FRISTOE'S REGIMENT

MISSOURI CAVALRY

Biography of Edward T. Fristoe

In May, 1864 Colonel Edward T. Fristoe of Rappahannoch, VA was appointed commander of a band of Confederate soldiers that were to be known as Fristoe's Regiment. The 35 year old Colonel took command of a unit that had began organizing in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas in the late 1863 and early 1864.

Fristoes's Regiment was officially organized in July, 1864 with 830 officers and men. It served in the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy. During General Sterling Prices's Missouri Expedition it was attached to Colonel Thomas R. Freeman's Brigade of Major General John S. Marmaduke's Division.

This unit, like most units that were organized during the Civil War, formed companies made up from the cities, towns, or counties in the area loyal to their respective cause. The age of the men ranged from 15 to 45 years of age.

The Regiment saw it's first action in Northern Arkansas in late February and early March of 1864. The unit was commanded at that time by J. H. Tracy, who led the band of about 40 Confederate guerrillas against a party of Sixth Cavalry, Missouri Militia near the North Fork of White River.

Companies were enlisted as follows with the name of the company commanders(s):

Company A and B - Capt. N. H. Tracy (A) state of Arkansas - Capt. William J. Smith (B)

Company C - Fulton, Izard, Lawrence Co, Arkansas - Unknown

Company D - Izard, Searcy Co., Big Flat, Flat Woods, Arkansas - Unknown

Company E - Izard, Co. Arkansas - Capt. M. H. Wolf

Company F - State of Arkansas - Capt. S. M. Elliot & Capt. David C. Meadows

Company G - Webster Township  Missouri - Capt. Thomas J. Sitton

Company H - Thomasville, Missouri - Capt. James B. Old

Company I - Oregon Co. Missouri - Capt. Thomas J. Weaver

Company K - Oregon Co. Missouri and Fulton Co. Arkansas - Capt. Jesse Orchard

Company L - Alton Missouri - Capt. W. W. Greer & Capt. R. W. Miner

The Regiment saw it's first action in Northern Arkansas in late February and early March of 1864. The unit was commanded at that time by J. H. Tracy, who led the band of about 40 Confederate guerrillas against a party of Sixth Cavalry, Missouri Militia near the North Fork of White River.

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 who has written a soon to be published book on this Unit. Any questions you may have or additional information, Please contact
Ed GROOM and he will be happy to help you. The original information came to us from Ms. T.J. HARPER. We thank them both for making us aware of this little known Unit and we are prould to have this on our pages... Many thanks again from us all.

If you want to send for the CIVIL WAR and PENSION records on these men, they will have to be ordered from:

Director Records Management & Archives Service,
Secretary of State's Office
P.O. Box 778,
1001 Industrial Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65102

These Companies can be seen on the pages of Edward G. Gerdes who is kind enough to have them there for Lawrence County and for all of us.