8th Battalion, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)

United States     U.S. Military      Arkansas      Arkansas Military      Arkansas in the Civil War      8th Battalion, Arkansas Infantry

Brief History
8th Infantry Battalion [also designated the 1st and also called 2nd Battalion] was organized at Little Rock, Arkansas, in March, 1862. On July 9, 1863, it was captured in the fight at Port Hudson. After being exchanged, the men claimed their organization but were united with the 18th (Carroll's-Daly's-Crockett's) Arkansas Regiment.

The 8th Arkansas Infantry Battalion was formally activated at Little Rock on April 9, 1862. The Peyton Rifles This volunteer company was organized at Little Rock, Arkansas, in early 1861, composed mostly of men from Pulaski County. In April 1861, the Peyton Rifles was one of four Little Rock volunteer companies selected to form Colonel Solon Borland’s composite militia battalion. Solon’s battalion traveled up the Arkansas River to Fort Smith, where it forced the surrender of the United States Army post in a bloodless show of force. The “Fort Smith Expedition” lasted from April 20 to 30, 1861. Upon its return to Little Rock, the Peyton Rifles seems to have disbanded. Its members subsequently enlisted in regular Confederate units. In March 1862, the Peyton Rifles apparently reorganized. A company led by Capt. James J. Franklin, calling itself the Peyton Rifles, and containing a handful of the original members of the company, enlisted in Confederate service at Little Rock. Initially assigned as (old) Company B, 8th Battalion Arkansas Infantry, it was transferred to the 25th Regiment Arkansas Infantry as Company F in May 1862.

© 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.



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 (also known as Clark Rifles) — many men from Clark County. Company B (also known as Chicot Rebels) — many men from Chicot County. Company C (also known as Black River Rifles) — many men from Lawrence County. Company D (also known as Greene County Roughs) — many men from Greene County. Company E (also known as Wood's Rifles) — many men from Craighead County. Company F (also known as Ashley Light Infantry) — many men from Ashley County. Company G (also known as Lawrence Dead-Shots) — many men from Lawrence County.

The above information about the companies, their nicknames, and their counties came from the web site, 8th Arkansas Infantry Battalion, CSA, by Bryan R. Howerton, part of the Edward G. Gerdes Arkansas Civil War site (accessed 12 November 2011).

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.