17th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Griffith's) (Confederate)

Brief History
17th (Rector's) Infantry Regiment was organized at Fort Smith, Arkansas, during the fall of 1861. Many of the men were raised in Sebastian, Hempstead, Yell, and Saline counties. The 17th fought at Elkhorn Tavern, lost sixteen percent of the 109 engaged at Iuka, and reported 20 casualties at Corinth. It was then placed in Beall's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, and captured at Port Hudson on July 9, 1863. After the exchange and its reorganization as mounted infantry, the unit was attached to General W. Adams, Mabry's, and Ross' Brigade, Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. In April, 1864, it was consolidated with the 11th Arkansas Regiment and skirmished in several actions in Louisiana and Mississippi. The unit was included in the surrender on May 4, 1865.

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.

17th (Rector's) Infantry Regiment was organized at Fort Smith, Arkansas, during the fall of 1861. Many of the men were raised in Sebastian, Hempstead, Yell, and Saline counties.

Co. A —Sebastian County. Co. B —Sebastian County. Co. C —Sebastian County. Co. D —Washington County. Co. E —Washington County. Co. F —Sebastian County. Co. G —Madison County. Co. H —Hempstead County.

© 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 943 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.