CONCISE HISTORY OF THE 7TH ARKANSAS INFANTRY, COMPANY I
The Seventh Arkansas Infantry was organized by Col. Robert Glenn "Fightin' Bob" Shaver in Lawrence County at the village of Smithville on June 16, 1861. Less than a month later the regiment was mustered into Confederate service at Camp Shaver near Pocahontas, AR. At the time, Pocahontas was known as Bettis Bluff. During the first few months of the War, other units in the army dubbed the regiment the "Ragged Seventh" due to their ragged civilian clothing and rough appearance. But that all changed when the Seventh suffered massive casualties while tearing up the Yankees at Shiloh, thus earning a re-dubbing by General Hardee to the nickname of "Bloody Seventh." The Bloody Seventh was known as such for the remainder of the War.
When established, the regiment was made up of more than 1200 officers and enlisted men, making it one of the largest Arkansas contingents. Yet, due to its high rate of casualties at the Battles of Shiloh and Perryville, just before the Battle of Murphreesboro on New Year's Eve, 1862, the regiment was combined with the 6th Arkansas. The 6th and 7th were folded into the Second Brigade, Second Division, Hardee's Corps, Army of Tennessee. As the War progressed the 6th and 7th were part of Liddell's Brigade, Cleburne's Division as well as Govan's Brigade, Cleburne's and Brown's Division. The consolidation with the 6th Arkansas Infantry was unique. Usually when units were consolidated, each unit maintained their individual company designations, Such, however, was not the case when the 6th and 7th Arkansas Infantry Regiments combined. As a result, when the 7th Arkansas Infantry was included on the Roll of Honor published for the Battle of Chickamauga, individuals on that list were shown as belonging to the "Sixth-Seventh" Arkansas Infantry. Company I lists Sgt Thomas B. Podgett, who may have been with the 6th Arkansas. The 6th and 7th were hooked together through most of the War.
It was at Shiloh that "Fightin' Bob" Shaver first commanded a brigade, which consisted of the 2nd, 6th and 7th Arkansas Infantry Regiments. Shaver's Brigade struck the first blow in the battle before sunrise on April 6, 1862. The Arkansas troops initially rushed into a Yankee camp of two German regiments from St. Louis, MO, and regiments from Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois--all commanded by a Col. Peabody. When pickets' fire was heard, Peabody's men took up defensive positions on the edge of their camp and laid down heavy fire. Nevertheless Shaver's Brigade rushed them with a wild Rebel yell. The Federal troops stood their ground until the Arkansas soldiers were within 30 feet of them. Then they broke and fled for their lives. The company streets in the Yankee camps were very narrow. Men in flight crowded up these streets, resulting in a slow hasty retreat. The Confederates pushed in amongst them and a fierce hand-to-hand melee followed. More than 200 Yankee troops were bayoneted, including Col. Peabody himself. Shaver's Brigade had rushed forward so fast that General Hardee halted them at that point until the line of battle could catch up to them.
The 7th Arkansas, together with most of the Arkansas troops at the Battle of Shiloh, was armed mainly with flintlock muskets, flintlock & percussion shotguns and various other outdated smooth bore weapons supplied from the soldiers' own homes. But lo and behold in Col. Peabody's camp they found 2000 brand new M1853 Enfield rifled muskets (still in their wooden crates) complete with ammunition. So the men of the 7th threw away their outdated weapons, took up the new Enfield muskets, and continued fighting. Later, still on the first day, Shaver's Brigade made a hard charge against the blue coated 24th Missouri Infantry Regiment. During the Battle of Pittsburgh Landing (also known as Shiloh) every officer on Shaver's staff was either killed or wounded. Col. Shaver had four horses killed under him before he was critically wounded by an artillery shell on the second day of fighting.
After Shiloh, Liddell's Arkansas Brigade (which included the 6th & 7th Arkansas) was selected to defend Liberty Gap in the Cumberland Mountains. The purpose of this defensive action was to provide time for the Army of Tennessee to withdraw to the south. The Arkansas soldiers, who numbered only 800 total, fought for three days with great valor as they held off 25,000 Union troops. For this exceptional feat the 6th and 7th received the Liberty Gap battle honor on their flag.
