Col Dunnington's 3rd Brigade was what was otherwise organized as Col Dawson's Brigade at White Sulphur Springs consisting of Dawson's 19th Arkansas, Portlock's 24th Arkansas Infantry and Crawford's Battalion Arkansas Infantry.

The 24th Arkansas at the time of the Battle had been on detached duty at St. Charles Arkansas building gun emplacements for two 8 inch guns at that location. Hence the detachment of the 24th at Arkansas Post who had marched there from St. Charles. Col Dunnington (a naval officer) had been given the rank of Col of Infantry to command the 19th and 24th in the construction of these fortification because of their poor training.

Col. Dawson himself was sick at Pine Bluff/White Sulphur Springs along with a number of his men.