6/15 Newton to Colonel Albert Johnson, Trenton, Phillips County-Your dispatch by courier was received today.
The order assigning Maj. Polk to you was made upon the information that you wished it. As far as practicable, the preferences of officers raising troops will be consulted in such matters. Your action requiring the conscripts to rendezvous at Trenton is approved. Use your discretion in similar cases.
To expedite our operations against the enemy, an order has been made, dividing the country east of White River with three districts, a copy of which is enclosed. It’s believed taking the State records as the cases of the calculation, that each district contains persons within the ages of conscription sufficient to form a Regiment.
You are hereby authorized to retain command of Capt. Anderson’s Co as part of the Regiment you are raising.
It is quite probable the Federals will put a force at Helena - In that event, your opportunities for successfully attacking them will be very favorable. Do so, at all times, by day and night, when you possibly can - Gun boats will be useless in the night. Transports will afford a fire wand. There may possibly be an iron gun or two in Phillips - such pieces might be mounted and used to advantage, allow no threats of shelling or burning Helena, or doing any other injury to prevent you from striking the enemy whenever you can
7/17 Special Orders #36 Army of the South West-Capt. Rufus Anderson of Colonel Johnson’s regiment now east of White River will report to Colonel Johnson at this place without delay
7/19 Special Orders #38 Army of the South West-The Co’s commanded by Capt Ringo will be of Colonel Johnson’s Regiment and Ringo to report to Colonel Johnson-He is appointed Lt Colonel of Johnson's regiment
7/25 Newton to Lt Colonel Ringo cdg Johnson’s regiment- Hindman directs that if the accoutrements issued to you the day before yesterday, by Major Lockman, have not been issued to the men, and issue be suspended and the articles stopped in the hands of your QM, until further orders from here.
8/12 Newton to Lt G W White-You will move your Company by the nearest practicable route, to camp Crystal Hill, and report to Colonel A. Johnson or the cdg officer of his Regiment, for duty.
8/15 Special Orders #67 Army of the South West
A W Johnson is appointed Colonel of the Ark Regiment now commanded by him to take rank from 6/8.
8/16 Special Orders #68 Army of the South West
Lt Colonel Ringo’s resignation accepted [but see also 11/2]
9/20 Regiment reference at camps near Austin
9/26 Hdqrs. District of Ark S O #9-Ref to-Many of Johnson’s Ark Regiment of Infy detached on special duty
9/26 Reference to some jr officer resignations
9/26 Gabriel Fort appointed by Hindman as surgeon
10/4 Regiment reference at Des Arc
10/27 S O #24
II. Colonel A. W. Johnson, having tendered his resignation the same is hereby accepted & Colonel Johnson is permitted to report to Genl. J. C. Breckenridge, East of the Ms River-- all guards and pickets will pass Colonel Johnson accordingly.
11/2 on Van Buren & Clarksville Road-S O #29
I. Lt Colonel Daniel H. Ringo, of Johnson’s Regiment, Ark Vols, having tendered his resignation which is forwarded with the approval of the Maj Genl Cdg endorsed upon it, leave is granted Lt Colonel Ringo, to go east of the Ms River
11/2 Hindman accepts resignations of Colonel A W Johnson & Lt Colonel D W Ringo submitted at camp on Mulberry...not in good standing w/the other officers
11/3 Camp on Mulberry, S O #30
Upon the recommendation of the Company officers of Johnson’s regiment of Ark inf, the following persons and assigned to duty as the Field Officers of that Regiment, subject to confirmation by the War Dept:
A. T. Hawthorne, to be Colonel, in the place of Colonel Johnson, resigned.
Maj. C. Polk to be Lt Colonel in the place of Lt Colonel Ringo, resigned.
Lt. J. B. Clarke to be Major in the place of Maj. C. Polk, promoted to Lt Colonel
All to make rank from this date. The Regiment will hereafter be known as “Hawthorne’s Regiment of Ark inf.”
VI. Colonel A. T. Hawthorne is relieved of the command of “Hawthorne’s Bn,” Colonel Brooks Brigade, and will report here for duty and [command of] his Regiment.
11/3 Newton to Brooks, cdg unarmed brigade- I enclose a copy of the orders assigning Colonel Hawthorne to the command of the regiment lately commanded by Colonel A. W. Johnson and ordering him here.
Gen Hindman desires you to assign the senior Capt to the command of the Bn now commanded by Colonel Hawthorne, and move them up here when armed. You will notify the Captain commanding that the Bn will be consolidate with Buster’s Bn, and a regiment formed of the two, the field officers of which will be appointed hereafter.
11/4 date of commission for A. Hawthorne as Colonel-11/3 date of rank