They are two different men with similar names.
The John M. Patton of Pickens' emergency company was a Benton County man, as were most of the men of the company.
At the same time that the Benton County man was marching to Pea Ridge, another John M. Patton, a White County man, was a sergeant in Co. E, 4th Arkansas Battalion Infantry. This man was later discharged on a surgeon's certificate of disability, and much later was elected second lieutenant of Co. G, 46th Arkansas Regiment Mounted Infantry.