07/10/2026
July 10, 1780 – The Day Arkansas's Military Tradition Began
Today marks the 246th anniversary of one of the most significant events in Arkansas military history—the first recorded muster of the militia at Arkansas Post.
On July 10, 1780, under the leadership of Commandant Balthazar de Villiers, eighty-seven men assembled outside Fort San Carlos III to be organized into two militia companies. Conducted during the American Revolutionary War while Arkansas was part of Spanish Louisiana, this historic gathering represents the earliest documented organization of militia forces in what is now Arkansas—the beginning of a tradition that continues today through the Arkansas National Guard.
To commemorate this remarkable milestone, the Arkansas National Guard Museum has commissioned an original historical painting depicting this important moment in our state's history. Developed through extensive historical research and consultation with leading scholars and representatives of the Quapaw Nation, the painting brings to life the soldiers, militia, civilians, and Indigenous allies who stood together in defense of Arkansas nearly two and a half centuries ago.
We can't wait to share it with you!
📅 Watch for the official unveiling later this month, when this extraordinary work of art will be presented to the public for the first time.
📖 Also, be on the lookout for a feature article in the upcoming Arkansas Military History Journal, detailing the research, collaboration, and historical reconstruction that made this painting possible.
Today we remember not only the first muster of Arkansas's militia, but the men and women whose service, sacrifice, and commitment laid the foundation for more than two centuries of military service to our state and nation.
Happy Anniversary to Arkansas's First Muster!
Arkansas National Guard
Arkansas National Guard Post Exchange
Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard
Arkansas National Guard Foundation
