Arkansas Territorial Militia
The Militia of the Territory of Arkansas, commonly known as the Arkansas Militia, was the forerunner of today's Arkansas National Guard. The current Arkansas Army National Guard traces its roots to the creation of the territorial militia of the District of Louisiana in 1804. As the District of Louisiana evolved into the Territory of Missouri and the first counties were organized, regiments of the Missouri territorial militia were formed in present-day Arkansas. Territorial governors struggled to form a reliable militia system in the sparsely populated territory. When the Arkansas Territory was formed from the Missouri Territory, the militia was reorganized, gradually evolving from a single brigade composed of nine regiments to an entire division composed of six brigades, each containing four to six regiments. The local militia organization, with its regular musters and hierarchy added structure to the otherwise loosely organized territorial society. The Territorial Militia was utilized to quell problems with the Indian Nations and was held in readiness to deal with trouble along the border with Mexico due to an ambiguous international border and during the prelude to the Texas War of Independence.
Creation of a territorial militia
The history of the Arkansas militia begins in 1804, when the United States bought a huge tract of land west of the Mississippi River from France. At the time of the transaction, now known as the "Louisiana Purchase", the area that would eventually enter the Union as the State of Louisiana was referred to as the District of Orleans. The area north of present-day Louisiana was referred to as the District of Louisiana. At first the new "District of Louisiana" was attached to Indiana Territory for administrative purposes. In 1804 the District of Louisiana was designated as the Louisiana Territory and the new territory was subdivided into districts – namely, St. Charles, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, and New Madrid – stretching along the Mississippi River with no definite boundaries to the west. The area of the present State of Arkansas lay within the District of New Madrid, which stretched from the present Arkansas-Louisiana state line to the present city of New Madrid, Missouri.The authorities found that there were few people in the new territory, especially the area which was later to become Arkansas, to enroll in the militia. Low and swampy, early Arkansas attracted few settlers, and many of those who did come were itinerant French hunters and trappers who were hardly temperamentally fit for the militia, which required a fairly settled population. The last census conducted under French rule in 1803 "estimated" that the Arkansas Post District had a population of 600 with a militia of 150.
Militia law of the District of Louisiana
In October 1804, the governor and judges of Indiana Territory met as a legislative body to begin the process of formulating laws for the huge District of Louisiana. It is from this date that the Arkansas National Guard tracks its earliest formation.The Militia Act of 1804 contained 24 subsections. It made all males between the age of 16 and 50 liable for militia service excepting superior court judges, supreme court judges, the attorney general, the supreme court clerk, all licensed ministers, jail keepers, and those exempted by the laws of the United States. The act laid out the number of officers required for each company, battalion and regiment and required privates and officers to arm themselves "with a good musket, a sufficient bayonet and belt, or a fuse, two spare flints, a knapsack, and a pouch with a box therein to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges,... knapsack, pouch, and powder horn, with twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder". Companies were required to muster every other month, Battalions in April and Regiments in October. Militiamen who failed to attend muster would be fined after being tried by court martial, which the commanders were given authority to convene. The act also created the office of Adjutant General and detailed his responsibilities. for the formation of the formation of "independent troops of horse, and companies of artillery, grenadiers, light infantry, and riflemen."
Section 24 of the law allowed for the formation of volunteer companies.
These independent companies were the only units in the militia that were to be issued standardized uniforms, arms and equipment. Formation of independent of volunteer companies would become an important part of society. While there are very few records of any governor during the territorial or antebellum period turning out an entire militia regiment for service other than the required musters, there are ample examples of volunteer or "independent" companies turning out for service during times of war or conflict.
Arkansas District, Territory of Louisiana
By 1806, the lower two thirds of the District of New Madrid was re-designated as the District of Arkansas; the area had two militia units: one cavalry company and one infantry company. Despite the small population, it appears that the early Arkansans enrolled in the militia in fairly large numbers.A roster of militia appointments for the District of Arkansas dated July 14, 1806, demonstrates that the new U.S. Administration attempted to promote continuity and stability in the newly acquired territory by appointing a mixture of existing colonial militia leaders and early settlers:
Major Francois Vaugine, came to Arkansas as the adjutant-major to the Commander of the Post of Arkansas in the late 1780s. Vaugine had previously served in Company 4, 1st Battalion, Standing Regiment of Louisiana, Spanish Army, allied with U.S. Forces during the American Revolution. Vaugine was approximately 19 at the time of this appointment, but as the son of a noble family, appointment to military office at young age was not uncommon. Vaugine's service as an officer did not end there. Records indicated that he served as captain of militia in the Spanish service in the District of Arkansas in 1791, 1792 and as late as 1799. Major Vaugine became a U.S. Citizen after the Louisiana purchase and was appointed as a Judge. Major Vaugine would continue to serve in the Territorial Militia until at least 1814.
Captain of Cavalry Francois Bernard Valliere was the son of Joseph Bernard Valliere, a former commander of the Post of Arkansas during the colonial period. The Valliere and Vaugine families intermarried and remained prominent citizens during the U.S. administration. Don Joseph Valliere was given the Spanish largest land grant in the Colony. Francois Valliere was at the same time appointed to serve as a Justice of the peace and Common Pleas for the District of Arkansaw.
Lieutenant of Cavalry Jacob Bright owned a large trading house at Arkansas Post.
Cornet Pierre LeFevre was also a colonial resident of Arkansas. A Pierre LeFevre, Sr, and an un-named son appear in the 1791 census of Arkansas Post, and he received a land grant from the last Commandant of the Post of Arkansas. A Pierre Lefevre, of Arkansas Post, petitioned the last Colonial Commandant, for an extension of his land grant in order to build a sawmill and the petition was granted. Pierre LeFevre, Sr. and Pierre LeFevre, Jr. appear on the 1816 territorial tax list.
Captain of Infantry Leonard Kepler was born in 1770 at Arkansas Post. Leonard Kepler was at the same time appointed to serve as a Justice of the peace and Common Pleas for the District of Arkansaw.
Ensign Charles Bougie had come to Arkansas Post with the Federal Troops who took possession in 1804. He was involved in trade with the Native Americans at Arkansas Post.