Hi Judy. Yes, I recall working with you on the Confederate service of John W. Shoptaw. He enlisted in Co. D, Williamson's Battalion Arkansas Infantry, at Russellville, Arkansas, on February 13, 1862. On May 25, 1862, his company was assigned to the 1st (Stirman's) Battalion Arkansas Cavalry as Co. F. Pvt. Shoptaw died in hospital at Columbus, Mississippi, on October 15, 1862. The report of his death and an inventory of his effects (none) was received by the Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, Richmond, Virginia, on March 28, 1863. His date of death was erroneously recorded in the report as October 15, 1863 (actually 1862).

Williamson's battalion was not assigned a numerical designation, apparently because it was intended to recruit it to a full regiment. However, before this could take place, it was transferred to Mississippi with Van Dorn's Army of the West. Once there, it was broken up and its component companies were assigned to other units. As I stated, Shoptaw's company was assigned to Stirman's battalion. By the time of the first (and only) surviving muster roll of Co. F, 1st Arkansas Battalion, February 28, 1863, Pvt. Shoptaw was already dead and had been dropped from the rolls. His company was recruited primarily in Pope County.