Corporal Mike FREEMAN formed the current 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Southern Skirmish Association (SOSKAN)) in 1990. The Regiment has seen a rapid growth in recruits since it’s formation and is currently part of the Confederate forces within SOSKAN. In the past fifteen years the Regiment has had several major crisis but has managed to weather them all.

Mike FREEMAN subsequently made 1st Lieutenant then left to achieve greater things his position was taken over by Lieutenant Joseph RUFFELL who started molding the Regiment into a tight body of regulars. In 1996 Lieutenant RUFFELL was promoted to Commanding Officer of the Confederate Army. leaving the way clear for Sergeant Roy KEEN to make a bid for command. Roy KEEN was promoted to Lieutenant in 1996 and brought a new sense of fun back to the Regiment. He strove, with the help of the rank and file, to mould the Regiment into one of the best drilled companies in the Confederate Army. Plus he managed to fulfill his personal ambition of having a Fife and Drum Corps as part of the Regiment.

In January 1998. Roy KEEN announced to a surprised regiment his resignation and for a short while the Regiment was leaderless. In a move that took the Regiment full circle Mike FREEMAN was asked to take on the leadership again, this he accepted and so returned as Lieutenant. Towards the end of 1998 the 1st Arkansas decided to consolidate on the battlefield with the 15th Arkansas to provide a more realistic sized company. Unfortunately Lieutenant Mike FREEMAN was unable to continue as the Regimental Officer after Bath 1999 and it was decided to leave the Regiment in the capable hands of Lieutenant Chris GODDARD ably supported by Sergeant Richard SEARLE and his NCO’s.
At the end of 2003 Sergeant Richard SEARLE was promoted to the rank of Battalion Drill Sergeant Major. With the rank of Sergeant now vacant, a vote of confidence for this position now went to Corporal Tim CHANCE.
Sergeant Tim CHANCE with the help of Corporals Pete BROWNE and Keith HASKETT between them are able to run the 1st Arkansas with the continuing support from the rank and file at events throughout the season and continue with a tradition that was started many years ago.
The Company won the Confederate ‘Company of the Year’ in 2001 (jointly with the 15th Ark) and again in 2002. This reflected the Companies unstinting efforts at public events and also reflects the high standard of drill and a willingness to ‘give their all’, in the true spirit of their forbears of Pat Cleburne’s crack division in the Civil War.
Join us today, and you can be sure of a full and interesting re-enactment experience. We have a warm welcome for fighting men and also for wives, sweethearts and all the family as long as you are prepared to dress in period costume and join in. as well as maintaining SoSkAn’s Minimum Standards Policy.
We also have a very active civilian society so there is no reason for anyone to sit around and feel left out of things.
Give us a ring or come and speak to anyone in the 1st Arkansas and we will be happy to answer your questions.
See you soon!