This volunteer company was organized at Little Rock, Arkansas, in early 1861, composed mostly of men from Pulaski County.  In April 1861, the Peyton Rifles was one of four Little Rock volunteer companies selected to form Colonel Solon Borland’s composite militia battalion.  Solon’s battalion traveled up the Arkansas River to Fort Smith, where it forced the surrender of the United States Army post in a bloodless show of force.  The “Fort Smith Expedition” lasted from April 20 to 30, 1861.  Upon its return to Little Rock, the Peyton Rifles seems to have disbanded.  Its members subseqnuently enlisted in regular Confederate units.  In March 1862, the Peyton Rifles apparently reorganized.  A company led by Capt. James J. Franklin, calling itself the Peyton Rifles, and containing a handful of the original members of the company, enlisted in Confederate service at Little Rock.  Initially assigned as (old) Company B, 8th Battalion Arkansas Infantry, it was transferred to the 25th Regiment Arkansas Infantry as Company F in May 1862.

The following roster of the Peyton Rifles is taken from the payroll of the company for the period April 20-30, 1861, during the “Fort Smith Expedition”.  This is the only known record of the original company.

Ambean, W J—Private.

Banks, R T—Private.  Later served in Co. I, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Barnum, J R—Private.

Bilby, James H—Second Corporal.

Bowman, John—Private.

Bryant, Ogden—Second Lieutenant.  Later served in the 7th Arkansas Field Battery.

Connolly, Patrick—Private.  Later served in the Pulaski Light Artillery.

Curry, William—Private.  Later served in the Pulaski Light Artillery.

Douglas, William R—Private.  Later served in the Pulaski Light Artillery.

Ellis, J—Private.

Ferguson, Robert R—Private.  Later served in Co. F, 25th Arkansas Infantry.

Fields, William L—Private.  Later served in Co. A, 6th Arkansas Infantry.

Fones, Alvin Thomas—Private.  Later served in the Weaver Light Artillery.

Franklin, James J—First Lieutenant.  Later served in Co. F, 25th Arkansas Infantry.

Gary, J—Private.

Green, J P—Private.  Later served in Co. A, 6th Arkansas Infantry.

Haven, William S—Third Lieutenant.  Later served in Co. I, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Helden, G F—Private.

Hezekiah, F W—Private.

Higgins, M—Private.

Jennings, R H—Private.

Keeley, Thomas J—Private.  Later served in Co. F, 25th Arkansas Infantry.

Kellogg, Jonathan—Private.  Later served in Co. A, 6th Arkansas Infantry.

King, Robert M—Private.  Later served in Co. D, 3rd Arkansas Cavalry.

Kirwin, J—Private.

Larrantree, Augustus—Private.  Later served in Co. A, 18th (Marmaduke’s) Arkansas Infantry.

Lee, Thomas J—Private.  Later served in the Pulaski Light Artillery.

Leslie, William—Private.  Later served in Co. I, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Levy, J—Private.  Later served in Co. A, 18th (Marmaduke’s) Arkansas Infantry.

McKenzie, John C—Private.  Later served in Co. A, 6th Arkansas Infantry.

Monroe, Edward—Private.  Later served in Co. F, 1st Arkansas Infantry.

Morrison, J D—Private.

Murphy, T—Private.

Newbern, Benjamin H—Private.  Later served in the Pulaski Light Artillery.

Parker, John H—Private.

Patten, T P—Private.

Quinn, Michael—Private.  Later served in the Pulaski Light Artillery.

Rider, William H—Private.  Later served in the Pulaski Light Artillery.

Ringo, Daniel W—Captain.  Later served in Co. A, 6th Arkansas Infantry.

Rowan, Thomas G—Private.  Later served in Co. E, 1st Arkansas Infantry.

Sibley, John—Private.  Later served in Co. A, 6th Arkansas Infantry.

Smith, J M B—Third Corporal.  Later served in Co. D, 3rd Arkansas Cavalry.

Spaulding, Horatio Nelson—Private.  Later served in Co. F, 1st Arkansas Infantry.

Spivey, W—Private.

Stone, Edward—Private.  Later served in Co. F, 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

Stuckey, O F—First Corporal.  Later served in Co. A, 6th Arkansas Infantry.

Theuma, Charles—Private.  Later served in the Weaver Light Artillery.

Thomas, W H—Private.  Later served in Co. D, 3rd Arkansas Cavalry.

Thornton, M—Private.  Later served in Co. A, 18th (Marmaduke’s) Arkansas Infantry.

Townsend, Andrew W—Private.  Later served in Co. F, 25th Arkansas Infantry.

Tracy, M—Private.  Later served in the Little Rock Provost Guard Company.

Wagoner, H J—Second Sergeant.

Ward, C W—Private.

Ward, J W—Private.  Later served in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.

Ward, Joseph Henry—First Sergeant.  Later served in the Ordnance Dept., Little Rock Arsenal.

Waters, Jefferson—Private.  Later served in Co. G, 20th Arkansas Infantry.

Wright, David J—Private.  Later served in the Pulaski Light Artillery.

2001 -copyright -The above information may be used for non-commercial historical and genealogical purposes only and with the consent of the page owner may be copied for the same purposes so long as this notice remains a part of the copied material. EDWARD G. GERDES

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.