Civil War Books and Authors

Andrew J. Wagenhoffer has compiled an extremely impressive list of Civil War books he has reviewed at Civil War Books and Authors (CWBA). Sure, Amazon reviews are cool, but Wagenhoffer specializes in reading and review Civil War books. There are numerous books in his collection connected to Louisiana topics. I highly recommend you head to CWBA to look up books and see new ones coming down the pike!

From New Orleans to Brashear City, 1863

A correspondent from the Daily Missouri Republican of St. Louis, Missouri, wrote of his trip from New Orleans to Brashear City, La. (Modern-day Morgan City). Always interesting to read the views of Yanks in Louisiana - foreign to its climate, vegetation, culture, food, economics, and wildlife. The article is titled "From New Orleans to Brashear City" dated September 27, 1863 (appeared in the October 13th issue of the Daily Missouri Republican).

Map of New Orleans, Opelousas, and Great Western Railroad running from Algiers on the Mississippi to Brashear City to the west.

The lower Teche Country from New Iberia to Brashear City

11th Texas Infantry Regimental History

The 11th Texas Infantry Regiment was part of Major John G. Walker's all Texas division that fought in the Trans-Mississippi Department. It was formed in early 1862, by Colonel Oran M. Roberts, a successful lawyer and was the president of Texas' Secession Convention. After serving briefly in Arkansas, the 11th Texas moved into northeast Louisiana during the spring-summer of 1863 and operated in that region during the Siege of Vicksburg. It was a witness to but did not participate in, the Battle of Milliken's Bend on June 7, 1863. After Vicksburg, Walker's Texas Division moved south to Alexandria and partially participated in the Texas Overland Expedition. In early November, Roberts led his 11th Texas, along with the 15th and 18th Texas Regiments, in the Battel of Bayou Bourbeaux. It later participated in the Red River Campaign and fought at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and later Jenkins Ferry. 

Michael Dan Jones wrote a regimental history on the 11th Texas titled, Fighting for Southern Independence: History of the 11th Texas Infantry Regiment. I recently purchased this book and it is loaded with photographs and Jones incorporates the input of Texans from other units to help tell the story of this battled regiment. I have provided a link above to purchase Jones' book (*disclaimer, I am an affiliate for Amazon and thus make a % of purchases from Amazon linked from this website).

Any student of the Civil War in Louisiana knows that a vast number of Texas units fought in our state during the war. Thousands of Louisianians served in the Army of Northern Virginia, the Army of Tennesse, and the Trans-Mississippi region of Louisiana was cut off from New Orleans' manpower. To save the rest of Louisiana from being overrun in the spring of 1863, thousands of Texans serving in Texas, Arkansas, Indian Territory, and northeast Louisiana, were sent to southwest Louisiana. Jones helps fill in yet another gap in the Trans-Mississippi history with his book on the 11th Regiment. He provides details on its organization by company and includes a roster in the back of the book based off the regiment's Compiled Service Record. 

Additional Resources (Links are my affiliate links as mentioned above) you can purchase that relate to the 11th Texas Infantry and Walker's Texas Division:

• Walker's Texas Division, C.S.A.: Greyhounds of the Trans-Mississippi
• The Campaigns of Walker's Texas Division: By a Private Soldier
• Greyhound Commander: Confederate General John G. Walker's History of the Civil War West of the Mississippi

13th Louisiana Infantry Regimental History

Michael Dan Jones has been very busy the past few years writing numerous books on people, units, and battles relating to the Civil War in Louisiana. One of his latest books is a regimental history on the 13th Louisana Infantry: Fighting for Southern Independence: A History of the 13th Louisiana Infantry Regiment. It was a regiment predominately from New Orleans with numerous immigrants from numerous countries. It's most well-known officer was Randall Lee Gibson. Gibson was later promoted to Brigadier General and played an important role in post-war Louisiana in politics and with Tulane University. The 13th Louisiana's battlefield experiences began with Shiloh in April 1862 and carried through the Perryville Campaign, Murfreesborough, Siege of Jackson, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Atlanta Campaign, Nashville Campaign, and Spanish Fort in the Mobile Campaign. It fought with the Adams-Gibson Louisiana brigade for almost the entire war as part of the Army of the Mississippi/Army of Tennessee.

