The Civil War

In the autumn of 1845 David Barnett, age 18, came to Arkansas with a group by ox wagon train, leaving his home in McMinn County, Tennessee. The emigrants were seeking a home in the new state of Arkansas. They traveled over a military road from Memphis, tennessee to Buffalo City, Arkansas then followed a country trail leading north west until they came to a little place called Yellville. From there they went southwest to Buffalo River, stopping in the buffalo-Tomahawk section in Dec. 1845 near Gilbert, Searcy Co., Arkansas. This was the only place the Buffalo was crossable at that time of the year. Here they stayed and camped for the winter. David married one of the crew, Flurry Grinder and they settled on the tract of land where they camped. They built a house and homesteaded the land and lived most of their lives at this place.
When the Civil War broke out David and a bunch of other men got together and did not aim to take sides in the war. But the Rebel Army heard of them and sent soldiers to capture them and chain them together two and two like cattle, maklng them walk while the soldiers road at a fast gait. At Little Rock, David and the other men were made to sign up in the Rebel Army. Affidavits to his pension file indicate that in the month of November or December 1861 he had joined an organization know as the(Arkansas Peace Society) Yellow Rag(the spelling is not clear), a Union group, but before the parties that belonged to the organization had time to get to the Union Army, the Confederate authorities took them and chained them together and put them in the Confederate Army under Captain Dawson. This group was also known a a peace group and many parts of thIs group were treated the same way. The choice was to enroll or be shot. The only record of his service is his enrollment.
According to the affidavits in David's pension file, the first chance David got he ran away--came home a few days then went to the Federal Army and joined them. As a reprisal by the Confederates two male members of his family were taken away in the chain gang . One was released six months later but one was never heard of again.

This account may be similar to what happened to William Thomas Fisher. He was listed as a member of the "Arkansas Peace Society". He was a member of a Chain Gang and made to join the CONF. ARMY in Little Rock Ak, in Dec 18, 1861. (His son Christopher Columbus would have been 2 1/2 months old at the time). He served in Co 1, 18th Ark Inf. He was later in 3rd Conf Inf. (18th ArK Inf(Marmaduke), was later redesignate 3rd Conf Inf. Jan 31, 1862. On Feb 28th 1863 he was disignated a teamster. On August 4th, 1863 He deserted at Fynch Station. He was captured the same day at Bridgeport, Al. On Aug 11th he was sent to Louisville KY. He was released upon taking an oath to remain north of the Ohio River. He enlisted on Sept 5th, 1864 at Springfield (D L Ruff), Mo for 6 months in the UNION ARMY. He was a pvt. in Co F, 46th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He was placed on detached service by special order No 9 on Sept 20th, 1864 to Quarter Master's Office.