JOHN WILLIAM DARK
AKA BILL DARK
Check reference at bottom of page
CSA Unit Co. F, 1st Ark. Mtd. Rifles.
In 1850 Pulaski Census, age 15, born Arkansas, with mother [?]
Dilly Dark, age 35, born "Unknown", living in Hotel in Little
Rock, dwelling 563, John Brown, age 35, born Ireland, landlord.
Wm. Dark may be the son of William Dark, Pvt., Co. A, Arkansas
Battalion Infantry and Mounted Rifles, age 29 who enrolled 10
June 1846 in Clarksville, Arkansas, for the Mexican War.
Bill Dark married Rachel Adeline George, daughter of James S. &
Margaret George, and had a son, William Dark. Rachel and William,
Jr. are in the 1880 Stone County, Arkansas census, living with
her parents.
In 1860 he is again in the Pulaski County Census, in the State
Penitentiary, as J. W. Dark, age 23, male, born Arkansas. [I do
not know what he was in for.]
On June 14, 1861, at Fort Smith, Arkansas, he enrolled as a
private in Captain Galloway's Company, Churchill's Regiment,
Arkansas Mounted Riflemen. [This company subsequently became
Company F, 1st Regiment Arkansas Mounted Rifles.] His service
record states that he traveled 177 miles to the place of
rendezvous, and that his horse was valued at $125 and his horse
equipment at $25. He enlisted for 12 months. He subsequently
appears as "present" on muster rolls for July & August, 1861;
January 31 to April 20, 1862; and May & June, 1862. There is
another piece of paper which states that he appears on an undated
Receipt Roll for receiving $54.80 for use of horse, arms, etc.,
at 40˘ a day, beginning June 14, 1861 and expiring October 31,
1861.
Further mention of his name during the Civil War is: "A dispatch
came from Russellville that De Rosey Carroll had been murdered in
Franklin county by the jayhawkers, under the command of Bill
Dark, a former inmate of our penitentiary." True Democrat,
[Little Rock, Arkansas], January 21, 1863, page 1, column 1.
"It was reported that Parks, the renegade Texan, who, at the head
of a band of jayhawkers had murdered De Rosey Carroll, had been
caught and was to be sent here [Little Rock]; also, that Bill
Dark had been wounded and taken prisoner." True Democrat, January
28, 1863, page 1, column 1.
"Dark, who was said to be taken in Izard county, was badly
wounded, and it is not probable he will live to reach here. It
was said here, and is vouched for by respectable men, that Jerome
B. Lewis, of Van Buren county, is associated with the jayhawkers
in the northern portion of the State." True Democrat, February 4,
1863, page 21, column 2.
Camp near Clipper's [Clapper's], Mill, } Carroll Co., Ark., April
27th, 1863.} Editor True Democrat
We, the undersigned officers in the Confederate service in
Northern Arkansas, learning that reports have been circulated and
matter published prejudicial to the loyalty and bearing of John
W. Dark, a citizen of this State, and a brave and daring
soldier, as an act of justice to the said Dark, we would state,
that he has been in Col. Schnable's cavalry recruits for several
months, on the borders of this State, and has been in nearly
every border fray that has recently occurred. No one has
acquitted himself more gallantly and displayed more deeds of
daring than John W. Dark.
Under the most discouraging circumstances, when others were
desponding, he has been ever active, bold and determined in
arresting the progress of vandals, who have been desolating this
portion of the State. We have never entertained a suspicion of
his loyalty, but on the contrary, have recognized in him, a bold,
driving and determined soldier, and one who has risked his life
under the most severe trials for his country.
True Democrat, May 6, 1863, page 2, column 1.
