“The Pulaski Lancers”

The volunteer cavalry troop known as the “Pulaski Lancers” was organized at Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas, in early 1861.  There is a brief reference to the Lancers in the Arkansas State Gazette newspaper, where they are described as engaging in mounted drill, each man carrying a lance decorated with a pennant.  The first definitive reference to the Lancers comes on April 21, 1861, when the troop was selected as one of four Little Rock volunteer companies to make up a militia battalion, under command of Colonel Solon Borland.  The battalion was organized for the purpose of traveling to Fort Smith to force the evacuation of the U.S. Army garrison there.  The “Fort Smith Expedition” lasted from April 21-30, 1861, by which time the battalion had returned to Little Rock and mustered out of service, their mission having been successfully concluded in a bloodless show of force.

Shortly after the Pulaski Lancers returned to Little Rock, the State of Arkansas seceded from the Union and cast her lot with the Confederacy.  One of the first regiments to be organized for Confederate service was the 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.  The Pulaski Lancers were reactivated, greatly increased in size, and joined the regiment as Company F.  Captain Thomas J. Churchill, of the Lancers, was appointed colonel of the Mounted Rifles, and was subsequently promoted to brigadier-general.

The following roster of the original Pulaski Lancers is from the April 21, 1861, muster roll, taken on the morning of their departure on the Fort Smith Expedition.

 If you have questions regarding this unit, please talk to Bryan. "Bryan R. Howerton"

Badgett, W B—Third Corporal.

Banks, Hardy M—Private.

Bonner, William—Private.

Brooke, Albert—Private.

Case, Henry N—First Corporal; later served in 13th Arkansas Militia; also in Little Rock Provost Guard.

Churchill, Thomas James—Captain; later appointed colonel commanding 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles; promoted brigadier-general; served as Governor of Arkansas 1881-1883.

Conway, F M—Private.

Cook, James—Private; later served in the Pulaski Artillery; also in Weaver Light Artillery.

Cook, R G—First Sergeant; later served in 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

Cotton, J F—Private.

Crowne, ??—Private.

Danley, Benjamin F—Private; later appointed colonel commanding 3rd Arkansas Cavalry.

Davis, George W—Private.

Faulkner, William H—First Lieutenant; later served in 6th Arkansas Infantry.

Galloway, Morton G—Second Lieutenant; later appointed lieutenant-colonel, 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

George, William—Private.

Hanger, David L—Second Corporal; later served in 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

Henderson, John C—Private; later served in 3rd Arkansas Cavalry.

Hicks, Henry H—Private; later served in 6th Arkansas Infantry.

Holmes, George T—Private; later served in 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

Johnson, Richard Henry—Private.

Johnson, Robert Ward Jr—Private.

Kelough, J—Private.

Kittle, William D—Private; later served in 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

Little, Andrew J—Private; later served in 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

McConnell, Hall S—Private; later served in 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles; killed in action March 21, 1863.

McConnell, J B—Private.

McNeely, James M—Private; later served in the Pulaski Artillery.

McPherson, S H—Private.

McRae, Thomas—Private.

Miller, William R—Private.

Moore, James—Private.

Morgan, John T—Private; later served in 25th Arkansas Infantry.

Nettles, J R—Private.

Pemberton, William F—Private.

Rennick, John A—Private; later served in 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

Resides, James F—Private.

Roane, ??—Private.

Rodrigo, George—Private; later served in 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

Rush, W F—Private.

Smithee, James N—Private; later served in the Pulaski Artillery; also in the Weaver Light Artillery.

Steele, Thomas—Private.

Temple, James H—Second Sergeant; later served in 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

Webb, Leroy B—Private; later served in 1st Arkansas Infantry.

Webb, Rush S—Private; later served in 1st Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

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  Jeri Helms Fultz or Bryan Howerton