Several military actions took place in Newton County during the Civil War. On Jan. 10, 1863, Union troops attacked and destroyed a large saltpeter works on the Buffalo River. Skirmishes were fought June 14 and Nov. 15, 1863. On April 4, 1864, 50 men of the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry (U.S.) engaged Confederate guerrillas at the headwaters of the Buffalo, losing 1 dead and 1 missing. Another raid by the 2nd Arkansas hit former sheriff John Cecil's Confederate band in the Limestone Valley on April 17, 1864, scattering them and claiming 30 killed and 8 captured. The people of Newton County were divided in their loyalties and provided troops for both sides in the Civil War. Newton County men fought for the Confederacy in the 14th, 16th, 19th and 27th Arkansas Infantry Regiments and in Love's Command, Cecil's Company, Price's Missouri Cavalry. They saw action on both sides of the Mississippi River. Local men fought for the Union in Co. D, 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry, Cos. C and F, 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, and Co. F, 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry. The Union men served in the Trans-Mississippi.