W I N C H E ST E R

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c a m e a lette r f o m Col W nchest e H a ll g hty gh t

es d es t P oco m ok e City M d who w ot e m
y e a s old wh
conce n in g th p ensio n l w s of Lou s i n Colon l Ha ll o m
n a I nf n t y wa w ounded
m a n d e d th e 2 6th R e g m n t Lou
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26 t h Lo ms ia na

in a ntry

3 1 9 24 030 9 22 6 4 9

IT

IS

P L E A S ANT
A CT I ON S

T HE

W HO

IN THIS

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DO

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-

OF

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THE

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H I C K A SA W B A Y O U

B E HIND
OF

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THE

IC KS B U R G

L E S S N O B LY
D

G I V I N G T H E I R L I V ES
GRA N D

OLD

B R EA S T W O R KS

T H E V I CT I M S O F

T O T HE

F L E ET I N G

AND

I N G T H EI R

T W E N T Y S IX T H

W HO

M E MB E R

T H OS E

OF

IEF

OF

RE

F EEBLE TRIB UTE

THE

TO

IS E AS E
A

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HO L O C A U S T
OF

R I GHT

CO NTENTS

T H E O R GAN I ! A T I O N

,5

I I R ETREAT F ROM N EW O RLEA N S

I

I I I V I C KS B U R G
.

IV

C A M P

CA MF

V L

V II

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V III

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I I

I 20
I

32

P R E F A C E

N pro fessing t o write th e S tory

Of

the

2 6 t h,

feel an exp l anati o n i s d ue for giving it th e sh ap e

Of

a person al m em oir

I h ave d o ne so after proper

re ecti on and i f it bears th e fai ntest tinge o f egoi sm

,

I d eserv e th e cens ure o f th e p atriotic and th e

u nse l

T h e fact i s wh en I h ad collected all availabl e

,

m a t e r ia l s

and run ov er i n my mi nd all so urces

,

Of

i n form atio n wh ence I might p ossibly add som eth i ng

as th e n arrative progressed I saw

s t il l

m any gaps

wh ic h m igh t m ake th e s ubj ect di sj ointed fragm ent

,

ary and uninteresting

I t th en o cc urred to m e th at i f I wo uld give it th e

form o f a p erso nal m em oir I co uld weave into it all

,

facts co nn ected with th e regim ent wh ile my own

,

individ ual ex p erien ce wo uld n ot o nly serve to m ake

th e sto ry co n ti n uo us but as a back gro und wo uld
,

sh ow in so m e m easure th e co nditio n o f th e co untry

,

at th e tim e

a n d th o se s urr o undi ngs wh i ch wo uld

th row light upo n th e cen tral gures o f th e sk etch ;

for after all my i n di vid ual ex perien ce w as o nly an
,

illustratio n o f th e e x peri en ce o f oth er o f cer s an d

m en o f th e co m m and varied by circ u m st a n ce

O n th e oth er h and I am con d en t th o se wh o k n o w

,

m e will acq uit m e of any d esire to m ake mysel f a

co n spicuous

gure

i n th at d ram a th e

2 6th

pl ayed

wit h o ut fault and for wh i ch it m erited th e ap pl a use

,

of all

h o norabl e

m en

tro up e and ci rc um stan ces

,

com m a nders

w as

si m ply o n e o f t h e

m ad e

m e o n e O f th ei r

I would rath er my n am e utterly p eri sh t h an it

sh o uld o bscure even for a m o m ent th e

,

h al o

o f glory

around t h at faithful band and wh i ch I trust m ay be

,

und imm ed wh erever i nd ep end en ce i s cl aim ed

as

birthrigh t and l ove o f co untry i s m ore t h an a n am e

,

26TH LOUISIANA INFANTRY

.

C H A PT E R

O R GAN I ! A T I O N
F e br u a ry A i m !

86 2

H en ry and D on ald son h ad fallen

Th ere
was a wid e sp read and un easy feeling th at o ur great
enemy h ad gai n ed two h ighways i nto th e h eart o f
t h e C o n fed eracy wh i ch wo uld give hi m terrible a d
v antage and req uire on o ur p art every e ffort to
circum ve nt
A t th i s tim e I w a s a p artn er i n th e l aw O f ce O f
B ush
H all at T h ibod aux and in ch arge of th e
O f ce ; M r B ush h avi ng entered th e army with th e
und erstan di ng between us i n V i ew O f th e i nterests
co m mi tted t o o ur h and s th at I sh o uld m ai ntai n th eir
o versigh t U p to th i s period I h ad co ntented m y
sel f in bri nging my family withi n o ur li nes and gi v
in g a ci vili an s aid to th e cause
M r B urt o n called at th e O f ce and represented
to m e th e seri o usness O f th e surrender o f th e forts ;
t h at it r end ered n ecessary o n o ur p art an e x t r a or
and s uggested as o ur co ntributi on
d in a ry e ffort
th at an oth er co m p any be raised for th e army i n a d
diti o n to th e t wo co m p anies already sent fro m th e
p ari sh o f Lafo urch e A cting on h i s suggestio n I
m ad e o ut a h eading to be signed by all wh o wi sh ed
o RT s

TW E N TY
SI X TH L O U ISI ANA I N F A N T R Y

t o be enrolled i n a com p any for th e

following O f cers :
C aleb J T ucker
Winch ester H all
L o v in cey W ebre
W D B urton
.

und er th e

C apt ai n
I st Li e uten ant
.

w ar

2d

J uni or Lie ut

Th is roll was p ut i n circul atio n and so o n return ed

with th e recom m endati on th at th e n am es o f th e
C aptai n and F irst Lieuten ant sh o uld be tr an sp o sed ;
p erh aps because I ranked i n years I t w as ch anged
accordi ngly
Th e roll was com m en ced o n S at urd ay F ebruary
O n th e next S at urd ay th e com p any n um bered
2 2d
nin ety fo ur about fty n am es bein g added o n th e
l atter d ay d uring a barbecue at Th ibod aux after
an eloquent ap peal on th e p art of th e H o n Pierre
S o ul e and stirring addresses by A bbe M en ard an d
oth ers M r H C lay K n obl o ch s n am e w as s u bs t i
t u t e d for M r B urton s as J unior Lieute n an t
Mr
B urton h aving w ithdrawn
I closed th e l aw o f ce E vents p ro ved i t useless t o
be kep t O pen I t was s ubsequently s ack ed by F e d
eral troop s E very o ne wh o h ad been recently co n
n e ct e d with it or w as co n nected with i t at its clo se
by m e j oined th e army seven i n all ; o f wh o m th re e
were killed d uring th e wa r a n d o n e serio usly w o und ed
O n M arch st h th e com p any wen t i nto c am p at
Thi bod aux under th e n am e of th e A llen R i es
wh ich it ass um ed as com plim entary to M r R H
A llen of Lafo urch e a d evoted frien d a nd li ber al
contributor to th e organiz ati o n
O n M arch 1 5th i t
w a s m ustered i nto confederate service for th e war
Th e comm unity seem ed th oro ughly aro used and
t h e co mpletion of th e A llen R ifles wh etted t h e p ub
A ctin g i n co n
l ic dem a n d for a n oth er com p any
.

O R G A N I ! AT I O N

cert with several n eigh bors I wrote o ut a roll for

an oth er com p any und er th e foll owing o f cers :
Lewi s Gui on
C apt ain
C l eop h as Lagard e
I st Lie uten ant
M ath uri n B o un g
2 d Lie uten ant
O n suggesti o n th e o fces of C apt ai n a nd I st
Li euten ant were tran sp o sed and th e friend s of M r
B o urg i n si st ed th at o n acco unt of h is age h e sh o uld
with draw ; h i s pl ace being lled by Sil v er e N avarre
T h e co m p any was soo n m ad e up with th e requisite
r ank and le
O n M arch 1 8th I received orders from M aj or
Gen eral Lo vell com m anding th e D ep artm ent to
r endez vo us and en cam p th e com p any com m anded
by m e and C aptai n L a g a r d e s C om p any at B erwick
C ity O n re ach ing th at p oi nt we o ccupi ed an old
cam p call ed C am p Lovell co nsisting o f temp orary
an d com fortabl e sh elters su f ci ent for a regim ent
A s I w as r anki ng C aptai n I becam e P o st C o m m a n
d an t
C om p any drills were begun at on ce
A s I h ad not
any k nowledge wh atever o f milit ary t a ct ics I st udi ed
H ard ee th ree h o urs d aily and drilled th e A ll en R i es
fo ur h o urs
S oo n after w e h ad encam ped we were j oi ned by
C apt ain D un can S C age s C omp any and C aptai n
J oh n J S h affer s C om p any o f th e p arish of Terre
bo n n e
C aptai n E raste M o u n t o n s C omp any and C ap
'
t a in Willi am C C r ow s C omp any o f th e p arish o f
Lafayette
C apt a i n M a nd a W B atem an s C omp a n y of th e
p arish o f S t M ary
A nd C a p t a i n W W M artin s C om p a ny of th e
p arish of A ss um p tio n
O n A p ril 3d th e eigh t com p anies o n th e gro und
,

TW E N TY SIX T H L O U ISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

W ent i nto an electi on fo r eld O f cers

A l ex and re
and D un can S
.

