brigadier general m. jeff thompson, commander of the military sub-district of northeast arkansas and southeast missouri, to which the 45th 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. shelby's missouri brigade, along with elements of green's and jackman's missouri brigades, lit out for mexico. some missouri units disbanded rather than surrender their colors. many men simply went home. the 45th arkansas cavalry surrendered with its command structure intact and was paroled at jacksonport on june 5, 1865. at the time of the surrender, the regiment was assigned to the military sub-district of northeast arkansas and southeast missouri, commanded by brigadier general m. jeff. thompson (surrendered at jacksonport), dobbins' brigade, commanded by colonel col. j. m. mcgehee (surrendered at jacksonport), 44th arkansas mounted infantry, commanded by colonel james h. mcgehee (surrendered at jacksonport).