the 48th arkansas mounted infantry is the least well documented of the arkansas confederate regiments raised in 1864. in may 1864, general j. o. shelby occupied northeast arkansas, well behind union army lines. in early june 1864, general shelby commissioned colonel thomas hamilton mccray, among others to begin raising regiments in northeast arkansas. by june 13, shelby reported to general sterling price that mccray's efforts were bearing fruit.