The 12th Arkansas Infantry (1861–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. The regiment spent much of its service defending Confederate strong points along the Mississippi River. The unit participated in the defense of Island No. 10 in early 1862 and later became part of the garrison of Port Hudson in 1863. Following the capitulation of the garrison of Port Hudson, the survivors of the 12th were eventually paroled and exchanged back to Arkansas where the regiment was consolidated with the remnants of several other Arkansas regiments to become the 2nd Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment. Organization 12th Infantry Regiment was organized July 27, 1861, by Edward. W. Gantt. Many of the men were recruited in Dallas County. Gantt had been a close political ally Congressman Thomas Hindman and s staunch supporter of secession before the war. He was elected to Congress in 1860 but never took his seat due to secession. The original regimental officers were:. Colonel Edward W. Gantt Lieutenant Colonels W.D.S. Cook Major T.J. Reid Jr. A.S.A. A.S. Saunder Chaplain A.R. Winfield A.C.S. Will P. Donnell Aq. M. E. C. Jordon Adjutant William M. Bruce. The unit was composed of volunteer companies from the following counties: Company A – Commanded by Captain J.M. Ruffin, organized in Clark County, Arkansas. 24 men from this company would eventually be enlisted in Company E, 33rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment. Company B – the "Arkansas Toothpicks" – commanded by Captain G.A. Hale, organized in Clark County, Arkansas. 23 men from this company were enlisted in Company H, 33rd Arkansas Infantry regiment. Company C – the "Ouachita Guard", commanded by Captain H.W.L. Johnson, organized in Ouachita County, Arkansas. This company was originally organized as a volunteer company, under the command of Captain Joseph R. White in the 39th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia, Ouachita County on June 3, 1861. in the summer of 1862, some of the absentees from this company were enlisted in company F, 33rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment. Company D – the "Holly Springs Targeteers" – commanded by Captain E. Chandler, organized in Dallas County, Arkansas. This company was originally organized as a volunteer company, in the 46th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia, Dallas County, on May 30, 1861. Virtually all of this company escaped capture at Island No. 10 and was reassigned a Company F, 6th Arkansas Infantry until the regiment was reformed. Company E – the "Hot Springs