Record of Co. A, Second Arkansas Mounted Rifles

Captain J. T. Harrison of this city has in his possession a roll of Company A, Second Arkansas Mounted Rifles, together with a record of the battles in which the company fought in the Civil War. The data is furnished by M. C. Scott of Booneville and gives an interesting chapter on Civil War history.

The regiment was organized at Camp Osage Prairie, Arkansas, with James McIntosh as colonel and B. T. Embry lieutenant colonel. Company A was organized by election. Wm. P. Gipson captain, who continued in command, until the time of the reorganization of Corinth, Miss. He then returned to the West and raised a foreign company and was killed by a Federal Scout near Waldron, Ark. about 1863. At the reorganization at Corinth, Miss., J. T. Harrison was elected captain and served till the retreat of Johnson's army from Jackson, Miss., and was discharged at Brandon. He returned to Arkansas and joined a state troop under Governor Flanagin. The position of Colonel was offered by the soldiers to J. Williamson, but he refused it and nominated Flanagin as Colonel, and the latter...then being made second in command of Company A. M. C. Scott became the orderly sergeant and continued to the surrender.

The following is a roll of the company made up by Mr. Scott from memory:
Joshua Arnold, James Anderson, William Aker, Joshua W. Carpenter, J. P. Carpenter, C. W. Cauthron, N. L. Crosby, John Curry, Thomas Bowen, C. M. Bryant, George W. Barker, Ed Blaylock, Harlin Barnhart, S. J. Dildy, Henry Dildy, William Dean, J. F. Dalton, H. C. Donathan, W. N. Donathan, Dan Donathan, Barnett Demass, N. M. Ellington, W. J. Ellington, W. T. Epler, S. J. Foss, T. C. Finley, J. M. Fitzjerald, William Gentry, Lou Glass, T. B. Gipson, William Gipson, E. B. Grayson, J. B. J. Harwell, Harvey Hyatt, Henry Harrell, J. W. Hurt, Berry Hurt, J. G. Humphrey, H. C. Humphrey, J. C. Head, J. P. Head, J. M. Head, J. T. Harrison, Sam-------, William Iris, Sam-------, Charles Inman, William Johnson, Easten Knee, James Kendrick, R. B. Logan, Richard Ladd, Joseph Ladd, A. Ladd, A. J. Lester, Randolf Lamb, Sam L------, Jordan Lloyd, George Lyns, (separation in page) Mark Hoges, Robert Lamb James I--------, James Moffet, James M-------, John Morris, Garner Needham, Riley Nelson, J. M. Oliver, W. N. Oliver, Sam Pennington, James piles, R. M. Piles, David Pope, Loyd Prater, William Riley, Geo. Roland, William Rhodes, Fred Stiles, --J. Sykes, R. L. Skinner, J. R. Skinner, M. C. Scott, J. F. Scott, A. J. Smith, Thomas Smith, John Smith, Elijah Smith, Jesse Smith, Joseph Smith, Flood Smith, H. C. Sadler, Thomas Sadler, J. W. Sorrels, William Traylor, Andrew Tomlinson, Wiley Tomlinson, M. V. Temples, John I. Wallen, William Wall, Jerome Wall, B. F. Woods, James Waldroup, John Waldroup, Oliver Waldroup, G H. W----, Thomas Wright,------Wallis.

The following is a list of the battles in which Company A, Second Arkansas Mounted Rifles, was engaged:
Oak Hill, MO., August 10, 1861; Elkhorn, Arkansas, March 7,8, 1862; Richmond, Kentucky, August 30, 1862; Murfreesboro, Tenn., December 31, 1862; Jackson Miss., July 10-11, 1863; Chickamauga, GA., September 19-20, 1863(separation) Dug Gap, GA., May 8, 1864; Resoca, GA., May 13,14,15, 1864; New Hope Church, GA., May 29 to June 3, 1864; Kennesaw Mountain, GA., June 17 to July 3, 1864; Moore's Mill, GA., July 19, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, GA., July 20, 1864; Atlanta, GA., July 21, 1864; Ezra Church, GA., July 28, 1864; Lovejoy Station, GA., August 30, 1864; Jonesboro, GA., August 31, 1864; Media Station, GA., October---1864; Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864; Nashville Tenn., December 15, 16, 1864; Sugar Creek, Tenn., December 26, 1864; Bentonville, N.C., May 19, 1865.

Besides the above engagements, the company had many skirmishes with the enemy. Company A formed a part of the rear guard out of Kentucky in 1862, also from Atlanta September 2, 1864. It was with the rear guard of Hood's army on the retreat from Nashville, Tenn., and was among the last troops to cross Tennessee river on the morning of December 28, 1864.

My Dear Captain-- I think you will find the above battles and duties entirely correct. If I can serve you in any way, at any time, command me.

Confederately yours, M. C. SCOTT

The above and foregoing---(no further text)

This article first appeared in the BOONEVILLE ENTERPRISE IN 1876 OR 1877. It was re-run in the BOONEVILLE DEMOCRAT in 1977. Dan Donathan was killed by bushwhackers before much of this action by his unit. Henry and Bill supposedly were with the unit throughout. All three were sons of Benjamin Franklin Donathan.

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