1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment - Company I - Monticello Guards

The Commander

Data

James Fleming Fagan (March 1, 1828 – September 1, 1893)

was a planter, public official, and a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. His Arkansas brigade distinguished itself in the Red River campaign of 1864, helping to drive the Union army from southern Arkansas.
Early Life
James F. Fagan was born in Louisville, Kentucky. When he was ten years old, his family moved to Little Rock, the capital of the recently created State of Arkansas. His father had been hired to work on the Old State House. His father died during his youth and his mother, Catherine A. Fagan, in 1842 married Samuel Adams, who became Governor of Arkansas two years later.
After his stepfather's death, Fagan took control of the family farm along the Saline River in southern Arkansas. Though he was a member of the Whig Party, he represented the heavily Democratic Saline County for one term in the Arkansas state legislature. Fagan served in the United States Army during the Mexican-American War in the 1st Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry under General Archibald Yell and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
Career in the Civil War
At the start of the Civil War, Fagan raised a company for the Confederate Army and became its captain. When his unit was folded in with the 1st Arkansas Infantry, Fagan was elected as colonel of the combined 900-man regiment. They were formally mustered into service in Lynchburg, Virginia in May 1861. His regiment was a part of the first wave of Confederate attacks under Albert Sidney Johnston at the Battle of Shiloh. He also participated in the battle at Farmington, Mississippi, on May 9 and the Siege of Corinth, but fell into disfavor with his superior officer, Braxton Bragg. He was soon transferred to the Trans-Mississippi District, where he fought at Cane Hill and Prairie Grove in command of the 1st Arkansas Cavalry.
Fagan was promoted to brigadier general on September 12, 1862, and commanded a brigade entirely composed of Arkansas regiments. He played a central role in the Battle of Helena, where he and his brigade made repeated assaults on Federal artillery batteries. He assumed command of Sterling Price's division upon the latter's promotion, and played a role in the successful defense of Little Rock.
He participated in the Arkansas portion of the Red River Campaign and played a central role in the battles during the Camden Expedition, including the successful destruction of a Federal supply train at the Battle of Marks' Mill, which led to the Federal retreat from southern Arkansas. In recognition for his service in the Camden Expedition, Fagan was promoted to major general on April 24, 1864, and commanded the Arkansas division of Confederate cavalry during Price's Raid into Missouri. His division broke in a "disgraceful manner" during the failed assault on Fort Davidson at Pilot Knob, Missouri. During Price's withdrawal from Missouri and Kansas, Fagan and Marmaduke's divisions were overwhelmed at the Battle of Mine Creek. The end of the war found Fagan in command of the District of Arkansas of the Trans-Mississippi Department, which was active militarily until late April 1865.

Early after the Civil War
He was appointed United States Marshal by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1875.

The Regiment

The First Regiment, Arkansas Volunteers, was established at Little Rock on May 6, 1861, but was actually organized at Lynchburg, Virginia, on May 19, 1861, where the ten component companies enlisted for twelve months.  The first field officers were Colonel James Fleming Fagan, Lieutenant-Colonel James Cade Monroe, and Major John Baker Thompson.  Although present at the Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) in July 1861, the First Arkansas led a fairly peaceful life during its first year of service, assigned to stationary guard duty and picket posts in the Department of Fredericksburg.  Their tour of duty as garrison soldiers came to an end, however, when the regiment was transferred to the Army of Mississippi in February 1862.  Assigned to the First (Gibson’s) Brigade, First (Ruggles’) Division, in Bragg’s Second Corps, the regiment fought in the Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862.  The First Arkansas went into the fight with about 800 men, and sustained a loss 364 killed, wounded and missing in action—an astounding 45 percent casualty rate.

After reorganizing, the First Arkansas was assigned to Pat Cleburne’s division, and spent the remainder of the war in the Army of Tennessee, fighting in all the major battles of that army, including Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Nashville, and Bentonville.  On April 9, 1865, the remnants of the First Arkansas were consolidated with the remnants of nine other depleted Arkansas regiments to form the First Arkansas Consolidated Infantry.  This consolidated regiment was included in the surrender of the Army of Tennessee later than month, April 26, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina.