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The 3rd Infantry, Arkansas State Troops (1861) was an Arkansas State infantry regiment that served during the American Civil War. The regiment assigned to the command of Brigadier General Nicholas Bartlett Pearce, Commander, 1st Division, Provisional Army of Arkansas
Organization
At the beginning of the war, the Arkansas Succession Convention created the Provisional Army of Arkansas. The Provisional Army was to consist of two divisions: the 1st Division in the western part of the state was to be commanded by Brigadier General Pearce, and the 2nd Division in the eastern half of the state, commanded by Major General James Yell. The intent of the Secession Convention was to transfer these state troop regiments into Confederate service as quickly as possible, to avoid the cost of paying for a large state army. The troops of the eastern division were transferred to the command of Brigadier General Hardee in July 1861, but the troops of the western division under Brigadier General Pearce were not transferred to Confederate service before they became engaged in the Battle of Wilson's Creek. The unit was composed of the following volunteer companies:
- Company A, "Invincible Guards" of Columbia County, Commaded by Capt. Thomas P. Dockery;
- Company D, "Yell Blues" of _ County, Commaded by Capt. Cornelius S. Lawrence;
- Company F, "Davis Blues" of Hempstead County, Commaded by Capt. Joseph L. Neal;
- Company G, "Belle Point Guards" of Sebastian County, Commaded by Capt. W. R. Hartzig;
- Company H, "Sevier County Stars" of Sevier County, Commaded by Capt. John G. McKean;
Battles
Under the command of Colonel Tom P. Dockery, the 5th Regiment, Arkansas State Troops fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri on August 10, 1861. The unit suffered 13 casualties, including three killed. The regiment was marched back to Arkansas and given the opportunity to vote on the issue of being transferred into confederate service following the battle. The regiment, along with the rest of the 1st Division voted to disband rather than be transferred to Confederate service. Many veterans of the regiments joined other Confederate units later in the war.