5th Arkansas Infantry Regiment - Battles

Battles

The regiment moved with the rest of General Hardee's division to Bowling Green, Kentucky where Hardee's Division became the Army of Central Kentucky. After the losses of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in February 1862, Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston withdrew his forces into western Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and Alabama to reorganize. and then retreated through western Tennessee to northern Mississippi. In the reorganization of forces, the 5th Arkansas was assigned to Hindman's (later Liddell's) brigade, Army of Mississippi in March, 1862. At the time the Battle at Shiloh took place, the 5th Arkansas was on picket duty along the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, about 7 miles north and west of Corinth. Colonel David C. Cross pleaded with Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston to permit the 5th Arkansas to take part in the movement towards Shiloh, but Johnston replied that "the post of duty was the post of honor," and kept the 5th Arkansas on picket duty.

In early May 1862, Confederate forces underwent an army-wide reorganization due to the passage of the Conscription Act by the Confederate Congress in April 1862. All twelve-month regiments had to re-muster and enlist for two additional years or the duration of the war; a new election of officers was ordered; and men who were exempted from service by age or other reasons under the Conscription Act were allowed to take a discharge and go home. Officers who did not choose to stand for re-election were also offered a discharge. The reorganization was accomplished among all the Arkansas regiments in and around Corinth, Mississippi, following the Battle of Shiloh. When Corinth was evacuated on the approach of Halleck and Grant in May 1862, the regiment fell back with the Confederate army to Tupelo Mississippi, where it was reorganized. Captain L. P. Featherston was elected colonel, J. E. Murray, Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Peter Green, major; J. J. Winston was appointed adjutant.

When General Braxton Bragg led the Army of Mississippi on the Kentucky Campaign, the 5th Arkansas became engaged in the Battle of Perryville. While in Kentucky, John Edward Murray was made Lieutenant Colonel, upon the resignation of Lieutenant Colonel Sweeney.

The regiment was assigned to General Liddell's and Govan's Brigade, and consolidated with the 13th Arkansas from August 1863 to April 9, 1865. The regiment was organized with 722 officers and men and lost forty-two percent of the 336 at the Battle of Murfreesboro. The 5th/13th lost forty-five percent of the 450 engaged at the Battle of Chickamauga. Colonel L. Featherston was also killed during on the first day of battle and was succeeded by Colonel Murray. The unit had 21 men disabled at the Battle of Ringgold Gap.

Colonel John E. Murray, was killed in action on July 22, 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign, and Captain William T. Jones would be awarded the Confederate Medal of Honor for valor during that same campaign. Colonel Peter V. Green succeeded Colonel Murray and remained in command until the close of the war. The consolidated 5th/13th totaled 321 men and 222 arms in December 1863, and reported 112 casualties at the Battle of Atlanta.

The regiment and the rest of Govan's Brigade participated in General John B. Hood's disastrous Franklin-Nashville Campaign. Due to the appalling losses suffered by Govan's Brigade during the Atlanta Campaign, the 1st/15th, 5th/13th and 2nd/24th Arkansas Regiments were consolidated into one regiment, which was commanded by Colonel Peter Green of the 5th/13th (specifically of the 5th). The other officers of the consolidated regiment were Major Alexander T. Meek, of the 2nd/24th Arkansas, Captain Mordecai P. Garrett and Sergeant Major Thomas Benton Moncrief of the 15th Arkansas. The consolidated regiment fought under the colors of the consolidated 5th/13th Arkansas Regiment, because this was one of the only colors not captured when Govan's Brigade was overrun at the Battle of Jonesboro. The flag of the combined 5th/13th Arkansas was issued in March 1864 and was captured by Benjamin Newman of the 88th Illinois Infantry at the battle of Franklin. The consolidated regiment numbered just 300 rifles and sustained 66% casualties during the Battle of Franklin.

The remnants of Govan's Brigade that survived the Tennessee Campaign remained with the Army of Tennessee through its final engagements in the 1865 Carolinas Campaign.

The unit is credited with the following engagements:

• Siege of Corinth, April–June 1862.
• Kentucky Campaign, Kentucky, August–October, 1862

• Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862.

• Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, December 31, 1862 – January 3, 1863.
• Tullahoma Campaign, June 24 – July 3, 1863.

• Battle of Liberty Gap, Tennessee, June 24–26, 1863.

• Chickamauga Campaign, Georgia, August–September, 1863.

• Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19–20, 1863.

• Chattanooga Campaign, September to November 1863.

• Battle of Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, November 25, 1863.
• Battle of Ringgold Gap, Georgia, November 27, 1863.

• Atlanta Campaign, May to September 1864.

• Battle of Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, May 5–11, 1864.
• Battle of Resaca, Georgia, May 14–15, 1864.
• Battle of New Hope Church, Georgia, May 25 – June 4, 1864.
• Battle of Pickett's Mill, Georgina, May 27, 1864.
• Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864.
• Battle of Peachtree Creek, Georgia, July 20, 1864.
• Siege of Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864.
• Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia, August 31 – September 1, 1864.

• Franklin–Nashville Campaign, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, September 18 – December 27, 1864

  Battle of Spring Hill, Tennessee, November 29, 1864.

• Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1864.
• Battle of Nashville, Tennessee, December 15–16, 1864.

• Carolinas Campaign, February – April 1865.

• Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, March 19–21, 1865.