1st Battalion, Arkansas Cavalry (Stirman's) - Confederate

United States     U.S. Military      Arkansas      Arkansas Military      Arkansas in the Civil War      1st Battalion, Arkansas Cavalry (Stirman's)

Brief History
1st (Stirman's) Battalion Sharpshooters, formerly Brooks' 1st Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, was organized during the summer of 1862. The unit was attached to General M.E. Bgrann's comman, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, and fought at Port Gibson and Vicksburg where it was captured on July 4, 1863. After being exchanged, it returned to Arkansas and became Stirman's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion. The unit was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Henry W. Bridges and Ras. Stirman, and Major Lafayette Boone.

Predecessor unit:

1st (Brooks') Cavalry Battalion was organized during the late fall of 1861. In January, 1862, it totalled 300 officers and men and was assigned to L. Hebert's Brigade in the western part of Arkansas. After fighting at Elkhorn Tavern, the unit was ordered east of the Mississippi River and dismounted. It now became known as Stirman's 1st Arkansas Battalion Sharpshooters. Major William H. Brooks was in command.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

COMPANY A - many men from Marion County and Carroll County - All enlistments were 3 Aug 1861 COMPANY B - many men from Marion County and Carroll County - All enlistments were 3 Aug 1861 COMPANY C - many men from Van Buren County and Carroll County - All enlistments were 11 Oct 1861 COMPANY D - many men from Fayetteville, Washington County - All enlistments were 26 Oct 1861 COMPANY E - many men from Fayetteville, Washington County - All enlistments were 9 Oct 1861 COMPANY F - many men from Russellville, Pope County - All enlistment were 15 Feb 1862 COMPANY G - many men from Pope County - All enlistments were 15 Feb 1862 COMPANY H - many men from Waldron, Scott County, - All enlistments were 19 Oct 1861

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in 'Arkansas in the Civil War' and 'United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865' (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Arkansas in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Tennessee, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.