Ashley County Home Guard—1863.
Captain Benjamin Tiner

Among the various problems the war caused in Arkansas was the virtual collapse of civil authority in many parts of the State.  This collapse occurred at a time when guerrillas, bushwhackers, jayhawkers and other assorted criminals were running loose through the countryside.  The old militia organizations had ceased to exist, and those few Confederate troops not sent east of the Mississippi had their hands full, opposing Union movements.  The State capitol at Little Rock had just fallen to the Federals.

Directives went out to those counties still under Confederate control to form home guard companies.  They were to be composed of men and boys too old or too young for regular Confederate service, or who were otherwise exempt from the Conscript Law.  Because of the age of most of the home guards, they were popularly known as “greybeard companies.”  Their responsibilities included protection of persons and property, enforcing the Conscript Law by hunting down draft-dodgers, arresting army deserters, and supporting Confederate troops when called upon.

Home guards could obtain exemption from duty.  Certain occupations (such as physicians and ministers) or certain civil offices (such as justices of the peace) could afford exemptions.  A home guard could also provide a substitute to take his place.

The Ashley County Home Guard company was organized by Benjamin Tiner (the sheriff of Ashley county and a prominent landowner), and was composed of forty-five men, ranging in age from 31 to 70 years, with an average age of 49 years, plus one 15-year-old boy.  Only two of the men are known to have previously served in the Confederate army.  Three of the men are known to have subsequently served in the Confederate army.  The company was sworn into service by Colonel Alexander Travis Hawthorn at Hamburg on November 4, 1863, for a period of one year.  Although officially sworn into State service, they were also subject to orders from the Confederate government.

The following roster is taken from the Ashley County Home Guard muster roll, dated November 4, 1863.  The roster has been supplemented by census, land, marriage and cemetery information, where available.
 
 

Agee, Joseph
Private, age 56, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Mill Creek township; farmer; born in Alabama, c1817; married Sarah Jane Thompson in Monroe county, Alabama, 1845; married Adeline R. Thompson in Ashley county, Arkansas, July 4, 1849; bought land in Ashley county in 1855 and 1859.

Allen, Wade Hampton
Private, age 47, “enlisted to do duty in Ashley county;” not listed in Ashley county 1860 census; born in Franklin county, Georgia, March 17, 1817; died in Ashley county, Arkansas, May 19, 1898; buried in Egypt Cemetery, Ashley county; wife Sarah E.

Bell, Washington Lovett
Private, age 61, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Mill Creek township; farmer; born in North Carolina, c1803; wife Martha; bought land in Ashley county in 1851, 1852, 1856, 1858, 1859, 1860 and 1861.

Berry, Henry
Private, age 47, exempt; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Bearhouse township; farmer; born in Alabama, c1823; wife Mary A; bought land in Ashley county in 1860.

Boyd, Francis A
Private, age 50, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Longview township; farmer; born in South Carolina, January 8, 1809; died in Arkansas, January 6, 1887; buried in Oakland Cemetery, Drew county, Arkansas; wife Frances E.; bought land in Ashley county in 1849, 1855, 1857, 1858, 1859 and 1860; bought land in Chicot county in 1844 and 1849.

Campbell, Peter
Private, age 66, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Extra township; schoolteacher; born in Scotland, c1804.

Chandler, William
Private,age 70, present; not listed in Ashley county 1860 census; bought land in Union county in 1848 and 1859.

Cobb, Lewis
First Sergeant, age 47, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, White township; farmer; born in South Carolina, October 11, 1817; died in Ashley county, Arkansas, April 6, 1878; buried in Flat Creek Cemetery, Ashley county, Arkansas; wife S.L.; bought land in Ashley county in 1861; father of Littleton Turner Cobb.

Cobb, Littleton Turner
Private, age 15, substitute for Private A. M. Guice; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, White township; born in Alabama, March 4, 1848; died in Arkansas, November 15, 1898; buried in Flat Creek Cemetery, Ashley county, Arkansas; married J.F. Baker in Ashley county, December 8, 1875; widow filed Arkansas Confederate pension application #3076 from Ashley county, August 3, 1904 [12th Arkansas Cavalry, 1863-65]; son of Lewis Cobb.

Conner, William F
Private, age 65, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Extra township; farmer; born in Georgia, c1798; wife M.E.; bought land in Ashley county in 1855.

