Freeman's Regt., Missouri Cavalry, CSA.

BIOGRAPHY of

FREEMAN, Thomas R., Colonel CSA.

and Roster Index

Born in Benton, Missouri on February 22, 1829, to James and Rebecca (Roberts) Freeman. Thomas spent most of his youth growing up in Crawford County, Missouri and attending subscription schools. He learned the blacksmith trade and also engaged in raising livestock. In his spare time he read law and was admitted to the bar in St. Louis. He practiced law off and on until the Civil War broke out.

In 1849, Thomas married Mary Lamb a native of Crawford County. She died in 1861 leaving him with seven children. Later he married Mrs. Olive Spangle, a native of Connecticut and they had one child.

When the Civil War broke out Freeman helped to organize a regiment of troops for the Missouri State Guards. He was given the rank of Lieutenant in the Dent County Cavalry Company of General James McBrides’s Seventh Division. He rose in rank rapidly as he was soon promoted to Captain and just a few days later to Colonel.

On February 14, 1862, at Crane Creek, during the Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge) campaign Freeman was captured with 29 of his men by Major William D. Bowen’s Federal Missouri Cavalry Battalion. He was sent to the Federal Military Prison at Alton, Illinois, where he was paroled on June 18, 1862. He returned to his regiment and reorganized them as partisan rangers.

Later on January 16, 1864 he reorganized it as Freeman’s Missouri Cavalry Regiment with himself in command. Subsequently, he led a brigade under the command of General Joseph Shelby in Northern Arkansas. During General Price’s Missouri Raid in the fall of 1864 the brigade was attached to General Marmaduke’s Division. The additional units that made up Freeman’s Brigade was Lt. Colonel Barney Ford’s Arkansas Cavalry Battalion and Fristoe’s Regiment Missouri Cavalry.

During the period from his parole until Prices’s Raid, Freeman established a headquarters near Mammoth Spring, Arkansas and the Spring River Mill. His area of activity ranged over Northern Arkansas and as far north as Salem and Houston in Southern Missouri. The number of troops in his command ranged from 200 to 1500 men.

Having his headquarters near the Spring River Mill provided his men with lots of game and fresh water. The horses for his cavalry raids had plenty of forage and grain. The availability of water and forage also brought raiding Federal troops to destroy the Rebel stronghold, which brought about several skirmishes with Freeman’s command.

Not much is know of Freeman’s activities as he did not file reports with his superiors. What is written about his activities was done by others, including the enemy. His troops fought well but were usually short on arms and did not fare as well as some well armed brigades. General Price did report that Freeman shot two of his own men for marauding on the Missouri Raid.

Freeman was wounded four times during the war and his command was one of the last to surrender on June 6, 1865.

After the war Freeman practiced law in Jacksonport, Arkansas for three years before moving back to Missouri. In 1886 he was elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney in Newton County after filing that vacancy by appointment.


These Rosters are in alphabetical order

A THROUGH E

F THROUGH J

K THROUGH P

Q THROUGH Y

PLEASE NOTE: THIS INFORMATION WAS TAKEN FROM THE MICROFlIM OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND WAS RESEARCHED BY ED GROOMS.

The information on these pages was collected and researched by ED GROOMS on this Unit. Any questions you may have or additional information you would like to have , Please contact
Ed GROOMS and he will be happy to help you.

Mr. Grooms has given these records and Civil War information to the Edward G. Gerdes Civil War pages and to Arkansas to be used for research. The Information can be used and copied for genealogical purposes and not for sales of any kind.... A copy of this disclaimer must appear with any use of the information on this page.

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