Confederate Veteran Online

The Confederate Veteran is a great publication that ran from 1893-1932. They are all scanned and online at archive.org. Here is a master listing of all the volumes - GREAT RESOURCE for any researcher.

• Confederate Veteran online at archive.org 

An example of what you can find in the Confederate Veteran. Here is a group photo of veterans of the 1st Louisiana Cavalry "Scott's" on May 21, 1903 in New Orleans. This is from CV 1903. 

(Picture posted online at the photo gallery for the 1st Louisiana Cavalry website)

Louisiana Tigers @ Sharpsburg by Terry Jones

Dr. Terry Jones of ULM has a piece published at the New York Times' "Disunion" series commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the war. Jones covers the roles of the two Louisiana Brigades that fought at the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam for you Yanks). Its a great write up and includes good information on the photographs taken at the battlefield in relation to the dead Louisianians and Colonel Strong's dead white horse.

The Dead at Antietam by Terry Jones

Letter from Opelousas

In October 1863 General Nathaniel Banks began his Overland Campaign to march from the New Iberia-Franklin area to reach Texas by land. The plan was to march to Opelousas and from there take the Opelousas-Lake Charles Road to Lake Charles, then to the Sabine River. Once his column reached Opelousas, the advance stalled. One of the regiments on this advance was the 26th Massachusetts Infantry. One of its members, William B. Reed, wrote a letter home while his regiment was camped near Opelousas. Please follow this link to the Acton Memorial Library Civil War Archives. They have posted his letter online (with scans of the original available).

• History of the 26th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. 

24th Iowa Infantry in Louisiana.

The following link is on the role of the 24th Iowa in the Louisiana. Its titled, "William T. Rigby and the Read Oak Boys in Louisiana," by Terrence J. Winschel at the University of Iowa. A significant part of this article is on the 24th Iowa in the Red River Campaign. 

• History of the 24th Iowa

8th Vermont Arrives in Louisiana

From Vermont in the Civil War by G.G. Benedict, 1888 (p.87-88) we have an account of the arrival of the 8th Vermont Infantry Regiment in Louisiana. The 8th Vermont was recruited to be part of Major General "Beast" Butler's expedition against New Orleans. The regiment arrived at Ship Island in early April and remained for about a month. In early May it was transferred to New Orleans to be part of the occupation force of the recently captured city. From pages 87-88 we pick up with the 8th Vermont's travel up the Mississippi River toward New Orleans:

The passage up the river was full of interest and excitement. The semi-tropical vegetation; the levees, filled to the brim with the vast volume of waters, on which the ship rode high above the rice plantations; the shores strewn with the wrecks of the Confederate gunboats destroyed in the naval fight ; the forts on either hand over which now flew the stars and stripes ; the throngs of blacks along the banks, who hailed the troops with every sign of welcome, — were new and interesting sights to the Vermonters. A little before sunset of the 12th, they first caught sight of the Crescent City, still canopied with smoke from its burned warehouses and smouldering docks. It was filled with multitudes of unemployed workmen and roughs, most of whom made no attempt to conceal their hatred toward the Union troops. The richer and influential citizens excited rather than soothed the passions of the mob. The women were bold and persistent in their insults. The entrance on such a scene was not likely to be forgotten by any of the Vermonters. Colonel Thomas reported to General Shepley, who had arrived two days before and had been appointed military commandant of the city, and in the evening of the 12th the regiment landed, loaded muskets in the street, and marched, to the strains of Yankee Doodle, which drowned the secession songs with which the crowds around them greeted the new comers, to the Union Cotton Press, close to the river, where the regiment was temporarily quartered. They were in a hostile city ; and there was no sleep for the officers and little for the men, that night.' Strong guards were posted and the men felt under little temptation to leave quarters. One man, however," undertook to run the guard, was challenged by the sentinel, and refusing to stop, was fired on and received a wound from which he died three weeks after. On the 17th the regiment was established in permanent quarters in the large building of the Mechanics Institute and in the ad- joining Medical College of Louisiana. 

Colonel Stephen Thomas, 8th Vermont Infantry

• Colonel Stephen Thomas of the 8th Vermont: Appointed colonel with no prior military experience. His father was a veteran of the War of 1812 and his grandfather served in the American Revolution. He became an apprentice "to a manufacturer of woolens," and became a woolen manufacture as his career. Thomas became a sheriff, judge of probate and a member of the Vermont House of Reprsentatives for six terms and its senate for two before the war. In November of 1861 Thomas was given the rank of colonel to command a regiment at the age of 51. In his post-Louisiana service in the war, Colonel Thomas won the U.S. Medal of Honor at the Battle of Cedar Creek (19 October 1864) for "Distinguished conduct in a desperate hand-to-hand encounter, in which the advance of the enemy was checked."

