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  In November 1863, authority was given by General Steele, commanding the army of Arkansas, to Elisha Baxter, of Batesville, to raise a regiment of infantry for twelve months. Shortly afterwards verbal permission was given to mount it, and recruting was immediately proceeded with, especially at Batesville, where regimental headquarters were established. Company " A " organized and commanded by Captain T.A. Baxter, reported for duty on the 1st day of January, 1864, to Colonel Livingston, 1st Nebraska Infantry, commanding district of northeastern Arkansas, at Batesville, and continued to do duty under him until the company was disbanded. Company " B " partly organized January 30, 1864, with fourty-two men, by the selection of George W. Robertson as 1st. Lieutenant; was also, to the time of disbandment, engaged in active service with the 1st. Nebraska Infantry and the 3rd. Missouri Cavalry in the same section of country. The rolls of no other company have been recieved at this office, and not even these organizations were ever mustered into the service, owing to the interuption of communications between Batesville and department headquarters.

In the month of May, 1864, the command of all the recruits for the regiment were transferred to Captain T.A. Baxter, for the reason assigned in the following order:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, MAY 3, 1864

VHL--- Hon. E. Baxter, recruting officer for the 4th Arkansas mounted infantry, having been elected to the Senate of the United States from the State of Arkansas, is hereby relieved from duty with that regiment, and will turn over his command and all orders and instructions he may have recieved relating to the organization of the same to Captain T.A. Baxter, 4th. Arkansas mounted Infantry, subject to the approval of the Wart Department.

By order of major General F. Steele:

W.D. Green, Assistant Adjutant General.

While Hon. Eliza Baxter was in command of the regiment nearly four hundred recruits were enlisted, and after his relief other accessions were made, but the War Department refusing to confirm the authority for raising the regiment as a twelve months organization, the following was issued:

Headquarters Department of Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas. June 2, 1864

L.--The authority heretofore granted for the enlistment for one year of a regiment of Arkansas troops, to be designated the 4th. Arkansas mounted infantry, not having been confirmed by the War Departnent, the organization is hereby disbanded. All quartermasters' property and ordnance stores in the possession of the battalion will be turned over to the proper staff officers at Duvall's Bluff.

By order of Major General Steele:

W.D. Green, Assistant Adjutant General.

The regiment was accordingly disbanded.