The First Arkansas Light Artillery was organized at Fort Smith, Arkansas, on September 14, 1861, but continued to recruit and enlist members well into October.  The original officers were Captain David Provence, First Lieutenant Stephen D. McDonald, Second Lieutenant John T. Humphreys, and Third Lieutenant William H. Gore.  Most of the officers and men had recently been mustered out of the Arkansas State Troops.  The battery fought at the battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn Tavern), Arkansas, in March 1862, before being ordered east of the Mississippi River, where they spent the remainder of the war.

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.

Captain David Provence resigned to accept an appointment as colonel, 16th Arkansas Infantry Regiment.  His resignation was formally approved on June 10, 1862, at which time Lieutenant John T. Humphreys was promoted to captain.  Captain Humphreys resigned on October 15, 1863.  Lieutenant John W. Rivers, who had risen from the ranks, was promoted captain, effective October 15, 1863, and commanded the battery to the end of the war.

Adams, Joseph W—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861; captured at Harrison, Tennessee, October 28, 1863.

Aldridge, Thomas H—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 28, 1861; died at Memphis, Tennessee, April 30, 1862.

Amos, John R—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 26, 1861; wounded at Shelbyville, Tennessee, April 20, 1863.

Archer, Rufus L—Private; enlisted at Magnolia, Arkansas, March 1, 1862; hospitalized at Dalton, Georgia, October 13, 1863.

Barefield, R P—Private; enlisted at Norristown, Arkansas, January 21, 1862; deserted from hospital at Little Rock, Arkansas.

Barham, Nat—Private; transferred from McNair’s Brigade, November 18, 1862.

Bateman, Thomas J—Private; transferred from 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles, November 18, 1862; deserted in Georgia, November 21, 1864.

Bell, J W—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 9, 1861.

Bell, John—Private; transferred from McNair’s Brigade, November 18, 1862; deserted, September 22, 1863.

Beveridge, Thomas E—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 18, 1861; deserted near Clarksville, Arkansas, April 10, 1862.

Birdsong, Ichabod W—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 2, 1861; deserted at Fort Smith, March 25, 1862.

Birmingham, T B—Private; transferred from 25th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862.

Bishop, David H—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861; deserted, February 25, 1862.

Blackman, Andrew J—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861; died at Booneville, Mississippi, May 30, 1862.

Blackwell, David—Private; transferred from 25th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862.

Boothby, Daniel—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 20, 1861; died at Atlanta, Georgia, March 16, 1864.

Brewer, Francis Marion—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861; captured at Atlanta, Georgia, September 2, 1864.

Brewer, John O—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861; captured at Atlanta, Georgia, September 3, 1864.

Brown, George W—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 18, 1861.

Brown, James P—Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Battalion, November 18, 1862.

Bunch, Alonzo—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 28, 1861; wounded at Farmington, Mississippi, May 13, 1862.

Burkett, James W—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 16, 1861.

Cameron, Donald C—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861.

Campbell, John—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; Medal of Honor for Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, December 31, 1862.

Carleton, Alexander—Private.

Casey, John—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861.

Cates, John—Private; transferred from McNair’s Brigade, November 18, 1862.

Chadwick, Henry Clay—Sergeant; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; court-martialed and confined for desertion, August 29, 1862.

Clark, James M—Private; enlisted at Crittenden, Kentucky, September 10, 1862; deserted at Loudon, Tennessee, November 1862.

Cobb, W T G—Private; transferred from 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles, April 30, 1862.

Corcoran, Dennis—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 8, 1861; wounded at Shelbyville, Tennessee, April 20, 1863.

Cunningham, John J—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 21, 1861; hospitalized, Julyl 1, 1864.

Curley, Michael C—Corporal; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 1, 1861.

Derr, John M—Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862.

Dixon, Robert T—Private; enlisted at Norristown, Arkansas, January 21, 1862; deserted at Holly Springs, Mississippi, May 1, 1862.

Dowling, David—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 8, 1861; died, February 18, 1862.

Farris, Richard W—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 13, 1861; captured at Milledgeville, Georgia, May 5, 1865.

Fearson, George Washington—Private; transferred from 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles, April 30, 1862.

Flowers, Daniel B—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 28, 1861.

Flowers, Isaac H—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 28, 1861.

Glass, William A—Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862; deserted, September 22, 1863.

Gore, William H—Third Lieutenant; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; promoted second lieutenant, April 20, 1862; wounded at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, December 31, 1862; wounded at Shelbyville, Tennessee, April 20, 1863; resigned for disability, June 12, 1863.

Gough, John H—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 1, 1861; deserted at Fort Smith, March 25, 1862.

Greer, William N—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 24, 1861.

Griffith, Samuel A—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861; later served in Co. B, 17th Arkansas Infantry.

