1st Battery, Arkansas Light Artillery

1st Arkansas Light Artillery Battery
Active	January 1863 – August 30, 1865
Disbanded	August 30, 1865
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Artillery
Size	battery
Engagements	American Civil War Camden Expedition Battle of Prairie D'Ane Battle of Van Buren Battle of Camden Battle of Poison Spring Battle of Jenkins' Ferry

American Civil War

The 1st Arkansas Light Artillery Battery (1863–1865) was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Although Arkansas joined the Confederate States of America in 1861, not all of its citizens supported secession.

In January 1863, Denton D. Stark, then Adjutant of the 1st Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry (Union), was authorized to raise the first battery of Arkansas light artillery. By April 1 the battery was full but was not mustered into service until August 31. The men were principally residents of Benton, Washington, Madison, Crawford, Sebastian, Franklin, Johnson, and Sevier counties. The battery was stationed at Fayetteville, Arkansas during the period January–April 1863, and began moving to Springfield, Missouri on April 25. It arrived on 4 May and remained on duty there until September 21, including an expedition from Springfield into Arkansas and Indian Territory from September 7 to 19. They were near Enterprise, Missouri on September 15. The battery returned to Fayetteville on September 21 and remained there until March 1864, attached to District of Southwest Missouri, Department Missouri, during that time. In March 1864 it was placed under the command of 2nd Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Army Corps, Department of Arkansas, until January 1865, when it was placed under the command of Artillery, 3rd Division, 7th Army Corps, until February 1865. From then until it was disbanded, it was under the command of 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 7th Army Corps.