The 6th - 7th AR actively took part in the following Army of Tennessee battles, skirmishes and/or campaigns:
Hickman and Columbus, KY (occupation)
Battle of Shiloh
Siege of Corinth, MS
Battle of Perryville, KY
Battle of Stone's River, Murfreesboro, TN
Tullahoma, TN, Campaign
Skirmish at Manchester, TN
Action at Alexander's Bridge, GA
Skirmish at Pea Vine Ridge, GA
Battle of Chickamauga, GA
Siege of Chattanooga, (Lookout Mountain) TN
Assault and capture of Missionary Ridge, TN
Action at Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost Gap (Mill Creek) and Rocky Faced Ridge, GA
Engagements at Ringold Gap and Taylor's Ridge, GA
Demonstration at Dalton, GA
The Atlanta Campaign
Battle of Resaca, GA
Combat near Cassville, GA
Operations along Pumpkin Vine Creek, GA
Battles at Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills, GA
Operations near Marietta
Combat at Pine Hill and Lost Mountain, GA
Assault on Kennesaw Mountain, GA
Operations along Nickajack Creek and the Chattahootchie River, GA
Battle of Peach Tree Creek, GA
Engagement at Bald Hill (Leggett's Hill), GA
Battle and Siege of Atlanta, GA
Battle of Jonesboro, GA
Engagement at Lovejoy Station, GA
Battles of Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville
Battle of Averysborough (Taylor's Hole Creek), NC
Battle of Bentonville, NC
Gen Joseph Johnston's surrender to Gen Wm. T. Sherman at Bennett's House, Durham Station, North Carolina
In the closing days of the War over in North Carolina the 7th Arkansas Infantry was a part of the 1st Arkansas (Howell's) Consolidated Infantry. Only 43 Seventh Arkansas soldiers were still on their feet at the surrender. 43 out of the original 1200 that crossed the Mississippi River in 1861 heading east (the 7th AR never fought in their home state). It is not known how many of those 43 had to walk back home to Arkansas after a four year absence.
The Seventh Arkansas Infantry was organized by Col. Robert Glenn "Fightin' Bob" Shaver in Lawrence County at the village of Smithville on June 16, 1861. Less than a month later the regiment was mustered into Confederate service at Camp Shaver near Pocahontas, AR. At the time, Pocahontas was known as Bettis Bluff. During the first few months of the War, other units in the army dubbed the regiment the "Ragged Seventh" due to their ragged civilian clothing and rough appearance. But that all changed when the Seventh suffered massive casualties while tearing up the Yankees at Shiloh, thus earning a re-dubbing by General Hardee to the nickname of "Bloody Seventh." The Bloody Seventh was known as such for the remainder of the War.
When established, the regiment was made up of more than 1200 officers and enlisted men, making it one of the largest Arkansas contingents. Yet, due to its high rate of casualties at the Battles of Shiloh and Perryville, just before the Battle of Murphreesboro on New Year's Eve, 1862, the regiment was combined with the 6th Arkansas. The 6th and 7th were folded into the Second Brigade, Second Division, Hardee's Corps, Army of Tennessee. As the War progressed the 6th and 7th were part of Liddell's Brigade, Cleburne's Division as well as Govan's Brigade, Cleburne's and Brown's Division. The consolidation with the 6th Arkansas Infantry was unique. Usually when units were consolidated, each unit maintained their individual company designations, Such, however, was not the case when the 6th and 7th Arkansas Infantry Regiments combined. As a result, when the 7th Arkansas Infantry was included on the Roll of Honor published for the Battle of Chickamauga, individuals on that list were shown as belonging to the "Sixth-Seventh" Arkansas Infantry. Company I lists Sgt Thomas B. Podgett, who may have been with the 6th Arkansas. The 6th and 7th were hooked together through most of the War.
