The 2nd Arkansas was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi in April, 1864, in time to fight with Cabell's, Gano's, and Dockery's brigades in the Camden Expedition including the battles of Poison Spring, Marks' Mills, and Jenkins' Ferry. It then served with Price's Army on the raid to the Missouri River in September and October of 1864, and engaged in the battles of Pilot Knob, Independence, West Point, and Marais des Cygnes**, in Kansas. At this last battle, Colonel Slemons' horse was killed and fell with him, the saddle catching the colonel's leg under him so that he could nor disengage himself. Col Slemons, a number of his officers, 100 of his men, and two artillery pieces were captured and sent as prisoners of war to Johnson Island, later to Rock Island, where they were imprisoned until after the end of the war. The remainder of the regiment was reduced to battalion size at this time, and so was reorganized and renamed as the 18th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion.

18th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion

Organized in September, 1863 during Price's Missouri Raid by consolidating the remnants of the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (Slemon's) to battalion size under the command of Lt. Col. Elisha L. McMurtrey. Assigned to Slemon's Brigade (later Crawford's) Brigade in Fagan's 1st Arkansas Cavalry Division of Gen'l Sterling Price's cavalry corps on Price's Missouri Raid in September and October of 1864, fighting in the battles of Pilot Knob (MO), Independence, and Marais des Cygnes (KS) along the way. Returned with Price to southwestern Arkansas in November, 1864 and remained in that area for the remainder of the war. Surrendered with General Kirby Smith on May 26, 1865.

Also Known As: McMurtrey's Cavalry Battalion.
http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/welch/AR_cav.htm

**The actions at the Little Osage River, Mine Creek , and Marmiton (or Charlot), which took place the same day between the same forces, are usually considered part of the engagement of Marais des Cygnes ("swan swamp") [The Civil War Dictionary, Mark M. Boatner III]