Hall, Thomas—Private; enlisted at Atlanta, Georgia, January 1, 1864; deserted at Atlanta, September 1864.

Hardin, E J—Private; detailed to duty with Chief of Artillery, Polk’s Corps.

Hartley, Alfred—Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Battalion, November 18, 1862; deserted, September 22, 1863.

Hawks, Benjamin K—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 12, 1861; captured at Cynthiana, Kentucky, June 3, 1863.

Henry, Thomas—Corporal; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 18, 1861; captured at Milledgeville, Georgia, May 5, 1865.

Hodges, Lafayette—Private; enlisted at Camp Jackson, Arkansas, October 18, 1861.

Hogan, Marcus Lafayette—Private; transferred from 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles, November 18, 1862.

Holmes, Thomas P—Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862.

Howard, Edward R—Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Battalion, November 18, 1862; absent without leave.

Howard, Mathew—Private; transferred from McNair’s Brigade, November 18, 1862; deserted, September 22, 1863.

Howell, John R—Private; transferred from 25th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862; deserted, September 22, 1863.

Huffstutler, David—Private; enlisted at Norristown, Arkansas, January 21, 1862; died in March 1862.

Hughes, Johnston—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 1, 1861; discharged for old age, January 10, 1863.

Humphreys, John T—Second Lieutenant; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; promoted first lieutenant, April 10, 1862; promoted captain, July 13, 1862; resigned, October 15, 1863; died in California.

Hyland, George—Private; enlisted at Fort Reagan, Arkansas, January 24, 1862; captured at Harrison, Tennessee, October 28, 1863; died at U.S. Military Prison, Camp Morton, Indiana, November 28, 1864.

Illg, Englehard—Private; transferred from 25th Arkansas Infantry, November 1, 1862, in exchange for Benjamin Washburn.

Jefferson, Thomas—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 9, 1861; under arrest at Chattanooga, Tennessee, July 12, 1862.

Johnson, William—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861; captured at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, November 25, 1863.

Jones, Charles—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 9, 1861.

Jordan, William M—Private; transferred from McNair’s Brigade, November 18, 1862; deserted in 1864.

Keith, William—Private; enlisted at Macon, Georgia, December 5, 1864.

Kennedy, Thomas—Private; enlisted at Atlanta, Georgia, February 12, 1864; deserted in 1864.

Knowles, John R—Private; transferred from 25th Arkansas infantry, November 18, 1862; under arrest, May 5, 1862.

Lavey, William H—Sergeant; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 26, 1861; deserted near Memphis, Tennessee, April 18, 1862.

Linton, Lawson T—Private; transferred from 25th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862; deserted in 1864.

Logan, Jasper N—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, November 1, 1861; hospitalized in April 1862.

Long, Seborn—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861; applied for Confederate pension in Oklahoma after the war.

Lowe, Thomas—Private; enlisted at Chattanooga, Tennessee, July 1, 1862; returned from desertion, December 19, 1864.

McClure, James F—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861; died at Des Arc, Arkansas, April 10, 1862.

McDaniel, William R—Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862.

McDonald, Stephen D—First Lieutenant; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; resigned, April 10, 1862.

McLaughlin, Thomas B—Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862.

Maley, Patrick—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; deserted at Van Buren, Arkansas, March 20, 1862.

Mathews, Daniel—Private; enlisted at Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 1863; absent without leave.

Mathews, James M—Private; enlisted at Norristown, Arkansas, January 21, 1862; deserted at Mobile, Alabama, July 2, 1862.

Maxey, Bluford—Private; transferred at Tupelo, Mississippi, June 19, 1862.

Meleham, John—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 26, 1861; died at Clarksville, Arkansas, April 10, 1862.

Mitchell, H D—Private; transferred from McNair’s Brigade, November 18, 1862; deserted, September 22, 1863.

Mitchell, L M—Private; transferred from McNair’s Brigade, November 18, 1862; deserted, September 22, 1863.

Monahan, Michael—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; deserted at Mobile, Alabama, July 2, 1862.

Morris, W J—Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Battalion, November 18, 1862; deserted, September 22, 1863.

Moss, Miles S—Private; transferred from 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles, November 18, 1862.

Neel, Martin Van Buren—Private; transferred from 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles, November 18, 1862; no record after April 30, 1864.

O’Brien, Peter—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 8, 1861; deserted at Camp Trott, Arkansas, November 23, 1861.

Palmer, James H—Private; transferred from 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles, November 18, 1862.

Patton, Augustus Erwin—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861.

Pearce, William—Private; enlisted at Macon, Georgia, October 1, 1864; deserted, April 10, 1865.

Petray, William H—Private; enlisted at Norristown, Arkansas, January 21, 1862; died at Decatur, Georgia, April 5, 1864.

