page_title: Arkansas Militia and the Mexican–American War
section_title: Aftermath
hierarchical_section_title: Arkansas Militia and the Mexican–American War / Aftermath
caption_attribution_description: John Selden Roane, Library of Congress
context_page_description: The history of the Arkansas Militia and the Mexican–American War began when the Territory of Arkansas gained admission to the Union as the 25th State on June 15, 1836. Within days the State Governor received a request for troops to relieve federal troops securing the border with Mexico. Ironically the Arkansas National Guard found itself conducting similar missions during the Mexican Expedition of 1916 and again during Operation Jump Start in 2006. Arkansans enthusiastically supported the Mexican–American War in 1846 and many future leaders of the Arkansas Confederate forces gained valuable experience during the conflict. The performance of Arkansas troops during the invasion of northern Mexico and the Battle of Buena Vista did not bring great credit upon the state. Following the Mexican–American War, the state's militia forces again fell into decline until the administration of Governor Elias Nelson Conway, just before the outbreak of the Civil War.
context_section_description: Many Arkansans, especially Albert Pike, did not take lightly the poor record of the Arkansas volunteers.  Pike, who was probably still smarting over his defeat for regimental commander, had criticized Colonel Yell long before the return to Little Rock.  In a letter to the Arkansas Gazette on March 8, 1847, Pike severely reprimanded the Arkansas officers for not properly training and disciplining their men.  He wrote: "Poor Yell! He atoned for his error with his life; but other brave men died with him, who were not in fault...."
  Naturally, Colonel Roane and many of Yell's fervent supporters resented Pike's attitude.  Roane and Captain Edward Hunter, commander of the Sevier County company, wrote letters to the Little Rock Banner soon after the Battle of Buena Vista charging that Pike's squadron had taken no part in the battle.  Pike was furious and, upon his return to Little Rock took up the matter with Roane.  A duel ensued, although neither man was injured.
  Fourteen years after the Mexican–American War, both John S. Roane and Albert Pike would again find themselves leading troops in battle, this time as General Officers.  The American Civil War was to produce a different type of record for Arkansas' militia and Volunteer Companies.  With the end of hostilities, militia activity in Arkansas decreased.  With the Mexican threat eliminated and the near-absence of a serious Indian threat, Arkansans saw little reason to maintain a state militia until the buildup of sectional tensions preceding the Civil War.
caption: Lt. Col John S. Roane would later serve as the adjutant general and eventually Governor of Arkansas. He served as a Confederate general during the American Civil War.
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