Inspection Report of Monroe's Arkansas Cavalry Brigade. Oct. 1863

[Mississippian]

Another interesting report, make note of the inspectors comments......

CSR of Capt. T. Newton:

Inspection of Col. Monroe's Brigade, Marmaduke's Division, Oct 24th 1863:

Monroe's (1st) Arkansas Cavalry Regiment:

Discipline: Good
Instructions: Good
Gen'l Appearance: Good
Condition of Arms: Good
Condition of Horses: Good
Cartridges per man: 20
Kind of Arms: Shotguns, Miss Rifles, Muskets, Hindman (?) Rifles
Men Armed and Mounted: 112
Men Unarmed and Mounted: 6
Officers: 10

Thompson's (4th) Arkansas Cavalry Regiment:

Discipline: Tolerable
Instructions: Tolerable
Gen'l Appearance: Tolerable
Condition of Arms: Good
Condition of Horses: Good
Cartridges per man: 20
Kind of Arms: Shotguns, Miss Rifles, Muskets, Hindman (?) Rifles
Men Armed and Mounted: 51
Men Unarmed and Mounted: 22
Officers: 14

Hill's (7th) Arkansas Cavalry Regiment:

Discipline: Indifferent
Instructions: Indifferent
Gen'l Appearance: Indifferent
Condition of Arms: Indiffrent
Condition of Horses: Tolerable
Cartridges per man: 15
Kind of Arms: Shotguns, Muskets, Hindman (?) Rifles
Men Armed and Mounted: 30
Men Unarmed and Mounted: 7
Officers: 7

Witherspoon's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion:

Discipline: Indifferent
Instructions: Bad
Gen'l Appearance: Indifferent
Condition of Arms: Indifferent
Condition of Horses: Indifferent
Cartridges per man: 15
Kind of Arms: Shotguns, Hindman (?) Rifles
Men Armed and Mounted: 30
Men Unarmed and Mounted: 36
Officers: 13

Woolsey's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion:

Discipline: Indifferent
Instructions: Indifferent
Gen'l Appearance: Indifferent
Condition of Arms: Indifferent
Condition of Horses: Indifferent
Cartridges per man: 25
Kind of Arms: Shotguns, Muskets
Men Armed and Mounted: 20
Men Unarmed and Mounted: 7
Officers: 7

No. of Pistols in Brigade

Navy Pistols: 12
Holster Pistols: 4
Single (illegible): 4
Derringers: 2


Inspectors Comments:

It was reported to me by Col. Monroe that a great portion of his command was not on inspections, they are out on duty scouting ect. Not one of the commands had it's full number of companies represented. In Monroe's Regiment only 5 companies present, Col Thompson reported 108 of his regiment on duty scouting ect. Of the commands present on yesterday, Col Monroe's regiment presented a better appearance than the others, Col Thompson's next. The arms generally of the other three commands being in bad order. I wish to call the attention of the Brig Gen commanding to the irregular and filthy camp of the entire brigade. I found horses hitched in the company street by the men, some immediately in front of tent doors. I learned it was the usual manner of encampment. The clothing of the brigade as a general thing was reported to me as being good, some blankets needed monthly. Most of the horses I inspected generally of the 'pony' kind, but seemed able to do good service.

T. Newton
A.I.G."

Will MacDonald

[Mark Choate]

Re: Inspection Report of Monroe's Arkansas Cavalry Brigade. Oct. 1863

I find the usage of the terms "Good, Tolerable and Indifferent" interesting when evaluating the level of discipline, weapons, horses, appearance, etc. Will, do you know if those were the official terms set out by the CS or just those chosen by the inspector?

thx,
Mark

[Mississippian]

Re: Inspection Report of Monroe's Arkansas Cavalry Brigade. Oct. 1863

I don't know if they are in regulations, but they seem to be the most common terms used by inspectors that I've run across. Now as to what they mean exactly it probably varied per person, I'm sure those with more formal military training were stricter than those without.

Will MacDonald