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Return to History of Delta Company
The Texas Revolution
In 1834 American citizens living in Texas rebelled against the Mexican authority. American rebels requested help from their fellow country man by asking for 3,500 volunteers, each of whom would receive the same pay, rations and clothing which were allowed the soldiers of the United States Army in the last war; and in addition each would receive 640 acres of prime land.
Hundreds of Americans, especially from Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas, hurried to the assistance of their brethren in Texas. In 23 April 1836, a meeting was held and Albert Pike offered the following resolution, which was adopted unanimously: Resolved, that a committee of three be appointed to receive the names of volunteers and to supply them with means to enable them to go to Texas.¹ None of the organized Arkansas militia was ordered to Texas, but a number of her adventurous citizens did volunteer their services to the hard-pressed Texans. (3)
Following Arkansas¹ admission to the union in 1836, a State Constitution was dawn up which made provision for a reorganization of the territorial militia.
"Section 3 of the State constitution relating to the militia stated that: Every able-bodied, free white male inhabitant, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, were liable to militia duty." (4)
During the Civil War Arkansas entered as a Confederate state, and furnished four Major Generals and twenty Brigadier Generals to the Confederate armies, besides nine Brigadier Generals commissioned by the State authorities. Arkansas also furnished four regiments of infantry, four of cavalry, and a battery of light artillery to the Federal cause. These troops were raised in the northern counties of Arkansas in 1862 by occupying General, Samuel R. Curtis.
In addition to the white troops furnished the Union cause, there were four regiments of African-American troops raised in the State. These regiments were not numbered by States, but were regarded as national troops. The first regiment raised in Arkansas consisted of only five companies. It was known as the Eleventh Colored Regiment commanded by Lieut. Col. James M. Steele. (5)
Troubles in Arkansas During Reconstruction
After the Civil War, a state of social demoralization and general discontent in Arkansas was at its zenith. The Ku Klux Klan began a campaign of terror and unrest by inflaming political feuds, killing public officials, and destroying property. This organization found haven in the chaos that followed the post-war South. Governor Powell Clayton declared martial law in the counties of Ashley, Bradley, Columbia, Craighead, Greene, Lafayette, Little River, Mississippi and Woodroff. He divided the state into six military districts and appointed a commanding officer in each for the purpose of organizing a militia and carrying into effect martial law. Most of this militia was composed of black Union Veterans of the Civil War.