Adopt a serviceman or brothers from the muster roll of Company C and write a pen portrait.
Military Research
Veterans buried in Montgomery Co. AR
Montgomery Co. ARGenWeb Project
Company C. was mustered into the Confederate Southern Army August 17, 1861 with an enrollment of seventy-nine men from the southern part of Montgomery County, Arkansas led by Captain John Francis Erwin. 4th Arkansas Infantry CO. A - E. Recruits built the total roster up to One hundred and ten men. 20% died during the war.
How many where related by blood or marriage???
William Pryor Derr and John Massey Derr were brothers. Their sister Sarah Derr m. William J. Cox. Wm J. Cox had a brother John Randolph Cox who was hanged about 1863 in the street at Black Springs, for killing his girl friend, as he went into a rage when he came home and found her married to his brother William J. Cox.
Fielding Strawn married his second wife Ellender Earp Batey in 1855 in Montgomery Co. AR. Ellender's daughter from her previous marriage, Pamelia C. Batey, wed William P. Derr c. 1860 and her other daughter Sarah Jane wed G.W. Anderson. Fielding's daughter Delilia m. Enoch Nelson and Enoch's brother Arch married Delilia's sister Nancy Strawn.
John Scott 1818-1888 and
Susannah had two sons who served in the
CSA. William Jasper Scott dying in the service in 1862 and James A. coming through unharmed.
'Goodspeed' states John was a Lt. in Capt. Erwin's Co. the 'Caddo Rifles'.
Living in Montgomery Co. was his sisters Ellender Batey, Ann Woods and Katherine
Jerrod and their families.
Woods, John Harvey
Woods, Allen Newton
A couple of my ancestors were in Company C Caddo Rifles 4th Inf. AR. One was John Harvey Woods and the other was Allen Wood (Allen is Allen Newton Woods) and they both were my ggg grandfathers kids. They are brothers and Anne, who married old John Scott, was their mother (she's a Earp).
My gg grandfather, John Harvey Woods, was their older half brother Mitchell. John was wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro (shot through the lungs) in TN. Both were in the Pea Ridge battle. John married a Tweedle and they up and moved on down into Bell County of TX after the Civil War. Allen married a Jeffreys. Their father was James Woods who was born in TN in 1807 and died in Montgomery Co., AR in 1854. Jim and Anne moved into Montgomery Co. from Bedford Co. in TN in 1852 along with some of the Stogsdills. Anne tried to sell back land that her and James had when it appears Anne fell in love with John Scott and decided to get hitched around 1858 or 185 9. She's buried in the Scott Cemetery just west of Black Springs. Anne was not my ggg grandmother (that was Jane Morris, James first wife who was a daughter to Hardy Simmons Morris). The other kids names for James and Anne were:
Elisa Simpson Woods
Josiah Woods
Nancy Caroline Woods
and Albert Monroe Woods.
Anne had some more kids with John Scott. James and Anne were married by a Justice of the Peace in Franklin Co., TN in 1842. John H. Woods older brother Mitchell married a Ater in Clark Co., AR and moved down into the Grayson/Wise Co. area of TX in 1860 with his wife Narcissa and their two boys which one of them was my g grandfather John from Montgomery Co. where they were living when my g grandfather was born in 1859. Mitchell and Narcissa are buried in Wise Co. on the Bodine ranch in the Woods cemetery. Submitted by Michael Woods. Posted Jan. 4 2004
ANDERSON, Allen B. (1831- )
Allen Bronston Anderson was born in 1831, in Buncombe Co. N.C. His parents were William G. and Dorcas Anderson. Allen's grandfather, James Anderson, of Scotch ancestry, was a Revolutionary War veteran, having served with the Virginians. The William G. Anderson family moved to Georgia, and eventually on to Arkansas, where in 1854 they settled near Mt. Ida.
