A history of the 22nd Arkansas Infantry

I’m not sure when I got the following information, but I’m pretty sure that it came from Steven Alcorn a few years back. As Civil War Reenactors, it’s imperative that we know something about who we are portraying. To those who have been around a while, you probably have this laying around somewhere, but for the recruits that have been around for a couple of years, this might prove useful. I believe I got this history from Steven about 4 years ago at Round Mountain

22nd Arkansas Infantry - A Brief History

Taken from Compendium of the Confederate Armies, Stewart Safakis, Facts on File, New York, 1992.

The regiment was organized in February or March, 1862, Colonel George W. King commanding. Field officers were Lieutenant Colonel Alf Carrigan, and Major James H. Fletcher.

The regiment was unattached and assigned to the Trans-Mississippi District, Department #2 in March, 1862. In April and May, 1862 it was part of Rust’s Brigade, Jones Division, Army of the West, Department #2. The regiment was engaged at Pea Ridge, Fort Pillow, and the Corinth Campaign.

On May 13, 1862, the unit designation was change to 20th Arkansas Infantry. As the 20th Infantry, it was commanded by Colonel Henry P. Johnson, Field Officers were Lieutenant Colonel James H. Fletcher, Major William S. Haven, Major Daniel W. Jones, Lieutenant Colonel W.R. Kelly, Major J.W. Long, and Lieutenant H.G. Robertson.

The 20th Arkansas was captured at Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, and paroled. It was declared exchanged late in 1863. By April 20th, 1864 it became a mounted unit. On November 29, 1864 it was consolidated with the 15th Arkansas Infantry, and Dawson’s -Hardy’s Consolidated Regiment and designated the 3rd Infantry Regiment, Consolidated.

As the 20th Infantry, it took part in the following battles. Corinth Campaign (April-June 1862), Farmington (May, 1862), Corinth (October 3-4, 1862), Coffeeville (December 15, 1862), Grand Gulf (April 29, 1863), Port Gibson (May 1, 1863), Champion Hill (May 16. 1863), Big Black River (May 17, 1863), Vicksburg Siege (may-July, 1863), Camden Expedition (March-May, 1864), and Marks Mill (April 25, 1864).

There was another 22nd Arkansas Infantry, (Rector’s-King’s-McChord’s) that was known as the 35th Infantry Regiment, and the 1st (Rector’s) Infantry Regiment. The 22/35 was organized by companies and mustered in as a regiment July, 1863. It fought at Helena (July 4, 1863), Little Rock (September 10, 1863), and Jenkin’s Ferry (April 30, 1864). It was surrendered by E. Kirby Smith on May 26, 1865.