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, favored the proposed Confederacy and did all in their power to help establish it. Confederate companies from the county were commanded by Col. John S. McCarver, Capt. Joseph Martin, Capt. James Archer, Capt. John A. Wilson, Capt. Albert Kelsey, Capt. William Sloan, Lt. Col. Eli Hufstedler, Capt. Wm. A. Black, Lt. Isaac Schmick, Lt. John Mitchell, and Capt. J.M. Schmick. Camp Shaver, located south of town, was named in honor of Col. Robert G. Shaver, commander of the 7th and 38th Arkansas Infantry. About 1,200 men served from the county during the war. For a long time early in the war, General William J. Hardee had 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 camped at different points along Black River. Irish-born General Patrick R. Cleburne was part of Hindman's command. Pittman'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, with a military hospital, supply depot, and the main military roads converging in Randolph County. Brig. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson, known as "The Swamp Fox," was captured at Pocahontas on August 22, 1863, by men of Gen. John Davidson's Federal army. No Federal units were raised within Randolph County during the war, though Randolph County Unionists served in Missouri regiments.

Pocahontas, Arkansas · United States