Allen married Mary Jane Weldon at Mt. Ida, on November 29, 1855. They were the parents of four children by the summer of 1861, when Allen volunteered to join a company of men from Montgomery County that was being raised to support the Confederate army. These men who called themselves the "Caddo Rifles", marched north toward southwestern Missouri where Union and Confederate forces were beginning to clash. Allen was elected a sergeant of this company. The "Caddo Rifles" were mustered into the Confederate Southern Army as Co. "C" of the 4th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, near Mt. Vernon Missouri on August 17th. Allen, like so many soldiers of the time, battled sickness in a harsh environment during his service. He was "present" on Feb. 28, 1862, just prior to the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern. A chronic inflammatory disease contributed to his discharge as a private on May 27, 1862 at Corinth, Mississippi. His younger brother, Newton Jasper Anderson, joined Company "C" as a private on April 1, 1862 and served until the end of the war.
Allen became a Justice of the Peace in Mt. Ida, Arkansas and performed several marriages. He was also a charter member of the Masonic Lodge #42 in 1867 at old Caddo Gap. It is told that Allen built the first house at Black Springs, Arkansas and his parents are said to have been buried on that property. In 1870 he became the administrator of his father's estate. Allen and Mary Jane had a total of twelve children. They later moved to Texas and lived the rest of their lives there. They are both buried at Lone Prairie Cemetery in Joshua, Johnson County, Texas. Submitted by R. Douglas Anderson - compiled from various sources of information including the research of Lottie Anderson Richardson. Posted 23 Oct. 2001
ANDERSON, Newton
Jasper (1833 - 1886)
ANDERSON, Newton Jasper
CSA- Pvt. Company C. 4th AR. Inf.
Newton Jasper Anderson was born in 1833, in Buncombe Co. N.C., William G. and Dorcas Anderson. After moving to Tennessee, the family left that state in 1854, headed for Arkansas. A large caravan of people traveling by ox wagons, swam the Mississippi river. They tied their wagon beds down to keep them from floating off. This group of people also included the Browns, Wheelers and Scott's. They arrived in Mt. Ida, Arkansas in November of that year.Newt married Susan D. Brown on Feb. 18, 1857 at Mt. Ida. On April 1,1862, he enlisted in the Confederate States army at Ozark, Arkansas. He was mustered into Co. C, 4th Rgmt. Arkansas Infantry, "Caddo Rifles", as a private. Newt's brothers also served for the Confederacy. His brother-in-law, 3rd Sergeant T. J. Brown, served in Co. F, 4th Arkansas Infantry. Companies C and F saw a great deal of military action while east of the Mississippi. They took an active part in the battles at Richmond, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Chickamauga, Franklin, and Perryville and in the Georgia Campaign. Newt was hospitalized for three months in 1863, at Montgomery, Alabama, for which he received extra pay of 25 cents per day. He served until the close of the war.
After the war, Newt was a carpenter, and at one time lived in Washington County. In 1874, Newt and some other people, were victims of a tornado, which blew them into a well. They landed on some boards and did not drown. Newt died on July 20, 1886 while residing at South Fork Township, Mt. Ida, Arkansas and was buried at Owley Cemetery near Mt. Ida. On March 11, 1901, Newt's widow, Susan, began receiving a pension for his Confederate service. Newt and Susan were the parents of eight children. Submitted by R. Douglas Anderson, 3rd great grandson of Newt and Susan Anderson. Posted 10 Dec. 2000.
BATES, Jefferson
BATES, Jefferson b. 1822 in GA. m. 1844 Caroline M. Wood d/o Robert and Agnes Wood. In 1849 the Bates, Robbins and Wood and other related families came to Montgomery Co. AR seeking new land. Jeff enlisted on August 17, 1861 in 4th AR Infantry, Co. C, aka the "Caddo Rifles". He was elected as a 3rd Lt., and later promoted to 1st Lt. He served at least until September of 1862 the family migrated to Texas in 1863. Elza D. Wood a private in the 'Caddo Rifles' was a brother of Caroline Wood Bates.
DERR, William Pryor (10/15/1838 - 3/13/1908 )
DERR, William Pryor,
Pvt - Enlisted 17 Aug 1861 at Mt Vernon, MO, and John Massey Derr, his brother, joined the "Caddo Rifles" Co. C. 4th Arkansas Infantry with John Randolph Cox who was discharged Dec. 1861. J.R. did not participate in any battles. At the Battle of Elk Horn William P. Derr was shot in the hand and breast but recovered and was discharged. John M. Derr was present at the battles of Elk Horn, Richmond, KY., Murfreesboro, absent at Jackson, but present at Chickamauga and finally absent without leave. Buried at the Old Fairlawn cemetery; Stephens County, OK.