It was at Shiloh that "Fightin' Bob" Shaver first commanded a brigade, which consisted of the 2nd, 6th and 7th Arkansas Infantry Regiments. Shaver's Brigade struck the first blow in the battle before sunrise on April 6, 1862. The Arkansas troops initially rushed into a Yankee camp of two German regiments from St. Louis, MO, and regiments from Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois--all commanded by a Col. Peabody. When pickets' fire was heard, Peabody's men took up defensive positions on the edge of their camp and laid down heavy fire. Nevertheless Shaver's Brigade rushed them with a wild Rebel yell. The Federal troops stood their ground until the Arkansas soldiers were within 30 feet of them. Then they broke and fled for their lives. The company streets in the Yankee camps were very narrow. Men in flight crowded up these streets, resulting in a slow hasty retreat. The Confederates pushed in amongst them and a fierce hand-to-hand melee followed. More than 200 Yankee troops were bayoneted, including Col. Peabody himself. Shaver's Brigade had rushed forward so fast that General Hardee halted them at that point until the line of battle could catch up to them.
The 7th Arkansas, together with most of the Arkansas troops at the Battle of Shiloh, was armed mainly with flintlock muskets, flintlock & percussion shotguns and various other outdated smooth bore weapons supplied from the soldiers' own homes. But lo and behold in Col. Peabody's camp they found 2000 brand new M1853 Enfield rifled muskets (still in their wooden crates) complete with ammunition. So the men of the 7th threw away their outdated weapons, took up the new Enfield muskets, and continued fighting. Later, still on the first day, Shaver's Brigade made a hard charge against the blue coated 24th Missouri Infantry Regiment. During the Battle of Pittsburgh Landing (also known as Shiloh) every officer on Shaver's staff was either killed or wounded. Col. Shaver had four horses killed under him before he was critically wounded by an artillery shell on the second day of fighting.
After Shiloh, Liddell's Arkansas Brigade (which included the 6th & 7th Arkansas) was selected to defend Liberty Gap in the Cumberland Mountains. The purpose of this defensive action was to provide time for the Army of Tennessee to withdraw to the south. The Arkansas soldiers, who numbered only 800 total, fought for three days with great valor as they held off 25,000 Union troops. For this exceptional feat the 6th and 7th received the Liberty Gap battle honor on their flag.
The 6th - 7th AR actively took part in the following Army of Tennessee battles, skirmishes and/or campaigns:
Hickman and Columbus, KY (occupation)
Battle of Shiloh
Siege of Corinth, MS
Battle of Perryville, KY
Battle of Stone's River, Murfreesboro, TN
Tullahoma, TN, Campaign
Skirmish at Manchester, TN
Action at Alexander's Bridge, GA
Skirmish at Pea Vine Ridge, GA
Battle of Chickamauga, GA
Siege of Chattanooga, (Lookout Mountain) TN
Assault and capture of Missionary Ridge, TN
Action at Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost Gap (Mill Creek) and Rocky Faced Ridge, GA
Engagements at Ringold Gap and Taylor's Ridge, GA
Demonstration at Dalton, GA
The Atlanta Campaign
Battle of Resaca, GA
Combat near Cassville, GA
Operations along Pumpkin Vine Creek, GA
Battles at Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills, GA
Operations near Marietta
Combat at Pine Hill and Lost Mountain, GA
Assault on Kennesaw Mountain, GA
Operations along Nickajack Creek and the Chattahootchie River, GA
Battle of Peach Tree Creek, GA
Engagement at Bald Hill (Leggett's Hill), GA
Battle and Siege of Atlanta, GA
Battle of Jonesboro, GA
Engagement at Lovejoy Station, GA
Battles of Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville
Battle of Averysborough (Taylor's Hole Creek), NC
Battle of Bentonville, NC
Gen Joseph Johnston's surrender to Gen Wm. T. Sherman at Bennett's House, Durham Station, North Carolina
In the closing days of the War over in North Carolina the 7th Arkansas Infantry was a part of the 1st Arkansas (Howell's) Consolidated Infantry. Only 43 Seventh Arkansas soldiers were still on their feet at the surrender. 43 out of the original 1200 that crossed the Mississippi River in 1861 heading east (the 7th AR never fought in their home state). It is not known how many of those 43 had to walk back home to Arkansas after a four year absence.