D e C l o uet was elected C ol on el

C age Li euten ant C olo nel with o ut o p p o siti o n F o r
th e O f ce of M aj or th e nam es O f Lewis G ui o n and
myself were prop osed and I w as el ected
Th e O f
cers elect were called up on for sp eech es by th e m en ;
to whi ch C ol o nel D e C lo uet resp o nd ed i n F re n ch
and C olo n el C age i n E nglish ; o n my t urn bei ng
reach ed I sim ply said all I co uld pro m is e w as th at
i n any m eeti ng with th e enemy I sh o uld n ot ask
t h em to lead but to foll ow
O n t h e n ext d ay we were advised by a tel egram
fro m H ead Q uarters th at we h ad n o righ t t o organ
iz e with only ligh t com p an i es
T h e organiz ati o n
h owever was tacitly p ermitted
W h ile at Berwick s B ay w e h eard O f th e battl e O f
S hiloh i n whi ch th e two com p anies already sen t
from th e p arish O f Lafo urch e were engaged and
in wh i ch th e A llen R i fl es h ad m any fr i end s and ki n
I t w a s with a dim m ed cyc l read th e list Of kill ed
and wou nded so ns O f neigh bors and friend s ; so on
after receipt O f th e news I ord ered th e A llen R ifl es
to fall i n I sp oke to th em O f broth ers co usi n s an d
friend s slaughtered at S hilo h I called up o n ev ery
one determin ed to avenge th eir death to h old up h i s
h and and swear accordingly
E very h and went up
R aising my own I s aid
W e sol em nly swear t o
avenge th e death O f o ur broth ers co usi n s and frie nd s
w h o fell at S hiloh
Later o n th e sam e d ay ; I received a t o uch in g n ot e
signed by th e m embers of th e com p any aski ng m e
to lead th em on at o nce to th e fro nt ; app eali ng t o
m e to use th eir own l anguage :

I n God s n am e in th e n am e of th ose wh o n ow
sleep th e etern al sleep in th e n am e O f bereaved m oth
ers fath ers sisters and broth ers and o f h o m es
,

O R G AN I ! A T I O N

m ad e d esol ate by t h e l o ss o f th eir h earts id ols ; in

th e n am e o f all yo u h old d ear o ur belo ved C aptai n
d o gr ant us th i s
I expl ai n ed to th em we were und er ord ers and
co uld n ot m ov e with o ut th em but th at I wo uld d o
all i n my p ower to pl ace th em wh ere th ey wo uld
co n fro n t th e en emy
O n A pril 2 0 t h we were ord ered to N ew O rleans
and wen t i nt o cam p i n th e suburbs for th e p urp ose
O f co m pl eti ng o ur o utt
C aptai n O ctave M e t oy
er s C o m p any O f N atch itoch es and C aptai n D ela
h o u s s aye s C om p any of th e p ari sh of Terrebon ne
j oin ed us h ere wh ich co mpleted th e ten com p anies
req ui site for a regul ar regim ent
O ur o utt was
q uit e th oro ugh i n arm s tents and cam p eq ui p age
save th at two com p ani es were with o ut service abl e
arm s
W h ile i n cam p h ere n ews cam e th at th e enemy s
eet h ad p assed th e forts near th e m o uth of th e M is
th at we m igh t soo n expect th em i n
s is s ipp i and
fro nt of N ew O rleans We felt th at active service
w as up o n us and awaited orders with eagerness
A pp nd ix ( N t A
S

'

ee

o e

C H A PT E R I I

T H E R E T R E A T F R O M N E !V O RL E A N S

Th ursd ay A pri l 2 4 t h abo ut I O A M C ol D e

C l o u et recei ved o rders to m ov e th e regi m en t t o
C a m p M o ore at o n ce H e ord ered two d ays rati o n s
to be co oked ; th e wagon s were lled with o ur cam p
e uip a g e ; but before we m o ved an oth er order cam e
for us to m o ve to C am p C h alm ett e s ix m il es bel ow
N ew O rlean s Th e regim ent w as so o n i n li n e and
th e wa g o n s ready to follow C ol D e C l o uet being
absent i n th e city o n busi ness o f th e regi m en t C ol
C age assum ed com m and and m ad e a sh ort and e f
fe ct iv e sp eech i n whi ch h e stated h e w as gl ad to
say to th e regim ent th ey h ad been o rd ered to
face th e en emy i n stead o f retreati ng and h e tr usted
th a t th e plai ns o f C h alm ette m ad e m em o rabl e by
A ndrew J ackson s victory sh o uld a ffo rd an oth er
brigh t p age to o ur co untry s h istory
I t w as n e ar
d ark wh en we started ; we reach ed C am p C h al m ette
abo ut I I P M and took p ositi o n beh i nd a bre ast
work near th e sw amp ; p osted sentin el s and th e m en
slept on th eir arm s A s E n o Guedry was o n guard
I used h is bl anket for I h ad n o n e
H e cam e in
abo ut 2 A M and we th en sh ared it togeth er
I
aro se abo ut 5 A M and seeing so m e o f th e m en
abo ut to get up told th em to sl eep o n
Gen B uis
so n of th e state tro ops so o n afterward rod e up an d
ON

TH E R E T R E A T F RO M N E W O R L E AN S

st ated t o m e we m igh t be sh elled at any m om ent

I n ow s uggest ed to C 0 1 D e C lo uet wh o h ad j oined
us d uring th e nigh t th at as we h ad m oved to C h al
m ette i n o bed ience t o ord ers an d h ad n o fu r t h e r in
s t r u ct io n s n ot even to rep ort to a ranking o f cer
i n fact t h ere w as n o n e o n th e gro und to report to ;
and as we co uld be o f n o avail again st th e enemy s
v essels wit h two com p anies h aving unservice able
arm s and th e regim ent with o ut a ro und of a m m u n i
tio n ; we owed i t to th e co m m and n ot to exp ose it
un necess arily Th e C olo nel so on ordered th e regi
m ent to m o v e furt h er away from th e river to th e
wo od s Gen T r a cy y brigad e of militi a followed us
T h is co m m and as well as o urs h ad n o am m uniti on
O ur wago ns h ad co m e and th e o f cers busied th em
selves in s aving so m e p erso n al e ffects A s it seemed
e
evid en t w
wo uld h ave t o retre at A ubai n Bo ur
g e o is and E ug ene Tro scl air to ok my trunk to a
pl anter s n ear by Li eut K n obloch s was taken to
th e s am e pl ace I h ad three n e bl ankets in th e
w ago n q ui te a rarity eve n at th at ti m e th e gift of
T ell K n oblo ch o ffered to carry
M r s A d am Beatti e
o ne for m e I left th e oth ers to B o urgeois and Tros
cl ai r wh o h ad p ut away my tr unk
A fter being i n th e wo od s som e h o ur o r two we
m o ved n earer th e city i n th e rear o f th e barracks
C ol D e C l o uet rod e to H ead Q uarters i n th e city
for ord ers T h e en emy s vessels now app eared A
battery o n th e river bank o p ened re and t ook away
from us th e sting of defeat with o ut ri ng a gun but
th e ch allenge was m et in silence if n ot i n co ntem pt
C ol C age after a s h ort co nsultatio n with m e d eter
m i n ed we sh o uld assum e com m and resp ectively of
o ur form er com p ani es an d th at h e wo uld th en ord er
e ach c apt ai n t o take c are o f h i s comp any as best h e
co uld
.

TW E N TY SIX TH L O UISI ANA I N FA N T R Y

-

Th e retreat comm en ced n or did we give h eed to

th e order of o ur going ; th e step was lively th ere

was no lagging and no order n ecessary to clo se

up
T h e com p anies becam e sep ar ated but each
comp any kep t well togeth er I p urp o sed to t ak e
th e A llen R i es up th e river cross it wh ere s afe and
pr acticable and get to Lafo urch e wh ere I wo ul d
await orders from th e C olonel
Th e city wa s so o n
reach ed I t was i n th e wildest confusi o n A nx io us
m en and wom en th ronged th e streets obj ectless
fearing th e worst and sh owing littl e of th at sel f p o s
sessi on with wh i ch afterward th ey so n o bly wit h
sto od th e indigniti es resulting from th e o ccup at io n
by th e enemy Th e burnin g of cotto n i n v ari o us
p arts o f th e city added a grim feature to th e scen e
I m et C ol C age wh o ordered us t o rendez vo us a t
th e J ackson railway statio n as we co uld th ere h av e
transp ortation to C am p M o ore A ll th e co m p ani es
reach ed th e st ati o n s av e C aptai n L a g ar d e s ; thro ugh
misinform ati o n th e C ap tai n retreated up th e river
and subseq uently j oi n ed us
T h e top s o f a tr ai n of
box cars were o ccup ied by us ; a drench i ng sh ower
soo n fell up on j ust and unj ust alike O n an ot h er
track i n p assenger co ach es re ady also to be m o ved
secure from th e rain and com fortable and j olly as a
pi c nic p arty were th e C on federat e G uard s a regi
m ent com p osed o f promi nent an d we althy citiz en s
of N e w O rleans wh o h ad been en cam p ed for so m e
tim e i n Lafayette S q uare but h ad n ever entered
C on fed erat e service General M an seld Lovell th e
D ep artm en t C om m and er cam e to th e stati o n a p
p are nt l y to lo ok after th e C o nfed er at e Gu ard s and
with o ut recognition of th e only regim ent o f th e C o n
federate servi ce in th e city at th e tim e I t old h im
w h ere I co uld be h e ard th at we were as go od sol
diers a s th e C o n feder ate G uard s and I s aw n o re a
,

T H E R E T R E A T F RO M N E W O R L E AN S

so n why th ey sh o uld o cc upy p assenger co ach es and

we th e t O p s o f box cars
O ur trai n left abo ut 3 P M W e left all cam p equi
p age and baggage I t di d n ot seem to be a m atter
o f co n cern at H ead Q uarters wh eth er we h ad th em
or n ot ; p erh ap s m ore im p ortant m atters required a t
tenti on
W h en th e A llen R ies were organiz ed th eir
fri ends s ubscribed over
for a uniform and
wh atever m igh t serv e for th eir co mf ort ap art from
wh at co uld be obtai n ed under military r equisition ;
with th i s fund and th eir i ndivid ual m eans th ey h ad
beco m e sup pli ed in N ew O rlean s with m any articles
of co nveni ence and usefulness in a soldiers life and
wh ich h avi ng l o st co uld n ot be rep laced I pre
s um e th is w a s th e case with oth er com p ani es but I
never h eard a regret at th e loss
W e reach ed Po n t ch it o u l a station abo ut d ark
Th e trai n rem ai ned th ere all n igh t and o n S aturday
A pril 2 6 t h m o ved us to C am p M o ore
We m et at
C am p M oore th e O rl eans Guards and th e C onfed
erate
Guard s ; both organiz ation s bei ng abo ut to
disband th e m embers o f e ach com m and were v ery
kind i n turni ng o ver to us sundry articles of n o fur
th er use t o th em and i nval uable to us ; I h ad several
acquaintances in th e C o nfed erate Guards each of
wh om add ed som eth ing to an o utt and my v al ued
friend G ust ave L a ndry presented m e with h is
sword
O n returni ng to my quarters o n e d ay after being
o ut I was s urprised t o see my tr unk wh ich C aptain
S h affer h ad bro ugh t from its h idi ng place n ear C am p
C h alm ette H e h ad left cam p sh ortly after o ur ar
ri val h ere with a vi ew of securing wh at h e co uld of
o ur p erson al effects l eft i n th e retreat and h ad s u c
ce e d e d far beyo nd exp ectatio n
,