DERR, John M.
DERR, John M. Pvt - Enl 17 Aug 1861 at Mt Vernon, MO. Detailed with Humphrey's Bn 5 Nov 1862.
Derr, John M Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862. First Arkansas Light Artillery (Rivers' Battery) On November 18, 1862, the battery received a large number of transfers and details from the Arkansas regiments and battalions of McNair's Brigade. Many of these men are later listed on the battery's rolls as deserters; however, many, if not most of them simply returned to their original regiments. In keeping with the practice in the Confederate army of referring to an artillery battery by the name of its current commander, the First Arkansas Light Artillery was variously known as Provence's Battery, Humphreys' Battery and Rivers' Battery. The Compiled Service Records of the men are filed under Rivers' Battery, Microfilm Roll #41.
LOGAN, Zaddock P.
LOGAN, Zaddock P. was b. 2 Jun 1832 in , Lincoln, SC. At age 22 he m. D.M Wood also 22 on 24 Sept 1850. Book A page 112 'Montgomery County Arkansas Marriage Records'. Margaurite Jane Logan m. Lafayette Loudermilk. They lived in Black Springs from around 1900. Jane's parents were Zaddock Packard Logan and Delilah Mamie Woods, who were married at Caddo Gap. He was half Cherokee Indian and they homesteaded what is now the Guthrie farm in Black Springs.
Zaddock P. Logan Private - Enlisted 17 Aug 1861 at Mt Vernon, MO. AS (AS = absent sick) at Elk Horn. Left in Arkansas. Absent west of the Mississippi River 31 Oct 1862. Ref: Gammage. According to his Civil War Pension papers. He was inoculated for smallpox at the beginning of the war and was never well again. Another brother Jasper N. LOGAN was born on 4 Mar 1836 in Spartenburg, SC. He died on 1 Oct 1914 in Oklahoma and from his Civil War Pension papers; he too was inoculated for smallpox and never completely well again. Zaddock, his brother Jasper Newton Logan and brother-in-law George Walker all were given smallpox vaccinations and were never completely well following the war. The seem to have lost most of the use of the arm in which the vaccination was given. Zaddock later joined the Co. F. 1st Arkansas Regiment Infantry, Union Army. Jasper N. Logan was in the same company.
A good account of Zaddock's tribulations in the Civil War can be found in the Montgomery Co. mailing list archives. 2001. Snippet below: "Family stories indicate that Zaddock was gone from home most of the time, in one capacity or another, during the Civil War. But he slipped back home from time to time to check on Grandma and the baby evidently, at great peril to himself most of the time. Even though the Union forces held Ft. Smith, the surrounding country was under the influence of Confederates if not in daytime, at least at night and if Grandpa wanted to visit home from the Fort, he would still have to run a gauntlet of Confederate parties.
One of Grandpa's pilgrimages back home was during one of these very cold winter nights. He had suffered several days of deprivation hunger and cold as he evaded enemy forces. Not only was he weak from starvation, but the cold had exacted its toll by adding lung congestion to his already weakened physical condition. His last run for the cabin was a mixture of staggering and crawling. When he got to the door he tried to announce himself, but a hoarse croak was all he could muster.
The cabin was built of logs, and the door was made of heavy hand-hewn planks. Two fairly large holes were cut in the door and door casing, providing allowance for chaining. Grandma had a heavy chain that she kept in place at night running the chain through the holes and locking it inside. This night she huddled far back in one corner with her baby in her arms as strange sounds came from the porch. Whoever was there beating on the door could bode no good, for they had reused to answer when she had asked who was there.
