The information on these  pages was edited and graciously  given to the Edward G. Gerdes Arkansas Civil War page by Bryan R. Howerton, who we thank so much.    He can be reached and thanked at this email address!  "Bryan R. Howerton"

This company completed its organization on March 1, 1862, at Powhatan, Lawrence county, Arkansas, and enlisted in the Confederate service on March 8, 1862.  It was assigned to Lieutenant-Colonel Batt L. Jones’ 8th Arkansas Infantry Battalion as Company D on April 9.  As a result of the battalion’s reorganization a month later, the Black River Rifles was redesignated as Company C on May 10, 1862, and retained this designation until the battalion was consolidated in 1864.  The captain of the company was Robert C. Jones.

About the roster of Company C:  As with all the companies of the 8th Arkansas Battalion, the official records of this company are incomplete.  About 52 men can be positively identified as being members of this company.  Most of them were from Lawrence county, with a few from neighboring Randolph and Sharp counties.  There may be as many as 30 more members of this company who cannot now be identified.  Company C apparently did not rejoin the battalion after the surrender at Port Hudson.  A number of them were captured as a group in Ripley county, Missouri, in December 1863, and several others transferred to the 45th Arkansas Mounted Infantry.

Baird, William B
First Sergeant—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; appointed first sergeant, March 8, 1862; appointed first lieutenant and regimental adjutant, April 24, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863; confined at U.S. Military Prison, Fort Delaware; exchanged at City Point, Virginia, October 15, 1864; paroled at Jacksonport, Arkansas, June 5, 1865; born in Alabama, c1832.

Ballance, Samuel
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Ballard, Francis Marion
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Boulware, Phillip
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; deserted at Port Hudson, Louisiana, and took oath of allegiance at New Orleans, July 21, 1863.

Bowman, Andrew J
Third Sergeant—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; appointed third sergeant, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; bought land in Lawrence county in 1859.

Braswell, William L
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; promoted second lieutenant; promoted first lieutenant; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863; confined at U.S. Military Prison, Johnson’s Island, Ohio; exchanged at City Point, Virginia, February 1865; hospitalized at Richmond, Virginia, February 28, 1865; no further information; bought land in Lawrence county in 1888.

Brown, D B
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862, and paroled on October 14, 1862.

Brown, James Knox Polk
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; transferred to Co. G, 38th Arkansas Infantry Regiment; captured in Ripley county, Missouri, December 25, 1863; died of inflammation of lungs at Gratiot Street Prison, St. Louis, Missouri, January 7, 1864.

Burns, George Washington
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Carter, J R
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Clark, William
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; widow Winnie Clark filed Arkansas pension application #568 from Mississippi county, July 6, 1892.

Cobb, Christopher Columbus
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; exchanged at Vicksburg, Mississippi, November 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; transferred to Co. F, 45th Arkansas Mounted Infantry; paroled at Jacksonport, Arkansas, June 5, 1865; born in Tennessee, c1835.

Coffell [or Coffelt], Phillip
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Cothran, Alexander
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; discharged for disability at Corinth, Mississippi, May 5, 1862; born in North Carolina, c1816.

Darrow, Levi B
Corporal—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; appointed corporal, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Dickerson, Henry
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; captured in Ripley county, Missouri, December 25, 1863; confined in Gratiot Street Prison, St. Louis, Missouri; no further information.

Dilbeck, E
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; wounded and captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; died of wounds at Iuka, Mississippi, October 22, 1862.

Elmore, Thomas
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; transferred to Co. G, 45th Arkansas Mounted Infantry; paroled at Jacksonport, Arkansas, June 5, 1865; born in Tennessee, c1835.

Evans, William A
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; no further information, possibly killed in action in 1863.

Forrester, Robert
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; killed in action at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862.

Foster, Simpson
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; discharged for disability at Marion, Mississippi, December 21, 1862; born in Stoddard county, Missouri, c1846; eyes blue, hair fair, complexion light, height 5’1”.

Fox, G
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; wounded at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; no further information.

Hardin, Jacob
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; exchanged at Vicksburg, Mississippi, December 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Hardin, James
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; exchanged at Vicksburg, Mississippi, December 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; transferred to Co. G, 45th Arkansas Mounted Infantry; promoted fourth sergeant; paroled at Jacksonport, Arkansas, June 5, 1865; born in Tennessee, c1834.

Hill, Abraham
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; captured in Ripley county, Missouri, December 25, 1863; died of inflammation of the lungs in U.S. Military Prison, Rock Island, Illinois, March 30, 1864, and buried in grave #951.

Hill, Edwin F
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; promoted first lieutenant; captured with the ram fleet in the Mississippi River, February 3, 1863; confined at U.S. Military Prison, Johnson’s Island, Ohio; exchanged at Fort Monroe, Virginia, May 5, 1863.

