"If anyone has additional information, please post it! This regiment needs much, much more research, and I’ve tapped out all the resources I can think of."
Bryan,
Here is a collection of references to Corley, Chrisman, Dobbins, etc. from the Official Records and my notes taken from The Alexander Papers. Hopefully, some of this will be useful in compiling information on Dobbins' regiment.
You will have to excuse my paraphrasing, but the extracted information does give an indication of times and places for those mentioned.
OR Vol 13
Abstract from Return of the Dept of Ind Territory, commanded by Gen Albert Pike, for May, 1862.
................................................
Captain Corley's Arkansas cavalry
August 2nd, 1862-Special Orders #54 Army of the South West
VIII. BGen Roan is assigned to the command of the troops at Camp White Sulphur and will establish his headquarters there.
IX. the following arrangement of the troops at Camp White Sulphur is announced
..................................
Unattached=Chrisman Cavalry bn
XI. Capt Wheat, Ralston, Portis, James, Young, Capt Davis [Jefferson county] Capt Oneill, and Capt Cooper are hereby directed to move at once to Arkansas Post and are under General Roan's command
General Roan will establish a cavalry camp of instruction at or near Arkansas Post and will immediately organize into a battalion the several compaies named in preceding paragraph. This battalion will consist of 5 companies each of 76 well mounted and effective men exclusive of commissioned officers. Those badly mounted or not effective will be dismounted and put in infantry companies of Roan’s command
Major F M Chrisman is assigned to the command of the battalion
August 5, 1862-Special Orders #57, Army of the South West
revoking S O #54 assigning Chrisman to command of battalion
Chrisman assigned to command the squadron to be composed of the Arkansas companies of Rutherford and Anderson
August 7th, 1862 Trans Miss District,General Orders # 44
Col A. S. Dobbin announced as volunteer ADC on Hindman staff
Little Rock, August 14th, 1862
To Colonel R. G. Shaver Pine Bluff
Have you heard anything of the cavalry companies? What were ordered to report to General Parsons? Which ones? Where are they. Where is Major Chrisman? Answer
August 15, 1862-reference to Captain Rutherford, commanding independent company
also refers to Major Chrisman squadron [unable to decipher]
September 4th, 1862-
reference toMajor Chrisman
enclosing letters of Capt Alf Johnson and Capt Anderson
September 9th, 1862
To: Major Chrisman
reference to a letter regarding change in his squadron
September 17, 1862 Official Records
Abstract from Return of Troops in the District of Arkansas
Anderson's unattached companyon duty as Part Rgrs East of White River-about 60 men
Chrisman's squadron, rdered to Pine Bluff-about 160 men
September 23rd, 1862
To: Capt Corley Dardanelle
An order is sent placing your company in Chrisman battalion. You will remain there however till ordered otherwise
Little Rock, September 25th, 1862
Major F. M. Chrisman Comdg Post, Pine Bluff
Captain Corley’s Company is at Davidsonville where it will be allowed to remain a week or two to recruit. Denson’s Company has been detached from your battalion which will now consist of only three (3) companies, Rutherford, Anderson, and Corley’s.
By order General Hindman
OR Vol 13 SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT, Numbers 39.
Little Rock, Ark., September 28, 1862.
11th. The following arrangement of troops not included in the First Army Corps, Army of the West, is announced, viz:
Cavalry Brigade- Col Parsons
Parsons' regiment Tex Cav
Carter's regiment Tex Cav
Chrisman Ark cavalry battalion
Pratt's Tex Battery
October 4th, 1862
To: Col Parsons .Cotton Plant
Has Maj Chrisman battalion reported to you yet?
October 7th, 1862
To: Capt Corley
Go to Cotton Plant and report to Major Chrisman
October 8th, 1862
To:Maj Chrisman Des Arc
From: General Hindman
The order forming Andersons, Rutherfords, Corley and McGehee companies into a battalion under your command has not been revoked. Arrest any who do not comply with your orders.
October 31st, 1862
reference to Dobbins assigned as acting chief of ordnance
OR Volume 22
December 12th, 1862
Organization of the Army of the Trans-Miss Dept
4th Brigade HAWES
12th Texas Cavalry
19th Texas Cavalry Burford
21st Texas Cavalry Carter
Chrisman’s (Arkansas) battalion.
February 20, 1863
Hindman to Holmes
Yesterday I mentioned to you that I had received a private letter from Colonel Dobbins that he had actually raised the number of companies to make a regiment with Chrisman's batttalion as a part.
But having no written authority, he could effect nothing until his companies should be formally mustered and organized.
I promised to send this part of his letter to Department Headquarters, but have mislaid it.
If Dobbins' companies could be mustered and organized as an infantry battalion-and that battalion immediately formed with Chrisman's into a regiment with Dobbins as Colonel, Chrisman as Lt Colonel, and Corley as Major, it would be valuable, especially if headquartered at or near Madison with four light pieces now here.