Grandpa beat on the door, rattled the chain, and called on a voice that refused to respond. Finally, in desperation he tried to cram his hands through the chain passages to get at the lock inside. It was then, from the flickering light on the fireplace, that Grandma recognized the mittens he wore. It was a pair she had knitted and given to him on his last visit home. Of course, she rescued him from the cold as soon as possible". wrote John his grandson.He was a J.P. for the Black Springs community, population 200. Ref:1900 Business Directory Arkansas State Directory. He was a Justice of the Peace in Sebastian County in the late 1870's, was listed several times in the Marriage Records for the Greenwood District; children listed in the 1880 census of Sebastian County. Children: Auther P. Logan b. c. 1869 and Joseph C. Logan b. c.1873
Buried in Black Springs Cemetery.
Mrs D.M. Logan Dec. 6 1836 - Feb 4 1909
Z.P. Logan June 2 1832 - May 16 1908
NELSON, Enoch
Enoch R Nelson was born approximately 1826 in TN. He was a land owner and a farmer. He and Archibald Nelson married sisters; Enoch married Delilia Strawn and Archibald married Nancy Strawn. We think Archibald and Enoch were brothers. Delilia died and Enoch married Mary Jane Todd. There son was Fielding F. Nelson b. 7 Aug. 1853 in Clark Co, AR. m. Martha Jane Tackett Fielding d. 23 Aug. 1945 in Caney Twp, Montgomery Co, AR. Burial: Nelson Cem., Montgomery Co, AR. Enoch enlisted Co C, 4th AR Infantry [2nd Brigade, Dist. of Western Arkansas, Western Dept.] 9 Jan 1862 at Centerville, AR for 12 months service.
Posted to Camp Benjamin at Centerville, Arkansas from 12 January 1862 to 3 March 1863. Beginning 31 Jan 1862, 2nd Brigade, McCulloch's Div., Western Div. Fought in the Battle of Pea Ridge, Bentonville, Leetown and Elkhorn Tavern from 6 Mar to 8 Mar 1862. Retreated from Elkhorn Tavern to the Arkansas River. Then they were ordered to join the rest of the army at Corinth, Mississippi, probably in April 1862. Participated in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi from 29 Apr to 30 May 1862. Records speak of a huge army gathering in northern Mississippi, with more units coming in every day. Sometime, probably on 3 June 1862, they were ordered to march to Kentucky & Tennessee and were so occupied in moving the army until 31 Aug 1862. Several smaller battles were fought in these months. On the 30th of Aug 1862, they fought the Battle of Richmond [aka Mt. Zion Church] Kentucky. Enoch was detailed to hospital from 30 Aug 1862 to 31 Oct 1862. He fell ill or was wounded and was hospitalized in Loudon, Tennessee from 31 Oct 1862 to 31 Dec 1862. [Beg. 31 Oct, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Div, Army of Kentucky, Dept of E Tennessee]. The Battle of Stone's River was fought 31 Dec 1862. Enoch was a waiter at hospital from 31 Dec 1862 to 28 Feb 1863. [Beg 1 Jan, 3rd Brigade, McCown's Div, Hardiee's Corps, Army of Tennessee]. Enoch is shown as present from 28 Feb 1863 to 30 Apr 1863. On 23 Apr 1863 he appears on a list of officers and men found outside of Polk's Corps, Loudon, Tennessee and sent to duty. [Beg 1 Apr 1863 consolidated with 4th Ark Inf. Batt'n, 3rd Brigade, McCown's Div, Polk's Corps, Army of Tennessee]. Enoch is shown as present to 4th Jun 1863. At this time he had served 18 months, the men were starving and their families were starving. The army was moving to Corinth, Mississippi, preparing for the siege of Jackson, Mississippi in July. The unit was in camp at Shelbyville through March and then in May, they were in camp near Corinth, Mississippi. The troops were reorganized at this time causing a great deal of dissent and they were paid for the first time in many months.He, too, may have been given the smallpox shot at the beginning of the war because he spent most of his time in the hospital:
9 Jan 1862 - 28 Feb 1862 - present
28 Feb 1862 - 30 Jun 1862 - p or a - not stated
30 Jun 1862 - 31 Aug 1862 - p or a - not stated
30 Aug 1862 - 31 Oct 1862 - absent/detail at hospital
31 Oct 1862 - 31 Dec 1862 - in hospital at Loudon, TN
31 Dec 1862 - 28 Feb 1863 - absent/waiter at hospital
23 Apr 1863 - Appears on a list of officers and men found outside of Polk's Corps, Loudon, TN, and sent to their commands and to General Hospitals.