IO

TW E N TY SIX T H L O UI SI ANA I NFAN T R Y

-

As

it was s om e d ays before th e enemy o cc upi ed

Orleans General Lo vell i n th e m eanwh il e
was diligent in rem oving military stores to th i s p o i n t
up on which we n ow m ad e req ui siti on t o sup ply as
far as practicable th e losses in cid ent to o ur rs t and
o nly retreat
,

C H A PT E R I I I
V I C KS B U RG

W e r em ai ned at C amp M o ore until M ay 6 t h

wh en we m o ved th en ce and pitch ed o ur t en ts at
C am p D e Clo uet a p oin t o n th e Br a ndon R o ad
fo ur m il es from J ack so n
in a forest wh er e
th ere were go od springs o f wat er and wh ich was in
t e r s p ers e d with vin es and sh rubs a nd decked and
gl add ened with floral beauty I t was abo ut th is tim e
General B eauregard h o no red th e regim ent by th e
r equest t h at i t be sent to h i m at Corinth Th e p au
city of troop s i n Lo uisiana and M ississip pi p revented
a com pli an ce but it did not take away fr o m o f cers
and m en untried and undiscipli ned a s th ey were th e
pleas ure o f feeli ng th ey were already worthy t h e fa v
o ra bl e n otice of a fam ed soldi er
O n M ay 1 4 t h we str uck o ur t ents an d m oved t o
C am p C age n ear E dward s stati o n o n th e V i cks
burg and J ackso n r ailway
O n o ur m arch th e boys
n oted o n th e w aysid e a l ot of s ugar wh i ch h ad
been stor ed by so m e sp ec ulators ; coming a s th ey
h ad fro m a land o f s ugar can e th ey secured a sam pl e
i n th eir h avre s acs for t h e p urp o se o f testi ng its s ac
S o o n after we were camp ed two
ch a r in e quality
own ers o f th e sugar app eared to com plai n o f th e
O ffen ce
C ol D e Clo uet received t h em with h i s
us u a l co urtesy listened p atiently to t h e story o f
,

TWE N TY S IX T H L O U ISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

1 2

th eir wro ngs wh il e I st anding by w as s welli ng wit h

i ndignatio n Th e m atter w as with my s up eri o r o f
cer h owever and I tri ed t o keep q ui et
B ut as
th ese own ers p leaded and p ersi sted th at th e m e n
sh o uld be p uni sh ed I gave way and abused t h em
i n all th e term s at my co mm and for th eir co nt em p
tible mission T h ey soo n retired in disgust an d w e
never h eard furth er of t h em
A s th e en emy n ow th reaten ed V icksburg with
th eir vessels o n M ay r 9 t h th e regim ent was ord er ed
to m o ve th ere in ligh t m arch ing ord er o ur c am p
being left in ch arge of Li eut J osep h A yco ck
B rigadi er Ge n e r a l M arti n L S mith was th en i n
com m and at V icksburg H is brigad e co n sist ed o f
th e following regim ents :
2 6 t h Lo ui si an a
,

7 th
2 8t h

M ississipp i
A s it w a s exp ected th e en emy m igh t attem pt t o
l and o n th e left bank of th e river bel ow V i cksburg
I w as ordered by General S mith t o t ake v e
com p anies for pi cket d uty abo ut fo ur miles o ut
Th e com p anies of C ap ts Lagard e M o uton M arti n
S h affer and T ucker co m pri sed th e force
We m arch ed at on ce to th e pl ace indi c ated Two
comp anies o f Col P B S tarke s regim ent o f ca v
alr
y p osted near were to n otify us of any ap p e ar
ance of th e enemy o n th eir fro nt R um ors c am e to
us from tim e to tim e o f a l andi ng ; o n e t o t h e e f
feet th at a sm all force was o n th e river bank I sent
o ut Lieut Gui on with a detach m ent to lo ok it up
but it w as not to be fo und
W e kep t on d uty fo ur d ays fully exp o sed t o fr e
quent r ain s a n d th en r eceived ord ers to m o ve to
V icksburg wh ere we ret urned o n S at urd ay M ay 2 4 t h
3d

V I C K S B U RG

V i cksb urg l o oked as if th e si m o o n o f war alre ady

h ad swep t o ver it th e l owl a nd s abo ut were o od ed
th e city deserted by all wh o co uld l eave b usin es s
h o uses th at were n ot cl osed were barren o f go o ds ;
be autiful h o m es set i n emerald lawns em bowered
i n m agnoli a ro se myr tle and wild p each and sm il
i ng w ith beautiful owers awaited th e c o mi ng o f
t h e sp oiler
O n M ay 2 6 t h a sh ell fr o m th e ene my was m y
reveill e H e g a ve s o m e a ttenti o n to th e l o w e r bat
t ories with o ut serio us e ffect O n th e n ext d ay th e
w ater battery at th e H o sp ital was sh elled and m any
sh ell s were th ro w n i nto th e city I rode d own to
th e r ailway stati o n wh i ch seem ed th e centre o f a t
tractio n and wh ere th ere were pickets fro m th e regi
m e nt S o m e o f th e boys seem ed a little fr igh tened
und er th eir rst re ; as to myself th is my rst p er
so n al exp erien ce o f h e avy sh elli ng was not s a t is fa c
tory I did n ot feel brave at a l l H ors e and ri d er
w ere alike unn erved by th e n ovelty I f I h ad di s
m o unted I was to o weak i n th e kn ees t o m o unt
agai n ; but as I was n ot act ually str u ck I s urvi ved
it I n th e m eanwh ile General S mith so ugh t to m ake
go o d th at answer of a tr u e soldi er wh ich h e gave to
th e d em and for a surr ender o f th e pl ace th at h e
wo uld h old th e d efenses entr usted to h im at all
h az ards as l o ng as h e co uld
Th e sh elli ng was vig
o rou sl
y k ept up but th e F ederal eet rem ai n ed at a
resp ectful d istan ce fro m eith er of th e fo ur river bat
t e r ie s alth o ugh o n e of th em was o f qu aker guns
W e foiled th em in wh at th ey co nsidered an easy
und ert aki ng and alth o ugh i nfantry was of no avail
i n actio n th e Twenty sixth was o n th e gro und ready
to o bey ord ers wh atever th ey were ; d aily drafted for
h eavy pi cket d uty ; exp osed to re o f sh ot and sh ell
fr o m th e eet and even d ebarred th e p o or privilege
,

T WE N TY SIX T H L O UISI A N A I N F A N T R Y

of giving blow for bl ow

Y et we w o uld h av e e n
d ured m ore to d efend th e h om es of th e n oble m en
and d evoted wom en o f Vi cksburg h o m es t h ey gave
up with o ut a m urm ur n ay ch eerfully w h en m ilit ary
necessity ex acted it alth o ugh it m ad e th em o utc asts
and refugees
Wh ile we were quartered h ere i n vari o u s v a
cant buildings th e m easles broke o ut am o n g
th e m en and m ad e a sad ch apter i n o u r h i story
W e were ill co nditio ned to o ffer resi stan ce to th e
d estroyer I t reigned i n terror ; w e h ad n o cot s
m any of th e m en were even with o ut bl ankets ; we
h ad n o h o s p it a l accom m od atio ns ; we di d n ot h ave n or
co uld we p ro cure pro p er m edi ci ne and n utri m ent ;
n urses were o ut o f th e q uestio n S o on th e q uarters
were lled with th e sick and th e dying ; and it seem ed
w e were p owerless to succor or to s ave
A lth o ugh not in com m and at th e tim e I w as n o t
th e less anxi o us to d o s om eth ing t o reli eve t h e p o o r
boys I called up o n th e cath oli c p riest o f th e p l a ce
F ath er Leray afterward A rch bish o p of Lo ui si an a
I op ened a ch at with th e good fath er ; as it b ecam e
lively h e ordered a b ottle o f win e ; as w e were dis
c ussing it in th e m ost tem p erate m an ner I m enti o n
ed th e co nditio n o f th e regim ent pi ct ured its desp er
ate strait for want of prop er attentio n and h inted
th at th e S isters of M ercy wh o h ad a sm all organiz a
tion i n th e town migh t aid us in o ur extr e m ity H e
to ok my words to h eart and pro p osed we sh o uld
call up o n th em T h e m ot h er w as asked fo r an d
so on app eared ; o n m entio ni ng o ur errand sh e s ai d
th ey wo uld do wh at th ey co uld T h ey p ro ved t o be
A ngels of M ercy T h ey turned t h ei r pretty h o m e
i nto a h o spit al ; every roo m was lled w ith o ur s uf
fe r e r s d o ubtless m any liv es were s aved by th eir ten
d er mi nistr atio ns
.

