The situation in Arkansas during the progressive occupation of the state by Union forces led to major disruptions in the delivery of mail.  While some towns were occupied by the Union and remained in Union control for the duration of the war, other towns were fought over and changed hands serveral times.  Fort Smith was occupied by both sides at least 4 times before the Union finally established control in the Fall of 1863.  There are not a lot of postal history items from the 1862-1865 period with which to trace and understand the mail delivery on the Union side.  The key postoffice for the correspondence on the Union side in Arkansas was Memphis, TN.  Memphis was occupied by Union forces June 6, 1862.  The Union quickly established a mail distribution point there that handled mail from Arkansas, Mississippii and eventually even some from Louisiana.  Often, the only way to know if mail was from Arkansas is by military unit designations written on the envelope or in the address, and then research where the unit was stationed at the time of the mailing.  Mail went from Memphis north through Cairo, Ill and was then sent to the northern destinations; Southbound mail followed the reverse course.  I include below the following types of Occupation mail: mail to and from individual soldiers, mail between military units, and civilian mail handled within military system.  On a seperate page I present the mail from occupied Arkansas mailed after individual postoffices like Little Rock and Pine Bluff had been reestablished with their own cancellations and distribution system

Updated 8/20/11  Bruce Roberts