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county.
One night, seated by his fire smoking, he was assassinated by some person or persons who stood outside with a shotgun, and, firing through the glass of the window, inflicted a fatal wound in his neck.
He was composed and courageous to the end, talking to his friends who had rushed in, and to his family in regard to the education of his children and disposition of his effects.
His murderers could never be detected.
The Second Arkansas cavalry (Confederate) was formed out of Phifer's battalion and other Arkansas companies, notably the company of Captain Ragland, of Drew county, of which William F. Slemons was first lieutenant, and companies commanded by Capt. H. R. Withers, and others under T. J. Reid, of Dallas county, who held the rank of major.
This command went under Hindman to Columbus, Ky., thence to Bowling Green, and performed post duty along the Green river, under the immediate command of Hindman.
It covered, with other cavalry commands, the retreat of Gen. Sidney Johnston to Nashville and into Mississippi.
It was at the battle of Shiloh, and helped to cover the withdrawal of Beauregard to Corinth.
At Corinth, May, 1862, it was consolidated with Phifer's battalion and organized as the Second Arkansas cavalry, Col. William F. Slemons, Lieut.-Col. H. R. Withers, Maj. Thomas J. Reid, Adjt. Thomas Garrison, Quartermaster W. Leeper, Commissary Wat Strong.
Its line officers were: Company A, Capt. A. H. Christian; Company B, Capt. Joseph Earle, afterward H. S. Hudspeth; Company C, Capt. Thomas Cochran; Company D, Capt. James Portis, afterward Capt. Watt Green; Company E, Capt. J. S. Somerville, afterward William Cooper; Company F, Capt. O. B. Tebbs; Company G, Capt. E. L. Murtree, afterward C. Stell; Company H, Capt. Phil Echols, later Capt. James Oliver; Company I, Capt. M. L. Hawkins.
On the retreat of Generals Bragg and Beauregard from Corinth to Tupelo, Miss., the Second Arkansas again formed part of the rear guard of the army, under
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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