By the second year of the war, Little Rock’s population had increased to unprecedented levels.  The city was overflowing with Confederate troops, refugees from north Arkansas, Federal prisoners of war, and, unfortunately, the human debris that inevitably accompanies war—deserters, war profiteers, camp-followers, thieves, spies, criminals and con-artists of all sorts.  Major-General Thomas Carmichael Hindman, commanding the Trans-Mississippi Department, addressed the problem by issuing special orders which established a Provost Guard company at Little Rock.  The company was composed of citizens between the ages of 16 and 45, not subject to the Conscript Law, whose job was to serve as a “Special Police and Provost Guard.”  The company was enlisted on June 10, 1862, with John D. Willett, captain; Samuel E. Foust, first lieutenant; Emsley C. Shillcutt, second lieutenant; and Robert Dolive, third lieutenant.  The company reported to Colonel Benjamin F. Danley, Provost-Marshal General, commanding the Post of Little Rock.

Only one muster roll of the Little Rock Provost Guard survives, covering the period June 10 to July 25, 1862.  The muster roll bears the following endorsement:  “I certify that the above is a correct & true muster roll of Provost Guard at this Post, compo ed of citizens between the ages of 16 & 45, not subject to the Conscript Law; and that the same was organized under and by virtue of Special Orders of Maj. Genl. T. C. Hindman for a Special Police and Provost Guard.—B. F. DANLEY, Col. Comdg. Post, & Prov. Mar. General.”

Several of the members of the Little Rock Provost Guard had formerly served in Co. A, 13th Regiment Arkansas Militia, and some of them later served in regular Confederate units.  Many of them are buried in the old Mount Holly Cemetery at Little Rock.

Alexander, S—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Bailey, Charles M—Private; also in (old) Co. C, 8th Arkansas Battalion.
Bankston, L F—Private.
Beller, Allen T—Private.
Belote, N—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Billings, A D—Private.
Bott, Isaac—Private.
Boyle, C—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Brantley, John S—Private; also in Washington Artillery.
Brodie, John—Private.
Brown, Vernon King—Private.
Bussey, W J—Private.
Case, Henry N—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Cavanaugh, George—Private; also in Weaver Light Artillery.
Cavanaugh, Peter—Private.
Cilias, A—Private.
Collins, John—Private.
Compton, P N—Private; also in Co. G, 6th Arkansas Cavalry.
Cox, William—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Cunningham, Justice—Private.
Davidson, J A—Fifth Sergeant.
Dickson, William—Private.
Dodd, Andrew Marion—Private.
Dodge, George Eugene—Private.
Dolive, Robert—Third Lieutenant.
Donahue, John—Private.
Duell, D C—Private.
Durr, David—Private.
Fimpel, Isaac—Private; also in Weaver Light Artillery.
Fones, J A—Private.
Foust, Samuel E—First Lieutenant.
George, Alexander Martin Jr—Second Sergeant.
Hager, A—Private.
Harmon, John—Private.
Hensley, Josephus—Private.
Hollander, E—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Horn, M—Private.
Hughes, George A—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Hyneman, L—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Inman, John—Third Sergeant.
James, A C—Private.
Johl, A—Private.
Johnson, William B—Private.
Jones, William M—Private.
Jordan, W R—Private.
King, R B—Private.
Kirk, William—Private.
Kirkwood, Thomas—Private.
Kolbe, Charles—Private.
Kumpe, Martin Luther—Private.
Lee, J W—Private.
Lorence, J M—Private.
Mayer, Samuel G—Private.
Meinhart, F—Private.
Metzger, George—Private.
Metzger, P—Private.
Moran, William—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Murphy, George—Private.
Murphy, William—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Murphy, William L—Private.
Murray, William—Private.
Navra, M—Fourth Sergeant.
Pollock, Abraham—First Sergeant.
Pollock, William D—Private.
Ray, J C—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Rice, John Quincy—Third Corporal.
Roach, Henry—Private.
Sarasin, Ferdinand A—Private; Pulaski County Assessor, 1874-1876.
Shillcutt, Emsley Cornelius—Second Lieutenant.
Shilling, G W—Private.
Shonen, Peter—Private.
Struwve, A—Private.
Tracy, M—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Turkis, Charles F—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Wade, William M—Private.
Wait, George Herbert—First Corporal; also in Weaver Light Artillery.
Walter, Loving—Private; also in Co. A, 13th Arkansas Militia.
Willett, John D—Captain.
Willett, Simeon Pratt—Private.
Williams, Charles—Private.
Wingo, N J—Private.
Yoest, Charles P—Private.
Yonley, T D W—Private.

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