Remarks: Sent to duty.
28 Feb 1863 - 30 Apr 1863 - present
30 Apr 1863 - 30 Jun 1863 - Deserted 4 Jun 1863.
Family history has it that he went home to Montgomery Co, AR sometime during his tour to make a crop for his family. He and his son, Fielding Nelson, were out feeding the hogs in 1863 when some men rode up on horseback. Enoch went with the men and was never heard from again. Enoch is listed as "deserted", but we feel that he was not well, had served more time than he signed up for, and had to go home to take care of his family. His family waited until Jan 1878 to probate his will and his wife eventually remarried. I recently found an Enoch Nelson buried in Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville, KY which is a Union Cemetery. Is it possible he was conscripted into the Union Army after his disappearance? Since communication was so poor during this time in history, I feel it is a distinct possibility. Enoch R Nelson who was my gr-gr-grandfather. Angie (Nelson) Knott website Posted Aug. 26 2001 Links broken. Nelson Family Page with a great photo of a 1922 homestead.Posted to Camp Benjamin at Centerville, Arkansas from 12 January 1862 to 3 March 1863. Beginning 31 Jan 1862, 2nd Brigade, McCulloch's Div., Western Div.] fought in the Battle of Pea Ridge, Bentonville, Leetown and Elkhorn Tavern from 6 Mar to 8 Mar 1862. Retreated from Elkhorn Tavern to the Arkansas River. Then they were ordered to join the rest of the army at Corinth, Mississippi, probably in April 1862. Participated in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi from 29 Apr to 30 May 1862. Records speak of a huge army gathering in northern Mississippi, with more units coming in every day. Sometime, probably on 3 June 1862, they were ordered to march to Kentucky & Tennessee and were so occupied in moving the army until 31 Aug 1862. Several smaller battles were fought in these months. On the 30th of Aug 1862, they fought the Battle of Richmond [aka Mt. Zion Church] Kentucky. Enoch was detailed to hospital from 30 Aug 1862 to 31 Oct 1862. He fell ill or was wounded and was hospitalized in Loudon, Tennessee from 31 Oct 1862 to 31 Dec 1862. [Beg. 31 Oct, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Div, Army of Kentucky, Dept of E Tennessee]. The Battle of Stone's River was fought 31 Dec 1862. Enoch was a waiter at hospital from 31 Dec 1862 to 28 Feb 1863. [Beg 1 Jan, 3rd Brigade, McCown's Div, Hardiee's Corps, Army of Tennessee]. Enoch is shown as present from 28 Feb 1863 to 30 Apr 1863. On 23 Apr 1863 he appears on a list of officers and men found outside of Polk's Corps, Loudon, Tennessee and sent to duty. [Beg 1 Apr 1863 consolidated with 4th Ark Inf. Batt'n, 3rd Brigade, McCown's Div, Polk's Corps, Army of Tennessee]. Enoch is shown as present to 4th Jun 1863. At this time he had served 18 months, the men were starving and their families were starving. The army was moving to Corinth, Mississippi, preparing for the siege of Jackson, Mississippi in July. The unit was in camp at Shelbyville through March and then in May, they were in camp near Corinth, Mississippi. The troops were reorganized at this time causing a great deal of dissent and they were paid for the first time in many months. It is believed that Enoch went home to make a crop for his family. The family story passed down from my Great Grandfather is that he and Enoch were feeding the hogs in 1863 and two men on horses rode up and took Enoch away, never to be seen or heard from again. Enoch is listed as "deserted", but we feel that he was not well, had served more time than he signed up for, and had to go home to take care of his family. Information courtesy of Angie Knott. Questions and comments may be directed to Angie Nelson Knott
Sims, Jordan
Sims, Jordan
Widow's Application - widow of Jordan Sims. of Co C. Col. McNair. 4th regiment of Ark, Inft Vols. and discharged May. 1865. (her witnesses were: Sam? Swich and Levi Reed. Signed Nancy M. Sims. July 8 1901.Army of the Confederate States... Certificate of disability.....Jordan Sims of Captain Nathaniel Grants .Co C. 4th Regiment of Confederate Volunteers was enlisted by Lt Col Mc Rae. (that part darken out.) for one year. He was born in Pickens District in the state off So. Carolina. Is twenty-two years of age, five feet,10inches high. Dark complexion. Yellow eyes. Dark Hair and by occupation when enlisted a Farmer. During the last two months the said soldier has been unfit for duty, sixty days. Station...Shellyville Tenn,...
