North West 15th Arkansas  
Volunteer Infantry  

Regimental History

History of the North West 15th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry

Then

15th (McRae's-Hobbs-Boone's) Infantry Regiment The regiment was formed in July 1861 as the 3rd Arkansas Confederate Battalion or "McRae's Infantry". It had 225 officers and men. As part of Ben McCulloch's Brigade, the battalion was engaged at "Oak Hills/ Wilson Creek" where it lost 3 killed and 8 wounded, all from artillery fire.

The battalion was reorganized in October 1861 to regimental strength as the 21st Arkansas Confederate Infantry Regiment but still called "McRae's Infantry". It wintered in Northwest Arkansas and fought at Elkhorn Tavern/Pea Ridge, losing nearly 1/2 its numbers during the fighting and subsequent retreat.

Following the armies movement east across the Mississippi, the regiment again was reorganized as the 15th Arkansas Confederate Infantry under James Hobbs and Squire Boone. It was known as the "Northwest Regiment" to distinguish it from the other two 15th Arkansas Regiments. It fought in the Mississippi Campaign where it was distinguished at Corinth and nearly wiped out at Hatchie Bridge where it served as the rear guard of the army.

Again reorganized it served in the Vicksburg Campaign as a part of Martin Green's Brigade of Bowen's Missouri Division. The regimental colors were lost at Port Gibson, when the entire color guard was killed. It fought again at Champion's Hill and at Big Black Creek, where 1/2 the regiment and all the staff were captured. The survivors fought through the Siege of Vicksburg and surrendered on July 4, 1863. There were only 80 men left, organized into 4 companies led by Captain Austin Entris.

Following Vicksburg, the Arkansas regiments of the brigade were returned to Arkansas and reorganized and consolidated into a single regiment, the 3rd Arkansas Consolidated ( Trans-Mississippi) Regiment.

They again marched in the Red River Campaign and fought at Jenkin's Ferry, where again they suffered heavy casualties.

The regiment was disbanded in southwest Arkansas, May 1865, with the surrender of the Army, by General Kirby Smith.

Now

Company A of the North West 15th Arkansas Infantry, Volunteers, was the outcome of dissatisfaction by several reenactors with the Prairie Grove Battle Reenactment of 1992 (the Snow Event). Some members felt that there was a need for Arkansas to be represented in the western part of the state. Units in Arkansas at that point in time were the 3rd, 7th, and 9th Infantry, 1st and 3rd Cavalry and Wiggin's Battery. There were some others, but these were the dominant ones. The idea for a western area unit hatched about January of 1993.

The first meeting was held in Fayetteville, Arkansas in late March or early April of 1993. At that meeting, ranks were distributed and dues set at $30 per year.

The second meeting was held at Prairie Grove in late April. Eight or 9 people attended and many things were discussed, including the infamous First Uniform (Tuscaloosa Grey). A short drill was held after the meeting.

 

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