The state was facing an invasion in the aftermath of the defeat of General Earl Van Dorn at the Battle of Pea Ridge.

[4] Major General Hindman, in a report of his activities in the Trans-Mississippi Department during the period May 31 to November 3, 1862, dated Richmond, Va., June 19, 1863, said, "The scarcity of supplies now caused great distress.

[6] The unit was originally a "heavy regiment" composed of fourteen companies from the following counties:[7] The original regimental officers were:[7] Colonel Archibald J. McNeill resigned on November 12, 1862; was succeeded by Col. Robert A. Hart, who died of wounds received at the Battle of Helena on August 6, 1863; and was succeeded by Col. James W.

[11] The remaining field officers were Lieutenant Colonels G. W. Baldwin and Paul M. Cobbs; and Majors Martin Dawson and Joseph C.

[14] Following the Battle of Prairie Grove, the 30th spent the winter of 1863 in Little Rock, having arrived there in late January 1863, after the retreat from Van Buren.

On July 2, Price's, including McRea's Brigade with the 30th Arkansas rendezvoused with Brigadier General Fagan's forces at Lick Creek, west of Helena, and the next morning Generals Holmes, Price, Walker, Fagan, and Marmaduke met in the Allen Polk farmhouse five miles west of Helena to discuss plans for the attack the following day.

When Price's forces finally regrouped and began their attack, they stormed Graveyard Hill under fire from Batteries B, C, and D. Against Parsons' and McRae's assault, the 33rd Missouri infantry defending Battery C were ordered to spike their guns and retreat, and Graveyard Hill fell to the Confederate advance.

According to Captain Ethan Allen Pinnell of the Eighth Missouri Infantry, "Our works extend from the Arkansas river two miles below the city.

"[19] The Union forces established a pontoon bridge near Bayou Fourche, and crossed to the south side of the very low Arkansas River.

With his works on the north side of the river now flanked, Major General Price was forced to abandon the city on September 10, after a brief engagement at Bayou Fourche.

[20] After Little Rock fell to Union forces on September 10, 1863, the regiment retreated with General Price into southwestern Arkansas.

This eventually led to Brigadier General McRea and several of his officers being detached from the army and sent into Northeast Arkansas to try to re-call troops to their units: SEARCEY, ARK., Nov. 12, 1895.

When the Federal General Steele advanced upon Little Rock in September, 1863, I was in command of an infantry brigade of Arkansas troops in the Confederate States service at that point.

This fact vas fully understood by the rank and file of the Arkansas troops, a large proportion of whom resided in that part of the state.

Churchill's division reached Keatchie, Louisiana, in time to support Richard Taylor's main force who routed Banks' army in the Battle of Mansfield (Sabine Crossroads) on April 8, 1864.

The next day, the Confederate forces united to attack the Union rear guard at Pleasant Hill on the afternoon of April 9.

The Union troops held a formidable position, and although the Arkansans and Missourians fought valiantly, they were repulsed and retreated six miles to the nearest water.

Reinforced by Tappan's Brigade, and personally led by General Churchill, the Confederate forces made repeated attacks on Steele's army.

[25] After the Camden Expedition, part of the regiment under Colonel Rogan was reorganized and mounted,[26] and moved with General Sterling Price on his raid on Missouri.

The 30th Arkansas continued to be reported as an element of Roane's Brigade, of Churchill's Division, the Department of the Trans-Mississippi until the close of the war.

[32] On 22 January 1865, Major General Churchill was ordered to move his division to Minden, Louisiana, and occupy winter quarters.

[35] Union commanders in the Department of the Gulf shared a report on March 20, 1865, that General Roane's brigade and the balance of Churchill's Division, except for Shaver's regiment was located at Minden, Louisiana.