[4] The first mention of the Pulaski Light Artillery came in an article published in the Arkansas State Gazette, on Saturday, December 22, 1860, announcing that, The young men of this city favorably disposed toward a Military organization which may do the 'State some service,' have formed under the title of the 'Pulaski Artillery,' and have elected Rob't C. Newton, Captain; Wm.

William Edward Woodruff, Jr., the son of the owner and publisher of the Arkansas State Gazette, succeeded Newton as captain.

[2] The Pulaski Light Artillery maintained an armory over the Market House in downtown Little Rock, where they drilled every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon at 3:30, and continued to recruit.

Apparently the businesses that employed these young men began frowning on their frequent absence from their jobs, causing the following appeal to be printed in the local paper: ... [I]t is desirable that merchants, head mechanics, and others having young men in their employ, belonging to military companies, should grant them leave of absence on the days designated for drills.

Business is not so brisk as to require the whole of their time, and it is important that every man in the land who is capable of doing a soldier's duty, should be instructed properly, and hold himself in readiness to respond to the call of his country.

George W. King's "Little Rock Grays" – along with a nine-member band under Chief Musician Joseph A. Schaer – into a battalion under Colonel Solon Borland.

[10] The Pulaski Light Artillery immediately offered its services to the State, and new recruits rushed to join the battery.

[12] The Pulaski Light Artillery garrisoned the abandoned U.S. Army post at Fort Smith for several weeks, before being ordered to join the Arkansas State forces commanded by Brigadier General Nicholas Bartlett Pearce at Camp Walker, near Harmony Springs, in Benton County, Arkansas.

Joining with Brigadier General Ben McCulloch's Confederate brigade, the troops marched north into Missouri and linked up with Major General Sterling Price's Missouri State Guard (roughly equivalent to the Arkansas State Troops).

Proceeding to just south of Springfield, Missouri, the Pulaski Light Artillery arrived at Wilson's Creek and took part in its first pitched battle.

[4] From the official after-action reports for the Battle of Wilson's Creek (Oak Hills), the Pulaski Light Artillery performed like veterans, coolly and professionally.

Initially firing counter-battery salvoes to silence the Union guns, Woodruff's battery was then moved to a position to support an assault by Arkansas and Louisiana infantry on the Federal lines.

[15] The Pulaski Light Artillery turned their guns and equipment over to a Confederate ordnance officer and mustered out on September 2, 1861.

About the 1st day of November, 1861, Captain Woodruff received authority from General Albert Pike, commanding the Indian Department, the same to recruit a light battery for the Confederate service.

Approximately thirty enlisted in the Weaver Light Artillery and served throughout the war in either Marshall's or Blocher's batteries.

General Pike had arranged for the shipment of two light batteries of six bronze guns each from Richmond for used in the Indian Territory.

After taking a detachment to Devals Bluff to pick up the guns, Woodruff moved the battery west to Van Buren and was at that location when news arrived of the Confederate defeat at the Battle of Pea Ridge.

[23] While at Fort Smith the unit was notified that First Lieutenant Henry Clay West had been elected as the new commander of an artillery battery organized from Desha County.

The Major General Commanding appeals to you and your men to delay not a moment, but push forward with the greatest energy.Upon reaching Little Rock, Woodruff's battery was directed by Special Order No.

23 to join Colonel Dandridge McRae's Brigade of Brigadier General Albert Rust's 1st Division of the newly formed Army of the South West.

McRea's Brigade and Woodruff's Battery were present but not engaged during the July 7, 1862 Battle of Cotton Plant, Arkansas.

[30] General Hindman immediate ordered that these officers remain in the artillery service and directed them to organize a new battery.

[35] The unit was not heavily engaged at Prairie Grove and spend post of the day in reserve behind McRae's brigade.

Captain BUCK, Assistant Adjutant-General, District of Arkansas: CAPTAIN: In compliance with circular letter of instructions, Numbers 686, from district headquarters, date August 31, 1864, I have the honor to report the following as the number of regiments, battalions, batteries and independent companies under my command at this place ...

[38] On September 11, 1864, Brigadier General Churchill issued Special Order Number 72 from Camp Yell which mentioned Marshall's Battery:[39] (Paragraph) III.

[40] On November 19, 1864, General E. Kirby Smith, commanding the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department, issued Special Orders No.

[42] William E. Woodruff, Jr, in his book With the Light Guns in '61-65', reports that Zimmerman's 7th Arkansas Field Battery and Marshall's 3rd Arkansas Field Battery were consolidated, under the command of Captain Zimmerman, before the end of the war and the consolidated organization was in camp near Marshall, Texas, when the war ended.