17th Louisiana Infantry Photograph

John Wesley Weeks, Company B ("Sabine Rebels"), 17th Louisiana Infantry

From Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr.'s Guide to Louisiana Confederate Miliatry Units, 1861-1865:

"This regiment was organized at Camp Moore on September 29, 1861, with 832 men.  From Camp Moore, the regiment went to New Orleans.  As part of General Daniel Ruggles' brigade, the regiment occupied Camp Chalmette and later Camp Benjamin.  The brigade went to Corinth, Mississippi, in February, 1862.  On April 6 and 7, the men fought in the Battle of Shiloh.  Ordered to Vicksburg in May, the men saw only picket duty during the first Union attack on that place, May 18-July 27.  The regiment helped repulse the enemy attacks on Chickasaw Bluffs north of Vicksburg, December 26-29.  Remaining near Vicksburg through the winter, the regiment was assigned to General William E. Baldwin's brigade.  On May 1, 1863, the regiment fought in the Battle of Port Gibson and bore the brunt of the fighting during the Confederate retreat.  The men fell back to Vicksburg and participated in the siege there, May 19-July 4.  Paroled at the surrender of Vicksburg, the men returned to their homes.  In January, 1864, the regiment reported to a parole camp near Shreveport for a short time.  The men reassembled at Minden in May and soon went to Pineville.  As part of General Allen Thomas's brigade, the regiment remained in garrison at Pineville until May, 1865.  One report states that Company C was the only company in the regiment's division to remain on duty until discharged and that the company guarded the brigade's ammunition supply against the soldiers who were disbanding and going home."

Additional Resources:

• Find A Grave for John Wesley Weeks
• NPS Roster for 17th Louisiana Infantry