Arkansas Joins Confederacy

Swiftly young Arkansas rallied its manhood and material resources to the Southern cause. On May 10 the convention accepted the Confederate States constitution. As delegates to the Confederate Congress, Augustus H. Garland, Robert W. Johnson, Hugh F. Thomasson, Albert Rusk, and W.W. Watkins were elected. Then a new constitution was adopted for the state by the convention.

A military board to raise and equip troops was created and called for 10,000 volunteers. Almost overnight, Arkansas was transformed from peaceful pursuits into a marching, huzzaing spectacle of war. The assault on the wilderness was halted as streams of pioneers poured down the trails and roads of the state to the recruiting camps. From plantations, stores, academies, mills, the offices of lawyers and doctors, from the pulpit – from every rank of life – Arkansas answered their state’s and Dixie’s summons.

Old State House Memorial - In the war between the states in 1861 Arkansas gave her adhesion to the
southern Confederacy, and 50,000 of her sons took part in the struggle on
that side, while a smaller number espoused the Northern cause. To-day there is
no north - no south - but one country and one flag.

"Leaving the past to sleep oblivions sleep, her noble sons in her support will
keep distinct as waves but joined as is the deep. Forever - yea- forever."


Private purposes were forgotten. The fervor of a great patriotism glowed against the dark days ahead. Mansion and cabin alike flung their sons into the ranks which were soon swinging away with flaunting flags and the wild music of fife and drum, to a hundred flaming fields of battle.