V I C K S B U RG

I5

T h e l adi es o f th e t own and n eigh borh o od also

were very kin d i n t aki ng th e sick to th eir own
h o m es ; I s ucceeded i n entering si x of my form er
co m p any at th e City H o sp ital W e secured a large
airy c o untry h o use a sh ort di st an ce o ut w h ich w as
t urn ed i nto a h o s p it a l ; and wh er e th e si ck h ad al l
th e a ttentio n p racti cabl e und er th e circum stan ces
Th e go od geni us of th i s co untry h o use was a yo ung
u n m arri ed wo m an abo ut twenty ye ars of age ; I re
gret I can n ot recall th e n am e o f th is F lorence
N igh ti ngale T h e record th at i s on h igh will sh ow it
W it h all th e grace an d dignity cult ure co uld add t o
re n em ent sh e m ad e h er h om e h ere amid th e p es
t il e n ce and never w earied i n h er gentle o f ces to th e
si ck an d dyi ng
T he regim en t wh en organiz ed with eigh t co m
p a nie s co n si sted of nearly eigh t h undred m en
W h en th e com p anies o f Captai ns M etoyer and
D elah o ussaye were added it was abo ut ni ne h undred
stro ng O ur n um ber for d uty w a s n ow so red uced
th at o n J un e I 3 i t w a s o n ly o n e h undred and ninety
seven and o n J une 1 4 two h u nd red and o ne O f
co urse m any absent h ad been d etailed to attend to
th e si ck
O n J un e i 8t h all of th e regim ent th at co uld be
m o ved were ord ered to ret urn to cam p n ear E d
ward s st ati o n
W e ch anged cam p o n th e 2 I st for
bett er water and m ore sh ad e ; and o n J uly 8t h we
m o ved to C am p H all th ree mi les from E dward s
st ati o n and abo ut th at di st ance n e arer to V i cksburg
.

C H A PT E R I V

C A M P H A LL
y

ly A u g

u st.

862

C A M P H A LL was o n a ro ad leadi ng to and abo ut

eigh teen miles from V icksburg ; i n a beautiful grov e o f
yo ung o ak and h ickory o n a level stretch of gro u nd
wh ich en abled us to l ay o ff t h e cam p i n m ilit ary

style Th e streets between th e tents o f th e F ield

and S taff and th e tents o f th e o f cers o f th e lin e w as

on e h undred feet wide ; and th e street between t h e
tents of th e latter and th o se o f th e m e n w as two
h undred feet in width T h e form er street w as re
served as a lo unging pl ace for t h e o fficers w h ere t h ey
co uld ch at write or read and h ave th eir m es s t ables
Th e co oking for th e F ield and S t aff was d o n e i n t h e
re ar of th eir tents and th eir h orses were al s o k ep t i n
th e rear ; s o th is street always p rese nted an i nviti ng
app ear ance I t was quite a sigh t ab o ut o n e o clo ck
wh ich was o ur dinner h o ur to lo ok th ro ugh it and
n ote group s o f th ree or fo ur ar o un d a r ud e t abl e i n
a sh ady spot discussing th e l atest e ff ort o f th eir
co oks C olo nel D e C lo uet C aptai n N e h i s co usi n
w h o was o ur quarterm aster and myself m essed
t o g e t h e r wit h th e C ol o nel s old n egro servant J esse
as o ur ch ef d e cu i s m e O ld J esse was pro vokingly
set i n his ways n ot always t o o u r co m fort but I
n ever h eard th e C ol o nel utter a word of r epr o a ch
to h im alth o ugh wh enev er J esse bro ugh t i n o ur
,

C A M P H A LL

co ff ee so m e tim e a fter it and th e re ha d p a rted co m

p any h e wo uld go so far as t o s ay i n th e m ild e s t

m an n er J ess e 1e cafe n es t p as ch aud

B ei ng al on e o n e d ay I in v it e d C ap t a i n Pil s bu ry
o ur A dj ut a nt C a pt a i n E isl and and Li euten ant J o
s e p h A yco ck
to din e with m e C apt a in Pil sbu ry
with a th o ugh tfuln ess wh i ch ch i m ed with th e o cca
sio n r em arked a s all of h is m ess were aw ay h e wo uld

f use with m e I w a s th erefor e n ot surprised wh en

h i s s ervan t wh o was a clev er co ok bro ugh t th e
C apt ai n s quo t a for th e table ; C ap tai n E isl and fur
n is h e d h i s boy H arri so n as waiter Lieuten a nt A
y
co ck furni sh ed gutta
p erch a t u m blers a n d tin pl ates
W e h ad a s o up J ulienn e fro m C ap tain Pil sbu ry a
ch icken gum bo fro m th e deft h ands of old J esse
p ork and cabbage a temp ting d aube sweetm eats from
C ap tain P s and ca fe n oir
F o ur spri ngs und er th e brow of a h ill h ard by
k ep t cl e an an d guarded by sentries furnish ed o ur
drinking w a ter ; th e B ig Bl ack river very near gave u s
w ater for bath ing and wash i ng cloth es besides sup
plying u s with sh T h e m en were pleased wit h th e
l o cati o n an d i n go od spirits Th e neigh borh oo d at
th e tim e w as s upp lied with milk butter eggs ch ick
en s veget ables and fres h m eat s o n ecess ary to th e
si ck to w h o m th e l adies o f th e neigh borh o od God
ble s s th em were unrem itti ng i n th eir a ttentio n s ;
m any o f o ur si ck and co nval escents being at th eir
own h o m es
M r M L C o ok wh ose pl ant ation was n e a r to us
was v ery kin d but h e cam e into cam p o n e d ay i n n o
go od tem p er and co m pl ai ned to m e th at th e m en
h ad been taki ng bo ards o ff h i s gin h o u s e I sug
gested w e go th ro ugh th e m en s qu arter s i n se arch of
th em W e went d own o ne street and up anoth er
I t w a s a p p ar ent th e m en were n ot t oo c om fort able
,

TW E N TY SI X TH L O UISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

and we saw n o bo ards H i s brow rel axed h i s bi g

h eart wo uld n ot d own h e said in hi s im p ulsi ve w ay
I t s n o use to l ook furth er
D n it t h e m e n W ant
th em Let th em keep th e bo ard s !
W e gav e up
th e search and w ent o ff for a ch at
M r Co ok h ad a ne eld o f cor n o n th e ro ad O p
i
t
e th e camp and I think it a cred it t o th e m en
o
s
p
th at its s avory ro asting ear s were allowed t o m at ure
unh armed
I t seem ed a m atter of co urse with m e to k eep a
p arental eye on th e A llen R i es I was grati ed t o
note th ey took care o f e ach oth er as so m any bro th
ers
J o sep h an d E ugene Tro scl air A ubai n B o ur
e o is and M orvan were p arti cularly activ e and k i n d
g
to th e si ck ; wh il e O scar W ebre watch ed o ver t h e m
with a rare j udgment of th eir n ecessiti es and an
unobtrusive devotio n to th eir com fort
O ur si ck began to i mpro ve O n J uly 1 9 we h ad
two h undred and sixty nin e for d uty o n J uly
three h undred and twe nty s even and o n J ul y 2 3
th ree h undred and th irty
A m ong th ose wh o attended to th e si ck was M rs
H ill th e m oth er of J o h n H ill of C o m p any I S h e
was with th e regim ent for som e tim e sh ared o ur
camp fare and dev oted h er tim e to t h e p o or boys
with a m oth er s co ncern and th o ugh tful n ess
O f cers and m en alike receiv ed n um ero us atte n
tio ns from th e fam ili es o f th e n eigh borh o od O ur
uniform h ere as i nd eed elsewh ere w as a p assp ort t o
any h o useh old T h e s t ate o f th e co un try d re w
closely th e bo nds of so ci al life s o th at we felt at
h om e wh erever we went by re aso n o f t h e wel co m e
we m et and th e h o spitality with wh i ch we were
entertained
O f th e soldi er guests i n S o uth ern h om es th ere
was usually with a rare a n d blessed d eli cacy a d is
.

2 2

A M P H A LL

ti n cti o n m ad e i n fav or of th e private I t was pre

s um ed th e o f cer h ad better opp ortunities for t akin g
care o f him self and so i n truth h e h ad W h en
th erefore a h o useh old volunteered to take care of a
sq uad o f si ck or co n val escents it was com m on to
s eek th em am o ng th e r ank a nd le
A s th e F ed eral eet n ow p atrolled th e M i ssi ssippi
and sep arated us fro m o ur h o m es we h ad n e ws from
o ur fam ili es o nly now and th e n as som e bold spirit
wo uld und ertak e to r un t h e gauntlet o f th e river
T h e en emy h ad already r aid ed t h e Lafo urch e and i t
w as d ebat abl e gro und
I n th is strait A uguste
R o g e r of Lafo urch e and R oi o f on e of th e A tta
k ap as p ari sh es underto ok to act as express rid ers
from th eir resp ective n eigh borh ood s t o o ur camp
for th e p urp os e o f carrying letters to and fro and
s uch p arcel s o f cl oth i ng as co uld be bro ugh t to us
I t m ay w e l l be im agin ed th e ap p ear ance i n camp O f
o n e or th e oth er was alw ays h ailed with deligh t
A s o ur ex press rem ained wi th us o nly lo ng en o ugh
to en abl e us to write in ret urn th e cam p i n th e
m eanwh i le seem ed ch anged to a writi ng sch ool and
m o ving accid ents
a l l w e r e sen ding h om e acco unts o f
by o od an d eld
O ur expresses as I h ave m entio ned n ot only
bro ugh t us letters but clothi ng wh i ch w as m ost a c
ce p t a bl e ; as t h e m en and m any of th e o f cers bro ugh t
n o e x tra cl oth i ng o ut o f N e w O rl eans ; and o ur
Q uarterm aster s D ep artm ent at th e tim e co uld n ot
h elp us
R oger wo uld m ak e a tri p to cam p and return
abo ut every t wo weeks bringing som ethi ng every
tim e to reli eve th e necessiti es of t h e exiled boys
O n o n e o f h i s trip s h e bro ugh t two s acks and six
ch am p ag n e bask ets of cl othi ng
O nly a d ogged
spirit co uld h ave d on e as m uch in V iew of th e fact
.

