[1] On October 4, 1863, the commanding general department of the Missouri authorized Edward J. Brooks, a resident of Fayetteville, Arkansas, to raise a regiment of infantry within the state.

Ira D. Bronson, a former captain of Company A, detailed the challenges faced in recruiting soldiers for this regiment, as well as its activities during the Old War.

Captain Greeno succeeded in obtaining a large number of recruits, and forwarded them with a train to Little Rock,' but unfortunately they were captured with it before reaching Pine Bluff.

"While stationed near Port Smith Captain Greeno received orders to proceed with a portion of his command into southern Arkansas, and move out the families of federal soldiers, who ] had been plundered and maltreated by the rebel troops, consisting of bushwhackers, Indians, and renegades, prowling about in that portion of the State.

At this time 'there } were on the regimental rolls two hundred and twenty-three names, a portion of whom were recruited by Lieutenants Hunter and Temnant, and partially so for cavalry-were unwilling to serve as infantry-and were transferred to the 4th Arkansas cavalry.

This assignment was afterwards confirmed in orders from the War Department and the officers of the regiment, though mostly retained in service, were left without a command.