Houston, John
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; promoted first sergeant, April 24, 1862; captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; exchanged at Vicksburg, Mississippi, November 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; promoted second lieutenant in 1863; captured in Ripley county, Missouri, December 25, 1863; confined at U.S. Military Prison, Johnson’s Island, Ohio; exchanged at Red River Landing, Louisiana, February 26, 1865; paroled at Jacksonport, Arkansas, June 5, 1865; born in Kentucky, c1837; eyes gray, hair black, complexion dark, height 5’5”.

Howlett, John N
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

James, M L
Third Lieutenant—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; elected third lieutenant, March 8, 1862; resigned, April 2, 1862.

Jones, James A
Drummer—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; appointed musician, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; captured in Ripley county, Missouri, December 25, 1863; died of variola at U.S. Military Prison, Rock Island, Illinois, February 29, 1864, and buried in grave #642; born in Bedford county, Tennessee, c1837.

Jones, Robert C
Captain—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; elected captain, March 8, 1862; wounded at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; paroled at Memphis, Tennessee, May 1865; born in North Carolina, c1829.

Knight, Jordan
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; deserted at Port Hudson, Louisiana, and took oath of allegiance at New Orleans, July 21, 1863.

Kyle, Elijah
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Lewis, James S
Second Sergeant—Enlisted in Co. K, 1st Arkansas Regiment 30-Day Volunteers, at Smithville, Arkansas, November 17, 1861; discharged at Pocahontas, Arkansas, December 17, 1861; enlisted in Co. C, 8th Arkansas Infantry Battalion, at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; appointed second sergeant, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

McLeod, Stephen
Corporal—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; appointed corporal, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Maxey, George M
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; promoted third lieutenant, April 24, 1862; wounded at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; no further information; born in Kentucky, c1833.

Miller, John
First Lieutenant—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; elected first lieutenant, March 8, 1862; promoted major, April 9, 1862; resigned, August 8, 1862.

Parker, Isaac C
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Pettyjohn, Samuel
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862, and paroled on October 14, 1862.

Phillips, W M
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1862, and paroled on July 10, 1862; transferred to Co. G, 38th Arkansas Infantry Regiment.

Richey, Hamilton W
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1862, and paroled on July 10, 1862; born in Gibson county, Kentucky, December 29, 1829; married (1) Mrs. Sarah Ann Richey in Lawrence county, Arkansas, December 12, 1852; married (2) Miss Mary Wayland in 1876; married (3) Miss Mattie E. Walker; bought land in Lawrence county in 1860.

Richey, William P
Fourth Sergeant—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; appointed fourth sergeant, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1862, and paroled on July 10, 1862; transferred to Co. G, 45th Arkansas Mounted Infantry; appointed first corporal; paroled at Jacksonport, Arkansas, June 5, 1865; born in Indiana, c1841; died in Arkansas, July 7, 1900; widow Mary A. Richey filed Arkansas pension application #19854 from Lawrence county, August 4, 1904.

Robertson, Jesse C
Second Lieutenant—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; elected second lieutenant, March 8, 1862; killed in action at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; born in Arkansas, c1839.

Russell, A M
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; detailed as shoemaker, July 1862; no further information.

Steiner [or Stainer], W H
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; wounded and captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862, and paroled on October 19, 1862.

Sullivan, J H
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; paroled at Iuka, Mississippi, October 19, 1862.

Wade, George
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured in Ripley county, Missouri, December 25, 1863; confined at U.S. Military Prison, Rock Island, Illinois; application to enlist there in U.S. Army rejected, March 1864.

Wayland, Henry B
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; bought land in Lawrence county in 1883.

Weir, James A
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; promoted first lieutenant, April 9, 1862; resigned for disability, July 29, 1862; enlisted in Co. G, 45th Arkansas Mounted Infantry, in Lawrence county, Arkansas; paroled at Jacksonport, Arkansas, June 5, 1865; born in North Carolina, c1819; married Sarah E. Sloan; bought land in Lawrence county in 1860.

Wells, James
Fifth Sergeant—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; appointed fifth sergeant, March 8, 1862; wounded at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; no further information.

West, James Monroe
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; transferred to Co. C, 12th Arkansas Sharpshooters Battalion, June 30, 1862; captured at Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 4, 1863, and paroled on July 13, 1863; died in Arkansas, March 24,1911; veteran filed Arkansas pension application #6546, August 23, 1901, and #6544, August 12, 1909, both from Lawrence county; widow Martha West filed for pension, August 10, 1911.

Willmuth, John W
Private—Enlisted at Powhatan, Arkansas, March 8, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

If you have any questions or comments or if you would like to have more information about the Civil War and Pension Records of the men who served in these Companies, contact  Bryan Howerton or   Jeri Helms Fultz