2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (Slemons's)

2nd Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate)
William F. Slemons, commander 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment
Active	1861–April 1865
Country	Confederate States of America
Allegiance	CSA
Branch	Cavalry
Size	Regiment
Engagements	American Civil War Iuka-Corinth Campaign Battle of Iuka Battle of Corinth Battle of Hatchie's Bridge Red River Campaign Battle of Mount Elba Battle of Poison Spring Battle of Marks' Mills Battle of Jenkins Ferry 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, Linn County, Kansas Battle of Mine Creek Battle of Marmiton River Second Battle of Newtonia

American Civil War

The 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (Slemons') (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army cavalry regiment during the American Civil War. This regiment was also referred to in the official records as the 4th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment. Another regiment, commanded by Colonel Thomas J. Morgan, was also designated as the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment. Following Price's Raid in 1864, the survivors of the regiment were reorganized as the 18th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, which was also referred to as McMurtrey's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion.

The 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment was originally organized as the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Battlion at Memphis, Tennessee, in early April 1862, just after the Battle of Shiloh, from five independent cavalry companies from southern Arkansas:.

Some of these companies appear to have been involved in the Battle of Shiloh as independent units, prior to being assigned to the Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, but few details are available. In a letter from Company D's Lt. Walter Greenfield to his wife on April 11, 1862, from his encampment near Shiloh, Greenfield writes:

"I do not know what will be done with us. No army equiptments (sic) have been issued to us. I may be in a fight perhaps before I write you again and it may be a month. We have not the least idea what will be done with us. If I am in a fight I intend doing my duty an have the same chance we get that every other man. If I get killed, I die in a defence of my country, my wife an babe. Write me often, direct your letters to Corinth, Miss. To Lieut. W Greenfield, care of Capt. J. N. Paine.

Upon the organization of the battalion, Major William D. Barnett, a 36-year-old physician from Bradley County, Arkansas, was assigned as the commanding officer. The only other member of the battalion field and staff who can be identified was Assistant Surgeon Thomas W. Hurley, a 26-year-old physician from Calhoun County, Arkansas. The organization of the battalion was apparently marred by an alleged mutiny. The following report appears in the official record:

"Head Quarters Army of the Miss., April 11th, 1862; to General Braxton Bragg, Comdg 2d Corps.—General: It is represented that there is a mutiny in the camp of Major Barnett's Cavalry headed by a Captain Paine of that Battalion. This Battalion is near the encampment of Col. Fagan's Arkansas Regiment of your Corps and Gibson's Brigade. The General therefore orders you to take measures for the radical suppression of the mutiny. Capt. Paine refuses to obey the arrest of Major Barnett. Respectfully, Your obt svt, William Malone, A.A. Genl.".