'

TW E N T Y SI X T H L O UISI AN A I N F AN T R Y

20

th e en emy h ad to be eluded stream and sw am p

crossed in sm all bo ats th e cloth i ng p acked acro ss
th e country m ainly on h orseback at som e p oi nt s
a p art only co uld be taken forward co mp elli ng r e
turn trip s for th e rem ai nd er and at o n e ti m e h e
p acked p art of a lo ad o n hi s back for two m iles
wh ere th e water was two feet d eep m aking sever al
trip s for th e p urp ose of sec uring th e rem ai nd er
O ur ordin ary cam p d uties were as foll o ws : R ev
e ill at 4 A M and B attalion drill for two h o urs
S urgeon s C all
F irst S ergeants C all
Breakfast C all
7
Guard M o unti ng
C om p any D ri l l Two H o urs
8
I PM D inn er C all
D ress P ar ade
6
8
Tatto o
T aps
O n selecti ng th ese h o urs exp o sure to th e m id
d ay sun was avoid ed wh i ch seem ed n ecessary until
th e com m and was th oro ugh ly seaso ned
I t h ad been a q uestio n am o ng th e o f cers w h e t h
er th e army regulation s and arti cles of war ad opted
by th e C onfederate S tates an d t aken i n subst an ce
from th e F ed eral C od es were n ot i nt ended for a
regul ar army and did n ot apply i n all th eir stri ctn ess
to us as volunteers W e subm itted th e qu estio n to
Gen S m ith w h o inform ed us th ey ap pli ed to vol u m
teer and regul ar wi th o ut disti ncti o n
W e t o ok
th em from th at tim e as a guid e ; th ey were r eferred
t o as auth ority and it was o ur ende avor t o co m ply
with th em i n letter and spirit
I n t actics we h ad alm ost everyth i ng t o l earn
Capt ain M artin Li euten ant S h affer and som e oth ers
h ad already served in V irgini a and th eir ex p eri en ce
,

C A M P H A LL

v al uabl e t o us C op ies of H a r d e e s t acti cs were

pro c ured at an early d ay and th e o f cers studi ed and
d rill ed C ol on el C age C apt ai n s S h affer and M arti n
wer e fam ili ar with batt ali on drill and ini ti ated th e
r egim ent
A fter wh il e I to ok it I n ch arge
I
studi ed a t rst a few sim pl e m oves to ok o ut th e
regim ent and p ut it th ro ugh so far as I h ad gone
I wo uld th en st udy a few m ore m oves add th es e
t o th e drill an d so o n learni ng th e lesson and teach
i ng it I n ever st udi ed with m ore assid uity A bo ut
th e tim e I w as co nceited en o ugh to co nsid er I co uld
h andl e t h e regi m ent as a t actici an I wo uld m ak e a
s ad bl under and so o n retire from th e eld with a
wo und ed and s ubd ued vanity
O n on e o ccasi on I
got th e regim ent so m ix ed and confused I h ad to
i n voke C apt ai n M artin s sup eri or skill to give sh ap e
to th e un seem ly m ob I h ad m ade
A bl under of
an o th er sort wh ich m any civili ans p ersist in com
m itti ng arises from faili ng to recogniz e th e a n t ip o
d al d isti n cti o n between civil and military rule and
t aking th e form er by w ay o f an alogy as a guid e in
t h e l atter
A bo ut th is tim e I comm itted an indi screti on of
th is kind i n m aking an appli cati on to General V an
D orn i n com m and o f th e D ep artm ent in wh ich I
expressed th e un anim o us desire of th e regim ent to
be rem o ved t o Lo uisi an a in order to defend th e
h om es o f its m em bers
I t was s uggested th eir
knowl edge o f th e co untry and th e p eople wo uld
en abl e it to d o go od service th ere and n ot allow a
few h undred of th e enemy as h ad been d one
t o o verrun th e fairest p orti on of th e S tate
Gen eral V an D orn endorsed on th e co mm u n ica
tio n : A p pli cation s s uch as th e withi n d o n ot com e
with i n th e limits o f m ilitary propriety Go od sol
di ers go wh ere th ey are ord ered and serve th e

was

22

TW E N TY SIX TH L OUISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

-

to
best
th eir ability
govern men t sees
I felt th ankful
wit h
gentle an ad monition and end e a vored afterw ard
wh atever I did to k eep with in th e lim its o f
,

C H A PT E R V
C A hI P

L A G AR D E

S ap/ 0 t
.

862

2 st h

ABO UT t h e

o f S eptem ber we struck o ur tents

fo r C am p Lagard e a p oint two miles in th e rear of
V i cksburg w h ere we p itch ed th em o n several irreg
ular sp urs o f gro und co vered with th e queenly
m agn oli a
A s th e h ealth o f th e regim ent h ad now im proved
a n d as th e weath er was becom ing co oler we took up
bo oks and dri ll e agerly in th e end eavor to reach a
h igh stand ard of discip li ne Th e sch o ol o f comp any
o f cers w as kept up and th ere were comp any and
batt ali o n drills d aily General S m ith also drilled th e
brigad e
O ur co m m issary stores at t hi s tim e th o ugh l acking
i n v ar iety were am pl e i n q uantity W e h ad corn
m eal fresh beef a sm all q uantity of p ork and bacon
rice m ol asses o ur for th e sick and sweet p otato es
abo und ed i n th e neigh borh ood B ut winter was
co mi ng o n ap ace and o ur Q uarterm aster s de part
m en t w a s sadly decient
R oger and R oi con
ti n n ed th eir tri p s fro m o u r h om es always bringing
so m e cl oth ing whi ch added m uch to o ur co mfort
Th e nigh t of O ctober 2 5t h and for two nigh ts s uc
V ery soo n
ce s s iv e l y it was cold eno ugh to form i ce
afterward th irty v e c ases o f p neum oni a were devel
op ed in cam p A m o ng it s victim s was I s t Lie u t e n
,

TW E N TY SIX TH L O UISI A NA I N F AN T R Y

24

nt E dward

B Crow o f C om p any E a broth er of

C aptai n C row a faith ful yo ung o f cer wh o se m o d est
d em eanor m arked intrinsi c wo rth and wh o i m pres s ed
all abo ut h im with th e m anly beauty o f h is ch aracter
Two h undred o f th e regim ent were at t h i s ti m e
with o ut sh o es ; by di nt of sendi ng o ut t o r em ote
pl aces wh ere we co uld pro cure a few p airs we gr ad
u a ll
W e now received s uits o f
y h ad th e m en sh od
Georgi a wo olen for th e regi m ent professedly m ad e
to order so m e o f wh i ch tted an d a great m any did
n ot I wore my suit o nce but it sh owed so m uch
wrist and ankle I t urned i t over t o Li e ut e n ant
Leonard S till th e regi ment s u ffered gre atly f or
want of bl ankets or a s ubstitute T o o bt ai n e n o ugh
for th e regim ent i n any way kn own t o th e army
regulatio ns was si mply impracticable C o nsid ering
th at C omp any I h ad s om e p erso n al cl aim up o n m e
an d was m ade up fro m th e so ns o f old friends and
neigh bors I reco nciled i t to my co nsci ence as n o t
d oing an inj ustice to th e oth er co m p ani es i f I were
to beg for th em ; so I asked C apt ai n T ucker t o let
m e h ave a few of t h e boys of th e com p any and I
started with th em to Vi cksburg d eterm i n ed to beg
from d o or to d o or for wh atever m igh t s uit o ur p ur
p o se
A t th e rst h o use we stop ped I e n u ir e d
for th e lady of th e h o use ; wh en sh e ap p e ared I m en
t io n e d to h er th e co m p any was n early d estit ute of
bl ankets and th at if sh e h ad anyth i ng wh atever t h at
wo uld serve th e p urp ose th at s h e co uld sp are we
wo uld be gl ad to h ave it I n a m o m e n t sh e p r o
d u ce d several p ieces o f r ag carp eti ng wh i ch sh e
said we were welcom e t o and wh i ch th e p o or boys
eagerly folded and p acked o ff an d all o f u s rej o iced
th at o ur m aid en e ffort at a n ovel m o de o f acq ui si
ti on h ad been crowned with s uccess W e t h en
went to th e next dwelling o n th e stre e t we were
a

C A M P L A G AR D E

can v assi ng and th e n ext wit h s trict im p arti ality

V ery so on a n egro w o m an cam e toward s us l ad en
with q uilts th at evid ently h ad seen service and ten
d ered th em to us S h e h ad sim ply h eard of o u r
w ants and with o ut solicit atio n h ad t aken th ese p er
h ap s fro m h er own bed and in th at ch ari ty th at
h aply bel o ngs to n o creed and n o r ace gave th em to
us A lady w e called up o n h ad a p arlor carp et d i s
gured by a h uge oil sp ot from an overturned lam p
wh ich sh e gave to us A n oth er we called up o n said
sh e h ad noth ing th at wo uld an swer t h e p urp ose but
th at sh e h ad som e so cks th e pro d uct of h er own
h o useh old wh i ch sh e co uld o ffer to us a nd wh ich I
accep ted well kn owi ng willing feet wo uld be found
for th em By th e way th is l ady saw m e afterward
co m m anding th e regim ent at d ress p arad e w h e n I
h ad been pr om oted to th e col o nelcy and told m e
sh e h ad rem arked th at any o f cer wh o wo uld go
abo ut beggi ng for hi s regim ent de served to com
m and it and s h e seem ed gratied to see m e at its
h e ad
I con ti n ued th ese be ggi n g exp editio n s som e th ree
or f o ur d ays starting early and givi ng th e entire d ay
to it an d wh en every m an o f C aptai n Tucker s com
p any w as sup plied I k e p t th em u p for th e benet
o f C aptai n L a g a r d e s co mp any which was also lled
with son s o f old fri ends and neigh bors
A m orni ng rep ort before m e for thr ee d ays end
in g O ct 3d sh ows :
I n arr est
N on e
Total si ck
45
A ggregate strength o f th e regim ent 7 7 3
T h e aggregate strength of e ach co mp any at th i s
ti m e w as as follows :
C o m p any A C aptain M o uto n
10 7
B
B a tem an
71
,

