The regiment was formed from men recruited by Jeremiah V. Cockrell and Sidney D. Jackman during an expedition into Missouri in August 1862.

During the middle of 1862, Jeremiah V. Cockrell and Sidney D. Jackman attempted to recruit men for a cavalry regiment in northwestern Arkansas.

After recruiting a number of men, Cockrell and Jackman established a camp near Lone Jack, Missouri on August 15.

[1] On August 16, Cockrell's force engaged a Union column commanded by Major Emory S. Foster as part of the Battle of Lone Jack.

[1] On August 31, the unit of recruits officially mustered into the Confederate States Army, while in the vicinity of Fayetteville, Arkansas as infantry.

Cockrell returned to Missouri to continue recruiting cavalrymen, and Jackman became the first colonel of the regiment, which bore his name.

On December 7, the regiment fought in the Battle of Prairie Grove as part of Brigadier General Mosby M. Parsons' brigade.

[8] In late June, the regiment began moving towards Helena, Arkansas, although high water slowed the movement.

[8] After the debacle at Helena, the regiment returned to Little Rock, where it built defensive positions north of the city.

Major General Frederick Steele's Union force advanced against Little Rock, but avoided the fortifications by attacking from the southeast.

[11] Parsons' Division then moved north to Camden, Arkansas, where a Union force commanded by Steele was positioned.

After about half an hour of fighting, Burns' Brigade was able to work around the flank of the two Union regiments, driving them back.

[16] However, despite Burns' initial success, Union reinforcements arrived, driving the brigade back to where it had begun its attack.