1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles

1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles
Colonel, later General Thomas J. Churchill would serve as the Governor of Arkansas following the American Civil War
Active	June 18, 1861–April 26, 1865
Disbanded	April 26, 1865
Country	Confederate States of America
Allegiance	CSA
Branch	Mounted infantry
Size	Regiment
Engagements	American Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek Battle of Pea Ridge Kentucky Campaign Battle of Richmond Battle of Murfreesboro Vicksburg Campaign Battle of Jackson Siege of Jackson Chickamauga Campaign Battle of Chickamauga Meridian Campaign Battle of Meridian Atlanta Campaign Battle of Dug Gap Battle of Resaca Battle of New Hope Church Battle of Kennesaw Mountain Battle of Moore's Hill Battle of Peachtree Creek Battle of Atlanta Battle of Ezra Church Siege of Atlanta Battle of Jonesboro Battle of Lovejoy's Station Battle of Moon's Station Franklin–Nashville Campaign Battle of Franklin Battle of Nashville Battle of Sugar Creek Carolinas Campaign Battle of Bentonville
Battle honours	Southern Cross of Honor Ten soldiers for the Battle of Murfreesboro
Commanders
Notable commanders	Colonel Thomas J. Churchill General Kirby Smith

American Civil War

1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army cavalry regiment during the American Civil War. The unit was formed as a mounted infantry regiment, but was dismounted in the spring of 1862 and remained dismounted for the remainder of the war. The unit participated in the earliest battles in the western theater at Wilson's Creek and surrendered with the remnants of the Army of Tennessee in North Carolina in April 1865.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Arkansas, formed some 48 infantry regiments, and a number of cavalry units. With the exception of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, all of the Arkansas units would sign one year enlistments, thus leading to assignments in what was referred to as the "western theater", due to most of the large scale battles being fought in the east. The 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles would sign one year enlistments, then later would sign a "three year or the duration of the war" extension.

First organized in Little Rock, Arkansas, on June 16, 1861, the regiment was initially commanded by Colonel Thomas J. Churchill. The regiment was composed of the following volunteer companies:

The regiment was first attached to General Benjamin McCulloch's Brigade. By August, they were on the move toward Springfield, Missouri, where they first saw action in the Battle of Wilson's Creek. It reported 45 killed, 161 wounded, and 2 missing at Wilson's Creek. Following that battle, the regiment was dispatched to Indian Territory to battle the Native American pro-Union Cherokee soldiers. They served in that capacity from September through October 1861.