I am doing research on the Des Arc Rangers and just found this site. I was blown away by Dick Urbaniak's message. My great great grandfather was Francis M. Hayley, brother to Newt. There were six brothers all who fought in the Conflict and came home.: John, James, William who stayed in Madison County, Tennessee. Then Patrick Henry, Francis, and Cornelius Newton lived in Des Arc (Johnson Chapel). Oh, my gosh!

I am writing a book about Francis. He was in the 30/25th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. After Newt was wounded--losing horse and equipment at Oak Hill, their company joined up with Francis for the rest of the war. I have copies of 18 of Francis' letters home to wife Laura which I built my book around. Researched every battle the brothers were in. Francis was wounded at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and at Bentonville, N.C. I even have some enrollment, pay, attendance, military records sheets for Newt.