Skirmish at Prairie Vermillion

Following the conclusion of the Overland Expedition during October-early November 1863 there occurred a skirmish at Carrion Crow Bayou. Brigadier General Albert Lee took his two brigade division of cavalry and made a reconnaissance north toward the Carrion Crow Bayou. Lee was supported by First Brigade of the Third Division of the XIX Corps under the command of Colonel Lewis Benedict. The account below from the Worcester National Aegis and Transcript that gave a very detailed account of the skirmish at Prairie Vermillion:

Worcester National Aegis and Transcript, December 19, 1863

NOVEMBER 12, 1863.

SKIRMISH AT PRAIRIE VERMILLION, LA.

    A correspondent of the New York Evening Post, writing from Vermillion Bayou, La., under the date of November 12, gives an interesting account of the skirmish of Prairie Vermillion, in which the celebrated New York brigade of the 19th army corps, Col. Benedict commanding, acquitted themselves most heroically. This brigade, which is composed of the 110th, 162d, 165th, and 173d New York Volunteers, four of the best regiments from the State, had been detailed, with a cavalry division, consisting of two brigades, to support Brig. Gen. Lee, chief of cavalry, in making a reconnoissance of the enemy then concentrated at or near Carrion Crow bayou. The fact that Lieut. Col. Green of the 173d N. Y., who performed a conspicuous creditable part in the affair, is a Worcester boy, (Wm. N. Green, Jr., son of Judge Green,) will give additional interest to the perusal of the following details, in which his action is prominently mentioned:

    The cavalry division, consisting of the brigade numbering eight hundred each, started from Vermillionville, to Carrion Crow Bayou, (a distance due north of twelve miles) at 6.30 a. m., and soon commenced running fight then ensued for some eight miles, ending in Gen. Lee charging them vigorously and driving them into confusion into a dense wood. Nim's battery of light flying artillery was quickly brought up, and after shelling the woods Gen. Lee advanced his whole force in line of battle through the woods, and found the enemy drawn up in line of battle on the opposite side of a prairie about two miles in width, numbering as near as could be estimated, about seven thousand. Upon discovering that the enemy outnumbered his force four to one, and having accomplished the object of his reconnioeance, Gen. Lee ordered his cavalry to retreat.

        The enemy, discovering his intentions, sent a large force to make a demonstration on Lee's left flank, upon which the general dispatched the First (Col. Lucas's) brigade to protect the left flack, while the General in person remained with the main column on the road.

    During this time the New York brigade, having with them Trull's Fourth Massachusetts battery, had marched, (starting at 7.30 a. m.,) through Vermillion, and proceeded to a point about three miles from that place holding themselves in good supporting distance of Gen. Lee. On the march, they captures several stragglers of the enemy. Whilst halting for a brief period, Col. Peck commanding the advance, discovered an important rebel signal station, and sent a detachment of the One Hundred and Seventy-third New York State Volunteers, under command of Lieut. Colonel Green of that regiment, who succeeded in destroying the station, and returned without losing a single man.

   Soon afterwards, by direction of General Lee, the New York brigade fell back to large plain, and the One Hundred and Sixty-second and One Hundred and Seventy-third regiments were deployed in line of battle on the right of the road; the One Hundred and Tenth and One Hundred Sixty- fifth on the left; directly in rear of the brigade were the batteries of Trull and Nims, well masked by a dense growth of woods, &c. A column of the enemy soon appeared, coming swiftly down the road, deploying to the right and left; they advanced unsuspectingly, not supposing for one instant that such a storm of missiles was prepared to greet them. Having advanced within good rifle range, the order was given to the batteries to fire, and the enemy was greeted with a tremendous discharge of canister and shell, which made a deep gap in their ranks. They soon brought up a section of artillery, and feebly responded to our batteries for a few moments, which continued to pour destructive volleys into their columns. Seeing it was suicide to attempt to advance his forces in the face of such terrible artillery fire, the rebel general withdrew his forces and made a slight demonstration on General Lee's left flank. They were, however, handsomely repulsed by the first brigade of the cavalry division. They soon retreated back to Carrion Crow Bayou, after which General Lee's whole force returned to their camps.

    General Lee's loss was about thirty killed and wounded. The loss of the New York brigade was two killed and five wounded.

    The loss of the enemy is not definitely known, but their loss is supposed to have been very large.

3rd Mass. Cavalry at Port Hudson Surrender

The following article is from the Boston Herald dated July 27, 1863 (story written on July 13, 1863). It is from a soldier of the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry (formally the 41st Massachusetts Infantry) after the surrender of Port Hudson. As always, its interesting to see the perspective of Yanks serving in Louisiana. I found this article transcribed and posted at the website American Civil War.

Dear Herald:

Long ere this letter reaches you, will have received news of the surrender of Port Hudson, but having been to the fortifications I thought I would write a few lines to you informing you of what I saw there. The breastworks are about six miles in extent, and the natural defenses of the place are good.

After entering the gate you proceed for about a mile and half, which will bring you to the landing. You there find a high bluff, some eighty feet above the river, where the rebs had their guns placed to prevent our gunboats getting by, and it certainly looks as if a few pieces of cannon could blow any ship out of the water that should attempt to pass.

On arriving at the General's quarters I found in the vicinity a large number of rebs, who were disposed to trade confederate money for greenbacks, at the rate of ten dollars for one. Others were trying to trade articles of clothing, gold, pens, &c.

It did not seem possible that these could be the same men that a few days ago were bound to kill all of our forces that they could, but who now were as sociable and cheerful as you could wish. They all allowed that our men have fought well and for the skill displayed by our artillery men, they gave them unbounded praise.

There was one large gun in the fort that had created a vast deal of trouble to our men, and Mack's Black Horse Battery commenced firing at it, and hit it twelve times, and the twelfth brought it. The rebs think they can shoot with the musket or rifle as well if not better than our men, but as for firing with cannon they say we are too much for them. There are some fifty-five hundred prisoners in the fort. The enlisted men will be paroled, but the officers will probably not be. There were a number of planters and their families in the fort, who had sought safety, as they thought, in going there, deeming the place impregnable. Their families were allowed to depart, and what a scene of desolation must have met their eyes when they returned to what were once their homes! Their negroes, horses and mules gone; their corn and fodder all carried off, and their furniture taken away or destroyed. By this time, probably, they have fully realized the effects of war. Col. Chickering has been appointed Provost Marshal at the Fort, and has business enough to attend to in getting the prisoners off.

Since I last wrote you, our regiment has been organized as a cavalry regiment, by an order from General Banks, June 17, 1863. We are equipped with Sharpe's carbines, Colt's large size pistols, and sabres. Capt. McGee's and Capt. Cowen's companies have been joined to us, so that now we have twelve companies. The boys were much pleased when the began to be mounted, but the funny part is beginning to wear away, and they find there is a great deal of work in being in the cavalry. But anything, they say, is better than being obliged to foot it on those long marches. The health of the men in the regiment is, as a general thing, good. Three deaths have occurred within a mouth in Co. D, (Ward XI, Guard,) and the names of the men are Horace Rathbun, Adam Armstrong and Wm. Curran. The latter formerly worked in Rand and Avery's office, in Boston. He was the one who printed the paper in Opelousas while we were staying there.

Some of the regiments in Grover's division have been awfully cut up in the severe actions that occurred before Port Hudson. The 91st N. Y. Vols. are reduced to one hundred and seventy-three men; the 8th New Hampshire Vols. to a still less number, while the 4th Wisconsin Vols. have also been badly cut up!

Nim's Battery has been very fortunate so far, having several horses killed, but not a man wounded. Capt. Nims is on his taps, as usual, and ready for another brush.

Now if we can only hear as good news from Virginia as they have heard from us, everything will be lovely, "and the goose hang high." I cannot give you fuller details. And now the nine months' troops are eager for home, and I understand that several of the regiments have been promised to be sent home by the way of Vicksburg.

Some of the rebels here will not believe that Vicksburg is in possession of our forces, they say it was impossible to take it, but they will find it is too true. At the springfield landing, a place where all the Ordnance, Commissary and Quartermaster's stores were left for this Department, a raid was made by the rebels a short time ago. Some three hundred rebel cavalry made their appearance there one fine morning, and there was some tall specimen of walking.-Some laughable incidents occurred before the rebs were driven off. A teamster belonging to the 26th Maine Volunteers was quietly sitting on the front part of his wagon waiting for his turn to come for forage for his horses, when three rebs rode up and sung out to him "surrender you d--d Yankee, surrender." "Not by a d--d sight," says Yankee, still sitting calmly on his wagon. The rebs then turned to a negro who was sitting close by, and said to him, "harness up those mules, you d--d nigger, and do it quick too." "hold on," says Sacarapp, "Hold on, Mr. Nigger; if you undertake to harness those mules I'll break your head." The rebs not deigning to take any more notice of Sacarapp burst out laughing and rode away, and I saw the same teamster at Port Hudson this afternoon, as clam as a clock.

