1st Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (Monroe's)

1st Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate)
James Fleming Fagan, the original commander of Monrow's 1st Arkansas Cavalry Regiment
Active	May 9, 1862–
Country	Confederate States of America
Allegiance	CSA
Branch	Cavalry
Size	Regiment
Nickname(s)	Monroe's Regiment
Engagements	American Civil War Battle of Cane Hill Battle of Prairie Grove Marmadukes' Expedition into Missouri Battle of Fayettville Battle of Devil's Backbone Battle of Pine Bluff Red River Campaign Battle of Elkin's Ferry Battle of Poison Spring Battle of Marks' Mills Price's Missouri Raid Battle of Fort Davidson Fourth Battle of Boonville Battle of Glasgow, Missouri Battle of Sedalia Second Battle of Lexington Battle of Little Blue River Second Battle of Independence Battle of Byram's Ford Battle of Westport Battle of Marais des Cygnes Battle of Mine Creek Battle of Marmiton River Second Battle of Newtonia

American Civil War

The 1st Arkansas Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment of the Confederate States of America. Officially designated by the Arkansas State Military Board as the 6th Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, it was almost never referred to as such during the Civil War. It was usually called Monroe's 1st Arkansas Cavalry, occasionally the 4th Arkansas Cavalry, and more rarely the 1st Trans-Mississippi Cavalry. It is also found in the Official Records of the American Civil War as Fagan's Cavalry and Monroe's Cavalry. The Compiled Service Records of the men are filed under the designation "1st (Monroe's) Cavalry," Rolls 4 and 5.

The origins of Monroe's Cavalry can be traced back to two smaller units, O'Neill's 13th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry and Wheat's Squadron Arkansas Cavalry. Captain James McCarney O'Neill was appointed to command the 13th Arkansas Battalion on August 1, 1862. It was composed of three independent troops: O'Neill's (raised in Bradley County), Capt. Americus V. Rieff's (raised in Hempstead County), and Capt. Columbus C. Wolfe's (raised in Drew County). Capt. Patrick Henry Wheat's squadron consisted of two Prairie County companies: Wheat's and Raulston's. In September 1862, these units were combined with other independent cavalry troops and partisan ranger companies to form the 6th (1st) Regiment Arkansas Cavalry. The regiment was made up of the following volunteer companies:

Colonel James Fleming Fagan was appointed to command the new regiment, with James Cade Monroe as lieutenant-colonel and James M. O'Neill as major. Fagan and Monroe had previously served together as colonel and lieutenant-colonel, respectively, of the famed 1st Arkansas Infantry. Fagan was promoted to brigadier-general a month later, and Monroe succeeded him as colonel commanding the regiment.

Monroe's Cavalry took part in the battles of Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, Fayetteville, Backbone Mountain, Pine Bluff, Elkins Ferry, Poison Springs, and Marks' Mills, in Arkansas; and in the many battles of Price's 1864 Missouri Campaign, including Pilot Knob and Independence, Missouri; and Marais des Cygnes, Kansas. The unit reported 13 were killed and 23 wounded during the Camden Expedition. The unit participated in the following engagements: