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The Regiment was organized at Camp Shavers, near Pine Bluff as Johnson's Cavalry Battalion on or about August 10, 1862 by consolidating twelve independent cavalry companies under the command of Major A.N. Johnson, pending the arrival if Colonel Fagan, the appointed Commander. Company commanders were Captains Wheat, Raulston, Porter, Young, Davis (from Jefferson county), O'neill, George A. Davis, Reefis, Todd, Brown, and Hanson. These companies were originally ordered to Pine Bluff in order to form a regiment to be commanded by Colonel Francis M. Christman, but these orders were rescinded by General Hindman, and the regiment was formed under Major Johnson, and later by Colonel Fagan upon his arrival at Camp Shavers. The first commander was Colonel Fagan, field officers were Lt. Col. (later Col) James C. Monroe, Major A.H. Johnson, later Major M.D. Davis, Major (later Lt. Col) James M, O'Neal, and Major (later Lt. Col.) A.V. Reiff. Initially assigned to General M.M. Parsons' brigade near Pine Bluff, then to Caroll's Brigade, Marmaduke's Cavalry Division of Hindman's 1st Corps of the Trans-Mississippi in November, 1862. The regiment fought battles of Cane Hill on November 28, and at Prairie Grove on December 7, 1862. Accompanied and fought with Marmaduke's expedition into Missouri during December 31, 1862 - January 25, 1863. Reassigned to Cabell's Brigade in April 1863, where it fought at the battle of Fayetteville on April 18th. It fought at the battle of the Devil's backbone on September 1, 1863, and at Pine Bluff on October 25, 1863. Participated in the confederate counterattacks against the federal General Frederick Steele's Camden Expedition in March - May, 1864, fighting at the battle of Poison Springs and Mark's Mill. The 13th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion was temporarily attached to Monroe's 1st Regiment during 1864. The 1st Arkansas also participated in Price's Missouri Raid during September and October of 1864, thereafter served in Southwestern Arkansas for the remainder of the War. The Regiment surrendered with General Kirby Smith on May 26, 1865. |
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