26

T W E N T Y ~ SI X T H

L O U ISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

M arti n
C row

M etoy e r
I

Tucker

C H A PT E R

V I

C A M P C RO W
D ec

1l

L A T E i n th e fall we m o ved to C am p Crow a

sp ot n e ar th e V icksburg C em etery ; th e 1 7 th Lo uis
i an a I nfantry com m anded by C olo nel R obert R ich ard
so n being en cam p ed n ear
W e m ade o urselves
q uite com fo rtabl e by o oring th e tents with bo ard s
and b uildi ng ch im neys so as to allow re w
ith i n
T h e regim ent w a s com p o sed alm ost entirely of
C reoles by th at term I m ean natives o f Lo ui si an a
o f F r e nch d escent
Th e comp anies of C apt ai ns
B atem an and M etoyer were abo ut on e h alf o nly o f
th at el em e nt th e rem ai nder bei ng m ai nly of A m eri
c an d escent ; and th ere were p ortions o f A m erican
d escent i n all th e com p anies Th ere were som e
I ri sh m en and very few Germ an s i n th e regim ent
Th e o f cers were abo ut equally divided o n e h alf
Creoles th e rem ainder o f A m erican p arentage
Th e Creoles were bro ugh t up in th e R om an C a t h o
li c faith S ubordin ati o n to th e p owers th at be
was t h e e arliest lesso n o f th eir ch ild h o od ; h en ce
th ey were e asily go verned Th eir d uty m ade known
to th em p erform an ce followed W h enever in co m
m an d I used to m ake it known I obeyed orders
with o ut q uesti o n and exp ected obedience i n turn
from all i n my ch arge Wh ile a call for vol unteers
for sp eci al servi ce w as resp ond ed to o f cers and
,

28

TW E N TY SIX TH L O U I S I A N A I N F AN T R Y
-

m en preferred a regul ar detail for th e p urp o se T h er e

w a s n ot any of th e loo seness o f di sciplin e co m m o n
am ong vol unteer tro ops I nd eed m en as well as
O fficers seem ed to grasp re adily th e central id e a o f
subordin ation th e so ul o f mili tary li fe and s ub
m itt e d to it ch eerfully as a simple d uty
I t i s m atter of profo und prid e to Sp eak o f th e
o fcers collectively as being all th at co uld be d e
sired Th e sim ple n am e o f A lex andre D e Cl o uet
as Colo n el gave to ne to th e regim ent O f F r en ch
d escent of h igh bred ancestry o ne co uld r eadily be
lieve h e descended from th ose h eroes of th e m oth er
l and wh ose blo ody bl ades were n ever sh eath ed s av e
in h onor and wh ose knigh tly prowess illum i n ated th e
p ages o f th eir co untry s h istory and were th e b ur
th en of song and story D ignity co urtesy and co ur
age were th e tri um virs th at r uled h is every t h o ugh t
and prop ortio ned h is every act H e d ared d o all
thi ngs save to d o a wro ng
C olo nel C age was th e very typ e o f th e so uth ern
gentlem an
H i s quiet and ap pro ach able m an n er
and gracio us sp eech co uld o nly p arti ally co n ce al a
chivalric n ature endowed with a lo fty dev oti o n t o
prin ciple with a keen sense to p erceive and an e n
e r e t ic will to execute wh at h e beli eved to be ri gh t
g
Th e i nstinct of m ilitary life w as stro ng i n h i m and
it w a s a m is fo r t u n e to th e c ause th at h e w as n ot
able thro ugh ill h ealth as C ol D e Clo uet fr om a d
v a n cin g years to und ergo th e privati on s o f cam p an d
eld
A dj utant Pil sbu ry was an agr ee abl e faith ful and
e f cient o f cer W e sh o uld h ave missed h i s go o d
services m ore if we h ad n ot been fo rt u n ate e no ugh
to secure M r E island for th e unin teresti ng but n ec
essary d etails of th is D ep artm ent
O f th e comp any o fce r s it wo uld se em an u n g r a c
.

C Ro w

CAM P

29

io n s

t ask to si ngle o ut any th ere were s o m any th at

were ex cellent th at gave so m uch o f a beco m ing
Spirit to th e entire co m m and th at t h e less q uali ed
and th ere wer e few o f th ese were pricked on to
em ul ate if n ot to excel
W ith all th is I feel th ere
was n o t an o f cer o f th e r egim ent t h at wo uld n ot
h eartily j oi n m e i n any co m m en d ati o n I migh t
utter o f M aj or M arti n H i s m ind was of th at p e cu
li ar t urn th at int uitively grasp ed all milit ary e v o l u
ti o n s I n a co n i ct h e was as m uch at h ome as if
i n h i s tent knitting so cks a dom estic labor with
w hi ch h e wh il ed away sp are m o m ents of cam p life
O n o cc asi on s wh en it becam e necessary to select h e
w as on e wh o wo uld be i n m ind and up on wh om
co m m an d w o uld n at urally devol ve and h e h ad th e
und o ubted m ark of m erit in h is simpl e ways his
gentl e beari ng h i s m ild speech and a m od est nature
H e w as a bor n soldi er an d wo uld h ave adorn ed a
m uch h igh er p ositi on th an h e lled at hi s untim ely
d eath i n th e tren ch es of V icksburg
Li e uten ant Co lo n el C r ow w as as gallant a soul
as ever blo o d w arm ed
I wo uld h ave given him
ch arge of any desp er ate undertaki ng i n implici t
faith h e wo uld d o all t h at co uld be do n e to achieve
it
A dj ut ant B is l a n d was well ad apted to h is p osi
tio n correct m eth odi cal p ain st aki ng h e perform ed
d uti es with o ut a m urm ur of dissatisfact io n from any
q uarter C aptai n N e di d th e very best with th e
slender and in adeq uate reso urces of h is dep artm ent
H i s o f ce w as a t h a n k l es s on e and was often ex
to
furni
sh
sup
t
e d d o ubtless wit h o ut th o ugh t
e
c
p
plies an d p erform services wh olly beyo nd it s limited
m e an s
C apt ain M o ss as com mi ssary w as p rompt active
and en terp risi ng H e got th e best h e co uld o n h is
,

TW E N TY SI XT H L O U I SI A N A I NFA N T R Y

3O

requisiti ons and furnish ed th e regim ent as r egul arly

and bo untifully as h i s usually lean l arder aff orded
S urgeon H all s forte was to im provis e and s u bs t i
t ute and m ake th e m ost o f th e sle nd er r es o ur ce s o f
th e H ospital D ep artm ent H e was an ad ep t at o r
a n iz in vi il ant and p ain staking
Th e si c k an d
g
g
g
wo unded were as well cared for as it w as pr acti cabl e
under th e circum stan ces
I t m ay not be amiss to s ay h ere I w atch ed th i s
dep artment sed ulo usly
I m ad e co nst ant vi sits t o
th e sick and wo u nded i n th e regim ental h o spital or
wh erever th ey were and k nowin g h ow carel ess n urses
gen erally are i n such ti m es I visited t h e sligh test
neglect and in attenti o n o n th eir h e ad s i nd eed wo uld
n ot feel sati sed o f any V isit if I did n ot nd so m e
th i ng o ut o f th e way wh erewith t o ch arge th em
I th ink t h ey feared m e with a wh oles om e fe ar
I t m ay well be im agin ed th at w ith s uch an ef ci
ent and faith ful body o f O f cers th e comm and er of
th e regim ent h ad all h e co uld d o to m ai nt ai n h is
p osition i n keepi ng with th e Spirit and discipli n e ih
fused i nto th e com m and by s uch an arr ay
T h e n on com mission ed o f cers on wh o m s o m u ch
dep ends for th e disciplin e i n camp wh ich i s n e ce s
sary to e ffectiveness on th e eld were i n h arm o ny
with th e rem ai nder of th e regim ent and gave a full
sh are to m aintaining its good n am e ; th e rst ser
e ant s
p articul arly were th oro ugh p aced s oldiers
g
any on e of wh om was worthy o f th e strip e o f a
lie uten ant Q uarterm aster S ergeant Th o m as S B i s
l a n d was esp ecially e f cient in h is o f ce and alth o ugh
it was not of as imp osing a ch aracter as m any o th ers
h e w as n ot beh i nd any com missio ned o f cer i n ex e
euting with z eal and delity th e d uti es assigned to h im
C hi ef M usici an Th eod ore C M i nvi ell e d eserves
th e co mm end atio n of th e regim ent for t h e skill and
,

C A M P C RO W

31

p ati en ce wi th wh ic h h e taugh t and practiced th e

band wh i ch gave s o m uch l ife to th e co mm and and
set it s fair fam e to m usic
S urgeo n H a ll secured th e services of M i nvi elle
and two m usici ans M invi ell e t h en selected certai n
m en o ut o f th e r egim ent o f wh om I m ad e a detail
Th e n ecess a ry i n str um ents were pro cured after dili
gent Search for th ey were rare M i nvi elle and h is
n e op hyt es began practice at o nce and i n a few
w eeks th e band was abl e to pl ay a few tunes credit
ably H e l abor ed i n cessantly I n a sh ort tim e th e
rep ertoire o f th e band h ad su f cient v ari ety an d i t
w as i n d em an d o n any gala d ay ; i ndeed i t wo uld h ave
been worthy of any regim ent and was a so urce of
m uch recreati o n t o us
I t m ust n ot be supp osed th at i n o ur military family
o f m any h undr ed m en we did n ot h ave o ur d om estic
tro ubles S elf w as n ot en tirely forgotten I nterests
som etim es cl ash ed Th e acts of r anki ng o f cers in
v it e d co m m
ent and m ay h ave m erited cen sure ; but
th ese family j ars s unk into th e insig n ica n ce i n wh ich
th ey h ad birth i n a co n i ct with th e enemy O n
t h at grand o ccasio n th e regi m ent was on e and in
divisible A s twinkli n g stars fade wh en th e D ay
Go d app ro ach es so p etty disagreem ents di sapp eared
i n th e glory th at sh o n e aro und o ur ag wh en planted
d e antly i n th e face o f th e i n vad er
I t m ay n ot be amiss t o m enti on h ere i n a general
w ay th e extent and ch ar acter o f th e supplies fur
h i sh ed th e regim ent wh il e i n servi ce
W h il e at C am p M o ore j ust after th e retreat fro m
N ew O rle an s we o btain ed o n requisiti on wh atever
w as n ecess ary to com plete o ur arm s and acco utre
m ents
M o st o f th e co mp anies were arm ed with
th e E n e l d r i'
e a go od m uzzle l o ader o f th at t im e
T wo co m p a n i e s h a d B elgi an ri e s wh i ch were s u b
,

