The 1st Regiment, Arkansas State Troops, was organized mainly from existing volunteer militia companies[1] several of which had participated in the seizure of the Federal Arsenal at Little Rock.

Ten Volunteer Companies were enrolled in State service on May 14, 1861, at Camp Rector, near Mound City, 6 miles (9.7 km) above Memphis on the Mississippi River.

[3] Under the command of Colonel Patrick Cleburne, the unit was transferred from state service to Confederate service on July 23, 1861, at Pitman's Ferry, AR and was initially designated as the 1st Arkansas Infantry;[11] This transfer was not binding on the men, who could opt out if they so desired.

Thus, by January 1862 Cleburne's 1st Arkansas Regiment was reorganized for the war as the 15th Arkansas Regiment, as follows:[citation needed] Colonel Cleburne was appointed Brigadier General in March 1862, and was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Archibald K. Patton.

The U.S. War Department cataloged the regiment's Compiled Service Records as the 15th (Josey's) Arkansas Infantry.

[14] Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald K. Patton, the 15th Arkansas saw its first combat at the Battle of Shiloh, April 6–7, 1862, where it suffered heavy casualties in driving back Sherman's division of Union troops.

[15] All twelve-month regiments had to re-muster and enlist for two additional years or the duration of the war; a new election of officers was ordered; and men who were exempted from service by age or other reasons under the Conscription Act were allowed to take a discharge and go home.

[17] After reorganizing at Corinth, the regiment participated with Cleburne's Brigade in the Confederate Army of the Mississippi during the Battles of Richmond and Perryville, Kentucky, in October 1862.

Colonel William P. Martin who was commanding the 1st and 15th combined Arkansas Regiments, jumped on the earthworks and ordered his Confederate soldiers to cease firing.

He then waved a white flag of truce yelling to the Union soldiers to "come and get your wounded, they are burning to death."

For a short time the Union and Confederate soldiers helped remove the wounded and put out the fires.

[12] The regiment and the rest of Govan's Brigade were released and exchanged just in time to participate in General John B.

The flag of the combined 5th/13th Arkansas was issued in March 1864 and was captured by Benjamin Newman of the 88th Illinois Infantry at the battle of Franklin.

[citation needed] Like other regiments in Hardee's Corps, the 15th Arkansas probably carried a Hardee Pattern Battle flag, with a large white moon on a blue field, similar to flags of the 6th Arkansas Infantry Regiment.

Miss Emma Rightor, representing the young ladies of Helena, presented a flag to Capt.

Joseph C. Barlow of the Phillips Guards, upon the unit's return from the Seizure of the Little Rock Arsenal.

[29] The flag of the Jefferson Guards was presented to the company on May 15, 1861, while the unit was stationed at Camp Rector, near present-day West Memphis.

The flag is 48" by 96" and consists of a blue field with the letters JG surrounded by the inscription "FIAT JUSTICIA RUAT COELUM" and "ARKANSAS".

The reverse side of the flat has a cotton plant surrounded by 15 stars and the inscription "REGNANT POPULI".

[citation needed] According to the unpublished diary of Lt. William Huddleston of Co. A, the 15th lost a flag of unknown pattern at the Battle of Liberty Gap, June 25, 1863.

[6] The 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry surrendered with the Army of Tennessee at Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 26, 1865.