brigadier general m. jeff thompson, commander of the military sub-district of northeast arkansas and southeast missouri, to which the 47th arkansas was assigned at the close of the war, surrendered his command at chalk bluff, arkansas, on may 11, 1865, and agreed to have his men assemble at wittsburg and jacksonport, arkansas, to lay down their arms and receive their paroles. thompson's command was widely dispersed throughout northeast arkansas, more for reasons of available forage than anything else. about a third of his men refused to surrender. many men simply went home. the 45th arkansas cavalry surrendered and was paroled at jacksonport on june 5, 1865. at the time of the surrender, the regiment was assigned to the following command: military sub-district of northeast arkansas and southeast missouri, commanded by brigadier general m. jeff. thompson (surrendered at jacksonport), mccray's brigade, commanded by colonel thomas h. mccray (surrendered at jacksonport), 47th arkansas mounted infantry, commanded by lieutenant colonel richard m. davis (surrendered at jacksonport).