TW E N TY SIX T H L O UISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

sequently ch anged for th e E n el d p attern W e h ad

su fci ent amm unition but no n e to Sp are
D uring over th ree years of servi ce we received i f
I rem ember righ tly only two suits of cloth es to th e
m an th ro ugh th e Q uarterm aster s D ep artm ent
Th e suits consisted of a j acket an d p ant al o on s ;
wh atever we h ad besides was received fro m o ur
friends or obtai ned by o ur own e fforts from pri vate
so urces by gift or p urch ase A s to sh o es h ats and
Sh irts we h ad to take care of o ursel ves B la nkets
or any s ubstit ute were o ut of th e q uest i o n sav e
wh at we migh t pro cure individ ually fr o m p atrio ti c
ci tiz en s
Th is n orm al co nditi o n o f th e Q uarterm aster s D e
p a r t m e n t was o ccasi on ally diversi ed by th e p atien t
ind ustry of C aptai n N ee wh o wo uld gath er fro m
one so urce or an oth er o n e h ardly reali z es h ow a
few Sh o es or bo ots or h ats or a sm all lo t of clo th
ing by wh ich h e was able to provid e n ot for all th e
needy but for som e o f th e worst cases o f d e s t it u
tion
A S th e m en exh austed th e o ccasio n al and p arti al
stores of th e Q uart erm aster s D ep artm ent and as
th e blo ck ade of all so uth ern p orts soo n depleted all
so urces of private supply i t required e ffort o n th e
part of th e o f cers to present an app ear an ce s uit abl e
to th eir rank ; and it i s to th e credi t o f o f cers and
m en th at o n all o ccasi ons of cerem o ny th eir dress
w a s tidy and becoming
I n th e com missary dep artm ent we were so o n r e
d u ce d to elem ental principles
Pri or t o th e seige
of Vicksburg and it never im pro ved we h ad c orn
meal fresh beef baco n as a substit ute for l ard s alt
and so ap Th e o fcers h ad n oth i ng m ore and i t r e
quired all th e en ergy of C aptain M o s s to r egul arly
provide eve n th es e for us
Th e cor n m eal w as
.

C A M P C R OW

33

o ften m ad e i nto bre ad for three d ays r ati o ns wh en

we were i n th e eld Corn bre ad th re e d ays old was
n ot p al at able even to h ungry m en but it sti ed h un
ger E arly i n 1 86 3 th e cattle from wh ich we h ad
beef were so i m p overish ed m any di ed every d ay fro m
Sh eer h unger an d th e quot a of beef fur nish ed th e
regim ent from th ese famish ed cattl e was rep ulsiv e in
its bl uen ess F or week s q uarters of it were d aily
l aid on th e bench i n fro nt of th e com missary tent
for any on e to t ake as m uch as w anted
F ew av ail
ed t h em selves o f th e o p p ortunity som e of th e m ore
h ungry vent ured to ap p ease a gn awing sto m ach with
th e best p orti o ns I com plain ed at B rigade H ead
q uart ers but was i nform ed no oth er m eat co uld be
pr ovid ed at th e tim e and so th e boys bore th e p angs
of h unger with o ut discontent and with m anly h earts
A fter we left N ew O rleans in A pril 1 86 2 we
n ever h ad a r ati o n of co ffee or tea W e rarely h ad
en o ugh spirits for h o spital p urp oses R ank and le
were tem p erate to excess O f cers with s up erior
faciliti es n ow and th en secured a bottl e I t i s pre
s um ed i t w as used m edi cin ally
T h e H o sp ital D ep artm ent w as in keeping with
th e oth er d ep artm ent s of supply D r H all h ow
ever was adept in using to advantage wh atever was
with i n h i s re ach and i n substituting one drug by th e
n ext best i n h is m edicin e ch est U sually we h ad
wh e at o ur for th e sick an d convalescent but willow
bark freq uen tly to ok th e pl ace of qui ni n e
S om e tim e in th e fall of 1 86 2 General M artin L
S m ith was pro m oted to th e rank o f M aj or General
and B rigadier Gen eral S tep h en D Lee of S o uth
C aroli n a a grad uate o f W est Point assum ed com
m and of th e brigad e which abo ut D ec 4 t h was
reorganiz ed and com p o sed of th e followin g com
m ands :
,

TW E N TY SI X T H L O U ISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

34

Li euten ant D rew s B attery o f Ligh t A rtillery

u
C aptai n B owm an s
C
olo
n
el
Layt
o
n
t
h
R
egt
M
iss
I
nfantry
4
a s t e r by
E
Li
euten
an
t
C
ol
6
t
h
4
La
Colo nel R i ch ard so n
1 7 th
C olo n el C age
2 6th
Col o n el M ark s
2 7th
C olo nel A llen T h o m as
2 8t h
C ol o n el M orri so n
3I S C
W hile at th i s camp General J o sep h E J oh n sto n
cam e to V icksburg and a d ay was set o n wh i c h h e
wo uld revi ew th e tro op s I was an xi o us and m ad e
every e ff ort to give a ne app earance as to strength
o f comm and as well as discipline
W h en th e regi
ment was drawn up i n line ready for th e revi ew I
n oticed a squad of twenty or m ore o f o ur m en p os
i ng as an audience i nstead of being actors
D o ubt
less th ey were con valescents and m en o ff d uty wh o
to ok advantage of th eir exem pti o n to keep o ut o f
th e ranks C o nsid ering t h ey co uld h ave swelled o ur
n umbers i f th ey h ad wish ed to do so and t h at t h ey
sh o uld h ave waived th eir exemp tio n for th e credit of
t h e regiment it o ccu r e d to m e to teach th em a l es
son I went quietly up to S ergeant S tan sbury o f
C om pany B an d told h im to take six m en and s u r
ro und and h old th e idle squad Q ui ck as th o ugh t
S tansbury h ad h i s m en o u t and th e sq uad h eld as
pri son ers
Th ey attemp ted to break t h ro ugh h is
li nes h e told th em h e was ord ered to k eep th em
wh ere th ey were I th en went up and o rd ered S tans
bury to m arch th em up and d own i n fro nt o f th e
brigad e Wh en h e h ad d on e s o I went to th em and
s a id th ey were th e sort o f m en th at Sh irked d uty o n
th e eld of battle and th ey co uld n ow go t o th eir
q uarters Th e squad was afterw ard kn own i n cam p

as C o m p any Q

O n N o vem ber
l ie v e d fro m d uty
ce p t e d

A M P C RO W

C ol on el D e C lo uet was
resign ati o n h avi n g been

rot h

his

35

re
ac

Th e v ac an cy w as ll ed by th e p ro m oti on o f Li eut
e n a n t C ol o nel C age to
th e C ol o nelcy I was p ro
m oted t o th e r ank o f Li euten ant C olo n el an d C ap
t ai n Lagard e th e seni or C apt ain h avi ng d ecli n ed
p ro m otio n C aptai n Crow n ext i n rank was pro
m oted to th e o f ce o f M aj or
O n D ecem ber 1 8 S urgeo n Lashbro ok tendered h i s
resign ati o n wh ich was accepted ; wh ile h is resign a
ti o n was p ending D r A lfred H all acted as surgeon
h aving alre ady been assist ant s urgeo n and h e w a s
app oint ed to t he o f ce o f s urgeo n o n th e accep tance
o f D r L a shbr oo k s resign ati o n
A dj utant Pil s bu ry h aving resigned , M r J oh n R
E isl an d w as app oin ted to th e v a cancy
O th er ch anges i n th e o f ces o f th e regim ent ar e
n o ted i n th e ap p en di x
.

V II

C H A PT E R

C H I C KA S A W B A Y O U
D e ce m be r

862

A s intro ductory t o th e p art taken by th e regim en t

i n th e battle of Ch ickasaw B ayo u it m ay be well to

stat e th at l ate i n th e fall o f th e year 1 86 2 th e en emy
pl anned cert ain movem ents o f th e A rmy of t h e D e
co o perating with th e
a r t m e n t o f th e Ten nessee
p
gun bo at eet under co mm and o f F l ag ofce r Porter
h aving for an ultim ate obj ect th e cap t ure o f V i cks
burg and op ening o f th e M ississip pi R iver
I n a letter of instructi on s fro m Gen eral Gr ant to
Gen eral S h erm an dated at O x ford M i s s D e c 8
*
th e latter was ordered t o take certai n tro o p s
I 86 2
from M emp h is and H elen a A rk m o ve d own th e
river and with th e co op eration o f th e gun bo at
eet proceed to th e reductio n of Vi cksburg
Th e i n structi o ns stated th a t tran sp ort a tio n for
m en wo uld be ord ered and any d eci ency
w a s to be sup plied from th e p ort o f M em p h i s
O n D ec 1 4 Gen eral Grant i n a n ote t o Gen eral
S h erm an rel a tive to th is exp editio n st ates :

Th e
m en yo u h ave with th e
fro m
H elena will m ake a good
S
She m a n s Me m o i s Vol I p 2 83
e o s V ol I p 83
{ Sh m an s M m i
,

ee

er

C H I C KA S A W B A Y O U

37

I n h is M em oirs Gener al S h erm a n writes

Th e prep arati o n s were n ecess arily h asty i n th e

extrem e but th is w a s th e ess en ce o f th e wh ol e pl an
,

viz : t o re ach V icksburg as it w ere by surprise wh il e

Gen eral Gr ant h eld in ch eck Pem berton s A r my
abo ut Gren ad a l eaving m e to co ntend o nly with th e
sm aller garriso n at V icksburg and its well kn own
stro n g batteri es and defen ces
O n th e r ot h th e M em ph i s tro op s were embarked
and ste am ed d own to H elena wh ere o n t h e z I s t
G en eral S teel e s D ivision w a s also embarked and o n
th e 2 2 d we were all rend ez vo used at F r ia r s
T h e ex p editio n co nsisted of fo ur divisi ons com
prising fo rty th ree regim ents of in fantry ; Th e
F irst I ow a A rtillery ; eight add itio n al batteries ;
T h ie l m a n s C avalry with so m e fr actio n al comm and a r
K entucky furni sh ed th ree o f th e
regi ments ;
O hio te n ; I ndi an a eight ; I lli n ois six ; I ow a
six ; W is co nsin o ne ; and M isso uri ni n e :
F ifty seven tran sp orts w er e req uired t o m o ve th e
formid abl e body and it really seem ed as i f th e
sm aller garrison at V icksburg m entioned by Gen
eral S h erm an was h ardly a m o uth ful for th e m o nster
T o m eet th i s i m p osin g array we h ad th e 1 7 th
th e 4 2 d Georgi a th e 4 t h
2 6 t h 2 8t h and 3I st La
and 4 ot h M is s and p arts o f th e 3r d I 8th and 3o t h
T en n essee th ese p arts n ot am o unting to an average
regim ent i n all abo ut th ree th o usand m en and ten
eld pi eces
Th irty th ree th o u sand m en were pi tted agai nst
th re e t h o u s a n d l
I t seemed as i f th e odd s were
agai nst us
"S h m n s Mem oi s V ol I p 85
f S h m n Me m oi s Vol I p 86
,

er

er

no te I a ppend ix for o th d t ils

Th is s t te m en t is fr om a le tt e of L ieu ten a n t Gene a l S
wr iter
1

See

er

th e

e a

Lee

to

38

TW E N TY SI X TH L O U ISI ANA I N F A N TR Y
-

I n compli an ce with ord ers fro m M aj or Gen eral

M L S m ith i n comm and at Vi cksburg Gen eral 5
.

