Civil War Louisiana (CWLA)

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Civil War Louisiana (CWLA)
CWLA seeks to provide an online resource of any and all material of the Civil War relating to Louisiana with a special interest in the war in Acadiana in southwest Louisiana.
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Monday, December 29, 2014

Gallant Creoles by Michael Marshall





A link has been added to Michael Marshall's history of the Donaldsonville Canonniers on our page "Books on Louisiana Units." 

Here is the write up on the book as it appears at the UL Press website (link above): 

Composed of Creole and Cajun citizen-soldiers, the Donaldsonville Canonniers were originally organized as a militia company in 1837 and were one of the most active and highly regarded Louisiana units during the American Civil War. Known as the Donaldsonville Artillery during the conflict, the Canonniers were a conspicuous part of General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, participating in a number of skirmishes, artillery duels, and battles, including: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Seven Days, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, North Anna, Second Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Appomattox Station. The Canonniers reorganized in July 1875 and were eventually accepted into Federal service during the Spanish-American War, before disbanding for good in November 1898. 
 Gallant Creoles: A History of the Donaldsonville Canonniers records the history of this Louisiana militia company and also includes extensive biographies of each Donaldsonville Canonnier who served during the Civil War. 
"An obvious labor of love, Michael Marshall’s history of the Donaldsonville Battery Volunteer Artillery leaves absolutely no source unturned. . . . It is a welcome contribution to anyone’s Civil War library." --Chris Calkins, author of The Appomattox Campaign and The Battles of Appomattox
"Michael Marshall paints a detailed and intimate portrait of a group of young men who left their homes on the Mississippi River and Bayou Lafourche to try and make good on the Confederacy’s claims of independence. These rugged gunners faced the shot and shell thrown at Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia with pluck and nerve, all the while standing to their duty—and their guns—resolved to see this chore through to its end. When the smoke cleared, a battle tested remnant returned to the Pelican State confident they had done their duty.  A great story, well told."
--Donald S. Frazier, author of Fire in the Cane Fields and Thunder Across the Swamp 
"Thoroughly researched, rich in detail, Michael Marshall’s Gallant Creoles is a stunning tribute to a little known artillery unit from southeast Louisiana—Le Canonniers de Donaldsonville. Marshall’s mastery in chronicling the history of this colorful group of artillerists who faithfully served in the Army of Northern Virginia is a must read for any Civil War enthusiast."
--Christopher G. Peña, author of Scarred By War: Civil War in Southeast Louisiana  
About the Author
Michael Marshall is a retired New Orleans Police Department detective and sergeant. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University. He is also a former World History and Publications high school teacher and U.S. Marine. His interest in the Civil War began at a very young age during the conflict’s centennial commemorations and family visits to battlefield parks. The proud father of two sons, he currently resides in Hammond, Louisiana, with his wife.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Jayhawkers Raid Mallet Woods

Opelousas Courier, November 5, 1864:

THE JAYHAWKERS AT WORK - During the night of the 2d inst., a band of about 20 Jayhawkers carousing about Mallet Woods, set fire and burned the residences of Messrs. Charles Dorosier, Sylvain Saunier and Jos. B. Young leaving their respective families to take care of themselves as best they can, and prevented them even of saving the most necessary clothing. Young Saunier was shot at and wounded, while in the act of escaping.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Governor's Mansion, Opelousas, La.

KLFY News out of Lafayette, La. did a small piece on the Governor's Mansion located in Opelousas February 12, 2014.



The Mouton House, or The Governor's Mansion, was originally built by a wealthy planter by the name of Lastie Dupre for his daughter and son-in-law: Celimere Dupre Mouton and Homere Mouton. The Mouton home became Governore Thomas O. Moore's residence when the capital of Louisiana was moved from Baton Rouge to Opelousas in May of 1862.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Warning: Jayhawkers and Home Guards

The Opelousas Courier from May 14, 1864 made a report on the recent activities of the "Jayhawkers" in the Opelousas area but also issued a warning to the public about the Home Guards:

"JAYHAWKERS - Since about two months, over one hundred of these malefactors have been shot or otherwise disposed of by military corps and by Home Guards, in this Parish, besides a larger number in Calcasieu and Avoyelles. The results are that quiet is partly restored in quarters heretofore threatened by these marauders, and, we hope, will continue so long as good and honest Home Guards will do their duty. Upon this subject, well founded rumors infer that certain of these organizations [Home Guards] are so composed that they are much to be dreaded even by honest and poor planters. Not knowing exactly the secrets and their duties and actions, we [ineligible] from making any further comments, but would simply call the attention of those who are interested in the subject."

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

"Tarred and Cottoned" in Louisiana

MONTGOMERY WEEKLY ADVERTISER, April 29, 1863, p. 1, c. 4
                The Shreveport Gazette recently published a card signed by about a hundred foreigners, who, fearing that they might be drafted in the militia, adopted that course to notify the people that they were French subjects, and owed no allegiance to Louisiana.  The News says that Mr. B. Courtade, one of the signers of the card, was taken out of his bed and "tarred and cottoned" the same night, and the rogue's march was played before the business houses of the balance.

