Damon,
Regarding your questions about Stirman's Battalion:
Do you belive that Stirman's Battalion listed in these orders is the remnant of the 1st Arkansas Cav Battalion?
Yes, I do. As others have noted, they do not appear to have been in the other post Vicksburg consolidations in Arkansas. His letters seem to infer a separate mounted organization
Ras Stirman letters---
http://www.washcohistoricalsociety.org/product/in-fine-spirits-the-civil-war-letters-of-raz-stirman/
In Fine Spirits: The Civil War Letters of Raz Stirman
http://cdm15728.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/biblio/id/12459/rec/2
In fine spirits : the Civil War letters of Ras Stirman with historical comments / by Pat Carr.
Butler Center for Arkansas Studies. Central Arkansas Library System.
8/7/63 Ft Smith-arrived here yesterday -Ft Smith Ark August 7 1863 My beloved Sister We arrived at this place yesterday. We are stopping at Col Rutherfords (Farnie Father) near this place. Uncle Jeff is improrius. I am waiting for Cousin John as Soon as he gets here I shall start for Little Rock I expect him to day. We have cheering news from Little Rock Charley Scott wrote Mr. Bostick that Gen [Sterling] Price told him that a man who was in his imployment told him that he saw and read papers stating that France & Spain had recognized the Confederate Government, he also Stated that Johnson had captured Six hundred wagons from [Ulysses] Grant and driven him across Big Black. That Gen [Robert] Lee after bringing his prisoners and captured suplies into Virginia had crossed back into Pensylvania
As soon as Cousin John gets here he and Uncle Jeff will start for Hot Springs. I am looking for Bondy back from Haity's Hd Qrs Division in Hopes he will come as I visit his Company. This is all I have worth knowing. Write to me at the Rock in Care of Col Brooks
http://cdm.sos.mo.gov/cdm/search/collection/mack/searchterm/stirman/order/nosort
1863-08-10
TranscriptionOzark Ark August 10th 1863 My Dear Sister I arrived at this place a few moments ago, and found Bill Kidd just starting for Fayetteville, So I thought I would give you what news I have. It is reported that Gen [Robert] Lee has whipped Meade again and gone back pensilvania [Pennsylvania] with an additional force of Sixty thousand men, also, that France & Spain have recognized our independence this has been written twice from Little Rock to Mr. Bostick by Charley Scott, this leaves me well and on my way to the Rock to See Kerby Smith, he is there Write Soon, good bye love to all Kis Miss Ly Ras
1863-08-15
TranscriptionCamp on Bayou Metoe [Bayou Meto, Arkansas County, Arkansas] Aug 15th 1863 My dear Sister I arrived at the Rock day before yesterday after rather a warm and tiresome ride. Yesterday I came out to camp and found all of our friend in good health except Jim Stirman. he had eat to much pork and had the colick but he soon recovered and in health. This leaves me in good health. I have no news of importance. Gen Smith has been here but left before I arrived he is to be back Soon. I shall wait until his return before I can tell what I shall do. write soon direct your letters in Care of Col Brooks, give my love to all, Good bye, Much love from Your Bro Ras
1863-09-10 Date.Digital2009-03-31 Format.OriginalCorrespondence
TranscriptionDardandle [Dardanelle] Arkansas Sept 10th 1863 My dear Sister As an opportunity offers I thought it best to write you and inform you what I was doing I assume Command of the Post of Dardanelle this morning, but order of Gen [Sterling] Price I also have orders from Gen Price to Collect My Men at this place and Mount them, You will find an order enclosed from me which you will please have posted in Fayetteville for the benefit of My Battalion Sis this leaves me in good health I have no news of importance I received your letter of 18th as I am in a great hurry I hope you will put up with this at present Write Soon give my love to all, good bye much love from your Bro Ras
where were they during the Camden Expedition and Price's Raid?
Official Records
During the Camden Expedition---
HDQRS. FIRST BATTALION ARKANSAS CAVALRY, Near Road where Shelby fought yesterday, April 16, 1864. COLONEL: I have been near enough to see the train pass. They are moving very leisurely along, with a guard of about 6 men to the wagon, cavalry and infantry, mostly infantry. I think they are too strong for me to attack them, unless as a feint to cover some other move. I think by attacking them in two or three places at once we might destroy a large portion of their train; that is, with a sufficient force. Colonel, I will await here for orders. This road can be traveled with artillery very easily, but I think it will not be long until the rear will pass here. Very respectfully, RAS. STIRMAN, Lieutenant- Colonel, Commanding Battalion.
[Indorsement.] Respectfully forwarded, for General Marmaduke’s information. I sent Colonel Stirman out after sunrise this morning. He came to the road about 8 o clock, and saw cavalry, infantry, and their trains. J. F. FAGAN, Brigadier- General
FAYETTEVILLE, May 17, 1864. Brigadier-General SANBORN: I am somewhat in the dark as to the intentions of the rebels this side the river; the country swarms with them, and I learn from rebel sources that Stirman and others are either iii the country or expected soon. Some movements lead me to believe they are concentrating, as their total absence for several days from favored localities. There must be at least 2,000 scattered in an arc of 60 miles square. I can learn nothing from farther west than Cane Hill. Fayetteville would be impregnable if I had troops enough constantly in town to man all my fortifications. I also need two pieces long- range artillery very much. M. LA RUE HARRISON, Colonel, Commanding.
Price's Raid---
HEADQUARTERS POST, Lewisburg, September 5, 1864. Brig. Gen. E. A. CARR, Commanding District of Little Rock: GENERAL: Colonel Stirman, C. S Army, with 300 well-mounted men, crossed by fording the Arkansas River at Dardanelle yesterday, camping last night at Russellville, going toward Dover, where Jackman is with 100 men. Cabell’s command is reported as being on South Fourche. From reliable authority I learn that Colonel Gordons command will cross the river at Dardanelle on Thursday next. Gordon is now on the Fourche. The Chippewa unloaded the commissary stores here~ and returned to Vans Bar for quartermaster stores left at that place. Will return here in the morning. River falling. Telegraph down on the Little Bock section. Captain Napier, of the Third Arkansas Cavalry, had a fight with Witt on Thursday last eight miles from Quitman; Killed 7 of Witt’s men and captured Captain Livingston and 4 men. - Witt retreated toward Jacksonport. Yours, respectfully, A. H. RYAN, Colonel, Commanding.
September 5 (Camp No. 9).--Cabell's brigade going over the mountain. Heard that Brooks and Stirman had passed from Danville to Dardanelle on the 3d. Weather warm and sultry. Joined by Fagan from the rear; eighteen miles
LITTLE ROCK, September 6, 1864. Brig. Gen. C. C. Andrews: Dispatches just received from Lewisburg by messenger. Colonel Stirman, C. S. Army, crossed at Dardanelle with 300 well-mounted men yesterday. They moved toward Dover, where Jackman is with 100. The steamers reached Lewisburg. Captain Napier beat Witt; killed 7 and captured Captain Livingston and 3 men. Rebel cavalry are probably moving to Dardanelle to cross. F. STEELE, Major- General.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST Arkansas CAVALRY, Fayetteville, Ark~, September 18, 1864. GENERAL: Last Monday, 12th, learning that a party of rebels wider Captain Cooper were intending to attack your upward-bound train, I ordered Capt. J. I. Worthington to escort it as far as Little Sugar Creek, and thence after leaving the train to sweep up White River toward Richland and Huntsville. I in close a copy of the report of his expedition. He attacked Coopers band, over eighty strong, near Jennings Ferry, on White River, and completely routed him. In the different skirmishes lie killed 9 men. He captured Lieutenant Rogers, who left Price at Washington (or Camp Magruder) on the 2d instant, carrying a large rebel mail to Missouri. lie learned that the rebels were on the way to attack your train about seven miles south of Cross Timbers, but had been misinformed as to the time of its leaving this place, arid were about twelve hours too late. Worthington burned a rebel tannery, and large amount of leather in vats and some saddles were destroyed. Our loss, 1 man slightly wounded. Rogers was formerly from Gadfly; says he thinks Price is already north of the Arkansas. All letters captured and information received go to show that a column of 12,000 rebel cavalry is moving or is about to move north into Missouri (probably by way of Batesville); that Price is in command of that cavalry, and that Magruder is left to command Arkansas, and that the rebels expect to winter on the Arkansas River. The rebel Colonels Brooks and Stirman crossed the Arkansas about the 10th with 300 men; camped one night on White River, south of this place; crossed over to Cane Hill, having been joined by Tuck Smiths, Browns, and other roving bands, which will augment their numbers to nearly 600. As near as I can learn, their intention is to attack your next train and use it to transport their plunder south. They expect to move out some rebel families, and take all the roving guerrillas to the main army. This I gather from scouts, who heard Brooks and Stirman express such intentions. I desire you to give Major Galloway a strong escort for his horses, and think it will be necessary to guard well the trains from Cassville to South Sugar, as the enemy have learned my style of escorting trains to that place and will make the next attack north of it. Send me word a few days in advance of each train and I will send a force to co-operate. I remain, general, your most obedient servant, M. LA RUE HARRISON, Colonel, Commanding
Organization of the Army of the Trans-Miss Dept Kirby Smith, Sept 30, 1864.
Second (Arkansas) Brigade. Brig. Gen. WILLIAM L. CABELL. 1st Arkansas, Col. James C. Monroe. 2d Arkansas, Col. Thomas J. Morgan. [4th] Arkansas, Col. Anderson Gordon. [7th] Arkansas, Col. John P. Hill. Arkansas Battalion, Lt. Col. Thomas M. Canter. - Arkansas Battalion, Maj. John M. Harrell. Col. W. P. SLEMONs. Arkansas, Col. William A. Crawford. Arkansas, Col. John C. Wright. Arkansas Battalion, Maj. Elisha L. McMurtrey. Arkansas Battalion, Lieut. Col. Ras. Stirman.
LITTLE ROCK, ARK., October ii, 4661. Slit: I have the honor to report that, in compliance with Special Orders, No. 2, paragraphs II and IV, headquarters Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps, I marched front Little Rock, September 25, with the following detachments under my command, to wit: Third Wisconsin , I captain, 2 lieutenants and 1 ~ Cavalry 141 men ,. surgeon, with ambulance and medical supplies; Third Arkansas Cavalry, 1 captain and 50 men; First Iowa Cavalry, 1 lieutenant and 63 men Third Missouri Cavalry, 1 captain and 64 men; Third U. S. Cavalry 1 lieu- tenant and 50 men, with 9 men from the Fourth Arkansas Cavalry; in all, 7 officers, 377 men, 1 surgeon, 2 ambulances, and 2 wagons, but no surgeon with supplies from Second Brigade, as ordered. Having crossed the Cadron with much difficulty, the ferry-boats being destroyed, the command obtained the first forage since starting, forty miles distant, at Colonel Howards, on September 26. Proceeding thence through Lewisburg I ascertained that the various parties of the enemy, scattered along the route, had been informed of tile numbers of the command and the object of the march. Encamped on Illinois Bayou, where we found plenty of wood and water but scarcely any forage. On the 27th we camped six miles this side of Piney, where I learned that the commands of Colonels Hill, Stirman, and Brooks were at various points along the route with headquarters at Clarksville, at which place they intended to oppose me…
LEWISBURG, November 20, 1864. (Received 10.30 a. in.) Capt. C. H. DYER, Assistant Adjutant- General: There are 2,000 rebels on north side of river. They are to wait till the troops have returned to Little Rock, when they are to concentrate for an attack on this place. Stirman and the forces north met to-day on the Piney. One of Witt’s female spies was in here yesterday. The information she took out will have a tendency to hold Witt’s men oft~ for a few days. Good portion of the rebels intend going south. The river not being fordable, great caution will have to be exercised by the steamers going to Fort Smith and especially on their return. I cannot send out any scouting parties, Captain~ Hamilton not having returned. River rising. A. H. RYAN, Colonel.
http://www.argenweb.net/madison/lenorawatkins/hillfamily.htm
William P. Hill joined the Confederate Army and he served in the 1st Battalion (Stirman's) Arkansas Cavalry, Brooks Cavalry. According to military records Pvt. Hill was wounded and captured at Fayetteville, Arkansas on November 4, 1864. Word was sent to his wife and she was allowed to visit him one last time to bring him some clothes
http://ranger95.com/civil_war/arkansas_csa/cavalry/1ark_cav_bn_brooks_stirmans/1st_cav_bn_brooks_stirman.html
…The survivors were paroled later that month, and sent back to Arkansas to regroup and reorganize. Conducted a scout of the state from Waldron to Mount Ida to Caddo Gap and Dallas on December 2-, 1863. Served in Fagan's Cavalry Division during Price's Missouri Raid in September and October of 1864, and at battle of Ivey's Ford on January 17, 1865. Surrendered with Gen. Kirby Smith's army in May 26, 1865.
See also:
http://cdm15728.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/findingaids/id/5453/rec/2
James M. Wilson memoirs
The collection contains the Civil War memoir of James M. Wilson who served with the 15th Arkansas Infantry (Northwest), Captain P. H. Buchanan's guerilla company, and the 1st Arkansas Cavalry Battalion (Stirman's)
http://cdm16795.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/shscivilwar/id/883
Union Indian Brigade in the Civil War
Page 297
http://mdh.deepwebaccess.com/mdh/result-list/fullRecord:ras+stirman/#ResultList=0|0|_|RANK|2%2C0
Ras Stirman letters