The Washington Artillery was organized at Washington, Hempstead county, Arkansas, on June 14, 1862, by Captain Chambers Brady Etter.  The battery was later designated as the 6th Arkansas Field Battery.  The Washington Artillery spent its entire existence in the Trans-Mississippi Army, serving in Arkansas and Louisiana.  Initially equipped with six Parrott guns, elements of Etter’s Battery  fought at Helena and Little Rock in 1863, and at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, in 1864.  Toward the end of the war, the Washington Artillery was coverted to siege artillery, manning 8-inch Columbiads and siege guns at Grand Ecore and Alexandria, Louisiana.  The remnants of the battery surrendered at Alexandria, Louisiana, June 4, 1865.

The records of the Washington Artillery are highly fragmentary.  One muster roll survives, dated January 7, 1863, “in Camp at Little Rock,” when the battery was stationed on the grounds of St. John’s College.  This roll probably only lists a third of the men who actually served with the Washington Artillery during the war.  From other sources, such as prisoner-of-war records, pension applications, and postwar reminiscences, an expanded, but certainly a non-authoritative roster of most of the men has been developed.

In the following muster roll, entries taken from the roll are shown as “quotations.”  The researcher’s remarks are {bracketed].

Anthony, James—Private.  “Deserted at Camp near St Johns Hospital, Little Rock, Ark., Oct. 15, 1862.”

Arnett, John C—First Lieutenant.  “Absent on detailed service recruiting.  Left Dec. 4, 1862.”  [Listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Askew, David Thomas—Private.  “Present.”  [Died as a prisoner of war, April 6, 1864; previously served in Co. F, 24th Arkansas Infantry; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Barton, Jonathan E—Private.  “Absent sick.  Furloughed Nov. 20, 1862.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; Confederate pension application in 1901 from Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Barton, Joseph F—Private.  “Died in St Johns Hospital, Little Rock, Dec. 4, 1862.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; name also listed variously as Joseph E. and Joseph T. Barton.]

Barton, Samuel M—Private.  “Present.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Benningfield, Joseph—Private.  “Present.”  [Listed in Hempstead county 1860 census; moved to Texas after the war.]

Brantley, John S—Private.  “Enlisted in Company Dec. 26, 1862, Little Rock, Ark.”  [Previously served in Little Rock Provost Guard; widow’s Confederate pension application in 1915 from Pulaski county.]

Bryant, William C—Third Lieutenant.  “Absent.  Formerly Jr 2d Lieut of Company.  Relieved by Genl Orders No. 81 from Adjt. & Inspt. Gen. Office, Richmond, Va., bearing date Nov. 1, 1862.  Appointed 6th Sergt of Company Dec. 9, 1862.”  [Previously served in 8th Arkansas Militia; his family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Caldwell, William—Private.  “Present.”  [Subsequently killed in action at Mansfield, Louisiana; his family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Castleman, James Moses—Private.  “Present.”  [Listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Clendenin, George W—Private.  “Present.”  [Widow’s Confederate pension application in 1910 from Hempstead county.]

Crawford, J G—Private.  “Present.”

Cummings, J P—Private.  “Present.”  [Name also appears as J. F. Cummins.]

Davis, John E—Private.  “Absent sick Sept. 26, 1862, Hempstead Co., Ark.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Deloney, Edmund T—Third Lieutenant.  “Present.”  [Resigned, June 9, 1863; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Dyer, James G—Private.  “Discharged on Surgeons Certificate of Disability, Little Rock, Oct. 22, 1862.”  [Listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Epperson, George W—Private.  “Present.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county.]

Etter, Chambers Brady—Captain.  “Present.”  [Previously served in the Hempstead Rifles and 8th Arkansas Militia; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Evans, George W—Private.  “Present.”

Ferrell, Joseph D—Private.  “Absent sick Oct. 1, 1862, Hempstead Co., Ark.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families in Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county, 1860 census; name also shown as Joseph B. Ferrill.]

Frantroup, Henry—Private.  “Enlisted in Company Dec. 7, 1862, Little Rock, Ark.”

Fulton, R A—Private.  “Present.”

Griffin, John C—Private.  “Absent.  Detailed to Q.M. Dept., Washington, Ark.”

Harris, James—Private.  “Present.”

Harris, L D—Private.  “Present.”

Hinton, Franklin J—Private.  “Present.”  [His family appears on an 1861 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census; listed in 1911 Arkansas Confederate census.]

Hoagland, Thomas—Private.  “Deserted at Camp near St Johns Hospital, Little Rock, Ark., Oct. 15, 1862.”  [Confederate pension application in Oklahoma; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census; also shown as Hogland.]

Hoagland, William—Private.  “Deserted at Camp near St Johns Hospital, Little Rock, Ark., Oct. 15, 1862.”  [Listed in Hempstead county 1860 census; also shown as Hogland.]

Holbrook, William R—Private.  “Present.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; also shown as Holdbrooks.]

Jacobs, William R—Second Lieutenant.  “Present.”  [Previously served in 8th Arkansas Militia; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Johnson, J V—Private.  “Present.”  [Appointed assistant surgeon, May 26, 1863; previously served in Co. D, 6th Arkansas Cavalry.]

Jones, George W—Private.  “Discharged on Surgeons Certificate of Disability, Little Rock, Ark., Oct. 22, 1862.”

Jones, William M—Private.  “Present.”

Lafferty, Thomas Jefferson—Private.  “Present.”  [Transferred to Co. C, 6th Arkansas Cavalry, November 6, 1863; his family appears in an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; also shown as Lafferton.]

Lester, Henry E—Private.  “Present.”

Lowery, James—Private.  “Present.”

Lusk, William H—Private.  “Present.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county.]

McCain, Robert—Private.  “Deserted, Hempstead County, Ark., October 1862.”  [Confederate pension application in 1916 from Pulaski county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

McElroy, W P—Private.  “Present.”

McIntyre, J T—Private.  “Present.”

McJunkins, Richard L—Private.  “Present.”  [Previously served in Co. E, 15th Arkansas Infantry; his family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; also shown as Richard S. McJunkins.]

McLeod, W D—Private.  “Present.”

McMahan, James Boyd—Private.  “Present.  Extra duty driving Co. wagon since Sept. 1, 1862.”

Morris, William S—Private.  “Died in St Johns Hospital, Little Rock, Nov. 29, 1862.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county.]

Neighbors, William J—Private.  “Present.  Extra duty driving Co. wagon since Sept. 1, 1862.”  [His family appears in an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1862 census; also shown as William I. Neighbors.]

Phillips, James M—Private.  “Present.”

Powell, Elijah J—Private.  “Present.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Prince, Reuben H—Private.  “Present.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; Confederate pension application in 1908 from Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Puckett, John William—Private.  “Q.M. Dept.  Co. Forage Master since Sept. 1, 1862.”  [Previously served in the Davis Blues.]

Ragsdale, B H—Private.  “Present.”

Reeder, Joshua W—Private.  “Present.”

Roach, John S—Private.  “Present.”

Roach, Robert A—Private.  “Present.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county.]

Rogers, B W—Private.  “Present.”  [Also shown as Rodgers.]

Rosenbaum, Alexander—Private.  “Died in St Johns Hospital, Little Rock, Dec. 9, 1862.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Rosenbaum, Alford—Private.  “Present.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census; also shown as Alfred Rosenbaum.]

Sanders, Eli W—Private.  “Present.”  [Previously served in the Hempstead Rifles; his family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county.]

Smith, Alexander—Private.  “Absent without leave since Sept. 1, 1862.”

Smith, Stephen—Private.  “Present.”

Stephens, George Washington—Private.  “Present.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; Confederate pension application in 1908 from Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Stephens, Thomas J—Private.  “Present.  Extra duty driving Co. wagon since Sept. 1, 1862.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; Confederate pension application in 1910 from Hempstead county; listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Stephenson, James W—Corporal.  “Absent sick Dec. 8, 1862, Pulaski Co., 20 miles from L. Rock.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county.]

Tinnon, Daniel N—Private.  “Present.”  [His family appears on an 1862 list of indigent families of soldiers in Hempstead county; also listed as David N. Tinnon.]

Titcomb, Beniah—Sergeant.  “Absent sick.  Furloughed Nov. 6, 1862 for 60 days, Washington, Ark.”

Webb, Francis Marion—Private.  “Died in St Johns Hospital, Little Rock, Nov. 19, 1862.”  [Listed in Hempstead county 1860 census.]

Webb, John—Private.  “Absent sick, Dec. 28, 1862, Little Rock, Ark.”

Westerfield, William—Private.  “Present.  Extra duty driving Co. wagon since Sept. 1, 1862.”

Williams, William W—Private.  “Present.”

Willis, Henry—Private.  “Present.”

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  Jeri Helms Fultz or Bryan Howerton