6th Arkansas Infantry Regiment

6th Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
The 6th Arkansas Infantry used a variant of Hardee's moon flag (above) as its battle flag
Active	June 10, 1861 – April 26, 1865
Country	Confederate States of America
Allegiance	Confederate States
Branch	Infantry
Engagements	Battle of Rowlett's Station, Battle of Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Kentucky Campaign 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 Peachtree Creek, Battle of Atlanta, Siege of Atlanta, Battle of Jonesboro, Franklin–Nashville Campaign Battle of Franklin, Battle of Nashville, Carolinas Campaign, Battle of Bentonville,

Battle of Rowlett's Station,

Battle of Shiloh,

Siege of Corinth,

Kentucky Campaign

Battle of Murfreesboro,

Tullahoma Campaign,

Chickamauga Campaign

Chattanooga Campaign

Atlanta Campaign,

Franklin–Nashville Campaign

Carolinas Campaign,

6th Arkansas Infantry (June 10, 1861 – April 26, 1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. Organized mainly from volunteer companies, including several prewar volunteer militia units, raised in the southern half of Arkansas, the regiment was among the first transferred to Confederate Service. It served virtually the entire war in Confederate forces east of the Mississippi River. After the unit sustained heavy casualties during the Battle of Shiloh and Bragg's Kentucky Campaign, the unit spent most of the rest of the war field consolidated with the 7th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, to form the 6th/7th Arkansas Infantry Regiment.

The 6th Infantry was mustered into state service in Little Rock, Arkansas on June 10, 1861, a little less than a month after the state first began raising infantry regiments. The 6th Arkansas, also known as the 6th Arkansas, State Troops and the 6th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, was made up of volunteer companies from the following counties:

The regiment's first commander was Colonel Richard Lyon. The other regimental officers were:

The regiment was armed with weapons which the state confiscated when the Federal Arsenal at Little Rock was seized by Arkansas State Militia troops in February 1861. Disposition of the weapons found in the Arsenal is somewhat sketchy, but from various records it can be surmised that the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiments, mustered in June, 1861, were issued M1816/M1822 .69 caliber flintlocks. They retained these weapons until April, 1862 when they were able to exchange them for more modern percussion rifles scavenged from the battlefield at Shiloh. The unit began with mixed uniforms, but by the end of 1861 had been issued matching uniforms from the Little Rock supply depot. Prior to that, they marched to Pocahontas, Arkansas, to be attached to the 2nd Division of the Provisional Army of Arkansas commanded Major General James Yell. While stationed there, measles broke out in the camp, and many soldiers died. When offered the opportunity to vote on accepting transfer from state service to Confederate service, Company B company, from Calhoun County, declined to re-enlist. A few other soldiers from other companies also declined to extend their enlistments. The remainder of the regiment was mustered into Confederate service on July 26, 1861, at Pittman's Ferry, Arkansas. The 6th Arkansas, with the 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 8th Arkansas Infantry units was initially assigned to a brigade of Brigadier General William J. Hardee.