2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment ( Slemons ' ) The 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment ( Slemons ' ) ( 1861 – 1865 ) was a Confederate Army cavalry regiment during the American Civil War . This regiment was also referred to in the Official Records as the 4th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment . Another regiment , commanded by Colonel Thomas J . Morgan , was also designated as the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment . Following Price ' s Raid in 1864 , the survivors of the regiment were reorganized as the 18th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion , which was also referred to as McMurtrey ' s Arkansas Cavalry Battalion Organization . The 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment was originally organized as the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Battlion at Memphis , Tennessee , in early April 1862 , just after the Battle of Shiloh , from five independent cavalry companies from southern Arkansas : . Some of these companies appear to been involved in the Battle of Shiloh as independent units , prior to being assigned to the Second Arkansas Cavalry Battalion , but few details are available . Upon the organization of the battalion , Major William D . Barnett , a 36 - year - old physician from Bradley county , Arkansas , was assigned as the commanding officer . The only other member of the battalion field and staff who can be identified was Assistant Surgeon Thomas W . Hurley , a 26 - year - old physician from Calhoun county , Arkansas . The organization of the battalion was apparently marred by an alleged mutiny . The following report appears in the official record : It is unclear just what the circumstances of the alleged munity were , or how it was resolved , but on May 15 , 1862 , this battalion was consolidated with the 6th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion ( Major Charles W . Phifer ) at Corinth , Mississippi , to form the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment . The 6th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion ( also sometimes known as the 1st , Phifer ’ s , White ’ s and McNeill ’ s Battalion ) was organized in August 1861 at Pocahontas , Arkansas , originally composed of four Arkansas companies and two Louisiana companies , which were consolidated about April 20 , 1862 , into two Arkansas companies and one Louisiana company . The companies of the former 6th Battalion became Companies A - B - C and the companies of the former 2nd Battalion became Companies D - E - F - G - H of the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment . On August 18 , 1862 , the chronically - understrength Company F ( formerly Co . E , Second Battalion ) was consolidated into Company E ( formerly C , Second Battalion ) , and Companies G and H were redesignated as Companies F and G , respectively . The new regiment was placed under the command of Colonel William F . Slemons . The other Field officers were : Company commanders were : Battles . The 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment , under Colonel William Ferguson Slemons , would establish an impressive record under General Nathan Bedford Forrest . The unit served in the Army of the West and the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana , and took an active part in the Battles of Iuka , Corinth , and Hatchie Bridge . On the retreat from Corinth to Tupelo , Mississippi the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry served as part of the rear guard of the army , under General John C . Breckinridge . On July 3 , 1862 it was ordered with Clayton ' s 2nd Alabama Cavalry against the Federals at Booneville , MS , who were completely routed . Together with the 2nd Missouri Cavalry , it was ordered under Gen . Frank C . Armstrong to Tennessee , where it met at Middleburg , TN , the Federals under Colonel Leggett and defeated them , killing and wounding large numbers of the Federal force . About the last of July ( 1862 ) the 2nd Arkansas , under Col . Slemons , along with the 2nd Missouri and the 4th Mississippi engaged the escort of Federal cavalry and artillery guarding a train of supplies at Britton ' s Lane , TN , and after a stubborn fight of three hours captured the train , along with 300 prisoners and two pieces of artillery . The 2nd Arkansas lost 70 men killed or wounded in this engagement . In the campaigns of Price and Pemberton in early 1863 defending the approaches to Vicksburg , the 2nd Arkansas was in continuous active service , opposing Federal thrusts at Iuka , Colliersville , Salem , the Yazoo Pass , at Charleston , Austin , and near Commerce Mississippi and along the Coldwater River there . Under the command of Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest in late 1863 , it participated in the masterly movements of that greatest of cavalry commanders , encircling armies , taking cities , capturing trains , and burning bridges . The 2nd Arkansas was transferred to the Trans - Mississippi in April , 1864 , in time to fight with Cabell ' s , Gano ' s , and Dockery ' s brigades in the Camden Expedition including the battles of Poison Spring , Marks ' Mills , and Jenkins ' Ferry . It then served with Price ' s Army on the raid to the Missouri River in September and October 1864 , and engaged in the battles of Pilot Knob , Independence , West Point , and Marais des Cygnes , in Kansas . At this last battle , Colonel Slemons ' horse was killed and fell with him , the saddle catching the colonel ' s leg under him so that he could nor disengage himself . Col Slemons , a number of his officers , 100 of his men , and two artillery pieces were captured and sent as prisoners of war to Johnson Island , later to Rock Island , where they were imprisoned until after the end of the war . During the Battle of Marais des Cygnes , in Kansas . Colonel Slemons ' horse was killed and fell with him , the saddle catching the colonel ' s leg under him so that he could nor disengage himself . Col Slemons , a number of his officers , 100 of his men , and two artillery pieces were captured and sent as prisoners of war to Johnson Island , later to Rock Island , where they were imprisoned until after the end of the war . The remainder of the regiment was reduced to battalion size and reorganized and renamed as the 18th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion , which was also referred to as McMurtrey ' s Arkansas Cavalry Battalion , under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Elisha Lawley McMurtrey . Surrender . This regiment surrendered with the Army of the Northern Sub District of Arkansas in April 1865 .