As the Civil War began, the Caroline Home Guard formed at Austin on June 29, 1861. The Austin Rifles became Company I, 5th Arkansas Infantry, C.S.A. During the war, both Union and Confederate troops camped at Austin, and Federal troops tore down most of the buildings in town for lumber to build winter quarters. After the battle at Ashley’s Station on August 24, 1864, General J.O. Shelby’s Confederates fought a rear-guard action at Cypress Creek near Austin. The remains of 17 Union soldiers were moved from Austin to Little Rock National Cemetery on August 1, 1868.