At the commencement of the war William Dark, of Searcy county,
Arkansas, was a felon undergoing servitude in the penitentiary of
the state, and was released on condition that he join the
Confederate army, which he did; but after a short service in that
army he deserted, went back to his home and congregated a gang of
thieves and outlaws to prey on the non-combatant, defenseless
people. This gang claimed and exercised absolute jurisdiction
over every species of property they desiredhorses, cows, sheep,
mules, fowls, provisionsand in a great number of instances
appropriated the last article of clothing belonging to helpless
women and children. Many wagons were loaded with plunder. The
gang, headed and ruled by Dark, became the synonym of all that is
degraded and abandoned in mankind, and abject submission to his
demands was the only security to life. His very name struck
terror to the hearts of women and children and old defenseless
men who were unable to pass beyond the sphere of his operations.
At that period the feelings of neighboring Unionists and
Confederates were crystallized in intensity against each
otherall the harder to soothe and remove for want of that
liberal foundation in deep and broad education enjoyed by more
favored communities. But there was a community of interest; both
sides to the war were equal sufferers. A few old conservative men
representing both elements got together, and each side agreed to
raise a company to exterminate the marauders, if possible, in the
joint interest of both elements. And they did; each keeping their
covenant by raising a company of home guards, or regulators. At
that time the three leaders of separate bands were operating in
Searcy, Baxter, Marion and adjacent counties. For some weeks
after the regulators organized, Dark foiled their efforts to
capture and dispose of him, and continued his depredations in
defiance of the organization. He discredited their ability and
courage.
Whilst matters thus stood, two Confederate soldiers, on furlough
from the regular Confederate army, visited their families in
Searcy county, and on the day of the tragedy following were
together with their wives and children at one of their
residences. On this day little Master Berry, whose full name has
escaped memory, who was ten or eleven years old, came to see his
friends from the army and to learn of other Confederate soldiers
from the vicinage, some of whom were related to him. But first
let it be remembered that the world now and then presents mankind
with a hero boy from the lap of obscurity worthy of royal lineage
and a niche in the pantheon of fame. Whilst the two Confederate
soldiers were conversing with their wives and Master Berry, one
of the matrons stepped to the door to watch like a vidette or
picket on duty guarding an army. In terror and dismay she
discovered Dark with five of his gang on horseback approaching
the house, with Dark fifty yards in advance of his associates in
crime. Terror stricken, she turned pale as death as she announced
their rapid approach on evil bent. The two Confederate soldiers
made their exit at the back door and ran like quarter horses
through a cornfield to the timber. One of them in his paralysis
of fear forgot his army pistol. The .little boy Berry seized the
pistol and said, "Ladies, I will defend you," and quicker than
this sentence can be read rushed out in the yard and took
position at the corner of the smokehouse, next the road, and
rested the pistol on one of the projecting logs. By this time
Dark was within twenty feet of the lad, staring him in the
face, with the ejaculation, "What are you doing there, you little
puppy?" The boy was drawing a bead on him as coolly as if aiming
at a mark; scarcely was the sentence out before he fired. The
ball struck its object in the center between the eyes and made
exit at the rear of the cranium.
He fell forward dead. The boy said, "A center shot, ladies; bless
the Lord," and in an instant was emptying the remaining five
shots at the other thieving marauders, who put spurs to their
horses and disappeared rapidly. After a while the flying husbands
came back and found young Berry master of the situation. What
shame must have mantled their cheeks! With the heart of a lion
and the courage of Ajax, that boy "Would not bow to Jove for his
thunder, nor kneel to Neptune for his trident." His deed of cool
and unsurpassed heroism ought to be preserved fresh and green in
the memory of a grateful people as long as our literature adorns
our civilization. The citizens of the vicinage raised $500 and
presented it to the noble boy. He grew to honored manhood and
became a noble citizen. The old Confederate veterans, Hoffman and
Robinson, were citizens, the one of Baxter, the other of Searcy
county at the time, and this story is based on their verification
of the facts related by them. There is yet another exciting scene
to relate before the curtain closes over this tragedy, presenting
woman of exalted courage and iron nerve, successfully riding the
storm of misfortune like an eagle cleaving the clouds. It is the
misfortune of many noble women to become the wives of degraded
men.
