Dandridge McRae (October 10, 1829 – April 23, 1899) was an American lawyer, court official, and Inspector General of Arkansas State Troops, as well as a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He served in several key battles that helped secure Arkansas for the Confederacy, prolonging the war in the Western Theater. Biography Dandridge McRae was born in Baldwin County, Alabama, the son of Margaret (Bracy) and D. R. W. McRae. He graduated in 1849 from South Carolina College, where he was a member of the Euphradian Society and the Corps of Cadets. McRae moved to Searcy in White County, Arkansas. He was admitted to the bar and served as clerk of the county and circuit courts for six years. McRae began his military service in Arkansas on September 12, 1860, when he was commissioned as the captain of a volunteer militia company named the "Arkansas Guards" in the 21st Arkansas Militia Regiment, of White County. He led this company as part of the militia forces which seized the Federal Arsenal at Little Rock in early February, 1861. After the arsenal seizure, McRae returned to White County and organized a volunteer cavalry troop, the Border Rangers, in Searcy, Arkansas, in April 1861, where he was elected and served as captain. McRae had also been appointed by Governor Henry Massey Rector to serve as the inspector general of the new Arkansas State Troops. McRae was first sent to Camp Rector at Hopefield, (near modern-day West Memphis, Arkansas) to begin the mustering in of troops. During this time McRae is occasionally referenced by other militia commanders as General McRae, probably in connection with his role as inspector general. McRae left Hopefield shortly after the Arkansas State secession convention dispatched a political general, Thomas H. Bradley of Crittenden County, to assume command. McRae was next dispatched to Northwest Arkansas to assist Brigadier General Nicholas Bartlett Pearce in the mustering of Arkansas State Troops in the Western Division of the Provisional Army of Arkansas. McRae was elected as lieutenant colonel in command of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Battalion on 15 July 1861. He led his battalion in action at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, Missouri, on 10 August 1861 and was commended for his coolness under fire and his leadership of his soldiers. In December 1861 Colonel McRae’s battalion was augmented with additional volunteer infantry companies and reorganized