Virtual Cemeteries by David Hereford Surles
CK2

Company K, 20th Arkansas Infantry

A Virtual Cemetery created by David Hereford Surles

20 memorials

John Henry Surles (1836 - 1924)enlisted in the Confederate Army at Bright Star, Arkansas on 6 March 1862. Bright Star was located in Lafayette County (now in Miller County) in the southwest corner of Arkansas, about 45 miles north of Waskom. The regiment he joined was originally designated as the 22nd Arkansas Infantry, but was re-designated as the 20th Arkansas Infantry at Corinth in May. This regiment was also known as King's Regiment, in recognition of its first commander George King. John was originally reported in Company C but was recorded in Company K as of 30 June. The company was raised by William R. Kelly in Bright Star. The entire regiment, including Company K, was formally organized at DeValls Bluff, Arkansas on 9 April 1862.The 20th Arkansas was ordered east of the Mississippi River on 11 April 1862, along with the rest of General Earl Van Dorn's Army of the West, joining a brigade commanded by Brigadier General Albert Rust. The unit boarded a steamer at Des Arc and moved down White River, out at its mouth, then up the Mississippi River, and landed at Memphis, Tennessee, on 11 April 1862. The regiment was immediately ordered with the remainder of the brigade to Fort Pillow, approximately 50 miles north of Memphis. The unit departed Memphis via steamer on 12 April and arrived at Fort Pillow on 13 April. It was here, during the bombardment of Fort Pillow by Union gunboats, the men saw their first enemy fire.The unit remained at Fort Pillow for fourteen days. They experienced few casualties in the bombardment, but many of the soldiers became sick, and several died due to the very muddy conditions and poor water supply at the fort. The unit left Fort Pillow on 26 April and moved back to Memphis and then left that place for the Corinth, Mississippi, area on 1 May 1862.It is almost certain that John participated in the action at Fort Pillow and was one of the soldiers who became ill. He was sick and in one hospital or another for much -- if not all -- of the remainder of the war. The 20th Arkansas fought at Corinth and then endured the siege of Vicksburg, where they surrendered with the rest of the CSA on 4 July 1863. The unit records are very sketchy after the surrender at Vicksburg.John appeared on a Union roll of stragglers paroled at Selma, Alabama, during the month of June 1865, but it's not exactly known how he got to that place after his presence was recorded in various hospitals from 1862 through 1864. This Virtual Cemetery is based on Compiled Service Records found at http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/20infcok.html.

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Thomas Summerfield Hellums

26 Jul 1837 – 4 Sep 1925

Pleasant Hill, Nevada County, Arkansas, USA

William R Kelley

22 Feb 1836 – 31 Aug 1899

Texarkana, Miller County, Arkansas, USA

Edmund Parsons

1827 – 5 Jun 1862

Okolona, Chickasaw County, Mississippi, USA

Alfred Jefferson "Jeff" Smith

18 Dec 1837 – 28 Nov 1912

Dallas County, Arkansas, USA