From The Alexander Papers:
8/31/62 Camp near Fayetteville -Inspection report of Col. Carroll’s & Brig. Genl. Raines command
-send herewith the following report of an inspection of Co. C. A. Carroll’s and Brig. Genl. Rains'+ Brigade. The report of the two (2) regiments of Carroll’s Brigade includes only the men foremost on parade. That of Brig. Genl. Rains includes all men present and present on detached service with this state.
Col. W. H. Brook’s regiment
Capt. Pettigrew 2 Lieut. 8 Non-Com. Officers 93 Privates
“ Gunter 2 “ 8 “ “ “ 79 “
“ Earle 2 “ 8 “ “ “ 78 “
“ Smithson 3 “ 8 “ “ “ 54 “
“ Duncan 2 “ 8 “ “ “ 52 “
“ Wright 3 “ 7 “ “ “ 69 “
“ Perkins 3 “ 8 “ “ “ 93 “
“ Woolsey 3 “ 8 “ “ “ 49 “
“ Wallace 3 “ 5 “ “ “ 53 “
“ Edmonson 3 “ 8 “ “ “ 92 “
On Guard 1 “ 5 “ “ “ 64 “
Total 25 79 775
ARMS
Capt. Pettigrew 89 Serviceable 8 Unserviceable
“ Gunter 41 “ 8 “
“ Earle 65 “ 8 “
“ Smithson 11 “ 5 “
“ Duncan 9 “ 3 “
“ Wright 38 “ 15 “
“ Perkins 15 “ 3 “
“ Woolsey 9 “ 0 “
“ Wallace 0 “ 0 “
“ Edmonson 80 “ 16 “
On Guard 67 “ 0 “
Total 425 62
Head Quarters 2nd Brigade
Camp on Blacks Spring
September 10, 1862
General,
In compliance with General Order No. 2, I enclose herewith those of the original morning reports sent to me by the different commands.
In regard to the number and condition of arms, I have the honor to report as follows:
1886 effective serviceable guns
440 unserviceable arms.
The men are not well supplied with cartridge boxes, the majority being entirely without them. I enclose a specific report of the different kinds of arms on hand also a report of the kind and quantity of ammunition on hand. The few serviceable arms in the 3rd Regiment have been turned over to the 2nd Regiment. The 3rd Regiment of Infantry is left at Elm Springs to organize and be mustered into service as they are non-effective for the present.
The reports sent by the different commands are not of the latest date, owing to the distance. The cavalry commands are stationed from these Head Qtr.
An issue of ammunition has been received from Fort Smith, the stores are enroute from
Van Buren.
I am respectfully,
Maj. Genl. T. C. Hindman Your Obdt. Servant
Comd’g Army in the Field Charles A. Carroll
Col. Comd’g 2nd Brigade
Arms and Ammunition
Coopers Brigade - No Report
Carroll’s Brigade -
Serviceable
Percussion Muskets 829
Mississippi Rifles 28
Flint Lock Muskets 5
Flint Lock Rifles 41
Sharps Rifles 20
Hall’s Rifles 8
Common & bored Rifles 40
D. B. Shotguns 900
Single Barrel Shotguns 15
Un- Serviceable
D. B. Shot Guns 50
Common Rifles 351
Muskets 38
Halls Carbines 1
Total 440
Ammunition
Small Arms
B & B Cartridges 9,005
Buckshot 12,695
Musket Cartridges 1,750
Miss. Rifles 2,500
Minnie Rifles 3,800
29,760
Musket Caps 23,000
G. D. Caps 6,000
29,000
Head Quarters & etc.
Enroute for Huntsville, Oct. 19, 1862 3 p.m.
Captain:
General Hindman directs that you forward at once to Col. Brooks (commanding the unarmed troops) all arms, not properly belonging to any particular command, with the accoutrements and one hundred rounds of ammunition for the same. This to include the arms lately arrived from Little Rock.
Colonel Brooks has been ordered to establish his camp on the “Mulberry” on the Ozark road and will advise the quartermaster at Fort Smith as to his exact whereabouts.
You will call on the quartermaster for the requisite transportation, and he is hereby directed to impress it, if it cannot be otherwise obtained. It is of the first importance, that the arms, accoutrements and ammunition be sent forward to Brooks, with all possible haste and nothing should be allowed to delay it.
Respectfully,
R. C. Newton
Capt. Fred Lear A. A. Genl.
Ord. Officer, Fort Smith, Arks.
Head Quarters & etc.
Fayetteville, Arks., Oct. 19, 1862
Captain:
You will send to Capt. Brooks camp and turn over to Col. Brooks all the guns of every kind now at this place, those needing repairs as well as others. You will also move the guns smith tools, materials & etc., in the shop at the place and turn them over to Col. Brooks, and send the workmen likewise to him. You will call on Col. Brooks for such wagons as he can spare for the purpose of transporting these articles to his camp.
By command of
Maj. Genl. Hindman
Capt. J. R. Palmer R. C. Newton
Prov. Marshal A. A. Genl.
Fayetteville, Arks.
10/21/62 Richmond-President to Holmes-Col Tappan has given me very gratifying information as to your progress in collecting and organizing troops. Arms have been sent and will, I hope, soon reach you in sufficient number to equip both the troops you have and those you may receive from Mo. The country rifles, if bored out to uniform caliber, will be as good as any other weapon for sharpshooters, perhaps better, as they are of a class of marksmen who, being accustomed to weapons with a crooked stock and light trigger, do not, without much practice, attain to accuracy with the army weapon. By giving them the ball adapted to long range they will find that their own rifles will shoot as far as any others.
10/22/62 from Camp War Eagle, Hindman to ordnance officer at Fort Smith-Col Brooks’ command of unarmed men has been ordered to Spadra Creek near Clarksville and needs armaments- send those heretofore ordered to him at this new location.
Head Quarters & etc.
Camp War Eagle, Madison Co., Oct. 22, 1862
Captain:
Colonel Carroll’s requisition for ammunition was sent you by courier today. His command has only fifteen rounds, and a battle is imminent. General Hindman desires therefore, whether Col. Carroll’s requisition reaches you or not - to forward here at once one hundred rounds of mixed ammunition for five thousand men...
Respectfully,
R. C. Newton
Capt. F. Lear A. A. Genl.
Ord. Officer, Fort Smith, Ark.
10/25/62 Hindman to Col Brooks-when the arms and ammunition arrives, arm your regt and move it to this command and leave Col Adams in command of remaining unarmed men and instruct him that any arms thereafter received are to go to the until a whole detachment from some one of them is armed when it will be forwarded to join its proper Regt and so on until all the Missourians are armed and sent forward, when he will arm his own regt and send it forward, leaving Major Hawthorne with similar instructions.
Head Quarters & etc.
Camp War Eagle, Madison Co., Oct. 25, 1862
Colonel:
I have in camp near Clarksville, about four thousand unarmed men. I need their services to assist in expelling the enemy who lay waste the northern part of this state and the Indian country. I urge upon you therefore to forward the arms, accoutrements and ammunition to them as fast as possible. As soon as you get fifty guns fit for use, send them, and so continue until my unarmed men have something to fight with. Direct all stores intended for them, to Col. W. H. Brooks, commanding unarmed men, Camp at Churchill’s old winter quarters on Spadra Creek, near Clarksville, Arks. Forward if possible, the necessary accoutrements with each gun, and also one hundred rounds of ammunition. This matter is of the highest importance and should not be delayed. I hope you will do as I request, with out orders from any other service.
Respectfully,
R. C. Newton
Col. Jno. W. Dunnington } A. A. Genl.
Chief Ord. Dept., Little Rock }
10/26/62 Holmes to Gen Cooper [rec’d 11/14]...
... I enclose a list* of Bgdes and divisions, which make a very respectable show on paper, but with the exception of McCulloch's division and McRae's Bgde, which are partially drilled, they are a crude mass of undisciplined material 7,000 of whom are without arms of any kind, and a large part of the remainder have only the shot-guns and rifles of the country. You will readily see that it is only the moral force of numbers, whose condition is carefully concealed, that has kept the enemy in check. This state of affairs I hope will soon be changed, as I expect soon to receive arms for my unarmed men and offices able to instruct and discipline them
10/26 Hindman to Col Brooks Cdg Unarmed Bgde-you will have already received the order regulating the armament of yours and the other Regt in your camp give the same instruction to Col Adams when you leave him in charge of the camp here is the route you should take since we are moving forward
Head Quarters District of Arkansas
Camp War Eagle & etc., Oct. 30, 1862
Colonel:
General Hindman directs that you proceed to Clarksville, taking with you the arms and accoutrements which came from Fort Smith and now in the train below here; and there supply the troops of Col. Brook’s unarmed brigade as herein directed. There are seven hundred muskets on the way from Little Rock to Clarksville. You will take charge of them, and first arm with them, Col. Brooks Arks. regiment, complete, if there shall be enough of them to supply that regiment; if not, you will arm, with them, eight companies of that regiment, and arm the two flank companies with Enfield rifles, of the lot received from Fort Smith. You will supply Col. Brook’s regiment complete with necessary accoutrements, if you have them. Having this disposed of Brook’s regiment you will arm the men now at Col. Brook’s camp, belonging to the Missouri regiments of Shoup’s Division - supplying each detachment entire, and will furnish them, also, with accoutrements if possible. You will then in like manner arm and equip Adams’ regiment, Arkansas infantry, and then Hawthorne’s Arkansas battalion, giving the flank companies of each, Enfield rifles, if there be enough for the purpose. The other unarmed men at that camp will then be armed and equipped and sent their respective commands, as fast as possible.
Colonel Brooks has a number of rifles and shot-guns which are unfit for use. You will tke them in charge and have them repaired in the best manner practicable; impressing tools, material and labor, if necessary.
You will also take charge of all the ammunition in the Fort Smith trains. Of the Enfield ammunition you will allow Shoup’s Division 34,000 rounds, if there be as many and carry the balance of the Enfield ammunition to Clarksville with you to be issued to Brook’s command. The remaining ammunition in the Fort Smith trains (including the 34,000 Enfield cartridges) you will cause to be turned over to the Ordnance officer of Shoup’s Division, to be disposed of as the Maj. Genl. Commanding may hereafter direct.
You will carry with you all of the wagons of the Fort Smith train, and upon your arrival at Clarksville will turn them over to Capt. Claiborne, A. C. S. to be used in hauling subsistence. The ordnance officer of Shoup’s Division will make the necessary arrangements at once for transferring from the wagons of the Fort Smith train, the ammunition what is to be turned over to him. If, when you reach Clarksville, the arms have not arrived from Little Rock, you will telegraph to the latter place, and make enquiry about them.
Respectfully,
R. C. Newton
Col. A. S. Dobbin, A. A. Genl.
Asst. Chief of Ord. & etc.
11/1/62 Holmes to Hindman, cdg 1st Corps-... I will probably send you 2,500 more arms in two days, as I am told that number is near here. It may be I will send 3,000 to complete the arming of your unarmed men...
Head Quarters District of Arkansas
Camp on Mulberry & etc., Nov 2, 1862
Colonel:
General Hindman has today received the following dispatch:
“Little Rock, Nov 1, 1862
“Maj. Genl. Hindman,
I shipped you on the 29th 970 guns & 80 rounds to each gun. I will send you tomorrow another 2500 guns with 50 rounds to each gun. In a week the General will send you 2,000 more guns. Maj. Geo. A. Alexander is announced as Chief of Ordnance. He has promised me to send you every gun he can.
Sgnd. J. M. Dunnington
Col. Comd’g river defenses.
This in a great degree, will proved arms for the men of this command, so that there is no need of any pro rata distribution.
General Hindman directs therefore that you arm the troops under Col. Brooks as soon as possible, and in the following order and manner:
I. Col. Brook’s regiment to be armed with muskets if practicable, except the right flank company, which you will arm with Enfield rifle.
2nd : The Missouri Troops under Col. Brooks, to be armed with muskets, if practicable, except one company of Jackman’s and one company of Hunter’s regiments, which you will arm with Enfield rifles, if on hand.
3rd: Col. Adams regiment, to be armed with muskets, if practicable, except the right flank company which you will arm with, Enfield rifles, if on hand.
If the Enfield rifles shall be exhausted, before issuing as many as above indicated, you will substitute the next best arm therefore, and proceed in the same manner if the muskets shall be exhausted, being very careful, however, to issue to all the men of each separate company, arms of the same description, as far as this can possibly be done. Be equally careful to issue the proper accoutrements with each gun, and do not, in any case, issue to or for any man not actually present for duty.
At the same time, issue to each command 100 rounds of ammunition for each gun, but instruct the officers receiving the same that not a single cartridge is to be issued to the men without special orders from these Head Quarters.
If there are not sufficient accoutrements of the proper kind, you will issue those on hand to the command, in the same order as prescribed for the issuance of arms.
Captain R. S. Chew is sent to assist in this duty, and will be under you orders. Maj. J. B. Lockman, Chief of Ordnance is in Little Rock. He will probably come up with a portion of the arms. A telegraphic dispatch to him is enclosed, which you will please send from the Clarksville office. You will take receipts in Maj. Lockman’s name for all articles you may issue.
Report progress daily, after a telegraph office is opened here. Report by courier the whole amount of ordnance stores on hand.
Respectfully,
R. C. Newton
Col. A. S. Dobbin A. A. Genl.
Act. Chief of Ordnance,
Clarksville, Arks.
_
___________________________
LITTLE ROCK, ARK., November 14, 1862.
General T. C. HINDMAN, Commanding Army of the Northwest:
I will send you up in a few days, or as soon as they arrive, 1,500 arms, making in all sent 5,500. This will arm all your unarmed men....HOLMES
OR Vol 13 HEADQUARTERS TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT, Little Rock, Ark., November 15, 1862
(Received December 15, 1862)
Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR: Your letter by Colonel Tappan has just been received.........Of the 25,000 arms sent to this department you will see by the accompanying return that 10,428 stand have been received. I still have at least 5,000 men without arms of any kind…