His Soldiers Discharge reads as follows: To whom it may concern.. Know Ye, that Jordan Sims a private in Capt. Nathaniel Grants company C. 4th regiment Arkansas. Regiments of Volunteers who enlisted at Camp Etter in the state of Missouri on the Seventeenth day of August 1861 to serve twelve months. Honorably Discharged from service of the Confederate States by reason Long Continuous Chronic Hepatitis. Said Jordan Sims was born in Pickins Co. state of South Carolina. Five feet . Ten inches tall ..Dark Complexion. Yellow eyes . Dark Hair and occupation. Farmer. Given at Shellyville, Tenn this Twenty Second day of January. 1863.
Signed By ... J. B. Gist. 1st. Lt.
(there are so many documents of where the doctors signed etc.)Nancy M Sims states she has never remarried and own no property real or personal or both in the excess of 400.00 and nor conveyed title to any property to enable to draw a pension and not in receipt of any income, annuity, pension or wages for service and that her husband died Oct. 19 1889 in Montgomery County, Arkansas. This is the only place where we found his date of death. He is buried in the Hillside Cemetery, Montgomery Co. AR Submitted by Hettie & Bev
SIMS, William Perry
SIMS, William Perry (abt1838-1893)
CSA- Company C. 4th AR. Inf.
Buried: supposed to be buried there in Sims
Service record from the National Archives
Confederate I Mounted Rifles Arkansas.
W.P Sims 1st Sgt. F, 1 Regiment Ark.
Enlisted: August 17,1861 New Spring River, Missouri.
By Whom: Lt. Col. McRue.
Period: 12 months.
Last paid By Whom: Captain Dupree
Too what time: April 30 1864.
Taken prisoner and released at the end of the War
Mounted rifleman appears on the muster rolls of officers and Men paroled in accordance with the terms of a Military convention entered into on the 26th day of April 1865, between General Joseph E. Johnston. Commanding Confederate Army, and Major W. T. Sherman. Commanding Army in North Carolina.
Roll dated, N.C. April 30 1865. Paroled at Greensboro, N.C. 1865. Submitted by Hettie & Bev
Tallant, Richard
Tallant, Richard was born March 26, 1839 in Cass Co., GA (now Bartow) the son of James and Matilda (Mitchell) Tallant. Richard died February 3, 1906 at Welch, Montgomery Co. AR. It is told that he is buried in an unmarked grave in Bethel Cemetery, Glenwood, Pike Co, Arkansas. When Richard was about nineteen years old the Civil War was brewing, and some of his relatives had left Cass County, giving his Father enough reason, so it seems, to leave Georgia. His first Arkansas home was in Pike County in Brewer Township where his Uncle John lived. They settled south of Highland and west of Murfreesboro. Richard was a church clerk where his cousin, Hamilton Wasson was Pastor, of Mt. Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. About a year before Richard married, he along with others, including Rev. Wasson and Louiza Childers, left the church and organized the Mt. Pisgah Church located about six miles east of Glenwood on highway 70. On December 20, 1865 Richard Tallant married (1st) Louiza Ann Childers Hall at Mount Pisgah Church by his cousin Hamilton L. Wasson. Her husband had been killed in the war. She had one son, John W. Hall. Louiza Ann Childers was born in 1841 in Georgia, a daughter of John and Frances Childers. Richard and Louiza had four children to this union:
1. Martha Ann Tallant born September 21, 1869
2. Robert E. Lee Tallant born August 29, 1871
3. Richard Stocken Tallant born April 9, 1874
4. Frances Matilda Tallant born February 17, 1876. Died July 4, 1880
