this battery actually formed earlier than previously thought.

The battery was recruited and organized in Arkadelphia, Arkansas by Captain Franklin Roberts, a local watch maker. On December 29, 1860, militia commissions were issued to the officers of a "Volunteer Light Artillery Company" in the 28th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia. Arkansas had yet to seceed from the Union so this new organizations was formed under the Arkansas Militia Law which authorized each county for form four volunteer companies, in additional to it's infantry regiment. The origional battery officers were: (Arkansas Military Department Records, Spanish American War, List of Commissioned Officers of the Militia 1827–1862, Arkansas History Commission, Microfilm Roll 38-8, Page 504)

*Captain Franklin Roberts
*1st Lieutenant James K. Jones
*2nd Lieutenant Charles Blackhead
*3rd Lieutenant Richard T. Tisdale

On March 29, 1861, Colonel William M. Bruce, commander of the 28th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia, wrote to Arkansas Governor Henry Rector to report the election of his regiment and to request a fife and drum set for the Clark County Artillery under Captain Frank Roberts. (150 Years Ago Today, William M. Bruce, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to Governor Henry M. Rector, Kie Oldham papers, Arkansas History Commission, Accessed 16 August 2013, http://www.ark-ives.com/doc-a-day/?date=3/29/2011)