The 6th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (also known as the "Sixth Arkansas"; June 10, 1861 – May 1, 1865) was a regiment of the Confederate States Army 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.
Organization
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:
Company A, the "Capital Guards" of Little Rock, in Pulaski County, commanded by Captain Gordon N. Peay. This company was one of the oldest militia organizations in the state. Its officers were first elected in 1858, and included Peter Hotze, later to be one of Little Rock's most prominent businessmen and community member, owner of the Hotze House in Little Rock, a National Historic Landmark. The unit played a prominent role in the seizure of the Little Rock Arsenal. Company B, the "Yellow Jackets" of Calhoun County, commanded by Captain P. H. Echols. The company was originally organized on May 9, 1861, as a volunteer company in the 54th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia. The company was in state service from May 5 until July 26, 1861, but was discharged when the regiment was mustered into Confederate service on July 26. Fourteen men from Company B accepted the transfer to Confederate command and were reassigned to Company H. Company C, the "Dallas Rifles" of Dallas County, commanded by Captain F. J. Cameron. The company was originally organized on May 9, 1861, as a volunteer company in the 46th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia.
Company D, the "Ouachita Voyageurs", or "Ouachita Voltiquers" of Ouachita County, commanded by Captain J.W. Kingswell. This company was originally organized on May 31, 1861, as a volunteer company in the 39th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia. Company E, the "Dixie Grays" of Arkansas County, commanded by Captain Sam G. Smith. This company was originally organized on June 1, 1861, as a volunteer company in the 1st Regiment, Arkansas State Militia. Company F, the "Lafayette Guards" of Lafayette County, commanded by Captain Sam H. Dill. This company was originally organized on June 3, 1861, as a volunteer company in the 40th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia. Company G, the "Columbia Guards" of Magnolia in Columbia County, commanded by Captain J. W. Austin. This company was originally organized on May 10, 1861, as a volunteer company in the 56th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia. Company H, the "City Guards" of Camden in Ouachita County, commanded by Captain S. H. Southerland. This company was originally organized on May 9, 1861, as a volunteer company in the 39th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia. The first company commander was Richard Lyon. Company I, the "Lisbon Invincibles" of Union County, commanded by Captain Sam Turner. Company J, the "Ouachita Grays" of Ouachita County, commanded by Captain Hope T. Hodnett. This company was originally organized on June 1, 1861, as a volunteer company in the 39th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia.
The regiment's first commander was Colonel Richard Lyon. The other regimental officers were: