BRYAN ~ YIPPEE, and HOORAY, you came through with info for me. And am I every thankful to have your expert advice on Rufus Steven FORD and it being possible this definitely is the same man in both regiments. I figured it had to be him serving in the 2nd AR. Mounted Rifles, then after being sick West of the Mississipi, (on one muster sheet, it has him wounded at Sugar Creek). He then hooks up with Gordon's/Thomson's 4th AR. Cavalry. He is injured on 01, Sept. and rides back to NW AR. where he dies of a blood infection in his foot on 18, Sept. according to this recent discovery of an old Bible entry in the possession of his wife's families' descendants.
Of significance here also is Enoch N. Ford, Rufus's brother, and listed also in the 4th AR. Cavalry is shown as being AWOL after Sept. 10, 1863, so he may have helped Rufus get back to NW AR. and family, or simply deserted then.
There were 7 FORD brothers and 6 of these served in the AR. Confederacy with the oldest, William T. wounded in action at Murfreesboro, TN. and two others died. The only Ford not serving left home in 1851 from Ft. Smith AR. and headed for Oregon where he fought in the Indian Wars under Generals Kirby and Nesbitt. And the kicker here is his two oldest children are named SHERMAN and SHERIDAN so this kind of tells me what side he was on during the Civil War. No wonder he never came back to NW AR. until a few years before his death; moving back to live with a niece and die there, not divorced, but seperated from his wife and leaving his grown children in Oregon. He's buried in AR. and his wife is buried in Oregon.
Thanks again Bryan! As always,I appreciate all you and others on the site do for us researchers! Now if only I can locate my James G. Ford, a 15th (NW) AR. soldier, I'll be a happy camper, at least satisfied I have enough on my FORD men.
Glynda Ford Ellman