The 2nd Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry (Union) (1863–1865) was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Although Arkansas joined the Confederate States of America in 1861, not all of its citizens supported secession. Arkansas formed some 48 infantry regiments to serve in the Confederate Army, but also formed another 11 regiments that served in the Union Army.
Organization
The authority for organizing the 2d Arkansas infantry volunteers was transmitted by the Secretary of War to Major General J. M. Schofield, commanding the Department of the Missouri, sometime in the month of August, 1863, precise date unknown.
In conformity with that authority, Major General Schofield, in paragraph 5, of Special Order No. 238, dated headquarters Department of the Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri, September 1, 1863, delegated the general charge and supervision of the organization of the regiment to Brigadier General John McNeil, commanding the District of Southwest Missouri, instructing him to appoint some officer to take the immediate charge of the organization, under the supervision of General McNeil.
The order further declared that the regiment should be composed of and organized from all recruits that had already been enlisted, and from all that might thereafter be enlisted, for Arkansas infantry from citizens of Arkansas in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas, until the organization of the regiment was completed.
The officer taking the immediate supervision of the organization was empowered to recommend, with the concurrence of Brigadier General McNeil, competent and efficient men to fill the positions of company officers, taken, as far as practicable, 0 from the citizens of Arkansas, the recommendations to be sent to headquarters department of the Missouri for reference to the Secretary of War, the field and staff officers to be nominated by the major general commanding the department of the Missouri, "from such reliable, competent, and efficient citizens or officers as, in his opinion, had good claims to the positions to be filled."
In obedience to the above order General McNeil entrusted the organization of the regiment to me by paragraph 1, Special Order No. 170, dated headquarters district of southwest Missouri, Springfield, Missouri, August 31, 1863, directing that Springfield, Missouri, should be the rendezvous of the regiment, there being at that time no other point possessing the same advantages necessary for a rendezvous.
The rendezvous was, however, -ultimately changed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, by paragraph 5, Special Order No. 317, dated headquarters department of the Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri, November 20,- 1863, Fort Smith having been occupied by the federal troops in September, 1863.
In the month of January, 1864, the e organization of four companies having been completed, the lieutenant colonel, adjutant, quartermaster, and officers of companies A, B, C, and D were appointed by the Secretary of War, and orders for their muster issued by Major General Schofield.
The organization of the regiment was completed March 13, 1864, at which time the aggregate enlisted strength was 913; but owing to the impossibility of procuring a mustering officer there were but 11 officers and about 600 men mustered.
Service
In this condition the regiment was ordered into the field by Brigadier General J. M. Thayer, commanding district of the frontier, March 20, 1864, to take part in the expedition south, commanded by Major General Steele.
Leaving Clarksville, Arkansas, on the 24th day of March 1864, with eight companies, the regiment reported to Brigadier General Thayer on the 27th day of March, 1864, fifteen miles west of Danville, Arkansas, and from that time forward moved with the 3d division 7th army corps in that disastrous campaign.
The regiment was engaged in the battles of Prairie is d'Anne, on the 13th of April, and Jenkins's Ferry on the 30th of the same month, in both of which engagements the regiment lost several men killed and wounded. The losses incurred by these battles, deaths caused by sickness, and desertions so reduced the regiment that upon our arrival at Little Rock, Arkansas, the organization was declared incomplete.
