17th (Griffith's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment

The 17th Arkansas Infantry (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War.

Organization

The unit, originally known as the 17th (Rector's) Infantry Regiment was organized at Fort Smith, Arkansas, November 17, 1861. Portions of Companies A,B,C, and G were left in Arkansas when General Van Dorn moved his army east of the Mississippi, following the Battle of Pea Ridge. These units became part of the 35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. The Regiment was field consolidated with the 14th, 16th, 18th and 23rd Arkansas Infantry Regiments and the 1st Arkansas Infantry Battalion in January 1863. Consolidated with the 11th Infantry Regiment and designated as the 11th and 17th Infantry Regiment Consolidated in 1863. Its field officers were Colonels John Griffith and Frank A. Rector, Lieutenant Colonel Josephus Dotson, and Majors B. P. Jeff and Walter H. Matheson. The unit was composed of volunteer companies from the following counties:

• Company A —Sebastian County.
• Company B —Sebastian County.
• Company C —Sebastian County.
• Company D —Washington County.
• Company E —Washington County.
• Company F —Sebastian County.
• Company G —Madison County.
• Company H —Hempstead County. (Hempstead Rifles Number 2)(Originally in 3rd Regiment, Arkansas State Troops)

Battles

The regiment was involved in the following engagements:

Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas March 6–8, 1862

Siege of Corinth, Mississippi, April to June 1862.

Battle of Iuka, Mississippi, September 19, 1862.

Battle of Corinth, Mississippi, October 8, 1862.

Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana, May 24-July 9, 1863

The unit was captured at Port Hudson on July 9, 1863. After the exchange and its reorganization as mounted infantry, the unit was attached to General W. Adams, Mabry's, and Ross' Brigade, Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. In April, 1864, it was consolidated with the 11th Arkansas Infantry Regiment and skirmished in several actions in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Surrender

This regiment was surrendered at Port Houston, Louisiana, 9 July 1863. It was surrendered at the close of the war at Citronelle, Alabama, May 4, 1865.

External links

• Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Home Page
• Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture
• War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
• Arkansas History Commission, State Archives, Civil War in Arkansas

See also

• List of Arkansas Civil War Confederate units
• Lists of American Civil War Regiments by State
• Confederate Units by State
• Arkansas in the American Civil War
• Arkansas Militia in the Civil War