15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Josey's)

15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Josey's Arkansas Infantry Regiment) (Polk's Arkansas Infantry Regiment) (Cleburne's Arkansas Infantry Regiment)
Arkansas state flag
Active	1861–1865
Disbanded	April 26, 1865
Country	Confederate States
Allegiance	Arkansas
Branch	Militia
Type	Line infantry
Size	One regiment
Nickname(s)	"Fifteenth Arkansas"
Facings	Light blue
Arms	Enfield rifled muskets
Engagements	American Civil War Battle of Shiloh Kentucky Campaign Battle of Richmond Battle of Perryville Battle of Murfreesboro Tullahoma Campaign Battle of Liberty Gap Chickamauga Campaign Battle of Chickamauga Chattanooga Campaign Battle of Missionary Ridge Battle of Ringgold Gap Atlanta Campaign Battle of Rocky Face Ridge Battle of Resaca Battle of New Hope Church Battle of Pickett's Mill Battle of Kennesaw Mountain Battle of Atlanta Siege of Atlanta Battle of Jonesboro Franklin–Nashville Campaign Battle of Franklin Battle of Nashville Carolinas Campaign Battle of Bentonville

American Civil War

The 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Josey's) (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment that served during the American Civil War. The regiment was organized in May 1861 under the command of Colonel Patrick Cleburne. It served throughout the war in the western theater, seeing action in the Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia campaigns. Following its depletion in numbers the regiment was consolidated several times with other Arkansas regiments, finally merging in 1865 into the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment. There were two other regiments which also received the designation of "15th Arkansas". The 21st (McRae's) Arkansas Infantry was redesignated 15th Arkansas in February 1863, but to avoid confusion, was normally referred to as the 15th (Northwest) Arkansas Infantry Regiment. This second "15th Arkansas" was surrendered at Vicksburg in July 1863. A third regiment, under command of Colonels Gee and later Johnson, also received the designation 15th Arkansas Infantry. This last regiment surrendered at Port Hudson, Louisiana, in July 1863.

The 1st Regiment, Arkansas State Troops, was organized mainly from existing volunteer militia companies several of which had participated in the seizure of the Federal Arsenal at Little Rock.

Ten Volunteer Companies were enrolled in State service on May 14, 1861, at Camp Rector, near Mound City, 6 miles (9.7 km) above Memphis on the Mississippi River. Seven of the original ten companies had initially been organized under the state militia laws. Captain Patrick R. Cleburne, of the Yell Rifles, was elected Colonel of the regiment. As the very first regiment of the line authorized by the Arkansas State Military Board in the Civil War, they bore the title of 1st Regiment, Arkansas State Troops. The regiment was formally organized with the following Volunteer Companies: