The Hempstead Rifles was raised in Hempstead county, and completed its organization on May 4, 1861, at Washington, Arkansas, with the election of John R. Gratiot, captain; Daniel W. Jones, first lieutenant; Benjamin P. Jett, Jr., second lieutenant; and George Taylor, third lieutenant.  The Rifles carried 102 men on the rolls.  The company marched to northwest Arkansas, where they were assigned to a regiment on July 15, 1861, at Camp Walker, near Harmony Springs, Benton county, Arkansas.

According to the regimental numbering plan of the State Military Board, the regiment was officially designated as the Second Regiment, Arkansas State Troops (Infantry).  However, Brigadier-General Nicholas Bartlett Pearce, commanding the Arkansas State Brigade, generally did things his own way, and assigned his regiments sequential numbers based upon date of enlistment.  Therefore, the regiment is usually referred to in most contemporary records as the Third Regiment, Arkansas State Troops.

The Hempstead Rifles were assigned as Company B.  Captain Gratiot was appointed colonel and regimental commander, William P. Hart succeeding him as captain.  Other members of the Hempstead Rifles appointed to regimental duties included Joseph M. Simms, quartermaster; Cadsman Pope, chaplain; and William C. Smith, surgeon.

The Arkansas State Brigade, along with Brigadier-General Ben McCulloch’s Confederate brigade, marched north into Missouri, where they linked up with Major-General Sterling Price’s Missouri State Guard.  The combined force then moved towards Springfield, Missouri.  On the morning of August 10, 1861, while encamped along Wilson’s Creek, just south of Springfield, the Southern army was attacked by a Union force under Brigadier-General Nathaniel Lyon.  The ensuing battle was one of the largest and most desperately-fought engagements in the western theater.  Gratiot’s regiment had been held in reserve during the early part of the battle; however, a renewed Union assault on the Confederate right flank prompted calls for its immediate deployment.  Forming in a long battle line, Gratiot’s regiment charged up Oak Hill toward the Union lines.  The regiment had reached a point about 40 yards from the enemy when the Federals unleashed a massive volley directly into the charging Arkansans.  The regiment wavered momentarily, as scores of men fell dead or wounded, then charged forward with a roar and smashed into the Federals.  After a vicious, face-to-face fight, using bayonets and clubbed muskets, the Southerners broke the Federal line.  The Yankees fled in disorder back to Springfield, leaving their commanding general dead on the field.

The gallant charge of Gratiot’s regiment secured the Southern victory, but at an appalling cost—out of approximately 500 men who had mustered that morning, over 100 were casualties.  The Hempstead Rifles suffered four killed and thirteen wounded.  Confederate General McCulloch addressed the heroes of Oak Hill, remarking, “You saved me and the battle.”

Following the engagement at Wilson’s Creek, with their three-month State enlistements expiring, the Arkansas State Brigade returned to Arkansas, where they were all mustered out of service by September 19, 1861.  The Hempstead Rifles was disbanded, and most of its members immediately enlisted in regular Confederate regiments.

An extraordinary number of the Hempstead Rifles went on to become officers in the Confederate army.  At least three of them, besides Colonel Gratiot, went on to become field-grade officers: Daniel W. Jones, colonel in the 20th Arkansas Regiment; Benjamin P. Jett, Jr., major in the 17th Arkansas Regiment; and Jesse A. Ross, major in the 4th Arkansas Battalion.  Two went on to command artillery batteries: Chambers B. Etter, captain of the Washington Artillery; and William P. Hart, captain of the Dallas Artillery.  Another twenty or so went on to become lieutenants and captains of infantry companies and cavalry troops.

Aaron, Archelaus S—Private; later in Co. C, 6th Arkansas Cavalry.

Albright, John—Private.

Alexander, Edward E—Private; wounded at Wilson’s Creek; later in Co. A, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Alexander, Lemuel W—Private; later in Co. D, 6th Arkansas Cavalry.

Alexander, William A—Private; later in Co. C, 6th Arkansas Cavalry.

Allen, Samuel C—Private; severely wounded at Wilson’s Creek.

Arnett, Andrew Jackson—Private; later in Co. B, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Arnett, Francis B—Private; later in Co. H, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Bass, A J—Private.

Blackman, Eli—Private.

Blevins, Armistead Willis—Private; later in Co. H, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Blevins, Hugh A Jr—Private; later in Co. A, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Blevins, John C—Private; later in Co. A, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Booe, Jacob F—Private; later in Co. K, 12th Arkansas Infantry.

Britt, G D—Private; severely wounded at Wilson’s Creek.

Carlock, Samuel G—Private; later in Co. E, 15th Arkansas Infantry.

Caruthers, William J—Private; later in Co. D, 12th Arkansas Battalion Sharpshooters.

Caughran, R O—Private.

Cheatham, Green A—Private; later in Co. B, 4th Arkansas Infantry.

Clark, Ludlow B—Private; later in Co. A, 8th Arkansas Battalion.

Conway, Henry G—Private; later in Co. D, 6th Arkansas Cavalry.

Crabtree, Thomas K—Private; later in Co. G, 26th Arkansas Infantry.

Cross, Homer C—Private; severely wounded at Wilson’s Creek; later in Co. H, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Daniels, T F—Private.

Davenport, J R—Private.

Deloney, S P—Private; later in Co. B, 4th Arkansas Infantry.

Dowman, John—Private; later in Co. B, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Draper, Mathew M—Private; later in Co. I, 19th Arkansas Infantry; died at Petersburg, Virginia, May 27, 1863.

Erwin, James P—First Sergeant; later in 8th Arkansas Militia.

Etter, Chambers Brady—Second Sergeant; later commanded the Washington Artillery.

Ferguson, James R—Private; later in Co. A, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Ferguson, William J—Private; later a quartermaster in 4th Arkansas Infantry.

Fussell, Charles J—Private; later in Co. B, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Garland, William H—Private.

Graham, John—Private.

Gratiot, John Rene—Captain; appointed colonel, commanding regiment.

Griffin, John T—Private.

Griffin, M—Private.

Harry, Dempsey C—Private; later in Co. F, 3rd Arkansas Infantry; died at Richmond, Virginia, April 17, 1863.

Hart, William Priestly—Private; promoted captain; later commanded the Dallas Artillery.

Hassell, R R—Private.

Hawks, Daniel H—Private; wounded at Wilson’s Creek; later in Co. H, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Hay, Oliver F—Private; later in Co. A, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Hill, James—Private.

Jett, Benjamin P Jr—Second Lieutenant; later a major in the 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Jett, Edward D—Private; later in Co. H, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Johnson, William N—Private; later in Co. H, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Jones, Daniel Webster—First Lieutenant; wounded at Wilson’s Creek; later commanded the 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Jones, Robert W—Private; later in Co. A, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Kidd, William—Private; wounded at Wilson’s Creek.

Langston, M L—Fourth Sergeant; killed at Wilson’s Creek.

Lilley, G W—Private.

McIver, J T—Private.

Martin, Henry L—Private; later in Co. C, 6th Arkansas Cavalry; died as a prisoner of war, December 19, 1864.

Mears, William F—Private.

Mitchel, Charles Elmore—Private; later in Co. B, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Nealy, John H—Private; later in Co. B, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Orton, George Washington—Fifth Sergeant; later in Co. H, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Owsley, C B—Private; later in Co. H, 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

Oxley, George S—Private; later in Co. C, 12th Arkansas Battalion Sharpshooters.

Parker, James R—Private; killed at Wilson’s Creek.

Peyton, Charles—Private; later in Co. C, 6th Arkansas Cavalry.

Phillips, William B—Third Sergeant; severely wounded at Wilson’s Creek.

Pope, Cadsman—Private; appointed regimental chaplain.

Preston, Grandison Delaney Royston—Private.

Reeder, David N—Private.

Reeder, John W—Private; later in Co. I, 19th Arkansas Infantry.

Reynolds, E T—Private; later in Co. E, 15th Arkansas Infantry.

Reynolds, Thomas James—Corporal; wounded at Wilson’s Creek.

Rimes, William—Private.

Ross, Jesse A—Private; later commanded the 4th Arkansas Battalion.

Rowles, John A—Commissary; later in Co. A, 4th Arkansas Infantry.

Sanders, Fleming—Private; later in Co. H, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Saner, John F—Private; later in Co. A, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Sauter, E—Private.

Simms, Joseph Montcalm—Private; appointed regimental quartermaster; killed at Wilson’s Creek.

Simms, Thomas Hamilton—Private; severely wounded at Wilson’s Creek.

Sissell, George—Private.

Sissell, J B—Private; later in Co. B, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Sissell, James—Private.

Skinner, J F—Private.

Smith, Thomas C—Private; later in Co. H, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Smith, W H—Private; later in Co. H, 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

Smith, William C—Private; appointed regimental surgeon.

Stewart, James L—Private.

Stinson, Wiley—Corporal; severely wounded at Wilson’s Creek; later in Co. H, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Street, J W—Private.

Stuart, John P—Private; later in Co. H, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Stuart, Joseph Lorenzo—Private; later in Co. A, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Taylor, George—Third Lieutenant.

Thomas, Joel W—Private; later in Co. H, 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

Thomas, Joseph—Private.

Warner, Alanson L—Private; severely wounded at Wilson’s Creek; later in Co. D, 6th Arkansas Cavalry.

Watt, J A—Private.

Weldon, William W—Private.

Whitmore, Edward J—Private; later in Co. D, 20th Arkansas Infantry; killed at Corinth, Mississippi, October 4, 1862.

Whitmore, John L—Private; later in Co. A, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Williams, H B—Private; later in Co. E, 4th Arkansas Infantry.

Wilson, William H—Private; killed at Wilson’s Creek.

Worsham, George H—Private; severely wounded at Wilson’s Creek.

Wright, Joseph—Private; later in Co. E, 4th Arkansas Infantry.

Wylie, Thomas J—Private; later in Co. C, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

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