The 27th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (1862–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. The unit served entirely in the Department of the Trans-Mississippi and surrendered at Marshall, Texas, at the war's end.

Organization 27th Infantry Regiment was organized at Yellville, Arkansas, in July 1862, composed of a number of companies of mounted volunteers, who were dismounted and reinforced with several companies of conscripts. James R. Shaler, a Missourian who had previously served in the Missouri State Guard, was appointed colonel. The field officers were Colonels James R. Shaler and Beal Gaither, and Lieutenant Colonels A. J. Magenis and James M. Riggs.United States. War Dept. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 41, In Four Parts. Part 4, Correspondence, Etc., Book, 1893; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth145061 : accessed February 14, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas. The unit was composed of companies from the following counties:

Company A – Commanded by Captain Frederick T. Wood, organized on May 18, 1862, at Yellville, Marion County. Company B – Commanded by Captain Newton A. Evans, organized February 15, 1862, at Carrollton, Arkansas, Carroll County. Company C – Commanded by Captain Jacob O. R. Ruble, organized February 15, 1862, at Bellefonte, Carroll County. Company D – Commanded by Captain Beal Gaither Jr, organized February 15, 1862, at Washington Barracks, Carroll County. Company E – Commanded by Captain W. B. Flippin, organized June 18, 1862, in Marion County. Company F – Commanded by Captain Waddy Thorpe Hunt, organized May 21, 1862, at Locust Grove, Searcy County. This unit contained many former members of the 45th Arkansas Militia Regiment. Company G – Commanded by Captain Robert C. Mathews, organized May 18, 1862, Mount Olive, Izard County. Company H – Commanded by Captain Thomas Morton, organized June 28, 1862, in Izard County. Company I – Commanded by Captain James M. Riggs, organized July 6, 1862, at Richwoods, Izard County. Company K – Commanded by Captain J. J. Coleman, organized June 28, 1862, at Yellville Marion County.

Connection to Brown's Arkansas Battery

On August 1, 1862, Major General Hindman ordered Brigadier General McBride to detail 120 men from the infantry regiments in his brigade to man a new battery under the command of Capt. L. W. Brown. It appears that each of the companies in the 27th Arkansas detailed men to help organize Brown's Arkansas Battery. Six each came from Companies "G" and "I"; another five were assigned from Company "F". Others appear to be from Companies "A", "B", "C", "E", "H" and "K". Several Missouri men from Company B, Matlock's 32nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, joined the battery. The transfer of men from the 26th Arkansas to Brown's Battery was made permanent "by order of Gen. Hindman" as of August 12, 1862. The battery served with a Missouri cavalry brigade at first under Colonel John Q. Burbridge and later under Colonel Joseph C. Porter.United States. War Dept.. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 22, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., Book, 1888; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154600/m1/209/?q=Brown's : accessed February 24, 2013), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas. The battery was apparently disbanded in April 1863. General Holmes issued Special Order No. 23, District of Arkansas, dated April 11, 1863, which appears to have ordered the transfer of 17 members of Brown's Battery who had originally been transferred from Shaler's 27th Arkansas Infantry Regiment to return to their unit. These men are counted as present on the regiment's muster rolls in for April/May 1863. Six other unit members had been discharged from the service on March 23, 1863.

Service

The new regiment was initially designated as the 1st Regiment, McBride's Brigade. Col Shaler soon proved to be unpopular with the men. Like all true Missouri Confederates, Shaler was obsessed with liberating his State from the Yankees. However, the regiment was organized for the defense of northern Ark, and Shaler's efforts to turn the regiment into a Missouri outfit resulted in dissension in the ranks.

Prairie Grove Campaign The 27th Arkansas was initially assigned to Colonel Robert G. Shaver's 2nd Brigade of Daniel M. Frost's 3rd Division of Major General Thomas C. Hindman's 1st Corps of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi The other regiments in the brigade were the 27th, 38th, and Adams' Arkansas Infantry Regiments. ON November 11, 1862, Col Shaler reported that his command was in no condition whatever to move against the enemy because his arms were composed of shot guns rifles and about 20 muskets. He stated that he had 312 effective men and 150 effective guns. The 27th did not accompany the brigade to Prairie Grove and was not engaged in the fighting because the regiment was without adequate arms. The regiment remained in the Fort Smith area serving as the Provost Martial until the Confederates retreated to Van Buren following the Battle. The regiment underwent a consolidation and reorganization following the Battle of Prairie Grove and was consolidated with the remnants of Adam's Arkansas Infantry Regiment. The regiment was reorganized as follows:

