
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Letter, T.H. Holmes to Governor Harris Flanagin
Letter from T.H. Holmes in Camden to Governor Harris Flanagin in Washington, Arkansas. Holmes tells Flanagin of 400 or 500 Union troops moving on the Hot Springs Road. He is concerned that with the recent capture of a company of Confederate troops that preference will be given to Confederate troops over State troops in prisoner exchanges.
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Letter, Thomas H. Frazer to Governor Harris Flanagin
Letter from Thomas D. Frazer to Governor Harris Flanagin requesting exemption from military service. He states that he is the sole male in his extended family left to take care of his family and their businesses. He has had one brother killed at Shiloh, another brother still currently serving and a widowed sister under his care as well as his own immediate family.
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Letter, unknown soldier writing about the hanging of David O. Dodd
Letter from an unknown soldier discussing his military life in Little Rock. The letter talks about the hanging of David O. Dodd.
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Letter, unknown writer to Samuel Williams
Letter from an unknown writer to Samuel Williams informing Williams that he made it home without incident and found things better than expected but still not good. Dutch and Irish troops are soon to be stationed near the town and everyone in the area has been forced to take the oath, therefore he cannot conclude his necessary business transactions. He asks Williams if he can obtain help from General Steele and writes that his "health is very precarious" and he wishes to finish his business before he dies.
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Letter, W. Babcock to Ralph Goodrich
Letter from W. Babcock in New Orleans to Ralph Goodrich in Little Rock. Babcock tells Goodrich that examinations of the physical qualifications as an officer should not be a concern and states that Goodrich's education is an asset. If Goodrich improves a little in tactics, he could probably receive a commission and may be able to join troops at Shreveport. Babcock says that he hasn't personally taken part in the present campaign but that he finds his current situation in New Orleans to be pleasant, calling the climate delightful and stating he is in excellent health.
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Letter, W. Babcock to Ralph Goodrich
W. Babcock responds to Ralph Goodrich's request for employment in the army by recommending he go into the engineers.
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Letter, W.C. Adams to Governor Harris Flanagin
Letter from W.C. Adams in Rondo to Governor Harris Flanagin informing Flanagin of an incident in which seven men stole four horses and fifteen thousand dollars. Adams was not able to hunt them because of a delay in receiving the information and the size of the force he had available. He requests more men to enforce the conscript law on the men laying out in the area.
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Letter, William A. Crawford to Sarah Crawford
Letter from William A. Crawford in Warren to his wife, Sarah Crawford. Crawford laments his absence from home and writes "I know you will have a greate[sic] many trials and hardships to undergo and I am powerless to help it. God only knows what will become of my dear family." He feels that the generals could have driven the enemy out of Little Rock "long ago" if they had been willing to make the effort
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Letter, William Crawford to Sarah Crawford
Letter from William A. Crawford at Camp Monticello to his wife, Sarah. Crawford tells his wife that he is doing well and he praises the land along the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers as being the "most plentiful in the state." He writes of thousands of acres of corn "standing in the fields on the Ark. River, not gathered nor ever will be." He assures his wife that he has plenty of clothes for the next twelve months and thanks her for the handkerchiefs she sent. He also praises the ladies of Monticello for their kindness to the soldiers in the hospital.
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Letter, William Walker to David Williams
Letter from William Walker in Little Rock to David Williams discussing ownership of his house, the state of affairs where he was living, and his fondness for General Frederick Steele.
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Loyalty oath, William Stillwell
Certification of loyalty oath of William Stillwell of Arkansas County. Given at Little Rock by W.W.D. Ray.
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Newspaper, The Bumble Bee
A handwritten edition of the Confederate Army newspaper, The Bumble Bee, published "semi occasionally" at camp near Shreveport, Louisiana, by Cook and Hughey, editors. The motto written across the top: "Oh brush that bee away on you or you will surely get a sting." The articles written are about camp life and war news.
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Special order number 13
Special order number 13 states Captain James M. McCain is authorized to raise a company of mounted volunteers to serve for one year.
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Special orders number 5
Colonel W.H. Trader is ordered by Adjutant General Gordon N. Peay to send twenty men to Rondo to "act as a guard for the archives of the State, deposited at that place."
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Telegram, Abraham Lincoln to Governor Isaac Murphy
Telegram from President Abraham Lincoln to Governor Isaac Murphy.
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William McQueen, quartermaster with the 1st Iowa Volunteers, African descent
Carte de visite photograph of Lieutenant William McQueen with the 1st Iowa Volunteers, African Descent. McQueen was stationed in Helena, Arkansas from 1863-1864.
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General orders number 7
Orders for the escorts of wagons sent for forage which are to include three groups, one to guard the wagons and two to "scour the country." Officers are told that the "bravest of men may be conquered, but those are not soldiers who can be surprised."
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Muster Roll, 8th Missouri Union Cavalry
Muster roll for the Eighth Missouri Union Cavalry under the command of Captain Jacob Cossairt and Colonel J.J. Gravely. The regiment spent January and February 1864 scouting and marching in northern Arkansas. Names include: Jacob Cossaint, William Gibbs, Ethan Paxton, William H.W. Aregenhight, Thomas L. Thornton, Samuel Dent, Wesley M. Walker, James Hix, William C. Snyder, John Murphy, Calvin G. Drummond, George M. Alexander, Eli S. Cates, Hollway Richards, William M.V. Pippins, George W. Murphy, Enoch W. Taylor, Samuel James, John A. M(?), William H. Lord, James W. Campbell, Alexander Lewis, Joseph K. Williams, Absalem Edwards, William K. Anderson, George Bartshe, James Bartshe, Jacob Bartshe, Levi Breshears, James Byferd, David Brim(?), Green Banty, James M. Bell, Rufus Bowman, Amos Brown, John Brown, Thomas Cauthon(?), James M. Cates, John M. Charlton, William B. Charlton, James N. Cross, Joseph T Campbell, Marion Carver, Henry C Collins, Jesse E Conts, Richard N Dority, Samuel P Drummond, John H Estes, Hiram H Flesher, Benjamin Fugates(?), James Flood, Phineas Green, John Glen, James Glen, Francis M Harland, William T Hart, John Hix, Francis M Hatler, Charles Hayes, John Ingram, William Jordan, Frederick James, William, (?),Thomas E Lewis, (?) Lenderman, William Lenderman, Thomas Lord, David W McHenry, Benjamin McFarland, James Owens, Cleborne Pigg, and William Paxton.
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Burton J. Holbrooks, Ultima Thule, Arkansas, to Governor Henry M. Rector
Holbrooks complains that the men in his militia company are not attending drill faithfully. He explains to the governor that this is due to him not receiving his commission yet. He asks if the commission is necessary or not to wield authority over the company.
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Carved wooden spoon
This spoon was carved by Richard Bailey of Company H, Third Arkansas Infantry, in July of 1862. The words "July 1862 Jesse" are carved into the front base, and scrolled lettering is also wrapped around the handle of the spoon, reading "Drewry's Bluff, James River, Virginia."