I found the 13th Louisiana to be one of the most interesting units from Louisiana. They were originally dressed in "Zouave" uniforms but they soon faded to normal attire. Due to high losses suffered by the regiment during the war, it spent a majority of the war consolidated with the heavy-German-filled 20th Louisana Infantry. Leon von Zinken of the 20th then became an important figure in the 13th Louisiana's history as well.

While exploring Jones' book on the 13th Louisiana (from the link above), take time to explore other titles written by him by clicking on the author's name.

Jones is also the author of the blog "The South's Defender".


Related information:

• Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Units, 1861-1865 (p.102-106)

• Louisianians in the Western Confederacy: The Adams-Gibson Brigade in the Civil War

* All links to books are linked through as an Amazon affiliate - I receive a % of the sale if you purchase.

6th Michigan Regimental History

The 6th Michigan Infantry was active in Louisiana during the Civil War from April 1862 (with the capture of New Orleans) through July 1863 (the Siege of Port Hudson). It took part in numerous actions with significant roles in the Battle of Baton Rouge and the Siege of Port Hudson. Eric R. Faust has written a regimental history of the 6th Michigan titled: The 6th Michigan Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War: A History and Roster (2020).

Faust's book on the 6th Michigan is 300 pages and is available in Kindle and paperback. 

New & Improved Lee's Tigers by Terry L. Jones

Dr. Tery L. Jones released an updated version of his original Lee's Tigers (1987). It is titled: Lee's Tigers Revisited: The Louisiana Infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia (2017). Jones' excellent work covers the history of the two brigades of Louisiana infantry that fought in the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee. There were eventually regiments, around 12,000 men, who fought in these two brigades: 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 14th, 15th Infantry Regiments and other various battalions - the most renowned beating Wheat's Tigers of the 1st Louisiana Battalion. If you are a student of the Army of Northern Virginia or Louisiana's role in the war, Jones' Lee's Tigers is a must have. Phenomenal piece of work on Louisianians in the Eastern Theater. I have linked both versions of Dr. Jones' book (and here is the link to a reprint of his original in 2002). Make sure you pick up a copy of his "new" book...this is not a new post and at this point, Dr. Jones book has been out for quite some time!

Dr. Jones forwarded a copy to me and I enjoyed re-reading a book that really kickstarted my love and interest in all things Louisiana Civil War related. This was also my inspiration in college in the 1990s to research other Louisiana brigades in the Civil War. Dr. Jones and I met in 2010, and I got to personally share my interest in his work and thank him for interest it sparked in me to search out more. This ultimately led to me writing a history of the Adams-Gibson Louisiana Brigade in the Army of Tennessee (Louisianians in the Western Confederacy).

Edmund Miles, 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry Letters in Louisiana

The Massachusetts Historical Society has scanned and posted the letters of Edmund Miles of the 41st Massachusetts Infantry/3rd Massachusetts Cavalry online. Miles served a very long career in Louisiana between the two units.

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

The following link is to the White River Valley Historical Quarterly (Volume 3, Number 11, Spring 1970). They have "The War-Time Experiences" of W.B. Cox, Company B, 6th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry in Louisiana from 17 September 1863 through 21 May 1864.

18th New York Independent Battery in Louisiana

The diary of Henry N. Dryer of the 18th New York Independent Battery is posted (along with a roster) on this website. As the website states, the diary begins on June 1, 1864 in Baton Rouge.

Unidentified Louisiana Confederate

Unidentified Louisiana Confederate Soldier at the Library of Congress