17th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Griffith's)

17th Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
Van Dorn Pattern Flag of the 17th Arkansas
Active	November 17, 1861–May 4, 1865
Country	Confederate States of America
Allegiance	CSA
Branch	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Engagements	American Civil War Battle of Pea Ridge Siege of Corinth Iuka-Corinth Campaign Battle of Iuka Second Battle of Corinth Siege of Port Hudson
Disbanded	May 4, 1865

American Civil War

The 17th Arkansas Infantry (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. The unit became split during the transfer of General Earl Van Dorn's Army of the West to Corinth, Mississippi in April 1862. The portion of the unit that was transferred east of the Mississippi River was eventually consolidated and became part of the 11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry Regiment. The portion of the unit which remained in Arkansas was reorganized as the 35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment.

The unit, originally known as the 17th (Rector's) Infantry Regiment, was organized at Fort Smith, Arkansas, on November 17, 1861. The men elected Frank A. Rector, who would later command the 35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, colonel of the regiment. The other regimental officers were:

The regiment consisted of eight companies, which were drawn mostly from Sebastian County and the surrounding area. The unit was composed of volunteer companies from the following counties:

The regiment's first major action was the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862, where, from most accounts, Rector's regiment did not acquit itself well. A Missouri (Confederate) artillery battery found the regiment's colors lying on the field, and for a time refused to return the flag to Rector, saying that a regiment that would abandon its colors in battle had no right to carry them after the battle. Colonel Sid Jackman relayed a camp rumor regarding Colonel Rector's behavior at the battle of Pea Ridge,

"It had been reported and generally believed by the Missouri troops, that a regiment of Arkansas troops, led by Col. Frank Rector, had behaved very badly in he fight with Curtis at Elk Horn. It was said that Rector had ran off and hid his guns in a cave, during the fight. Whether this was true or not, I do not know. I sumply related the charge, but do not make the charge. Colonel Rector was, at that time, our Brigade Quarter Master, and was a most cautious and estimable gentleman."