The 6th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the "Sixth Arkansas", was a line infantry formation of the Confederate States Army in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.

Organized in 1861 with volunteers from the southern Arkansas (to include several antebellum militia companies), the regiment was among the first Arkansas units mustered into Confederate service. Sustaining heavy casualties at Shiloh and Perryville, it spent the remainder of the war amalgamated with the "Seventh Arkansas," resulting in the creation of the 6th and 7th Arkansas Infantry Regiment.

Formation 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.Arkansas Military Department Records, List of Commissioned Officers of the Militia 1827–1862, Arkansas History Commission, Microfilm Roll 00000038-8 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.Arkansas Military Department Records, List of Commissioned Officers of the Militia 1827–1862, Arkansas History Commission, Microfilm Roll 00000038-8, Page 431 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.Arkansas Military Department Records, List of Commissioned Officers of the Militia 1827–1862, Arkansas History Commission, Microfilm Roll 00000038-8, Page 359 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.Arkansas Military Department Records, List of Commissioned Officers of the Militia 1827–1862, Arkansas History Commission, Microfilm Roll 00000038-8, Page 371 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.Arkansas Military Department Records, List of Commissioned Officers of the Militia 1827–1862, Arkansas History Commission, Microfilm Roll 00000038-8, Page 1 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.Arkansas Military Department Records, List of Commissioned Officers of the Militia 1827–1862, Arkansas History Commission, Microfilm Roll 00000038-8, Page 169 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.Arkansas Military Department Records, List of Commissioned Officers of the Militia 1827–1862, Arkansas History Commission, Microfilm Roll 00000038-8, Page 421 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:Col. John M. Harrell, "Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States", Military History: Volume 10.2, Arkansas Clement Anselm Evans, Ed., Page 298, Accessed 21 July 2011, http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2001.05.0254%3Achapter%3D11%3Apage%3D298

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander T. Hawthorn Major D. L. Kilgore C. A. Bridewell Adjutant John F. Ritchie, Quartermaster

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 by 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 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 under Brigadier General William J. Hardee.

History

The 6th Arkansas saw no action in the coming months, only taking part in a small raid into Missouri. By October 1861, the regiment, along with the rest of General Hardee's division had been sent to Columbus, Kentucky, to become the Army of Central Kentucky.United States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 7., Book, 1882; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154610/m1/858/?q=Army of Mississippi : accessed June 27, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas When Colonel Lyon was killed during a river crossing, Alexander T. Hawthorn assumed command. Gordon N. Peay of Company A was promoted to replace Hawthorn as lieutenant colonel. They experienced their first real combat while supporting Terry's Texas Rangers near Woodsonville, Kentucky. On March 29, 1862, the Army of Central Kentucky was merged into the Army of Mississippi. General Albert Sidney Johnston ordered the army to consolidate in northern Mississippi.

The regiment saw its first true combat during the Battle of Shiloh, where it performed extremely well. The 6th Arkansas was decisively engaged at Shiloh with the Confederate left wing, engaged against Sherman's Federal troops. The 6th Arkansas was able to re-arm itself with "Springfield rifles" (probably .58 cal. M1855 rifle muskets) from Federal weapons left on the field at Shiloh.

In early May 1862, Confederate forces underwent an army-wide reorganization due to the passage of the Conscription Act by the Confederate Congress in April 1862.Upton, Emory, Bvt. Maj. Gen., United States Army; "The Military Policy of the United States", Washington Governamet Printing Office 1912, p. 471, Congressional edition, Volume 6164, Google Books, Accessed November 4, 2011, https://books.google.com/books?id=2-tGAQAAIAAJ&dq=Confederate+conscription+law+reorganization+regiment&pg=PA471 All twelve-month regiments had to re-muster and enlist for two additional years or the duration of the war; a new election of officers was ordered; and men who were exempted from service by age or other reasons under the Conscription Act were allowed to take a discharge and go home. Officers who did not choose to stand for re-election were also offered a discharge. The reorganization was accomplished among all the Arkansas regiments in and around Corinth, Mississippi, following the Battle of Shiloh. During its reorganization, Colonel Hawthorn chose not to stand for re-election and Samuel G. Smith was elected to the colonelcy. Colonel Smith would later die as a prisoner in a Union hospital during the Atlanta campaign.Allardice, Bruce. "Re: Col Samuel G. Smith 6th Ark Infantry", Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board, Posted 27 November 2002, Accessed 5 June 2012, http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/arcwmb/arch_config.pl?read=2566

Sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee, following the evacuation by Confederate forces of Corinth, Mississippi, the 6th Arkansas became a part of the Army of Mississippi under Major General Braxton Bragg and participated in the Kentucky Campaign.

During the Battle of Perryville, the 7th Arkansas Infantry Regiment took devastating casualties, leaving it all but ineffective. The 6th Arkansas had also suffered heavy casualties in that same battle, so the 7th Arkansas' remaining soldiers were consolidated with the 6th Arkansas. The 6th and 7th Arkansas Infantry Regiments were combined on December 22, 1862, and remained consolidated for the remainder of the war. The rolls of each company were, however, continued as though no consolidation had ever been made. The following consolidations also occurred among the companies of the 6th Arkansas:

Companies A and F, 6th Arkansas were consolidated in May or June 1862. Companies D and H were merged on June 20, 1862. Companies B and E were consolidated December 22, 1862, and were known as Co D, 6th & 7th Infantry Regiment. Companies C and G were consolidated December 22, 1862, and were known as Co E, 6th & 7th Infantry Regiment.

From December 31, 1862, through January 2, 1863, the 6th and 7th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry Regiment was heavily engaged in the Battle of Murfreesboro, losing a total of 29 killed and 140 wounded.Civil War Soldiers and Sailor System, CONFEDERATE ARKANSAS TROOPS, 7th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry, accessed January 13, 2011, The unit fought in the Battle of Chickamauga and the Battles for Chattanooga. Colonel D. A. Gillespie was wounded at Chickamauga and died in a hospital on October 26, 1862. The combined regiment had 16 disabled at the Battle of Ringgold Gap, totaled 314 men and 265 arms in December 1863, and sustained 66 casualties in the Battle of Atlanta. The entire regiment was captured along with several other regiments during the Battle of Jonesboro, which was part of the Atlanta campaign, but the men were released several weeks later in a prisoner exchange. They joined the Army of Tennessee in time to participate in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. After the retreat from Tennessee, the regiment was moved to North Carolina where it took part in the final charge of the army during the Battle of Bentonville.

Battles The 6th - 7th Arkansas actively took part in the following battles, skirmishes and campaigns: