Re: Gunter's Reg. Cabel's Brig. Cav.
Posted By: Bryan Howerton
Date: Monday, 29 July 2002, at 1:25 p.m.
In Response To: Gunter's Reg. Cabel's Brig. Cav. (Olwyn)
Thomas Montague Gunter organized an independent cavalry company in Washington County, and was mustered into Confederate service for three years or the duration of the war, at Fayetteville, Arkansas, on June 26, 1862. When the 34th Arkansas Infantry was organized on August 31, 1862, Captain Gunter was elected lieutenant-colonel and transferred to the regimental field and staff. He transferred to the cavalry at the reorganization on July 3, 1863, and was appointed lieutenant-colonel commanding Gunter's Battalion Arkansas Cavalry (sometimes referred to as the 3rd Battalion Arkansas Cavalry) on December 17, 1863.
Gunter was a delegate to the Secession Convention in 1861, and served in the U.S. Congress, 1874-1883. He was a lawyer by profession. At the beginning of the war, he commanded a company in the 4th Regiment Arkansas State Troops.
There are no known muster rolls of Gunter's Battalion. Based on a few postwar pension applications from veterans of Gunter's Battalion, it seems likely that some of the companies were recruited in western Arkansas, in Montgomery, Pike and Polk counties.
Military Departments -- Letters Sent, Maj. Gen. T. J. Churchill's Division, January - May 1865
NARA RG 109, Chapter II, Volume 263 ½
2/27 Camp Magruder, Div Hqs to Gen’ls Roane, Hawthorne, McNair-Per instructions from Dept Hqs, you will furnish a full report connected with the absence without leave of the following officers belonging to your command
They have been absent from their commands from the dates shown by their names
Maj J Woosley-Hill’s Regt 7/1/64 [see also as Maj Gunter’s Bn]
Lt J A Martin “ “ 7/13/64
Lt E Bales “ 12/10/64
Capt J Davis “ 12/10/64
Lt H B Johnson “ 12/10/64
Lt Johnson “ 7/1/64
Lt Dunning “ 9/12/64
Lt Jas. Mitchell “ July----
Lt Sam Tubbs 19th Ark 7/3/6_
Capt J C Wright 34th Ark 7/10/”
5/17/65 Marshall-Churchill to Dept Hqs-By mistake a recommendation by Gen Roane to make Lt Col T M Gunter full Col passed through without me taking any action on it. I unite with Gen Roan in recommending the promotion of this officer.
He is one of the most deserving and meritorious field officers in my Div & it is due him that the promotion be made.
http://www.history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs62x/arcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?md=read;id=25376
T M Gunter-He signs his parole document as Lt. Col., Hill’s Regt Ark. [2, 7, __] Cav. [This card found in the records of the 34th Ark Infy]