Pidcock, William Gabriel —Private; enlisted at Lee Creek, Arkansas, March 1, 1862; died at Tupelo, Mississippi, June 30, 1862.

Provence, David—Captain; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; resigned, June 10, 1862, to accept appointment as colonel, 16th Arkansas Infantry.

Purl, Gideon—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 26, 1861; deserted at Atlanta, Georgia, September 1864.

Ratterree, Wiley—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 29, 1861; hospitalized at Loudon, Tennessee, August 1862.

Rice, Thomas—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 20, 1861.

Richardson, Henry E—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 26, 1861; applied for Confederate pension in Oklahoma after the war.

Richardson, James—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 26, 1861; died at Memphis, Tennessee, April 28, 1862.

Richardson, Oliver Perry—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 9, 1861; appointed third lieutenant, April 10, 1862; promoted second lieutenant, July 13, 1862; promoted first lieutenant, October 15, 1863.

Riffe, Joshua—Private; transferred from 1st Arkansas Infantry, April 24, 1863.

Riggin, Henry Clay—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 1, 1861; appointed third lieutenant, Julyl 13, 1862; court-martialed, April 1863.

Rivers, D J—Private; transferred from an Alabama regiment; furloughed, December 17, 1864.

Rivers, John W—Corporal; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 24, 1861; appointed second lieutenant, April 10, 1862; promoted first lieutenant, July 13, 1862; promoted captain, October 15, 1863.

Robins, James Calvin—Private; transferred from 25th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862; deserted in 1864.

Ryan, Jeremiah—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; surrendered at Atlanta, Georgia, June 9, 1865.

Saffell, John Franklin—Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862; returned to his regiment, December 1862.

Scarbury, Zach—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; wounded at Shelbyville, Tennessee, April 20, 1863.

Sellers, Christopher W—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 13, 1861; appointed quartermaster-sergeant.

Sharp, Thornton—Private; enlisted at Atlanta, Georgia, January 1, 1864.

Shea, William H—First Sergeant; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 1, 1861; appointed third lieutenant, October 15, 1863.

Silas, Catalini—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; killed in action at Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19, 1863.

Sizemore, William A—Private; enlisted at Atlanta, Georgia, February 26, 1864; returned from desertion, October 19, 1864.

Smith, William P—Private; enlisted at Camp Jackson, Arkansas, October 18, 1861; deserted at Atlanta, Georgia, September 1864.

Sorrells, Samuel S—Private; transferred from 31st Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862; deserted in 1864.

Standley, E E—Private; detailed as carpenter in C.S. Armory, Macon, Georgia, April 13, 1865.

Stickiniski, Thomas—Private; enlisted at Camp Jackson, Arkansas, October 16, 1861; died at Chattanooga, Tennessee, July 25, 1862.

Sullivan, John—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 14, 1861; deserted.

Taylor, John H—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 26, 1861; furloughed, December 28, 1864.

Tedford, William P—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861.

Thompson, John—First Corporal; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 16, 1861; promoted first sergeant, September 1862.

Thompson, John J—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861.

Thurman, J M—Private; enlisted at Atlanta, Georgia, June 3, 1864; returned from desertion, November 21, 1864.

Tucker, Samuel M—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 17, 1861; captured at Harrison, Tennessee, October 28, 1863.

Tyler, William Henry Harrison—Private; transferred from 25th Arkansas Infantry, November 18, 1862; died of smallpox at Atlanta, Georgia, March 8, 1864.

Underhill, Thomas J—Private; enlisted at Camp Jackson, Arkansas, October 16, 1861.

Ussery, William A—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 16, 1861; hospitalized at Atlanta, Georgia, February 15, 1864.

Vanway, Jacob—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 28, 1861; captured at Harrison, Tennessee, October 28, 1863; died in U.S. Military Prison, Camp Morton, Indiana, November 21, 1863.

Waldroff, Martin—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 18, 1861; applied for Confederate pension in Florida after the war.

Washburn, Benjamin—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 20, 1861; transferred to 25th Arkansas Infantry in exchange for Englehard Illg, November 1, 1862.

Webb, Hampton M—Private; enlisted at Norristown, Arkansas, January 21, 1862; deserted at Van Buren, Arkansas, March 20, 1862.

Webb, William—Private; enlisted at Norristown, Arkansas, January 21, 1862; deserted at Van Buren, Arkansas, March 20, 1862.

White, Alexander L—Private; enlisted at Fort Smith, Arkansas, October 5, 1861; captured at East Point, Georgia, September 8, 1864.

Winstead, S A [or H A]—Private.

Wise, Uriah J—Private; transferred at Tupelo, Mississippi, June 28, 1862.

Wright, Joseph—Private; transferred from 4th Arkansas Infantry, February 15, 1863.