Hall on the 26th Louisiana Infantry

Colonel Winchester Hall on the men of his 26th Louisiana Infantry Regiment. Taken from his book The Story of the 26th Louisiana Infantry in the Service of The Confederate States (1919).

"The regiment was composed almost entirely of Creoles, by that term I mean natives of Louisiana of French descent. The companies of Captains Bateman [Co. B, "Lovell Rifles" from St. Mary Parish] and Metoyer [Co. G, "Prudhomme Guards" from Natchitoches Parish], were about one half only of that element, the remainder being mainly of American descent; and there were portions of American descent, in all the companies. There some Irishmen, and very few Germans in the regiment.

"The officers were about equally divided-one half Creoles-the remainder of American parentage. the Creoles were brought up in the Roman Catholic faith. Subordination to 'the powers that be,' was the earliest lesson of their childhood; hence they were easily governed. Their duty made known to them, performance followed."

• Muster Roll of 26th Louisiana at the Young-Sanders Center