I would like to gather as much information I can on the Confederate Women of the Arkansas River Valley region. I am considering it to be my topic for a dissertation for my graduate program at APU (American Public University). I have read the book Confederate Women of Arkansas (1907) of which has several stories of women in this region. What I am doing is verifying these stories with actual events of that time. I would like to know where I can find more primary sources about these women and their ordeals during the war. Can anyone suggest some resources available for me to research?

Current research: Johnson County
Howell's case:
Correspondences (Feb. 1865-Apr. 1865) from The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Vol. XLVIII (In Two Parts), Part II: Correspondence, Etc. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1896. pp. 79-80.

Is there a respond(s) from Colonel Waugh on these incidents of the Johnson County tortured done on these few women?

What about the other women that had similar treatment from these few men? Can stories of this experience be found?

Sketch of Mrs. Lutetia M. Howells, of Clarksville from United Confederate of Arkansas, Confederate Women of Arkansas in the Civil War: Memorial Reminiscences. Little Rock: H. G. Pugh Printing Company, 1907.

I am trying verified parts of this sketch, for example:

"Maj. Newsome (a Federal), told me at Spadra, that when mother's house was on fire, he counted fourteen others burning at the same time, and he knew that orders for the fires had been sent out from headquarters."

Can I find this orders to burn these homes? Were they acts of the local Union Army? or a part of the Guerrillas warfare?

"... 20th of February, 1864, ..."

Is this correct? Whereas the correspondences was of a different date/year.

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Can someone tell me all of the correct counties of which the Arkansas River Valley consist of?

Thanks for your time,
Matt Friend