One rebel Captain rode down to the gangplank of the "Suffolk," a boat that had all the ordnance stores on board, with the evident intention of attempting to blow her up, but had a bullet put through his head that stopped his career. By this time the 162d New York were on hand and the rebs began to drop from their saddles, when finding that matters were getting warm they varmosed, taking with them a number of prisoners. The whole affair did not occupy ten minutes but it was a busy time while it lasted. Some three thousand rebels have started for their homes to-day, and they seem to be much pleased to get away from Port Hudson.

How long our regiment will remain in this forsaken hole I know not, but the shorter the time the better it will suit us. The rebels had possession of a place some eight miles below Donaldsonville, where they have erected fortifications, and for some few days have stopped the boats from running between here and New Orleans. But this morning our eyes were gladdened with the sight of the North America, which came up from New Orleans. She brought the good news that the rebels were driven back from their fortifications, and the river was clear, so that in the course of a day or two we shall have letters from home; and I hope the gentleman who abstracts papers that are sent to me will be a little more liberal than he has been for the last two months. I am willing to divy with him, but this taking them all is a little to steep, and causes everything but blessings to fall on his head. Those papers were the source of a great deal of enjoyment to the sick and well men in the regiment, for after I had read them they were circulated from tent to tent and were the means of passing many a lonesome hour, but now this vandal debars us from this enjoyment by stealing the papers and I want him to stop it.

And that blessed Paymster, is he never going to make his appearance here? The first of next month there will be seven months pay due us, and if ever a man was anxiously expected, he is the man.

Now, Mr. Paymaster, if you have any bowels of compassion for sojer boys who have to smoke "old sojers" and coffee grounds in lieu of tobacco, hurry up your cakes, for we are clean broke, and it would be dusty business for any man to make his appearance in camp with any quantity of tobacco. I don't believe there are five pounds of tobacco in the whole regiment; there is some inside the fortifications, but the sutler only asks two dollars a pound! he might as well ask two hundred, for all the good it will do the boys. Now, Major, you used to be going, going, gone, now be coming, coming, come, and favor us with the sight of some green-backs, or dire consequences will ensue.

If you want to see a busy man, you ought to have drop in quietly on Col. Chickering, the Provost Marshal. He sits at his desk al day long, in his shirt-sleeves, and he is working-some.

But of all the places to land stores, the place at the fort beats all. Imagine an incline plane from the dome of the State House in Boston to the head of West street, and you can form some idea of the ascent that teams have to make. I am not addicted to using hard words, but I must say that I have uttered some words that it would be difficult to find in the dictionary. The rebs below Donaldsonville have all been bagged by Gen. Weitzel assisted by Acting Brig. Gen. Dudley.

Hoping that the mail, when it arrives, will have the "Herald," I remain,

Yours truly,

"Showme."

Harpers Weekly on the Louisiana Tigers

Dr. Terry Jones forwarded this great story from the Harpers Weekly about the Louisiana Tigers in Virginia. GREAT PIECE! The author of this article REALLY poured on some exaggerations to paint a picture of how much he really did not like the Tigers.

Harper’s Weekly, June 7, 1862

ABOUT FINISHED.

GENERAL McCLELLAN telegraphs that the "Fourth Michigan have about finished the Louisiana Tigers."  We fancy we shall have some more dispatches of this tenor.

These Southern bravoes, who call themselves "Tigers," and "Lions," and "Grave-diggers," and "Yankee-slayers;" who carry black flags, and refuse quarter to unarmed men; who dig up the corpses of our dead soldiers, and send their bones home to their lady loves as trophies—these creatures, who are a speaking illustration of the brutalizing effect of the institutions among which they have been reared, and whose savage instincts would appall the most ferocious native of Dahomey or Patagonia—these fellows can never withstand the onset of a Christian soldiery. They are capable of assassinating a Union man, or of whipping a black woman to death; but when it comes to standing up in a fair fight against Northern men, in any thing like equal numbers, they run like hares. Brutality and manhood can no more coexist in the same individual than oil and water can mingle.

