Arkansas Ties ... A Little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That, and a Whole Lot of Arkansas

City Park Square Pocahontas, Randolph County, Arkansas   Civil War Marker - Overlooking the Black River Randolph County during the War between the States At the beginning of the War between the States in the spring of 1861, the people of Randolph County, with but few individual exceptions, were in favor of the proposed Confederacy, and did all in their power to help establish it. Units of Confederate companies of soldiers were commanded respectfully by Col. John S. McCarver (14th Arkansas Inf.); Capt. Joseph Martin (Co. A 7th Ark.) Capt. James Archer (Co. C 7th Ark. Inf.) Capt. John A. Wilson (Co. I, 7th Ark. Inf., Capt. Albert Kelsey, (1 Ark. Vol.)' Capt. William Sloam (Co. G, 25th Ark. Inf.); Lt. Col. Eli Hufstedler (Co. A, 25th Ark. Inf.); Capt. Wm. A. Black (Co. H. 38th Ark. Inf.) Lt. Isaac Schmick (Co. E. 38th Ark. Inf.) Lt. John Mitchell (Kelsy's Co., 1 Ark. Vol.) and Capt J.M. Schmick (45th Ark. Cavalry Co. K). Camp Shaver located south of town was named in honor of Col. Robert G. Shaver commander of the 7th & 38th Ark. Inf. About 1,200 men served from this county during the war. For a long time early in the war period, General William J. Hardee has his headquarters at Pocahontas while he organized an army of about 10,000 men, consisting of Hindman's Legion, a battery and several Arkansas regiments, all of whom were camped at different points along Black River. Irish born General Patrick R. Cleburne was part of Hindman's command. Pitman's Ferry was a large staging area for Hardee's Confederate Army before the Confederates crossed the Mississippi River and took part in the Battle of Shiloh. Pocahontas was a vital location during the war having a military hospital, supply depot, and the main military roads converging in Randolph County. "The Swamp Fox" Brig. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson was captured by men of Gen. John Davidson Federal Army at Pocahontas August 22, ,1863. No Federal units were raised here during the war in the bounds of Randolph County, though Randolph County Unionists served in Missouri regiments. Dedicated September 23, 2006. A North East Arkansas Civil War Heritage Trails Committee Project. W. Danny Honnoll - Chairman, M. Ray Jones III - Trustee, Terry L. Bandy - Trustee.     Pocahontas, the Princess the town was named after. www.westmemorials.com   Century Wall