The 38th Arkansas Infantry (1862–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. The unit was often referred to as Shaver's Arkansas Infantry. The unit served in the Department of the Trans-Mississippi from its formation in the summer of 1862 until its surrender in May 1865.
Organization
38th Infantry Regiment began when General Hindman issued Special Order Number #12, Army of the Southwest, dated June 22, 1862, which authorized a Captain W. C. Adams to raise one or more companies of mounted infantry in Lawrence and Randolph Counties and to immediately attack the enemy without waiting on special orders. On July 23, 1862, General Hindman wrote to Captain Adams and ordered him to take command of the companies now raised, organized and armed in the counties of Randolph, Green, Lawrence and Poinsett and "move them to a rendevous point near Jacksonport, ....and make a temporary organization of them into battalion or regiment depending on the number of men and companies.... to be used against enemy vigorously on Crowley's Ridge." On August 2, 1862, Special Order #43, Trans Mississippi District appointed William C. Adams Lieutenant Colonel and Capt. M. Baber as Major of a battalion composed of seven companies. Lieutenant Colonel Adams was authorized to assign staff officers with the approval of General McBride. He was directed to immediately dismount his command and march to McBride's camp. The intent was that the battalion to be increased to regiment as soon as possible.
When the regiment was finally assembled in September, 1862, it contained men from Yell, Izard, Lawrence, and Craighead counties. In early May 1862, Colonel Shaver, with General Hindman, was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The 38th was formally organized at Jacksonport, Arkansas, on September 8, 1862. Colonel Shaver was unanimously elected colonel and he continued in command during the various campaigns and battles in the department. The unit was inducted into Confederate Service on September 21, 1862, at Jacksonport, Arkansas. Its field grade officers were Colonel Robert G. Shaver, Lieutenant Colonels William C. Adams and Milton D. Baber, and Major R. R. Henry. The unit was composed of volunteer companies from the following counties:
Company A, Commanded by Captain James L. Sexton, organized at Lauratown, Arkansas, on June 17, 1862 Company B, Commanded by Captain Joshua Wann, organized in Lawrence County, Arkansas, on July 19, 1862 Company C, Commanded by Captain James J. Wyatt, organized at Camp Adams, Randolph County, Arkansas, on July 19, 1862 Company D, Commanded by Captain William J. Sanders, organized at Smithville, Arkansas, on July 19, 1862 Company E, Commanded by Captain M. Beshoar, organized in Pocahontas, Randolph County, Arkansas, on July 8, 1862 Company F, Commanded by Captain Alfred Gay organized in Evening Shade, Lawrence County, Arkansas, on July 16, 1862. This company appears to have been first organized as Company G, 1st Arkansas 30 Day Volunteer Regiment at Evening Shade on November 15, 1861, under the command of Captain Daniel Yeager. The company was discharged on December 15, 1861. On April 5, 1862, Danile Yeager was elected Captain of Company A, 25th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia. The other company officers were First Lieutenant John Huddleston, Second Lieutenant John A. Moody, and Third Lieutenant Joseph F. Wainsight. Company G, Commanded by Captain John R. Wells, organized in Powhatan, Lawrence County, Arkansas, on June 7, 1862 Company H, Commanded by Captain William A. Black, organized in Randolph County, Arkansas, on July 15, 1862 Company I, Commanded by Captain R. W. Echols, organized in Independence County, Arkansas, on August 6, 1862 Company K, Commanded by Captain Louis E. Knight, organized at Sulphur Rock, Arkansas, on August 7, 1862 Company L Company M, Formerly organized as Company F, 10th Missouri Infantry Regiment
In the fall of 1864 the 38th, and the 27th Arkansas Infantry Regiment were consolidated, and they were known thenceforth until the surrender in May 1865, as Shaver's Infantry Regiment.