Monday, July 28, 2014

How to Make a Zouave

From the West Baton Rouge Sugar Planter (printed from the Richmond Inquirer) June 8, 1861:

How to Make a Zouave.—We are responsible for the following recipe for making a Zouave.  The real Zouaves (from the South) are now in Virginia and the doubtful reader may appeal to them.  It may be that we got our information from one of the French drill sergeants himself.  Thus:  Take the recruit—keep him forty-eight hours—notting to eat; den maarch him forty-eight hours—notting to eat; den let him fight like h-ll forty-eight hours—notting to eat; by dam, he one zouave.—Richmond Enquirer.

Monday, July 14, 2014

4th Louisiana at Berwick City

A letter to the West Baton Rouge newspaper the Sugar Planter, November 20, 1861, from a member of the 4th Louisiana Infantry. 

SUGAR PLANTER [WEST BATON ROUGE, LA], November 30, 1861, p. 2, c. 5-6
                                                                        Camp Lovell, Berwick City, Nov. 20, '61.
            Dear Sugar Planter:--You have no doubt heard before this of our being encamped opposite the terminus of the New Orleans and Opelousas Railroad at Berwick City.—The position is certainly a very important one and should the war be prosecuted, and the New Orleans be threatened with an attack, our friends at home may rest assured that the Fourth Regiment will do everything that can be expected of it. . .
            We have a pleasant camp so long as it does not rain, for our tents afford little protection against the weather, and the mud I assure you is very disagreeable to us, especially having just come from the sandy Gulf coast.  Col. Barrow intends having barracks built so soon as he can make arrangements for lumber and I hope we shall be made more comfortable by it.
            I am confident it would amuse you to pay our camp a visit.  Imagine your humble correspondent's accommodations for writing:  my knapsack on an empty box for a desk and a cypress board for a seat, with the inkstand lying on the ground.  In the other half of tent lies our bed, made of rough cypress boards.  This is the most important piece of furniture in the tent and answers several purposes, viz:  bed at night, chair sofa or table as the case may be when we entertain company.  In the back part of the tent is a shelf on which are strewn combs, pipes, tobacco, brushes, a few books and a pack of cards.  Could you peep in, dear Planter on evenings when we are entertaining company, you would be amused at the tableau.  The pack of cards may be in use, and in that case the bed answers as table and chairs—one of the bed posts having been removed for the purpose answers as a candlestick; on the shelf, in the background of the tent, you might see a bottle and tin cup, which together with the tobacco and pipes, are all intended for the entertainment of the company, more especially, however the bottle and tin cup.  Our camp has been visited by a great many ladies and I have no doubt that their visit was highly interesting to them for I do not believe that many of them ever saw a soldier's camp before.  Last Sunday our Chaplain performed service in camp and quite a number of ladies were in attendance as well a number of gentlemen. . . .
                                                                                                                                                                            Yours, &c., VIC. 

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Confederate Generals in the Western Theater Volume 3



Lawrence L. Hewitt and the late Arthur W. Bergeron Jr.  collaborated and put forth three volumes on Confederate leaders in the west. I belatedly highlight Volume 3 because of an article written on Brigadier General Daniel W. Adams by Jane Johannson. The article is titled, "Daniel Weisiger Adams: Defender of the Confederacy's Heartland." This was highlighted on Johannson's blog, The Trans-Mississippian, in July of 2011...I have been busy. Johannson and I exchanged research material for several years on the brigade Adams commanded from May of 1862 - September of 1863. This brigade was the centerpiece of my book Louisianians in the Western Confederacy: The Adams-Gibson Brigade in the Civil War (2010). Her article is highlighted with several maps from my book along with one custom drawn specifically for the article on the Battle of Shiloh. I had the pleasure of reading the article and thought it was an a great piece. Another addition to chronicling the role/contribution of Louisianians in the Civil War.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Tulane Scans Photos & Makes Available Online


From Tulane University's Louisiana Research Room


Civil War Photograph Digitization Project Completed


The Tulane Digital Library, under the direction of Jeff Rubin, has completed a six-month project to digitize more than 1,000 photographs, lithographs, and drawings from the Louisiana Historical Association depicting the Civil War and Reconstruction, and they are all now available online.


Subjects include political leaders, soldier and regimental portraits, veterans’ organizations, and forts and battlefields. Also included are images pertaining to the Army of Northern Virginia and the Washington Artillery. Many images are unique and record the work of noted New Orleans photographers.

The images are only one part of LaRC’s vast Civil War holdings, which include the papers of Jefferson Davis, the Gettysburg letters of Robert E. Lee, the papers of Albert Sidney Johnston, and the papers of Stonewall Jackson. 

Coppens' Zouave Battalion

Coppens' Zouave Battalion
Lt. Colonel George Coppens (seated) and brother, Captain Marie Alfred Coppens.Image sold at auction on Cowan Auctions, for $14,375