14th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (McCarver's)

14th (McCarver's) Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
Arkansas state flag
Active	October 22, 1861–May 26, 1865
Country	Confederate States of America
Allegiance	CSA
Branch	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Engagements	American Civil War Bombardment of Fort Pillow
Disbanded	May 26, 1865

American Civil War

The 14th (McCarver's) Arkansas Infantry (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. Almost as soon as the regiment was formed, it was divided into two separate units. The first five companies were organized into the 9th Arkansas Infantry Battalion, while the remainder of the companies would become the 18th Arkansas Infantry Battalion. The 9th Arkansas Infantry Battalion was later merged with the 8th Arkansas Infantry and served for the reset of the war as part of that regiment, While the 18th Arkansas Infantry Battalion was consolidated with the remnants of the 17th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Lemoyne's); the combined unit was then designated the 21st Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Craven's). A tenth company was added in December, 1862. The companies were from Izard, Lawrence, and Randolph counties.

The 17th Arkansas Regiment took part in the 1863 Vicksburg campaign, and was surrendered as part of the garrison. The 17th Arkansas was paroled, and after its eventual exchange was reorganized and consolidated with the remnants of several other Arkansas Regiments, known thereafter as the 1st Consolidated Arkansas Infantry (Trans-Mississippi). Another Arkansas regiment also bore the number 14. It was originally commanded by William C. Mitchell, but is best known as Powers' 14th Arkansas Infantry Regiment.

McCarver's 14th Arkansas Regiment has been described as the regiment that barely was, since it existed only briefly as a full regiment. The first eight companies were mustered into service between August 31 and September 23, and the Field and Staff Officers were appointed on September 23, 1861, at Pocahontas, Arkansas. October 22, 1861, is recognized as the date of the organization of the regiment because that's when the ninth company joined the unit, and the company muster rolls were submitted to the Confederate War Department along with official notification of the organization of the regiment, (initially designated by Colonel Solon Borland as the 9th Arkansas). Stationed in the same area were the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Arkansas Regiments, which led Col. Solon Borland, commanding Post of Pocahontas, to muster Col. James H. McCarver's new regiment into service as the 9th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. This would have been logical, except for the fact that a 9th Arkansas Infantry Regiment had already been authorized by the State Military Board and mustered into service at Pine Bluff on July 25, 1861, Colonel John M. Bradley commanding. When Colonel Borland sent the muster-in rolls to the Confederate War Department, he was informed that McCarver's regiment would instead be designated as the 14th Arkansas Regiment.