We are not sorry to hear that the "Louisiana Tigers" are "about finished." It is about time that some other of these Southern regiments, which have desolated the South and done their best to destroy the nation, were "about finished" too. A gentleman from Tennessee reports that in certain neighborhoods the rebel soldiers have not only destroyed crops and fences, but have wantonly torn down houses and barns, burned every thing that would burn, and so thoroughly obliterated every vestige of improvement from the land, that the wretched owners who are now returning to their homes, under cover of our flag, experience some difficulty in discovering whereabouts their houses stood. Others tell still more fearful stories of outrages—outrages nameless and horrible; of whole districts in which not a woman or a girl has escaped the fiendish brutality of the Texans and Louisianians. It is about time, in the name of God and humanity, that the authors of these atrocities should be "finished."

To Arm or Not to Arm is the Question

We have an account from "Corn Bread" in the New York Times in which he printed a story from The Mobile Advertiser (Confederate newspaper). The topic of discussion was wether or not to arm slaves. Enjoy.

THE QUESTION OF ARMING NEGROES
The Mobile Advertiser and Register publishes the following communication:(Published: November 13, 1864)

BILOXI, Oct. 19, 1864.

SIR: I saw a New-Orleans paper of the 19th inst. yesterday, in which was an order from Gen. CANBY, claiming to have intercepted a dispatch from Gov. ALLEN, of Louisiana, to Secretary SEDDON, wherein the conscription of all able-bodied slaves in the Confederacy is strongly urged. If it be true that the dispatch was written by Gov. ALLEN, he is the first man in authority in the Confederacy who has offered a speedy and effectual method of obtaining peace with our independence. The enrolment of our negroes in the army before the end of this war, I look upon to be as certain as the rising and setting of the sun.

There is no prospect of a peace unless it be conquered. The North is a unit for war, or virtually so. The past has demonstrated that our hopes based upon the failure of their finances, the failure of the draft, or a change in popular sentiment, have all been delusive. The few Northern peace journals have no influence in the public mind. The late Northern election returns pronounce in favor of war; that is, they show large Republican majorities. LINCOLN will be reelected and the war will go on. Now, as the Yankees say, if the war lasts long enough, (and with the present Northern and Southern feeling it will last long enough) numbers are bound to tell. The thing is reduced to a question of relative strength as 6 is to 4.

The best blood of our country has already been spilled; our numbers are diminishing every day. The present campaign has lost us at least 80,000 men. How are these to be replaced? I see it stated in some of the papers that if all those who owe service could be put in our armies, it would increase those by 200,000 men. But is this so? I doubt it, and I expect the majority are of my opinion. However, admitting the fact, how are we to get these men into the army? Are not the conscription laws already as stringent as it is possible to make them? Or if they can be rendered more stringent, how many soldiers and how long will it require to execute them? Where, then, I repeat, are the men to come from to fight our battles?

We have but one source from which to derive our strength. The element which has been the foundation of wealth should now be made the instrument of our salvation. Arm our slaves. We must tell them; The Yankees have determined that you shall play a part in this war, that you shall fight. Now we put the question to you: Will you fight for us as freemen, with the privilege of staying among us after the war, or fight for the Yankee? for fight on one side or the other you must. Assemble the able-bodied negroes of a plantation and let their master speak to them thus, let him assure them that the promises of the Government will be carried out, and I feel certain that, out of fifty, twenty-five volunteers could be obtained; and he who fights willingly, fights better than he who is forced to fight. We shall, moreover demoralize the Yankee negro troop by putting negroes into our army, (the reasons are obvious,) and they would desert to us by hundreds; while we would at once remove the difficulties which now stand in the way of the exchange of prisoners.

Now comes the question: Will the negro fight? Certainly he will. If the experience we have already had were not sufficient to prove it, let the exploits of the Turcos of the French army speak, a corps that distinguished itself in Italy; read the deeds of an inferior race, the comparatively effeminate Sepoys of India, who, with a few Europeans to lead them, almost surpassed their instructors, is bravery and devotion. But there is no doubt that the negro will fight, and fight well.

