There were hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the Confederacy that fought within the Civil War. The state of Arkansas succeeded on May 6, 1861. Prior to the fall of the Confederate states in the Civil War, the state had just over one hundred thousand slaves within the state, and almost every one in five were slave holders. However, the southern portions of the Confederates States needed help with the war and soldiers as well within the western theater. Most Arkansas soldiers went to Louisiana, Mississippi and the Carolinas. However, only one regiment went to the eastern theater and fought within the battle of Gettysburg.
The monument to the state of Arkansas was dedicated in June 1966. What’s interesting about their monument is that it’s with granite stone and at the base of the monument which contains four aluminum blocks. These blocks show the Confederate battle flag on at the corner of each base, representing Arkansas’ early role as a producer of aluminum.
The only regiment at Gettysburg was the 3rd Arkansas. It was commanded by Colonel Van. H. Manning, Lt. Colonel Robert S. Taylor, and Major John W. Reedy. Their regiment was within Robinson’s Brigade of Hood’s Division. Arkansas had the smallest state contingent as well as the smallest state of casualties within the battle. The regiment had a total of 480 soldiers prior to battle.
On July 2nd, the famous Texas Brigade under Hood’s Division commanded by John Bell Hood, was to take his soldiers towards the Federal line. Hood was not allowed to go to the right from his commander James Longstreet, under protest. As they marched forward across the fields towards Little Round Top and Devil’s Den, Colonel Van H. Manning was quoted in saying that “We advanced under a galling fire, the men falling fast around me“. Colonel Manning was severely wounded during the attack on the Wheatfield and the Devil’s Den. He was also captured during the attack.
The attack on July 2nd left the 3rd Arkansas in shambles. Out of the 480 men prior to Gettysburg, here are their losses at Gettysburg:
3rd Arkansas – 41 killed, 101 wounded, 40 missing or captured