Battle of Wilson’s Creek, August 10, 1861, the captain of Company G had been killed and King assumed command of the company. It is unclear where King served between the disbanding of Pearce’s State Troops in September 1862 and June 1862. If he did serve during this time, it was likely in Colonel Rector’s 17th Arkansas Infantry but, he is not shown in the records of that regiment. After the battle of Pea Ridge when the remnants of the 17th Arkansas were reorganized to become the 35th Arkansas, James P. King became captain of Company G. At Elm Springs the 35th along with the other units in training were ordered to turn over their weapons to the ordnance department. The purpose would have been to convert as many of the weapons as possible to standard percussion cap weapons. In this unarmed state the regiments drilled. Supplies and clothing dribbled through and the men began to rely less and less on homemade knapsacks and haversacks. In mid-September the unit was ordered to Elkhorn. Soon they retraced their path back to Elm Springs. At this time the Federals advanced toward the southwestern part of Missouri. General Holmes summoned General Hindman to Little Rock. Federal cavalry was reported to be marching with all speed to capture the three unarmed regiments. Under orders from General Rains the regiments marched south heading to Judge Walker’s farm in southern Washington County. The march was hampered by torrential rains and took two days to cover . Captain Fontaine Richard Earle of Company B, 34th Arkansas said “it seemed as if the heavens had been overcrowded with water and that the flood-gates had been opened for relief.” During the retreat there were many desertions. The regiment moved to Spadra Bluff on the Arkansas River near Van Buren, occupying winter quarters that had been built by a Texas cavalry unit the previous winter. The regiment that had formed with more than 1,000 men in July, numbered approximately 400 men by the time of the Battle of Prairie Grove. They remained here for almost a month and continued their training. Here weapons were supplied, Enfield rifles. On November 15, 1862, General Hindman moved the Arkansas infantry to Massard Prairie, southeast of Fort Smith to drill and organize the divisions. The 35th Arkansas was assigned to Brigadier General James F. Fagan's 1st Brigade of Brigadier General Frances A. Shoup's 2nd Division,