7th Arkansas Infantry Battalion The 7th Arkansas Infantry Battalion ( 1861 – 1862 ) was a Confederate Army infantry battalion during the American Civil War . The battalion , which was often referred to as Desha ' s Battalion , was eventually consolidated with the 9th Arkansas Infantry Battalion and the 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiment . Organization . The 7th Arkansas Battalion was organized Major Franklin Desha of Independence County . Desha was a Mexican – American War veteran and had commanded a company in the Arkansas Regiment of Mounted Gunmen during the Battle of Buena Vista . The unit was eventually made up of six understrength companies . Desha was forced to compete with other Arkansas regiments organizing in northeast Arkansas in July 1861 and many Independence County men chose the 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiment over Desha ' s because Desha refused to allow the men to elect their seargents and corporals . The unit was composed of volunteer companies from the following counties : Captain Cypert of Compan A was appointed major when the battalion was organized , and was succeeded as captain by George Franklin Baucum . In August , the Confederate War Department designated Desha ' s Battalion as the 7th Battalion Arkansas Volunteers . Operations . Winter in Arkansas . In September 1861 when Brigadier General William Hardee moved most of his Arkansas troops east of the Mississippi River , to Columbus , Kentucky to become the Army of Central Kentucky , he left Desha ' s battalion behind in Arkansas . Colonel Solon Borland was left in command of a small force at Pitman ’ s Ferry , Arkansas . Colonel Borland ' s force was the only defense left in Northeast Arkansas . The forces included : Borland ' s own cavalry regiment of seven companies , Colonel McCraver ’ s five companies of infantry , Capt . Robert ' s artillery unit of 60 men but no guns , and about 150 recruits brought by a Major McCray and Major Desha ' s four companies , which were described as " raw troops " . Colonel Borland ' s command numbered about 1286 men , but of these , Colonel Borland said he could count on no more than 600 for fighting service , and all were " raw , inexperienced , poorly disciplined and indifferently armed . " Desha ' s command responded to several false alarms of impending Union invasion during the fall and winter of 1861 - 62 . By January 1862 , Colonel Borland had been replaced in command of this quasi brigade of units known as the " White River Forces " by Colonel James H . McCarver of the 14th Arkansas . Movement East . In January 1862 , Colonel McCarver received orders to move his command across the Mississippi River to Memphis Tennessee . McCarver set his command in motion but only made it as far as Jacksonport before being ordered back to Pocahontas , Arkansas . Maj Desha ' s unit apparently left Arkansas before the order was changed , because Desha ' s battalion arrived at Memphis Tennessee on February 2 , 1862 with a total fit for of 384 . The unit was immediately ordered to Bear Creek bridge . In February 1862 orders were issued confirming Frank Desha ' s appointment as Major , with date of rank October 25 , 1861 and then promoting Desha to Lieuteant Colonel with date of rank from January 31 , 1862 . Desha ' s battalion was assigned to Colonel Alfred Mouton ' s 4th Brigade , of Brigadier General Daniel Ruggels ' 1st Corps , 1st Division , 2nd Grand Division , Army of the Mississippi Valley . In preparation for the Battle of Shiloh , General Albert Sydney Johnston ordered General Braxton Bragg to detach the 51st and 52nd Tennessee , Blount ' s Alabama , and Desha ' s Arkansas Battalions from his Corps to form garrison for post and depot at Corinth . Consolidation with the 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiment . As early as April 2 , 1861 the consolidation of the 7th ( Desha ' s ) Battalion from six to three companies and consolidation with another Arkansas regiment was being considered . Lieutenant Colonel Desha addressed a letter to his commanding officer recommending which companies to be consolidated together and which officers should be retained on that date . An order dated April 28 from General Braxton Bragg to Lieutenant Colonel Desha adopted Desha ' s recommendations and ordered the consolidation of Desha ' s Battalion with Fagan ' s 1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment . However Desha objected to the consoldation with Fagan ' s 1st Arkansas and instead asked for a consolidation with the 8th Arkansas due to the fact that the units had been recruited in the same area . An order was signed by Brigadier General William Hardee ordering the Desha ' s 7th Arkansas Battalion to consolidate with Colonel Kelly ' s 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiment . Some sources indicate the men of the 7th Battalion were very upset with the consoldiation and at least one company threatened to mutiny . In May 1862 the Confederate Army underwent an army - wide reorganization due to the passage of the Conscription Act by the Confederate Congress in April 1862 . All twelve - month regiments had to re - muster and enlist for two years or the duration of the war ; a new election of officers was ordered ; and men who were exempted from service by age or other reasons under the Conscription Act were allowed to take a discharge and go home . Officers who did not choose to stand for re - election were also offered a discharge . The reorganization was accomplished among all the Arkansas regiments in and around Corinth , Mississippi , following the Battle of Shiloh . On May 7 , 1862 , the original members of the 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiment were consolidated into five companies and united with the 7th and 9th Arkansas Infantry Battalions . The reorganized regiment was composed of the following companies : Upon reorganization , John H . Kelly was elected Colonel ; Wilson , Lieutenant Colonel , and Capt . G . F . Baucum , Major . Lieutenant - Colonel Wilson resigned , and Anderson Watkins was elected Major . Upon the promotion of Colonel Kelly to brigadier - general , Baucum became Colonel , and Anderson Watkins , Lieutenant Colonel . Final consolidation and Surrender . The 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiment served in the Army of the Tennessee throughout the war , seeing action in the Kentucky , Tennessee and Georgia campaigns . The 8th Arkansas was assigned to Major General Patrick Cleburne ' s division . As of result of heavy casualties the regiment was eventually consolidated with the 19th Arkansas before finally being merged into the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment , just before the surrender in April 1865 .