Command Control and Politics
In Civil War
Arkansas
By
Gaylord M.
Northrop,
Dr. Engr.
Command Control
and Politics in Arkansas during the Civil War begins in the
Confederacy with President Jeff Davis, Secretary of War LeRoy
Walker, Adjutant General Cooper, and extends to General Sydney
Johnston, Commander of Department 2, in which Arkansas began as a
Confederate state under Henry Rector as Governor.
Below that level, BG Nicholas Pierce, BG James Yell, and
BG Ben McColluchare are to be found. BG William Hardee joins this
group briefly in 1861. He is followed by
MG Earl Van Dorn, MG Thomas Hindman, MG Theophilus Holmes, and Lt.
General Kirby Smith. Col. Harris Flanigan became
Governor in 1862, replacing Henry Rector. MG Sterling Price, a
Missourian, spent most of his Civil Wartime in
Arkansas, eventually commanding all the Arkansas Rebel
forces, and leading the “Great Raid”
into southern Missouri in late summer
and fall of 1864.
Henry Massie Rector
(1860-1862)
Similar military command control
personalities and politicians can be listed for the Union side. The presentation will attempt to interweave
the personalities on both sides with the conduct and results of
most of the more significant battles that took place in
Arkansas during the Civil War.
Gaylord, a Native
Arkansan, born in
Little Rock and raised in Sylvan Hills
(now Sherwood), playing on the football team, and graduating in
1946. Then attended the
University
of Arkansas,
receiving a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in June 1952.
In Fall 1953, he became a Graduate Teaching Assistant at
Yale
University,
where he received his Master of Engineering degree in 1955, and
his Doctor of Engineering degree in 1961.
He joined the Graduate Institute of Technology at
UALR in February 1987.
In 1988, he was asked to become the Interim Director of GIT,
and became Director in 1989. At that time, he also became
Associate Dean for Research in the
College of Engineering
Science
and Technology at UALR, retiring in 1997, and is an Emeritus
Associate Professor.
His interest in the Civil War began in the early
1990’s,
with increased attention given to the Civil War in Arkansas during the last
several years. He has
made at least six Civil War Tours with Jerry Russell and Ed
Bearss. His Civil War Library
encompasses over 250 books, more than 50 involving .the Civil
War in Arkansas
and the Trans-Mississippi.

PROGRAMS FOR 2004
August 24, 2004 --
Supt. Ralph
Jones, superintendent of
Honey Springs
Battlefield Historic Site,
”The Battle
of Honey Springs“
September 28, 2004 --
Don Montgomery,
Historical Interpreter,
Prairie Grove Battlefield. The Biennial Reenactment
October 26, 2004 --
Our Annual joint
meeting with the North Pulaski Roundtable to hear Mark L. Cantrell,
historian, of
El Reno, OK
November 23, 2004 --
Drew Hodges, speaking on
“A. P. Hill”
Election of Officers
December 2004 –
No meeting
Scheduled in December
January 25, 2005 – TBA
February 22, 2005 - TBA
March 22, 2005 - TBA
April 26, 2005 –
Tom Ezell, The Battle
of
Jenkin's Ferry,
141 ST Anniversary
We Who Study
Must Also Strive To Save!
Program
30th Annual Congress of Civil War Round Tables
October 7-10, 2004
Grant vs the Disparte Confederate Trio: Jeff Davis and Gens.
Pemberton and Joe Johnston
Featuring insightful talks, great camaraderie and two full days
of guided tours of
Chickasaw Bayou
Grant's Canal
Grand Gulf
Windsor
Bruinsburg
Port Gibson
Vicksburg NMP
USS Cairo
and another optional full day of tours of
Rocky Springs
Raymond
Champion Hill
Big Black Bridge
Tours Led By Edwin
C. Bearss, Chief Historian Emeritus, National Park Service,
and Terrence Winschel, Vicksburg NMP
Sponsored by Civil War Round Table Associates
9 Lefever Lane, Little Rock AR 72227 /
501-225-3996
/<aar@aristotle.net>
Registration Fee: See CWRT Website; Includes
Motorcoach Tours, Sessions, Meals as indicated.
Does Not
Include Lodging.