It was supposed that Dark had confided the custody of the money
he had taken from the citizens to his wife, and that by searching
his house it might be found and recovered, but they did not
immediately after his death carry their intentions into
execution.
Dark's wife got wind of their intentions before they came. She
immediately saddled and mounted a swift mule, took her child in
her lap and rode night and day as fast as the animal could
travel, more than one hundred miles, striking the Arkansas river
at a point near Van Buren, where there was no ferry. Undaunted,
the heroine plunged into the flood, and the faithful mule with
her and child stemmed the roaring tide and landed them safely on
the opposite shore, where she experienced the first feeling of
relief and safety.
John Hallum, Reminiscences of the Civil War. Little Rock: Tunnard
& Pittard, 1903, 96-99.
"That he [Lemuel Holsted] was a Confederate soldier. Belonging to
(William Dark's) Company, [T. H.] McCray's [D. McRea's?] Regiment
of Cavalry. That as such soldier he served from 1863 to 1865."
From E. DePriest's statement, dated 8 June 1901, in Miranda
Holsted's Confederate widow's pension papers, Arkansas History
Commission, One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201.
When Dark's men were raiding a house, Wesley Branscomb was
outside receiving things passed through the window. When he would
get something, he would give it to the little girl of the house,
and she would go hide it, thus keeping it from being stolen. From
Iola Fendley Halsted Beavers Interview.
This article was contributed by James J. Johnston of Searcy
County and has given me his express permission to use it on this
web page.
If you have any other information regarding J. William Dark,
please contact James J. Johnston
Footnote:May be the son or grandson of Josiah Dark, found on the 1820 Lincoln Co TN, in near proximity to: Cole, Martin, Tucker, Lawrence, George, Garrett , Dodson. All of which played a part in the lives of the George Family of Arkansas. See below.}
Lincoln Co TN 1820 Census
1159 26 Cole, James 100010/32010 F=0 A=2 C=0 M=0
Sl=1 FC=0
1274 29 Martin, George 220101/20110 F=0 A=6 C=0 M=0
Sl=8 FC=0
1427 32 Martin, Barbary 100000/00301 F=0 A=0 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
1540 35 Martin, Daniel 100010/20100 F=0 A=1 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
1553 35 Tucker, Allen 100100/10100 F=0 A=1 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
1555 35 Tucker, Robert 010101/00011 F=0 A=2 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
1556 35 Tucker, Lemuel 000100/00000 F=0 A=0 C=0 M=1
Sl=0 FC=0
1558 35 Tucker, Alden 210201/10011 F=0 A=5 C=0 M=0
Sl=6 FC=0
1572 35 George, Benjamin 221201/22010 F=0 A=3 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
1578 35 Dark, Josiah 200100/20100 F=0 A=1 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
1580 36 Lawrence, James 200010/30000 F=0 A=1 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
1581 36 George, James 400010/10100 F=0 A=1 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
1582 36 George, Thomas 200010/12100 F=0 A=1 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
1636 37 George, Richard 000001/00001 F=0 A=1 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
1637 37 George, William 210011/10001 F=0 A=3 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
1699 38 Dodson, Joel 410010/20010 F=0 A=3 C=0 M=0
Sl=1 FC=0
1700 38 Dodson, Joshua 000010/00001 F=0 A=1 C=0 M=0
Sl=1 FC=0
1739 39 Garrett, Eli 120201/00101 F=0 A=3 C=0 M=0
Sl=5 FC=0
1843 42 George, John 031201/10010 F=0 A=4 C=0 M=0
Sl=1 FC=0
1950 44 Martin, William 000010/12010 F=0 A=1 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
2006 46 George, Jesse 030101/00101 F=0 A=5 C=0 M=0
Sl=2 FC=0
2081 47 George, Presley 310010/21011 F=0 A=2 C=0 M=0
Sl=0 FC=0
The above information may be used for non-commercial historical
and genealogical purposes only and with the consent of the page
owner may be copied for the same purposes so long as this notice
remains a part of the copied material.
Elveta Guinn, grand niece of Rachel Adeline George
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