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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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

GRAND REVIEW OF TROOPS

Found on at least two occassions there were two large review of Louisiana soldiers in New Orleans. I am posting the first of two I found (April 29, 1861) and will post the second newspaper article on the other one (November 1861) when I can find a copy.

The Daily Picayune, Monday April 29, 1861:

The Military spectacle yesterday was a lovely day, bright breezy, and bracing: There could not possibly have been a better weather for a grand turnout of the population. The grand review of the Military took place on Canal Street. The line of the review was nearly a mile in length, from the levee to Rampart Street. Some three or four thousand of our city soldiers and their burnished bayonets and accoutrement's with their flags giving them a gay and most imposing appearance. Outside of the space cleared for the review the crowd was perfectly compact, through the courtesy of the storekeepers ladies had admission to their windows and Verandes; the street was never on any occasion more greatly crowded or more splendidly embellished by the presence of the soldiers and their fair fex. There must have been about thirty or forty thousand people on the streets when the review took place.




Downtown New Orleans. The red lines on the map marks the streets mentioned in this news article. Canal Street is in the middle running in a North-South Direction. To its left, running in same direction is Laura and to its right is Esplande. St. Charles runs closer to the Mississippi River and Rampart runs parallel with St. Charles.


It is useless for us to attempt to enumerate the whole of the companies that formed the long and splendid line. General Trudeau's brigade from down town consisting of the Orleans battalion of Artillery, the Chasseurs-a-Pied, the Orleans Guards battalion, the Expande Guards, the Youthful Louisiana Cadets, the Garibaldi Rifles, and the German and other companies were out in full force, the whole presenting the most splendid appearance as they rested on Canal Street from St. Charles to the levee.

General Tracey's Brigade rested on Canal from St. Charles to Rampart, and made an equally disposing display. The Washington Artillery Battalion the Continental Guards[Co. A, 7th La], Louisiana Greys, Chalmette Guards [Co. B, 5th La], Calhoun Guards [Co. B, 6th La], Sarsfield Rifles [Co. C, 7th La], De Soto Rifles [Co. F, 9th La], Delta Rifles [Co. F, 4th La], Southern Cadets, Second Company Orleans Cadets, Bienville Guards, Bienville Rifles, and other companies constituted this brigade. The Bienville Guards [Co. C, 5th La], Bienville Rifle [Co. B, 8th La], and a splendid looking body men from Algiers (whose title we did not learn) Appeared in citizens dress their uniforms being not yet ready though they ahd their kepis and guns and they were none the less admirable fro want of their uniforms. But for the want of their uniforms numerous other new companies would have been out to swell the already large splendid display.


A company in blue from Carroliton made an excellent show. The cavalry or mounted companies eight in all (four companies each division) also made a gay and beautiful show comprising as they did, many of the best and bravest citizens of this city and parish and of Jefferson and St. Bernard parish well mounted and elegantly equipped. One of these companies was from Plaquemins. Had those companies which did not turn out for want of uniforms, and the twenty or thirty thousand quartered and encamped companies about town, joined in the review it would have been about twice as large. The country companies especially would have given it more length, breadth, and solidity. The Orleans and Washington Artillery Battalions had each eight or ten of their brass pieces along, each piece attended by a squad; and the rest of the battalion marching as infantry. These two battalions and the Orleans Guard Battalion were the largest and most splendid features of the turnout. The Orleans Guards turned out no less than 427 guns.


The battalions and companies being ranged in line the right to the river and left on Rampart Street. The Review took place His Excellency Governor Thomas O. Moore attended by Major General John L. Lewis and the usual full cortege of staff officers, rode past and inspected the long line, the companies presenting arms and the band playing as they passed. Many persons amid the dense throng of spectators cheered the Governor as passed.


The review over the brigades formed in procession and marched around Canal Street up town to Julia St. and as far down as Esplande Street. The immense multitude on Canal Street dispersed, and divisions of the multitude flocked to meet the procession and get a nearer view of it as it wound its way through the city. Between 2 and 3 o'clock the march ended, and the companies separated and proceeded to their respective armories. The day through Sunday was a regular military gala day in which the greater part of the population took part either as actors or spectators. The combination in Louisiana is dispersing beautifully.

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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