Headquarters:
Ramada Inn
Southwest
Conference Center,
1525 Ellis Avenue,
Jackson MS 39204
(Speakers, Topics are subject to change.
See
http://www.civilwarbuff.org/dispatches/vicks.html
for registration form)

Dear Civil
War and Preservation Friends:
In the spirit of attempting to fulfill the
wishes of Jerry Russell prior to his death in December, 2003, we
will hold the 30th annual Congress of Civil War Round Tables in
Jackson, Mississippi, focusing on the
Vicksburg
Campaign.
Jerry
wanted this Congress to be held in Vicksburg/Jackson so we could
honor Ed Bearss in the place where, almost 50 years ago, he began
his career. As all of you know, Ed's contribution to Civil War
history and preservation is unparalleled.
Ed drew a
line through the portion of the program that I had set aside as a
tribute to him (Ed) when I sent him a tentative program for
approval. Therefore, you won't see that tribute reflected
hereon. However, it will occur...just don't mention it to Ed.
Since he won't get this e-mail, he won't know if you don't tell him!
I hope to
see you in Vicksburg/Jackson!
Alice Anne Russell
**************************

CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF
ED?
Here are some additional tours:
ED BEARSS TRIP TO
LOUISIANA
–
Aug 31 to Sept. 3
Contact info: Call 1-888-741-2437
or visit http:/go.to/bges
Itinerary: August 31 (Tuesday)- arrive Clarion
Hotel, Alexandria La.
for reception, dinner and welcoming lecture in the evening
Wednesday - Old
River, Ft DeRussy, Simmesport, Mansura,
Yellow Bayou and Dunn's Bayou
Thursday -
Henderson, Hall, Monett's Ferry, Blair's Landing, Bailey's
Dam, Natchitoches, Grand Ecore,
Finerille, Ft Buhlow and
Ft. Randolph.
Friday - Pleasant Hill and
Mansfield

ED BEARSS TRIP TO MIDDLE TENNESSEE
NOVEMBER 3 TO NOV. 6
CONTACT INFO: Same as above.
ITINERARY:
Wednesday, November 3 - reception and dinner at
Hotel Preston, Nashville,
TN.
Thursday - Fort
Henry and Fort
Donelson
Friday - Stone's River, plus Forrest's Raid on
Murfreesboro.
Saturday -
Hood's 1864 campaign:
Columbia, Spring Hill.
Franklin, Nashville
Visit
www.civilwarbuff.org
Register to receive your newsletter on-line.
**********************************
Civil War -Histories-Battles-People-Current Events
PLACES of interest
Searchable Chronology Database
DISPATCHES Current Info-Monthly Newsletter
LINKS major historical and preservation source
RESOURCE for historical Civil War information
GROUPS list contacts for today's information
PEOPLE of history
http://www.civilwarbuff.org
****************************************
BATTLEFIELD
UPDATE
At a previous meeting of the Civil War Roundtable of Arkansas, we
heard the following report from our affiliate organization the
Central Arkansas Civil War Heritage Trail. Each November we
participate in electing the officers to this organization. In
addition, a copy of ARKANSAS BATTLEFIELD UPDATE is
provided to each member of the CWRT.
Arkansas Battlefield Update
Winter, 2003 Volume 11, Number 4
Published quarterly by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
An agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage
CACWHT works on battlefield
marker
By Tom Ezell
CACWHT Chair
Members of the Central Arkansas
Civil War Heritage Trail met with the Little Rock Parks
Department on Nov. 18 to finalize plans to relocate a marble
marker to the Bayou Fourche battlefield site near the current
Civil War Roundtable of Arkansas marker on Frazier Pike.
The new marker will be dedicated to the memory of the
soldiers, Union and
Confederate, who fought at Bayou Fourche, and will be moved into
its new location within the next couple of weeks.
On Jan. 10, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in
Little Rock
commemorated the 140th anniversary of the trial and execution by
hanging of David O. Dodd by unveiling a new display featuring a
memorial stained-glass window featuring the boy’s likeness.
Stephan McAteer, executive director of the museum, arranged to
bring the window back to
Little Rock after he discovered that
it was stored, rather than displayed, at the Museum of the
Confederacy in Richmond, Va.
