3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry - Confederate

Brief History
3rd Cavalry Regiment was organized in July, 1861, and included the 1st (Borland's) Arkansas Cavalry Battalion and three companies of J. L. Williamson's Arkansas Infantry Battalion. Originally called 1st Arkansas Mounted Volunteers, the C. S. War Department ordered its designation to be 3rd Cavalry on January 15, 1862. When the Army of Tennessee surrendered, few of its members were present. The 3rd Arkansas Cavalry was organized at Little Rock on June 10, 1861, as the 1st (Borland’s) Battalion Arkansas Cavalry. On July 27, 1861, the battalion was mustered into Confederate service for one year, and on July 29was reorganized as the 1st Regiment Arkansas Mounted Volunteers. On January 15, 1862, it was redesignated as the 3rd Regiment Arkansas Cavalry. It was reorganized at Corinth, Mississippi, on May 26, 1862, with the addition of two companies (I and K) from the recently-disbanded Williamson’s Battalion Arkansas Infantry.

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.

Field and Staff. Co. A —Dallas County (Princeton Light Horse). Co. B —Perry County (Perry Rangers). Co. C —Saline County (Saline Rifle Rangers). Co. D —Pulaski County (Danley’s Rangers). 1st Co. E —Pope County (transferred from Williamson’s Battalion, May 26, 1862). 2nd Co. E —White and Crittenden Counties (transferred from 2nd Arkansas Cavalry, January 1, 1863). Co. F —Hot Spring County (Hot Springs Cavalry). Co. G —Ouachita County (Ouachita Cavalry). Co. H —Ouachita County (Camden Cavalry). Co. I —Conway County (transferred from Williamson’s Battalion, May 26, 1862). Co. K —Yell County (transferred from Williamson’s Battalion, May 26, 1862). Source:.

© 2001 by EDWARD G. GERDES all rights reserved. This information may be used by libraries and genealogical societies, however, commercial use of this information is strictly prohibited without prior permission. If copied, this copyright notice must appear with the information.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,471 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

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.