The information on these  pages was edited and graciously  given to the Edward G. Gerdes Arkansas Civil War page by Bryan R. Howerton, who we thank so much.    He can be reached and thanked at this email address!  "Bryan R. Howerton"

This company completed its organization on March 11, 1862, in Craighead county, Arkansas, and enlisted in the Confederate service on that date.  It was assigned to Lieutenant-Colonel Batt L. Jones’ 8th Arkansas Infantry Battalion as Company F on April 9.  As a result of the battalion’s reorganization a month later, Wood’s Rifles was redesignated as Company E on May 10, 1862.  The captain of the company was Joel G. Wood.  This company did not rejoin the battalion after the surrender at Port Hudson.  Captain Wood returned to northeast Arkansas and organized Company A, Davies’ 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, in Craighead and Greene counties, and several members of his former company enlisted.

About the roster of Company E:  As with all the companies of the 8th Arkansas Battalion, the official records of this company are incomplete.  In fact, this company’s records are among the most fragmentary of all.  About 31 men can be positively identified as being members of this company.  Most of them were from Craighead county.  There may be as many as 50 more members of this company who cannot now be identified.  It is suspected that many of the members of Company A, 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, were former members of this company.

Adams, Joseph
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; wounded and captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862, and paroled on October 19, 1862; born in Alabama, June 17, 1828; died in Arkansas, November 19, 1917; buried in Pine Log Cemetery, Craighead county, Arkansas; veteran filed Arkansas pension application #16306 from Craighead county, August 10, 1905; listed in Craighead county 1860 census with wife Martha; occupation farmer.

Altman, W T
Corporal—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; appointed corporal, March 11, 1862; no further information.

Anthony, Francis M
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Armstrong, John J
First Sergeant—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; appointed first sergeant, March 11, 1862; wounded and captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862, and paroled on October 13, 1862; veteran filed Arkansas pension application #1257 from Craighead county (rejected).

Brown, Henry H S
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; detailed as shoemaker, July 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; enlisted in Co. A, 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, in Greene county, Arkansas; paroled at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 25, 1865; born in Arkansas, c1843; listed in Craighead county 1860 census; occupation shoemaker; eyes hazel, hair dark, complexion dark, height 5’6”.

Cannon, James H
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; born in Alabama, c1843; listed in Craighead county 1860 census; occupation farmer.

Carnard, James
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Gambill, James C
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; enlisted in Co. A, 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, at Greensboro, Arkansas; paroled at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 25, 1865; born in Tennessee, c1837; listed in Craighead county 1860 census; occupation farmer; eyes black, hair black, complexion dark, height 5’10”.

Garner, George M
Corporal—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; appointed corporal, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; enlisted in Co. A, 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, at Greensboro, Arkansas; hospitalized with wounds in Way Hospital, Meridian, Mississippi, January 8, 1865; paroled at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 25, 1865; born in Arkansas in 1845; eyes gray, hair dark, complexion fair, height 5’5”.

Gregson, James A
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863; paroled at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 10, 1863; enlisted in Co. A, 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, at Greensboro, Arkansas; promoted corporal; paroled at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 25, 1865; born in Tennessee, c1843; died in Arkansas, July 22, 1899; widow Sarah A. Gregson filed Arkansas pension application #16367 from Craighead county, August 15, 1907; listed in Craighead county 1860 census; occupation farmer; eyes gray, hair light, complexion fair, height 5’10”.

Hale, Thomas B
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 8, 1862; promoted second lieutenant, July 1, 1862; wounded at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; no further information; born in Tennessee, c1841.

Heard, John N [or M]
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; enlisted in Co. A, 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, at Greensboro, Arkansas; paroled at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 25, 1865; born in Tennessee, c1844; eyes gray, hair dark, complexion fair, height 5’9”.

Johnson, J H
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; missing in action at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; no further information.

Johnston, Samuel E
First Lieutenant—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; promoted first lieutenant, April 28, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863; paroled at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 25, 1865; born in Georgia, c1836; died in Arkansas, November 1869; widow Rebecca F. Johnston filed Arkansas pension application #3827 from Craighead county, August 6, 1902.