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Richard joined Company C of the famous Fourth Arkansas Infantry on August 17, 1861. He fought at the Battle of Pea Ridge (Elk Horn) in Northwest Arkansas in 1862. In June of 1862 he was discharged at Priceville, Mississippi. The Civil War ruined Richard's health and was a near fatal act. His discharge records give a unique glimpse of this Confederate soldier: he was six feet tall, of light complexion, had gray eyes and red hair. This information came from a story in Glenwood Herald, Dec 9, 1993, page 17, written by Russell P. Baker, of the Arkansas History Commission. In 1863 he was back in the Army as third Lieutenant in Witherspoon's Battery Arkansas Cavalry. He was captured on November 13, 1863 in Pike County by elements of the Union Army and taken to prison. Records show that he was taken from one prison to another, St. Louis; Camp Chase, Ohio, and on to Fort Delaware, Del. Near the end of the war his captors started sending him back by way of various prisons. He was to be exchanged. His records stopped at the infamous Johnson's Island Prison in Ohio, so we rely on the traditional story to end Richard's military career. It seems that Richard and a close friend made a pact that if either should be taken prisoner the other would never stop until he was found and rescued him. After much searching, the friend located Richard, and he waited for darkness when all the prisoners would be sleeping. He slipped past the guards and as he crawled among the sleeping men, searching for Richard, he would occasionally awaken one. At that point he had to pretend he was a prisoner. He would tell the other prisoners to shut up so a fellow could get some sleep. After finding his old friend he discovered he was to weak to crawl out and couldn't even speak above a whisper. The friend had to put Richard on his back and crawl out with him. It was then the sentry almost caught them. The story goes, Richard was "skin and bones," so thin one could easily reach around him with two hands! He had been given one potato each day as his total intake of food. Shortly after returning home, Richard and his family decided to move to the mountains of what is now southern Montgomery County. The area in which he located was just over the line in Clark County. The present county lines between Clark, Pike and Montgomery Counties were not fixed until 1873. Here he settled near a cousin, Dr. Hamilton L. Wasson, a physician, in what was soon to become the Mt. Pisgah community.
Richard Tallant is listed in the August 24, 1870 Cold Bath, Clark County, Arkadephia Post Office, Arkansas Census on page 4. Along with his wife Lousa, John W and Martha. Louiza Ann Childers Hall Tallant died and on Nov 12, 1879 Richard married (2nd) again in Montgomery County to Cynthia E. Bevill born August 15, 1855 in Arkansas, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Pettit) Bevill. She lived in the Hopper area, and Richard probably met her while he was selling Bibles and other books in the area. Cynthia and Richard had nine children, all were born at Welch:
5. James William Tallant born February 8, 1881
6. Thomas Jefferson Tallant born March 1882
7. Louis Leroy Tallant, died as a small child.
8. John Edmond Tallant, died as a small child.
9. Ida Emily Tallant born, September 1887.
10. Arthur Bunyon Tallant born February 1889.
11. Alenander Buel Cornelius Tallant born January 1891.
12. Freedonia Lela Bell Tallant born July 1893.
13. Losson Leonard Tallant born January 1896.
Richard was a farmer and kept Post Office at Welch (five miles east of Glenwood, Arkansas on Highway 70, just before the community of Bumble Bee). The post office was in his home town where he also sold Bibles and Books. He is listed on many occasion in the Annual Sessions of Caddo River Baptist Association meeting minutes.
Richard is listed in the 1900 Caney, Montgomery County, Arkansas
Census, sheet 13A. along with his wife Sintha (Cynthia), James W, Thomas J, Ida E, Author B, Alexander B. C., Freedonia L.B. and Losson L. Tallant.
Sources: Census records
Shirley Shewmake Manning, editor "The Mountain Signal"
Caddo River Baptist Association Minutes
"Our Book - Richard Tallant 1768-1832" pages 114-115.
Submitted by Carylon Osborn Viuhkola. Posted 5 Sept. 2001