1st Battery, Arkansas Light Artillery

The 1st Arkansas Light Artillery Battery (1863–1865) was a 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.

Organization
In January 1863, Denton D. Stark, then Adjutant of the 1st Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry (Union), received authority to raise the first battery of Arkansas light artillery. By April 1, 1863, the battery was full but was not mustered into the service until August 31, 1863. The men were principally residents of Benton, Washington, Madison, Crawford, Sebastian., Franklin, Johnson, and Sevier counties. The battery was stationed at Fayetteville, Arkansas, January to April, 1863. The battery moved to Springfield, Missouri, April 25–May 4, and duty there till September 21. Expedition from Springfield into Arkansas and Indian Terroritory September 7–19. Near Enterprise, Missouri, September 15. The battery moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, September 21, and duty there till March, 1864. It was attached to District of Southwest Missouri, Department Missouri, until March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, District of the Frontier, 7th Army Corps, Department of Arkansas, to January, 1865. Artillery, 3rd Division, 7th Army Corps, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 7th Army Corps, to August, 1865.

Service
From May 4 to September 21, 1863, the battery was stationed at Springfield, Missouri, receiving while there guns and equipment. In September, Lieutenant Robert Thompson, with one section of the battery, participated in an expedition under the command of Colonel M. Larue Harrison, through southwestern Missouri and northwestern Arkansas, in pursuit of Colonel Coffee's command, then raiding in that section of country, and preceded thence to Fayetteville, Arkansas. The remaining two sections of the battery, under command of Captain Stark, left Springfield, Missouri, September 21, 1863, for Fayetteville, marching at first, however, as far north as Greenfield, Missouri, under Colonel H1 Harrison, who was then in pursuit of General Shelby.' Moving then to Fayetteville, one section of the battery took part, about October 20, in a skirmish with the enemy, under Colonel Brooks, at Cross Timbers, Missouri. The battery remained at Fayetteville until March 19, 1864, when, by order of Brigadier General Thayer, it marched to Fort Smith. On the 23d of March it joined the expedition to Camden, forming a part of Colonel Adams’s brigade. It was present in the skirmish at Moscow, on or about the 13th day of April, with four guns in action, and relieved the 2d Indiana battery, under a severe fire front the enemy's artillery. Leaving Camden with the retreating force under General Steels, April 28, it reached Little Rock Stay 3, 1864, and moved thence with the frontier division of the Army of Arkansas to Fort Smith. In October-, 1864, one section of the battery, under Lieutenant Mayes, was sent with other troops in pursuit of Colonel Gano, who had captured a supply train between Fort Scott and Fort Smith, making a forced march to Cabin Creek, north of Fort Gibson, where they came up with the enemy retreating, but he escaped. The battery occupied Fort No. 2, at Fort Smith, until the 30th day of August, 1865, when it was mustered out of the service.

Actions at Cross Timbers, Missouri, October 15 and 20, 1863. Moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, March 19, 1864. Steele's Expedition to Camden March 23–May 3. Prairie D'Ann April 9–13. Van Buren April 12. Camden April 15. Poison Springs April 18. Jenkins' Ferry, Saline River, April 30. March to Fort Smith May 3–16. Action at Prior Creek September 18, 1864. Garrison duty there and at Fort Gibson till August, 1865.

Mustered out of service
Mustered out August 30, 1865.