Company A – Commanded by Captain Frederick T. Wood. This company received several of the former members of Captain Capt. H. L. Smith's Company C of Adams's Arkansas Infantry Regiment, which was disbanded following the Battle of Prairie Grove,"Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records," digital images, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/271/224194302: accessed 29 January 2018), Twenty-Seventh Infantry, pg. 7, headed ", Co. A, 27th Ark Inf." entry for Unit Information; citing NARA microfilm publication Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas, M317, roll 0193. Company B (new) – Commanded by Captain T. A. Hartman. This company was organized on October 9, 1862 by the consolidation of Bryant's and Pollock's Companies. This company received many of the former members of Company F, Adams's Arkansas Infantry Regiment,"Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records," digital images, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/271/224194331: accessed 29 January 2018), Twenty-Seventh Infantry, pg. 12, headed ", Co. B, 27th Ark Inf." entry for Unit Information; citing NARA microfilm publication Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas, M317, roll 0193. Company C (new) – Commanded by Captain Francis Marion Gibson, organized at Lunenburg, Izard County. This Company received several of the former members of Captain Berry's Company G, Adams's Arkansas Infantry Regiment."Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records," digital images, Fold3 ( https://www.fold3.com/image/271/224194324: accessed 29 January 2018), Twenty-Seventh Infantry, pg. 11, headed ", Co. C, 27th Ark Inf." entry for Unit Information; citing NARA microfilm publication Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas, M317, roll 0193. Company D – Commanded by Captain Beal Gaither Jr,. This company received several of the former members of Company B, Adams's Arkansas Infantry Regiment."Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records," digital images, Fold3 ( https://www.fold3.com/image/271/224194295: accessed 29 January 2018), Twenty-Seventh Infantry, pg. 5, headed ", Co. D, 27th Ark Inf." entry for Unit Information; citing NARA microfilm publication Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas, M317, roll 0193. Company E – Commanded by Captain B.F. Hollowell. The old Company B was consolidated with this company in July 1862 (before Prairie Grove Campaign), and the company received several of the former members of Captain J. W. Bishop's Company E of Adams's Arkansas Infantry Regiment."Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records," digital images, Fold3 ( https://www.fold3.com/image/271/224194308: accessed 29 January 2018), Twenty-Seventh Infantry, pg. 8, headed ", Co. E, 27th Ark Inf." entry for Unit Information; citing NARA microfilm publication Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas, M317, roll 0193. Company F – Commanded by Captain Waddy Thorpe Hunt, This company received several former members of Company A, Adams's Arkansas Infantry Regiment."Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records," digital images, Fold3 ( https://www.fold3.com/image/271/224194299: accessed 29 January 2018), Twenty-Seventh Infantry, pg. 6, headed ", Co. F, 27th Ark Inf." entry for Unit Information; citing NARA microfilm publication Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas, M317, roll 0193. Company G – Commanded by Captain Robert C. Mathews. This company received several of the former members of Captain Samuel Phillips Company of Adams's Arkansas Infantry Regiment."Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records," digital images, Fold3 ( https://www.fold3.com/image/271/224194282: accessed 29 January 2018), Twenty-Seventh Infantry, pg. 2, headed ", Co. G, 27th Ark Inf." entry for Unit Information; citing NARA microfilm publication Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas, M317, roll 0193. Company H – Commanded by Captain Thomas Morton, This company received several of the former members of Capt. Hiram H. Combs ' Company of Adams's Arkansas Infantry Regiment."Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records," digital images, Fold3 ( https://www.fold3.com/image/271/224194278: accessed 29 January 2018), Twenty-Seventh Infantry, pg. 1, headed ", Co. H, 27th Ark Inf." entry for Unit Information; citing NARA microfilm publication Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas, M317, roll 0193. Company I – Commanded by Captain James M. Riggs, This company received several of the former members of Captain John Parks Company of Adams's Arkansas Infantry Regiment."Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records," digital images, Fold3 ( https://www.fold3.com/image/271/224194278: accessed 29 January 2018), Twenty-Seventh Infantry, pg. 1, headed ", Co. I, 27th Ark Inf." entry for Unit Information; citing NARA microfilm publication Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas, M317, roll 0193. Company K – Commanded by Captain Van B. Tate. This company received several of the former members of Adams's Arkansas Infantry Regiment, but the company they came from was not identified."Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records," digital images, Fold3 ( https://www.fold3.com/image/271/224194289: accessed 29 January 2018), Twenty-Seventh Infantry, pg. 4, headed ", Co. K, 27th Ark Inf." entry for Unit Information; citing NARA microfilm publication Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas, M317, roll 0193.

Summer 1863