On January 11, 1861, James P. King was elected 1st Lt. of the Crawford County “Frontier Guards”. In June 1861, the company became company G of Gratiot’s 3rd (2nd) Arkansas Infantry, State Troops, under Gen. N.B. Pearce. (The regiment was authorized as the 2nd Regt but changed by Gen. Pearce to the 3rd Regt. when they arrived at Camp Walker.) At the Battle of Wilson’s Creek (aka Oak Hill), Aug. 10, 1861, the captain of Co. G, Capt. H.T. Brown, was killed in the battle. When the regiment was disbanded on or about Aug. 31, 1861, King was shown as captain.

I find no record of him between the disbanding of Pearce’s State Troops and June 1862. If he did serve during this time, it was likely in Col. Frank A. Rector’s 17th Arkansas Infantry but he is not shown in the records of that regiment. After the battle of Pea Ridge (aka Leetown and/or Elkhorn), the 17th was scattered. Part of the regiment moved east of the Mississippi and retained its numeric designation.

The remnants of the 17th which did not cross the Mississippi, including Col. Rector, became part of the 35th (aka 22nd) Arkansas Infantry with Rector as colonel. This regiment was also called 1st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry, Northwest Division, Trans-Mississippi District. James P. King became captain of co. G. when the regiment was organized in June 1862. On July 11, 1862 he was appointed major of the regiment. On Sept. 14, 1862, he became colonel. He was succeeded by Henry J. McCord on Dec. 2, 1863.

The below is exactly as it appears in the typed transcriptions. These are shared through the courtesy of Mr. Robert King, great-great grandson of James Pleasant King.

Ken

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Copy of a letter written to Rachel King, wife of Rev. John F. King, Cumberland Presbyterian Minister, War Eagle, Washington and Carroll Townships, by her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Jenny King, wife of Col. James P. King, Fagans’ Brigade, Price’s Div. Confederate Army. Rachel King was my Great Grandmother. Mr. Saunders was my Grandfather. (Remember this is Mary E. Allen talking.)

Pleasant Hill, Ark.
July 20, 1862

Dear Mother,
We received letters from both Mr. Sanders [Sanders, Patrick Henry, Capt.] and Mr. King [Col. James P. King] some weeks since but neglected answering them. We heard the regiment to which Mr. Sanders belongs while at Little Rock, but nothing directly from him. There company made came in Van Buren about a month or six weeks ago of which Mr. King was elected Capt. Since that time he has been at home very little. It is now two weeks since he was at home. I heard a few days since that he had been appointed Major of the regiment and that the regiment had been ordered to Evansville but have not heard for certain whether it has or not. When he wrote to me last which has been a week since, he wrote he would be home in a few days if they were not ordered away, if so he would not be home for four or five weeks. You sent me word not to let him go. I would not if there was any way to get out of it, for I believe he hates to go and leave me as bad as I hate to have him go (if possible). We have Northern papers giving accounts of the late Richmond Battle of which I suppose you have heard. They estimate their loses at 88,000. They also state that peace is strongly talked of as England and France was going to interfear. I do hope peace will be made soon. I will close for this evening hoping Mr. King will be home this evening or that I may get a letter from him tomorrow. I will tell you the news if there is any in a few days.

July 17, 1862

As you see it has been a week since I wrote the first part of this letter. Mr. King came home last Monday and went back Wednesday and I could not leave him long enough to finish it while he was hear. He was not very well when at home. He had a very bad cold. We have some news but do not know if it is true or not, it is said we have retaken Fort Pillow and that they made an attack on Vicksburg with their gun boats and we whipped them and sunk seven of their gun boats. Mr. King said I must not leave off writing to you till I had told you that by the time you get this letter that we expect a stranger at our house (a little King) if we have no bad luck. I shall look for Mr. King home in a few days since he has been appointed Major of the regiment they do not let him off to come home as often as they did. We do not have any idea when the regiment will have to leave Ft. Smith. I hope not at all for I hope peace will be made and there will be no use for them. The Federals come to Fayetteville when they get ready and leave when they get ready. They have been there four or five times the last five weeks. We would be glad to have you come and see us. I do not think you ought to treat your daughters so much better than your son, but think you should divide time with them. Give our love to all.

Your affectionate daughter,
Jennie King

Don’t let anyone see this letter. Write soon.

Note: The envelope shows this letter was sent from Pleasant Hill, Ark., for 10 cents postage to Mrs. Rachel King, Weatherford, Parker Co., TX, in care of William H. Berry, husband of daughter Sarah A. King. Other daughter mentioned was my Grandmother Eliza Jane King Saunders, wife of Patrick Henry Saunders, Capt. Parker’s TX Cav. (This is also a note of Mary E. Allen.)

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September 20, 1862

We have the prettiest and sweetest little baby you ever saw, a girl we call her Mary Caroline. She was born on the 17 of August. Mr. King had not been home for four weeks before and got here just about two hours before she was born. We call her Mary for Ma and Caroline for Mrs. Scott of Van Buren who has been very good friend to both Mr. King and myself. Tell Eliza she is very much mistaken about Mr. King as he petted Carrie more while he was at home than ever I did. If she cried of a night he would cuddle her and walk her about until she got quiet. Capt. Pennywit was here while I was sick and he had to take her in to see him. Mrs. Scott says Mr. King thinks nobody ever had a baby but him and Pa says he is the greatest baby nurse he ever seen. I think Carrie looks very much like you we all think she looks like you. Mr. King have your daguerotype, he says it is not very good one of you but it is good enough for us to see she looks very much like you. Carrie laughs so you can hear her all over the house. Don’t let anybody read this. Give my love to Angeline and Eliza and tell them to write to me.

Jennie

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Copy of letter from Col. James P. King to his mother, Rachel King.

Little Rock
April 27, 1864 [This apparently should be 1863. His father-in-law, Emzy Wilson, died on April 6, 1863 per his headstone. Their first child, Carrie, would have been 8 months old. Their second child, James Jr., was born April 24, 1864. - KWM]

Dear Mother,
After a long silence I again write you a few lines. Jennie has wrote you several times since you last and things are not going on in this country as well as we could with. The fight at Prairie Grove not withstanding. We whipped it proved to be a very disastrous one to us. My loss in the fight was a very heavy one. I lost one hundred and thirty two men, killed and wounded out of less than five hundred men. I still have a fine Regt. and am ready for another fight. We have a very fine army here and will move in a few days but where to I can’t tell. Jennie and the baby are here but will start up the river in the morning. Mr. Wilson had to leave home when the Federals came to Van Buren and the Jay Hawkers got nearly all the household goods we had. One of the Negros went to the Feds and the rest are at Gully Rock about fifty miles above here. Mr. Wilson died since leaving here and has left Jennie and Mrs. Wilson (Jennie’s parents) without anyone to take care of them. We have lost considerable property but still have enough for a good living if this accursed war was over. I don’t know whether I will ever get back home or not but I hope I will if for nothing else but to get satisfaction out of a few persons living in that neighborhood. I hope this war will soon be over so that we may go home and live in peace and quiet. I then intend to have you come and live with us. I have enough for us all if I can keep it. And wish you could see Carrie. She is very pretty and very smart. She has five little teeth and can almost walk. She can say Pa tolerably plain. I think she is one of the sweetest babes in the world. Tom left here a few days ago to join his command. They are going to Missouri on River. I don’t know whether they will get there or not but I hope they will. Jennie joins me in sending our very best love to you all. Please write often. Direct your letters to Col. J.P. King, Fagan's Brigade, Prices’ Division.

Your affectionate son until death
J.P. King

EDITOR’S NOTE: Our thanks to Mary E. Allen, 2436 S. Graham, Apt. 12, Seattle, WA 98108