The 16th Missouri Infantry Regiment (also known as Jackman's Missouri Regiment, Caldwell's Missouri Regiment, and the 7th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Lewis')) was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was formed from men recruited by Jeremiah V. Cockrell and Sidney D. Jackman during an expedition into Missouri in August 1862. Although the recruits fought at the Battle of Lone Jack on August 16, they were not officially mustered into Confederate service until August 31. The regiment fought at the Battle of Prairie Grove on December 7. In May 1863, the regiment was designated the 7th Missouri Infantry Regiment, although this designation was changed to the 16th Missouri Infantry Regiment in December. On July 4, the regiment fought at the Battle of Helena, suffering heavy casualties. The unit then spent time building fortifications at Little Rock, Arkansas, before leaving the town in September. The 16th Missouri then fought at the Battle of Pleasant Hill on April 9, 1864, and at the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry on April 30. On June 8, 1865, the men of the regiment were paroled and sent back to Missouri via steamboat. More men died while serving in the 16th Missouri Infantry Regiment than died in any other Missouri unit serving in the Confederate States Army.
Organization
During the middle of 1862, Jeremiah V. Cockrell and Sidney D. Jackman attempted to recruit men for a cavalry regiment in northwestern Arkansas. Because Cockrell and Jackman were unable to recruit enough men to form a regiment in Arkansas, the two men, accompanied by other recruiters, entered Missouri on August 1. After recruiting a number of men, Cockrell and Jackman established a camp near Lone Jack, Missouri on August 15. On August 16, Cockrell's force engaged a Union column commanded by Major Emory S. Foster as part of the Battle of Lone Jack. After a five-hour battle, the Union forces were defeated and forced to withdraw. Foster was severely wounded and captured. Jackman and Cockrell's recruits suffered at least 46 casualties at Lone Jack. More Union troops came to the area, and the Confederates withdrew back into Arkansas.
On August 31, the unit of recruits officially mustered into the Confederate States Army, while in the vicinity of Fayetteville, Arkansas as infantry. Cockrell returned to Missouri to continue recruiting cavalrymen, and Jackman became the first colonel of the regiment, which bore his name. Levin Major Lewis was the regiment's first lieutenant colonel, and Pleasant W. H. Cumming was the first major. As of the date of muster, the regiment's company organization was:
Company A: Clay County, Jackson County, Johnson County, and Monroe County. Company B: Benton County and St. Clair County. Company C: Bates County, Boone County, Callaway County, and Johnson County. Company D: Johnson County. Company E: Newton County. Company F: Henry County and Johnson County. Company G: Dade County. Company H: McDonald County. Company I: Bates County and Henry County. Company K: Henry County.
Service history
1862
Jackman resigned on September 25 to return to Missouri to continue recruiting; Jackman was replaced as commander of the regiment by Josiah H. Caldwell. On December 7, the regiment fought in the Battle of Prairie Grove as part of Brigadier General Mosby M. Parsons' brigade. Early in the fighting at Prairie Grove, Parsons' Brigade was aligned to support the Confederate left flank; the regiment (now known as Caldwell's Missouri Regiment) was on the left flank of Parsons' line. Later in the battle, Parsons' Brigade attacked a portion of Major General James G. Blunt's division. Parsons outflanked Blunt, and the Union troops were forced back. However, when a further attack was pressed against the Union line, Caldwell's Regiment was squeezed out by Parsons' advancing regiments and could not participate in the second charge. The regiment suffered 48 casualties at Prairie Grove. The Confederate army then fell back from Prairie Grove, and encamped at Van Buren, Arkansas.