Col. Francis Armstrong Rector, (CSA)

From The Flags of Civil War Arkansas, by Glenn Dedmondt:

17th Regiment Arkansas Infantry

The 17th Regiment Arkansas Infantry was organized at Fort Smith on Nov. 17, 1861, under the command of Col. Frank Rector and Lt. Col. John Griffith. The regiment saw its first combat at Elkhorn Tavern on Mar. 7-8, 1862, as part of Herbert's Brigade, McCulloch's Division. (Ben M. Angel notes: Actually the 17th took part in a skirmish in Bentonville on Feb. 18, when it was surprised by Brig. Gen. Alexander Asboth: "After scattering a Rebel picket post four miles east of Bentonville, Asboth’s column roared into town at twenty minutes past noon, surprising soldiers from Colonel Frank Rector’s Seventeenth Arkansas Infantry Regiment who were clearing out equipment left behind when Hebert’s troops left their camp to confront Curtis’s army. The Federals captured thirty-two Rebel soldiers, four wagon-loads of food and equipment, three dozen horses, the papers of the Confederate post quartermaster, mail, $475.75 in Confederate currency, and the Seventeenth Arkansas’s regimental flag.")

The new regiment went into this battle with a beautiful and artfully made silk battle flag. An interesting series of articles in Confederate Veteran around the turn of the 19th century describe this flag, its capture, and its recovery in some detail. Gen. W. L. Cabell remembered, "My wife, who was in Richmond, made a beautiful flag out of her own silk dresses and sent it to a cousin of hers who commanded an Arkansas regiment. This flag was lost at Elk Horn, but was recaptured by a Missouri Division under Gen. Henry Little." [1]

W. L. Truman, a cannoneer in Capt. William Wade's First Missouri Battery, responded in a later issue with his experience at Elkhorn. He described in detail his battery's movement during the fight, explaining how at one point he saw a "regiment of infantry in line of battle facing us." The battery took a position on the right of the regiment. he continued, " They were a fine-looking set of men, dressed in Confederate uniform, about 600 strong, and they had the most beautiful flag I ever saw. It was the first time I had seen one of our new battle flags, and this one was made of the finest silk, with heavy golden silk fringe bordering, cord and tassels of the same, a nice staff, with golden spear on the top, and the name "Col. Reeve's Arkansas Regiment" in golden letters across its face. The colonel's initials and number of regiment, I do not remember." [2]

They had not been in position more than five minutes when a few shots were heard, and Gen. Albert Pike rode up and shouted to the men that they must disperse immediately or else they would be captured. Within minutes, the regiment fled the field in retreat. Truman's battery remained for awhile on the field, but never saw the advancing enemy. Later, they limbered up and in following the retreat discovered the beautiful flag lying on the ground. Cannoneer Frank Dye recovered the abandoned colors. the flag was eventually returned to Col. Rector. [3]

General Cabell later added to Truman's account. "He describes the flag made by my wife, and sent to her cousin, Col. Frank Rector, in command of an Arkansas regiment. It was indeed one of the finest flags ever presented to any regiment - the name 'Col. Rector, Seventeenth Arkansas Regiment,' worked in golden letters, heavy gold fringe, and with cord and tassel, staff and golden spear... Rector, on account of his health, resigned and Lt. Col. John Griffith, a brave and daring man, who promoted to the colonelcy of the 17th Arkansas Regiment. This regiment carried this flag, I understand, in every other battle until the close of the war." [4]

Footnotes:

• 1. Gen. W. L. Cabell, "Vivid History of Our Battle Flag." Confederate Veteran 8, No. 5 (1900): 238
• 2. W. L. Truman, "Battle of Elk Horn - Correction." Confederate Veteran 22, No. 1 (1904): 28
• 3. Ibid.
• 4. Gen. W. L. Cabell, "Reminiscences from the Trans-Mississippi." Confederate Veteran 22, No. 4 (1904): 173