The window, on a one-year loan from the
Richmond
museum, was displayed at the Arkansas Museum of Science and
History, now the
Museum
of Discovery,
from 1990 to 1998. “It’s a beautiful
piece of art, and we love to have it on display for Arkansans
who couldn’t make it to Richmond,” McAteer said.
Following the unveiling, the museum formally
opened its fundraising campaign to repair and restore the bronze
Capital Guards monument that stands in front of the old Arsenal
building in
MacArthur
Park. Erected in 1911 in memory of the “Flower of Little
Rock,” the Capital Guards of the 6th Arkansas Infantry Regiment,
the monument has deteriorated significantly over the past 90
years from the ravages of weather and vandalism.
The
MacArthur Museum
has contracted with a conservator in
Missouri
to repair and restore the bronze statue, and in the next few
weeks the statue will be dismantled and sent to Missouri
for restoration.
The amount needed to professionally clean, repair and restore
the statue is $35,000. The museum
has raised $20,000 of this amount through grants and large
donations, and is now actively soliciting to raise the remainder
of the funds to complete the restoration.
During the museum program, the United Daughters of the
Confederacy fund for Confederate sculptures in
Arkansas presented the MacArthur
Museum with a check for $5,000 toward the
restoration of the Capital Guards monument.
To contribute to the museum’s conservation effort, call the
Arkansas Military Heritage Foundation at (501) 376-4602, or
visit www.arkmilitaryheritage.com and click on the link to
“Preserve the Capital
Guard Monument.”
Repair and restoration of the Capital Guards statue is expected
to be complete and the sculpture returned to Arkansas in time for a
May 15, 2004, unveiling, and re-dedication.
The often-told story of Dodd’s role in Arkansas history was
presented in an unprecedented way this year—through a historical
reenactment of the boy’s trial, presented by the Central
Arkansas Civil War Preservation Association and the 6th Arkansas
and 37th Illinois reenactors. The
90-minute performance recreated Dodd’s trial, from the opening
statements to the boy’s plea for mercy.
Following this reenactment, the annual memorial service for
David O. Dodd was held at Little Rock’s
Mount Holly
Cemetery.
Members of the Reed’s Bridge Battlefield Protection Society met
with representatives of the Civil War Preservation Trust in Jacksonville
on Jan. 13, to discuss strategies to expand protection for key
areas of the Reed’s Bridge battlefield, and to tour the areas
already taken under the society’s wing.
Coordination is nearing completion to begin investigation and
documentation for the Sutton Mound, a suspected Confederate mass
grave associated with the April 1864 battle of Prairie De’Anne,
near
Prescott
in Nevada
County.
Research proposals by the University
of Missouri –
Columbia
and Washington
University
in St. Louis
have been approved, and fieldwork is expected to begin in early
February 2004.
The Little Rock Campaign driving tour guide has been well
received and additional copies have been published by the Little
Rock Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
All requests for the Little Rock Campaign driving tour brochures
should be made to the City of
Little Rock Convention
and Visitor’s Bureau,
P.O. Box 3232, Little Rock,
AR 72203. Copies may be obtained by writing the bureau or calling
(501) 370-3290, attention Cathy Cerrato.
The CACWHT meets at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each
month jointly with the Civil War Roundtable of Little Rock
(except in December, when there is no meeting) at the John Gould
Fletcher Library at H and Buchanan Streets in
Little Rock.
The Civil War Roundtable programs are excellent and guests are
encouraged and welcome to attend.
CACWHT volunteers are very much needed to help with projects,
including ongoing maintenance of the existing nine interpretive
panels located in Little Rock,
North Little Rock,
Brownsville,
Jacksonville,
and Scott. For more information,
call Tom Ezell at (501)682-0876 or (501) 961-1937.
For more information on the Reed’s Bridge Preservation Society,
call Tommy Dupree at (501) 833-0265. The Society’s meetings are
held each month at
12:30 p.m.
at the new Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce building at 200 Dupree Drive,
and are open to the public.
Donations can be made, and checks payable to the Reed’s Bridge
Preservation Society, 600 Lynx Lane,
Jacksonville, AR
72076.
SEE YOU TUESDAY NIGHT
GOD BLESS AMERICA
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