Little, William R
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; detailed as saddler, July 1862; no further information; born in Tennessee, c1830; listed in Craighead county 1860 census; occupation saddler.

McCullars, William H
Sergeant—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; appointed sergeant, March 11, 1862; listed as missing in action at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; no further information; enlisted in Co. A, 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion; promoted sergeant; born in Arkansas, c1832; died in Arkansas, May 5, 1885; widow Elizabeth McCullars filed Arkansas pension application #22896 from Craighead county, August 17, 1915; listed in Craighead county 1860 census with wife Elizabeth; occupation farmer.

Moore, John W
Second Lieutenant—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; elected second lieutenant, March 11, 1862; died in spring of 1862, cause not stated; born in Tennessee, c1834; widow Tirzah Moore filed Arkansas pension application #3798 from Craighead county, August 15, 1901; listed in Craighead county 1860 census with wife Rebecca; occupation farmer; bought land in Craighead county in 1857.

Murphy, Reason R
Corporal—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; appointed corporal, March 11, 1862; wounded at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; enlisted in Co. A, 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion; promoted second lieutenant; paroled at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 25, 1865; born in Arkansas, c1846; listed in Craighead county 1860 census; occupation farmer.

O’Dell [or Odell], William C
Sergeant—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; appointed sergeant, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; born in South Carolina, c1837; listed in Craighead county 1860 census with wife Ruth; occupation farmer.

Parker, Lemuel M [or W]
Musician—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; appointed musician, March 11, 1862; no further information; born in Tennessee, c1836; listed in Craighead county 1860 census with wife Martha A.; occupation farmer.

Shrum, William
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Sims, John E [ or F]
Corporal—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; appointed corporal, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; detailed as signal operator; born in Tennessee, c1844; listed in Craighead county 1860 census; occupation farmer.

Smith, Hiram C
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Smith, William M
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

Stephenson, Napoleon Bonaparte
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; wounded and captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; exchanged at Vicksburg, Mississippi, December 2, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; born in Tennessee, c1840; listed in Craighead county 1860 census; occupation farmer.

Tubbs, S J
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; exchanged at Vicksburg, Mississippi, November 8, 1862.

Ward, Ashley M
Corporal—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; appointed corporal, March 11, 1862; wounded and captured at Corinth, Mississippi, October 5, 1862; paroled at Iuka, Mississippi, October 19, 1862; died in Arkansas, November 19, 1920; veteran filed Arkansas pension application #19867 from Randolph county, August 20, 1902; widow Frances Ward filed for pension, August 9, 1921.

Webb, John C
Private—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; enlisted in Co. A, 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, at Greensboro, Arkansas; paroled at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 25, 1865; born in Tennessee, c1833; eyes blue, hair light, complexion fair, height 5’10”.

Wood, Green
Sergeant—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; appointed sergeant, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863; enlisted in Co. A, 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion, at Greensboro, Arkansas; promoted sergeant; paroled at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 25, 1865; born in Alabama, c1842; eyes blue, hair light, complexion fair, height 5.8”.

Wood, Joel G
Captain—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; elected captain, March 11, 1862; no further information; enlisted in Co. A, 7th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion; appointed captain; paroled at Wittsburg, Arkansas, May 25, 1862; born in Alabama [census record] or Georgia [military record], c1830; died in Arkansas, November 22, 1886; married Maria Evans; widow M. T. Wood filed Arkansas pension application #3838 from Craighead county, August 15, 1901; listed in Craighead county 1860 census with wife Maria; occupation farmer; bought land in Craighead county in 1859.

Wood, William H
Sergeant—Enlisted in Craighead county, March 11, 1862; appointed sergeant, March 11, 1862; captured at Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 9, 1863, and paroled on July 10, 1863.

If you have any questions or comments or if you would like to have more information about the Civil War and Pension Records of the men who served in these Companies, contact Bryan R. Howerton or Jeri Helms Fultz