Polk County men served on both sides during the Civil War. Two companies of the 4th Arkansas Infantry—Company I and Company H, the Polk Invincibles—and Hart’s Battery served the Confederacy, and at least 73 local men joined the Union army. One man in the 4th, Thomas Harmon, was expelled for deserting and was hanged after returning to Polk County. Because of its nearness to Texas, both regular and irregular soldiers for both sides roamed and scouted in Polk County, particularly after Union troops occupied Waldron in late 1863 and began operations. Several Union scouting expeditions traveled through Polk County during December 1863. A Federal detachment captured two men at Dallas on December 6, 1863. Union troops fought Confederate guerrillas at Baker Springs on January 24, 1864, killing 5, wounding 2, and taking 27 prisoners while losing 1 dead and 1 hurt. On May 12, 1864, men of the 2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment (U.S.) were attacked by Confederate Choctaws, losing 1 man dead and 1 wounded in the skirmish. The Polk County Courthouse at Dallas, with all of its records, was burned in the war.