How will the army like the innovation? I have heard some of our men say they could not get along with negroes; but my opinion is that our boys would at least fight as well if they knew their flanks well protected by a well disciplined division, even if their skins were black. Besides, no one ask them to affiliate with negro. Let the line of demarcation be drawn then as now; only if a colored corps behaves well in battle, give it the credit due to men who have deported themselves gallantly, for bravery should commend respect. And after all it is much better to shoot with a negro at a Yankee uniform; than be shot at by that negro in Yankee uniform; and this will be the case if the war goes on long enough. If we do not get the negro, the Yankees will, and the terminal scenes of this struggle, if negroes are not used by us, will be the subjugation of the Southern gentleman by his own slave.

But who is to pay for these 250,000 volunteers or conscripts, a matter of 250,000? Our children. The priceless advantages gained for them will enable them to easily pay the interest on such a debt. Should the planter demur at a thousand dollars a head for his negroes, let him remember that if the war lasts no will get rid of them for much less.

Now, admitting that we put these 25,000 negroes in the army, and they do their duty, the very rational question arises, what would be the influence after the war exercised by these negroes on the slaves which remain to us? Would it be injurious and tend eventually to subvert our institution, or would they, as is the case among the free colored population in Louisiana, be the most earnest advocates for its propagation? This is a question I am not prepared to answer. However, should the infiltration among the slaves of so large a number of free blacks, with that improvement of moral and character which would result to them fighting side by side with white men, endanger our institution, what then? Is it in no danger now? What becomes of it if we are whipped? What becomes of it even if we are not whipped eventually, and Mr. SHERMAN, and Mr. HUNTER, and Mr. SHERIDAN, e[???]d o[???]ne g nus, continue to make raids upon us and gather their fighting material from our own doors? Sir, we must look the fact firmly in the face that the institution of slavery is endangered by this war. There are fifteen millions people fighting for its extinction. There are a, hundred million applauding them! It is useless to hide our heads under the blanket. We are fighting for national independence, and not for slavery, and so. I think, believes Mr. DAVIS; for the question of slavery, as an object of this war, has never, to my knowledge, obtruded itself in any of his public documents. If we can succeed in this war and maintain our original position, that slavery is a beneficent institution, the only solution of the great problem of the relation of labor to capital; if we can prove the world wrong, and eventually overcome us prejudices, so much the better for us. But let us never forget the great fact that we are fighting for independence, independence! and perish, slavery, if it stands in its way.

I am firmly convinced that public sentiment is in favor of putting our negroes in the army. I hear it expressed daily by those who own slaves and those who do not. A member of the Mississippi Legislature told me last week that he had seven men he would give to the Government if it put arms in their hands. A majority of those who are silent on this question speak not their views because they fear being stigmatized as anti-slavery men. I feel au[???]e that before the next meeting of Congress, the prosperity, expediency and necessity of arming negroes will have taken such hold on the public mind that it will be advocated by a large majority of our Representatives.

If I am correct, then let every patriotic slaveholder canvass his slaves and find out who among them will volunteer for freedom and his home. Let him prepare the negro's mind for the position he is about to assume, and excite in him that love of country and of home which, I believe, exists strongly in the negro's breast.

I terminate this, assuring you that I have made some sacrifices for the Confederacy, and am devoted to its cause; that I was raised in the South, and have always been a slaveholder.

CORN BREAD.

Account of 11th Indiana in the Overland Campaign

The 11th Indiana Infantry Regiment served in Louisiana from August of 1863 to August of 1864. Below is an exert from Three Years With Wallace's Zouaves: The Civil War Memoirs of Thomas Wise Durham (page 163) of his experiences in the Overland Campaign in October-November 1863:

"In this campaign into Southwest Louisiana we suffered much from the extreme heat in the early part of the campaign, also from want of water which was fit to drink. Much of the time the only water we could get was in sloughs covered with a heavy green scum and so warm and muddy that it was sickening and caused many of our soldiers to die of fever. Most of the country we passed through was beautiful to look at and was mostly prairie. The Bayous, as they ware called, were more like sluggish or dead-water rivers. All were alive with alligators. There is a skirt of timber all along these bayous, mostly live oak and the trees are covered with Spanish moss which hangs clear to the ground. When the wind is blowing and the moss is waving to and fro it is a beautiful sight. I saw a few large sugar plantations  with vats filled with thousands of barrels of Orleans molasses. All the people, both white and black, in Southwestern Louisiana spoke French and very few could understand English. All the able bodied negroes were gone from the plantations, some had enlisted in the Union army, others had been put in the rebel army by their masters and were building fortifications, but we found hundreds of negro women and children on these plantations."