Cook, Samuel
Private, age 63, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, DeBastrop township; farmer; born in South Carolina, c1800; wife Jemima; bought land in Ashley county in 1860 and 1861.

Deal, Lemarcus
Private, age 57, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, White township; farmer; born in South Carolina, 1810; died in Arkansas, 1883; buried in Flat Creek Cemetery, Ashley county, Arkansas; married Sarah Barrett; bought land in Ashley county in 1859, 1860 and 1861.

Dickinson, Robert M
Private, age 43, exempt (physician); listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Carter township; physician; born in Virginia, c1820; wife M.W.

Dingler, Thomas
Private, age 48, present; not listed in Ashley county 1860 census; no further information.

Duckworth, William Younger
Third Corporal, age 31, exempt (justice of the peace); took oath of allegiance at Memphis, Tennessee, May 1865, as private in 1st Arkansas Cavalry [probably 12th Arkansas Cavalry]; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Mill Creek township; farmer; born in Covington county, Mississippi, December 5, 1825; died in Ashley county, Arkansas, January 29, 1889; buried in Duckworth Cemetery, Ashley county; married Civilia W. Welborn; married Nancy Virginia Welborn in Ashley county, November 21, 1858; bought land in Ashley county in 1858.

Files, James H
Private, age 46, exempt (physician); listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Bearhouse township; physician; born in Alabama, c1817; wife Matilda; bought land in Ashley county in 1857.

Foote, Richard W
Fifth Sergeant, age 33, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Carter township; farmer; born in Alabama, c1831; wife Margaret; bought land in Ashley county in 1861.

Gilmore, J A
Private, age 61, “enlisted to do duty in Ashley county;” not listed in Ashley county 1860 census; no further information.

Goodwin, John Swift
Private, age 40, exempt; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Carter township; farmer; born in Mississippi, August 7, 1826; died in Ashley county, Arkansas, March 1, 1890; buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ashley county; married Mary Elizabeth Sims in Noxubee county, Mississippi, March 2, 1848; married Susan C. Boyett in Ashley county, Arkansas, June 26, 1870; bought land in Ashley county in 1857, 1858, 1859 and 1860.

Griffin, Reuben Hosea
Private, age 57, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Mill Creek township; farmer; born in Georgia, c1806; married Sarah A. Pullen; bought land in Ashley county in 1859.

Griffith, Leonard L
Third Sergeant, age 42, exempt (justice of the peace); enlisted in Co. H, 12th Arkansas Cavalry, in Ashley county, December 19, 1863; absent without leave, February 1, 1864; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Marie Saline township; farmer; born in South Carolina, c1823; wife Sarah; bought land in Ashley county in 1858, 1859, 1860 and 1861.

Guice, A M
Private, age 50, exempt (“has a substitute Litt’n Cobb 15 years old”); not listed in Ashley county 1860 census; no further information.

Hill, John
Private, age 42, present; not listed in Ashley county 1860 census; bought land in Ashley county in 1860 and 1861.

Honeycutt, James Matthew
Second Corporal, age 31, exempt (“a minister of the Gospel”); listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Extra township; farmer; born in Alabama, c1834; married Mary Elizabeth Echols in Ashley county, January 28, 1865.

Hughes, William M
Private, age 45, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, White township; farmer; born in South Carolina, June 18, 1818; died in Ashley county, Arkansas, December 23, 1890; buried in Old Union Cemetery, Ashley county; married Margaret Rebecca Baldy in Ashley county, July 16, 1856; bought land in Ashley county in 1859 and 1860.

Johnson, John H
Second Lieutenant, age 53, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Bearhouse township; farmer; born in Mississippi, c1810; wife Nancy.

Kittrell, Egbert B
Private, age 52, “enlisted to do duty in Ashley county;” listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Carter township; merchant; born in North Carolina, 1810; died in Arkansas, 1868; buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ashley county, Arkansas; married Elizabeth Jenkins Evans; bought land in Ashley county in 1858, 1860 and 1861.

McDermott, John
Private, age 50, present; born c1813; not listed in Ashley county 1860 census; married V. C. Foster in Ashley county, March 10, 1852; married Adeline Adcock in Ashley county, May 20, 1863; bought land in Ashley county in 1860.

McGowan, John W
Private, age 42, detailed as shoemaker; enlisted in Co. B, 26th Arkansas Infantry, at Monticello, Arkansas, May 3, 1862; discharged, July 13, 1862; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Extra township; farmer; born in South Carolina, c1823; wife M.J.

Miller, Francis Washington
Private, age 41, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Extra township; farmer; born in Talladega county, Alabama, January 23, 1825; died in Ashley county, Arkansas, May 31, 1868; buried in Antioch Cemetery, Ashley county, Arkansas; married Nancy Honeycutt in Winston county, Alabama, September 20, 1847; bought land in Ashley county in 1860.

Moore, Sampson L
Private, age 35, exempt; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Carter township; merchant; wife F.E.; born in Georgia, February 12, 1832; died in Ashley county, Arkansas, April 30, 1906; buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ashley county; married Rebecca Sampson in Ashley county, October 19, 1891.

Moore, William D
Private, age 38, present; not listed in Ashley county 1860 census; born, October 12, 1831; died, December 1, 1880; buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ashley county, Arkansas; bought land in Ashley county in 1861.

Owens, William
Private, age 60, present; listed in Drew county 1860 census, Bearhouse township; farmer; born in South Carolina, c1803; wife Harriet; bought land in Drew county, Arkansas, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860.

Pugh, James R
Fourth Corporal, age 47, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Mill Creek township; farmer; born in Georgia, c1815; wife C.M.

Ramsaur, John Franklin
First Lieutenant, age 45, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Mill Creek township; farmer; born in North Carolina, January 17, 1819; died in Arkansas, September 28, 1904; buried in Bethel Cemetery, Ashley county, Arkansas; married Catherine P. Wellborn; Ashley county coroner, 1864-1866; bought land in Ashley county in 1860, 1861 and 1895.

Robbins, Henry G
Private, age 54, present; not listed in Ashley county 1860 census; married Elizabeth Ann Rhodes in Ashley county, Arkansas, July 17, 1864.

Sawyer, Robert B
Third Lieutenant, age 45, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Extra township; farmer; born in South Carolina, c1819; wife Olivia.

Shoemaker, James J
Private, age 40, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Marie Saline township; farmer; born in Alabama, c1823; married Phinbe Alford in Ashley county, May 15, 1862.

Sims, Hartwell J
Second Sergeant, age 42, present; enlisted in Co. A, 29th Arkansas Infantry, at Hamburg, Arkansas, March 15, 1862; appointed third corporal, March 15, 1862; reduced to private, June 10, 1862; discharged for disability at Devall’s Bluff, Arkansas, July 30, 1862; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Marie Saline township; farmer; born in Maury county, Tennessee; wife Martha A.; bought land in Ashley county in 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860 and 1861.

Sims, Henry Eugene
Private, age 57, exempt (“a minister of the Gospel”); listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Extra township; Baptist minister; born in Georgia, September 11, 1806; died in Ashley county, Arkansas, October 9, 1879; buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ashley county, Arkansas; married Charity M. Byrd in Perry county, Alabama, February 14, 1831; bought land in Ashley county in 1861.

Stell, Robert J
First Corporal, age 46, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Bearhouse township; farmer; born in Tennessee, 1818; died in Arkansas, 1882; buried in Promise Land Cemetery, Ashley county, Arkansas; wife Elizabeth; married Minnie C. Fudge in Ashley county, December 3, 1876; bought land in Ashley county in 1860.

Sumner, John
Private, age 45, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Extra township; farmer; born in Tennessee, 1818; died in Arkansas, February 22, 1878; buried in Parkdale Cemetery, Ashley county, Arkansas; wife Mary A.

Tiner, Benjamin
Captain, age 40, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Beech Creek township; farmer; born in Georgia, 1801; died in Arkansas, September 5, 1893; buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ashley county, Arkansas; wife Margaret; Ashley county sheriff, 1860-1867; bought land in Ashley county in 1874.

White, John H
Private, age 65, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Carter township; carpenter; born in South Carolina, c1799; wife Rachael.

Williams, Samuel J
Private, age 50, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Marie Saline township; farmer; born in North Carolina, c1813; wife Lavinia J.C. ; bought land in Ashley county in 1857, 1859 1860 and 1861.

Wimberly, Richard C Jr
Fourth Sergeant, age 47, present; listed in Ashley county 1860 census, Marie Saline township; farmer; born in Georgia, c1816; widower; bought land in Ashley county in 1855, 1859, 1860, 1885 and 1897.