6th Missouri Cavalry (U.S.) in Louisiana

The White River Valley Historical Quarterly put online a copy of a diary from W.B. Cox of Company B of the 6th Missouri Cavalry (U.S.). I'm including a link for you to visit their site. This exert from his diary covers from September 1863, when he landed in Carrollton near New Orleans, to May 22, 1864 following the end of the Red River Campaign.


The list below are all the movements of the 6th Missouri Cavalry's (U.S.) service in Louisiana: 

Moved to the Dept. of the Gulf August. Near Morganza, La., September 8. 
Atchafalaya September 8-9. 
 Sterling's Farm, on Bayou Fordoche, near Morganza, September 27. 
Western Louisiana Campaign October 3-November 30. 
Reconnaissance toward Opelousas October 20. 
Opelousas, Barre Landing, October 21. 
Washington October 24. 
Bayou Bourbeaux November 2. 
Carrion Crow Bayou November 18. 
Bayou Portage, Grand Lake, November 23. 
Near Vermillionville, La., November 30. 
Red River Campaign March 10-May 22. 
Advance from Franklin to Alexandria March 14-26. 
Bayou Rapides March 20. Henderson's Hill March 21. 
Monett's Ferry and Cloutiersville March 29-30. 
Natchitoches March 31. 
Crump's Hill, Piney Woods, April 2. 
Wilson's Farm April 7. 
Bayou de Paul, Carroll's Mill, April 8. 
Battle of Sabine Cross Roads April 8. 
Pleasant Hill April 9. 
About Cloutiersville April 22-24. 
Bayou Rapides Bridge and McNutt's Hill, Alexandria, April 27-28. 
Retreat to Morganza April 13-20. 
Wilson's Landing May 14. 
Avoyelle's (or Marksville Prairie) May 15. 
Expedition to Clinton, La., August 23-29. 
Expedition from Baton Rouge to Clinton, Greensburg, Osyke and Camp Moore October 5-9. Expedition from Baton Rouge to Brookhaven, Miss., and skirmishes November 14-21. Davidson's Expedition from Baton Rouge against Mobile & Ohio Railroad November 27-December 3. 
Expedition from Baton Rouge to Clinton and Comite River March 30-April 2, 1865. 
Duty in District of Baton Rouge, La., until July and the Dept. of Texas until September. Mustered out September 12, 1865.

5th Louisiana on the Peninsula

From a New York Times article printed May 26, 1862. It is in reference to George B. McClellan's push up the peninsula toward Richmond in early 1862. This story mentions the 5th Louisiana Infantry and thus has made it to this blog. I've edited the article's numerous topics to the small piece mentioning the 5th Louisiana.

MCCLELLAN's HEADQUARTERS, Saturday, May 24.

The driving of the rebels from the vicinity of New-Bridge by our artillery, yesterday, was followed up to-day by a movement wholly unexpected to our adversaries.

A reconnoissance, composed of the Fourth Michigan Regiment, Col. WOODBURY, and a squad of the Second Cavalry, Capt. GORDON, was made, which is worthy of special mention. Five companies of the Fourth Michigan, under BOWEN, of the Topographical Engineers, and Lieut. CUSTER, of the Fifth Cavalry, acting with the Topographical Corps, crossed the Chickahominy a short distance above New-Bridge. A small command of 30 men, of the Fourth Michigan, succeeded in getting between four companies of the Fifth Louisiana Regiment, who were out on picket duty at the Bridge, and a brigade of the enemy who were supporting them.

In the meantime, the rest of the regiment and the squadrons of cavalry approached the bridge from this side, thus attracting the attention of the four Louisiana Companies. The first knowledge the rebels had of the near presence of an enemy, was the firing from thirty muskets at pistol-shot range, making havoc in the ranks and causing a serious panic, while the main body advanced in front and opened a deadly fire.

The result was that 31 of the enemy were taken prisoners, 15 wounded, and between 60 and 70 left dead on the field. Among the prisoners was a lieutenant.

The casualties on our side were 1 killed, 1 mortally and 6 slightly wounded. Lieut. BOWEN had his horse shot under him during the skirmish.

Louisiana Commission at Gettysburg, 1894

This below article was graciously contributed by Dr. Terry Jones.

On November 20, 1894, the newspaper Gettysburg Compiler reported that a delegation of Louisiana Confederate veterans had arrived in town to help the Gettysburg National Park Commission locate the positions the Louisiana troops occupied during the battle.  The Louisiana veterans were the first state delegation to begin work with the commission.  The veterans included Pvt. Eugene H. Levy of the Donaldsonville Artillery; Capt. Andrew J. Hero of the Washington Artillery; Lt. Col. David Zable of the 14^th Louisiana; Sgt. Hugh H. Ward of the 7^th Louisiana; Corpl. Albert M. Levy of the Louisiana Guard Battery; and Sgt. Maj. C. L. C. Dupuy of the Washington Artillery.  The Louisianians worked with John B. Bachelder, who devoted his life to studying and preserving the battlefield, and park commissioner Major William Robbins of the 4^th Alabama and commission chairman Brevet Lt. Col. John P. Nicholson of the 28^th Pennsylvania.

“CONFEDERATES MARKING

POSITIONS.”

Louisianaa the first to Send a Commission

As reported in our last, the Louisiana Commission, to locate positions of their troops on this battlefield, arrived on Wednesday, the party being composed of Eugene Levy, And. Hero, David Zable, H. H. Ward, A. M. Levy and C. L. C. Dupuy, and quartering at the Eagle.  Col. Bachelder and Major Robbins, of the Government Commission, the same afternoon with the visitors, started on a tour of the Field, covering not only the positions of the commands they represented

but the general movements of both armies.  Col. Nicholson of the Commission was also with them during part of their visit.

Louisiana had in this engagement 10 regiments, 5 each in Hays' and Nichols’ brigades, besides 7 batteries.  In locating their positions the party drove out the Harrisburg road and a veteran of Green's battery, Louisiana Guard artillery, quickly recognized their position on the edge of a strip of woods on the southeast side of the road, beyond the Bender farm.  This elevated site enabled the party to recognize the ground occupied by the troops of Hays' brigade of infantry and Jones' battalion of artillery.  Two of the rifled cannon of Green's battery were added to Gen. Wade Hampton's cavalry and participated in the battle near Hunterstown and also in the cavalry fight on the Rummel farm.  The infantry brigade of Hays supported and followed Gen. Gordon's

brigade and formed on East Middle street, connecting with Hoke's brigade, which extended to the Culp buildings.  On the night of the 2d Hays' brigade moved out of town and attacked the remnant of Barlow's division on East Cemetery Hill.

The party drove out Baltimore street, and along the Winebrenner lane, where a representative of Hays' brigade recognized the point where the 7th Louisiana infantry crossed the lane, south of where the 75th Ohio infantry monument now stands.  One of the party reached the Ricketts guns and engaged in the hand-to-hand contest over these guns.

In order to locate the Nichols brigade regiments the party drove out the Bonneauville road to the old Daniel Lady farm, where Gen. Lee spent the night of July 1st, 1863.   Col. Zable, who commanded the 14th infantry, represented the brigade, and showed how they passed over the Christian Benner farm, crossed Rock creek and took position on the slope of Culp's Hill, about 150 feet below where the 29th [?] Ohio monument stands, recognizing the position by the rocks.

 They were in the engagements of the night of the 2d and morning of the 3d.  The above tours occupying Wednesday and Thursday.

On Friday the party visited the first day's operations, where Col. Levy described the movements of Maurin's battery of the Donaldson artillery.  They drove out the Chambersburg pike and placed the stake 300 yards south of Herr's tavern, on the crest of the ridge, where they relieved one of the batteries of Pegram's battalion.  They then drove to the lane back of the Theo. Seminary and turned to the right, passing the old Shultz property, and marked positions of 2d and 3d days in the open field in front of and a little to the north of Miss Maria Shultz's cottage.

The positions of Miller's battery, of Eshleman's New Orleans battalion, Washington artillery, were next visited.  This battery moved along the Ridge and bivouacked in the field in rear of Henry Spangler's woods.  During the night they moved to the Emmitsburg road with the other three batteries of the battalion.  They went into position in Sherly's orchard, east of the barn, 100 yards from the Emmitsburg road, the line of batteries extending across the Emmitsburg road at the Smith place, and continuing to and beyond the Rogers house.  This is the line of artillery which carried on the Confederate part of that terrific cannonading which preluded the Pickett charge, the two guns which opened it being under command of Lieut. And. Hero, and located in the Sherly orchard.

During their visit, which lasted until Saturday evening, the visitors were shown the new avenue being built along the Confederate line and expressed their admiration of the work.

Col. Bachelder has for years been advocating the marking of both lines of battle and through his efforts this first move in that direction has been made.  It is the confident expectation that others of the Confederate states will follow and thus complete the marking of this the most important battle of the late war.