D L e e to ok ch arge of th e d efen ce o f th e wat er

front from th at c ity to S nyder s M ill s o n th e
The
Y azo o wh ere we h ad extensive forticati o n s
distan ce fro m Vicksburg to S nyd er s M ill s w as
about ten mi les Thi s water front h ad a swam p i n
its rear wh i ch it w as n ecessary t o traverse i n o rd er
to reach th e high gro und on wh i ch was th e ro ad lead
i ng t o V i cksburg Th ere were only ve p oi nts at
wh ich th e en emy co uld cross th is swam p save by
p ontoo ns O ne of th ese poin ts was Ch ick asaw B ayo u
wh ere th ere was a go od ro ad run ning alo ng th e
B ay o u from th e Y az o o and it was selected by S h
m an for h is m ai n attack I t bei ng h is i ntenti o n t o
mov e on th is ro ad acro ss th e l ow gro und and attack
o ur p osition which was n ear two m iles from t h e
Y az oo and covered th e ro ad l eading to V i cksburg
j ust referred to as far as we were able to protect
it
Th is p ositio n sel ected by Gen eral Lee alth o ugh
th e best t h e lo cality a fford ed to in tercep t th e m o ve
m ent of S herm an h ad no p articul ar advan tage n at
t u r a l ly or by artici al work s
A p orti o n o f th e li n e
h eld rie p its s uch as m igh t be th rown up i n a
n igh t i nd eed a p art o f th e lin e h eld by th e 2 6 t h h ad
n o pits until th ey h ad been m ad e by u si ng swo rd
bayonets bei ng th e o nly i m plem ent at h an d S o m e
p its i n ad van ce of th e m ain li ne wh i ch were h el d
by th e 2 6 t h for th e two d ays prior to th e m ain battl e
were un s killfully constructed and were co m m and ed
by an e n l a d in g re of th e en emy und er wh i ch w e
su ff ered serio usly
With t his o utlin e of th e surro undi ngs I will n o w
con n e myself m ore strictly to th e p art t aken by th e
regim ent i n th e battle o f Chi ck asaw B ayo u
.

'

C H I C KA S A W B A Y O U

39

O n D ecem ber 2 4 t h 1 86 2 ord ers cam e from Gen

er al S D Lee t o m o ve t h e regim ent at o nce to a
p oi nt near C h ickasaw B ayo u a few miles fro m
V i cksburg i n V ie w o f an anti ci p ated attack in th at
V icinity fro m t h e enemy at Y az o o R iver
W e h ad
been s ubj ect ed to th e enemy s sh elling for som e tim e
w h ile o n d uty i n V icksburg with o ut co rresp ondi ng
ad vant age ; it n ow app eared we wo uld soo n be in a
p o siti o n t o give as well as take
W e h ad up
to thi s ti m e co mp any and regim ental and brig
ade drill s steadily to th e very co nnes o f di s
gust W h en t he regim ent w a s dr awn up I r ocol
l e ct e d h ow p ati en tly it h ad borne th e disci pli ne of
t h e drill and h ow weary th e m en were o f any m o ve
m ent l aid d own by H ardee an d th at n ow we were
t o test th e val ue o f th is discipli ne ; so I gave an

ord er not i n H ard ee

T o m eet th e enemy righ t
face forward m arch
With a step and a sh o ut th e regiment re spo nded
O n reachi ng th e pl ace d esign ated we fo und a l
re ady th ere th ree com p anies of th e 4 6 t h M is s and
C aptain W o o r d s battery of fo ur eld pieces Being
r anking o f cer I assum ed comm and
My orders
were t o ann oy th e gun bo ats rep el any attem pt at
l anding and di sp ute th e enemy s advance i nl and
C ap tain B atem an was ordered to take his com p any
and C ap tai n W inder s to th e Y az o o t wo miles away
and an n oy any g u n bo ats h e wo uld nd th ere
He
r e m ai n ed o n th e river ba n k i n th is service until
d ark wh en h e left C ap tai n Wind er th ere with a
stro ng pi cket and bivo uaced in th e rear Th e r e
m a in d e r of th e regim ent Sl ept o n th eir arm s o n a
site after w ard o ccup ied by th e enemy and called by
it F ort M organ
N ext m orning ( D ec 2 5t h ) alth o ugh h eavily
sh elled C ap t a in B atem an co nti n ued to ann oy th e
,

TW E N TY SIX TH L O U ISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

4O

enemy until relieved abo ut n o o n by C aptai n C I O W

with h is com p any and th e comp anies o f C apt ain s
M etoyer and Tucker and C apt ai n S ublett e of th e
F i ve gun bo ats only fo ur h undred y ard s
4 6 t h M iss
away furio usly sh ell ed C aptai n Crow s co m m and
whi ch rem ai ned i n th e p ositi on ann oying th e en emy
all in i ts p ower until nigh t wh en C aptai n M e t o ye r s
and Captain S ublette s Com p anies were pi cket ed for
th e nigh t on th e river bank
N ex t m orni ng ( D ec
2 6th
th
e
co
mm
and
returned
to
th
e
regim
ent
)
O n D ec 2 5t h C aptain M o uto n s co mp any w a s d e
t a ch e d for service at th e I ndi an m o und and j oi ned
th e regim ent th e n ext d ay or th e d ay after
C ap
tai n Gui on was also sen t o ut with h is co m p any t o
t ake a p ositio n o n th e ri ver below M r s Lake s
h o use i n sup p ort of a sectio n of W off o r d s battery
and to an n oy th e gun bo ats T h e battery did n o t
engage but C aptai n Guio n ann oyed th e gun bo ats
for several h ours and until relieved by C ap tai n
S h a ffer s com p any
Th e m ain bo dy of th e co m m and biv o u aced th at
nigh t near F ort M organ with i n two m il e s of th e
river S o m e of th e o f cers h ad m ade an egg nog ;
we h ad taken a gl ass i n m em ory o f th e old ti m e fe s
t iv itie s o f th e season and felt gay and ch atty wh en
abo ut 8 P M a sco ut r ode i n and rep orted C ap t ai n
S h aff er s picket h ad a sh arp Skirm i sh with a sm all
body of th e enemy and were com p elled to fall back
Th ere was a ro ad leading fro m o ur bivo uac t o th e
m o uth o f C h i ckasaw B ayo u wh ere C ap tai n S h affer
h ad been placed I ord ered C aptain W o fford to
t ake a sectio n of hi s battery and m ove o n th is ro ad
toward th e river i n sup p ort o f C aptai n S h affer ;
C apt ain M artin was ord ered to t ake h is co m p any
forward for th e sam e p urp o se an d C ap tai n B is l a n d
was ord ered to mo ve with in sup p orting distan ce o f
.

'

C H I C KA S A W B A Y O U

41

th e com m and in fro nt C ap tain M arti n bein g i n

com m and cautio usly extended h is picket lin e to a
p oint near its form er p ositi on o n th e bank of th e
river with o ut bei ng furth er i nterfered with d uring
th e nigh t
.

M OV E M E N TS O N F RI DAY

DEC

26

A t d ayli gh t C aptai n M artin with ten m en m ade

reco n n oissan ce and establish ed a p icket with i n three

or fo ur h undred yards of th e enemy s bo ats ; som e of
th e enemy being o n land but withi n pistol Sh ot o f
th e bo ats A bo ut 4 P M C apt ai n M artin ordered
Lieuten an t Leon ard to take twenty m en and drive
a w ay a transp ort and at t h e sam e tim e sent Lie u t e n
ant H im el to take ch arge o f th e adv ance pickets
B efore Li euten ant Leo n ard re ach ed t h e river bank
th e advan ce pi ckets disco vered two regi m ents o f
i nfantry a batt ery and a co m p any o f cavalry a p
Lie uten ant Leo n ard returned and th e
p r o a ch in g
p ickets were with drawn C apt ai n Crow now cam e
up with h is co mp any and ass u m ed c o mm and Two
d et ails o f skirm ish ers were ordered to th e fro nt on e
und er Li eutenan t R i u and o n e und er S ergeant
R i ch ard wh ich were so o n dri ve n i n and re op ened
up o n C aptai n C row s co m m and wh ich it returned
and kept up as it fell back i n go od order for abo ut
h alf a m il e fwh e r e it re ach ed t h e regim ent d eployed
as skirm i sh ers i n an old eld near M rs Lake s dwell
i ng Th e regim ent wh ile so d eployed was sh elled
by th e en emy until d ark wh en th e 1 7 th La to ok
its pl ace and it ret ur ned and bivo uacked near F ort
M organ
O n th e s am e d ay C aptain Gui o n h ad been sen t
o ut to reli eve C aptai n M e t oye r s C omp any which
h ad been p o sted on B lak e s levee above th e m o uth
C a p tain Guio n p o sted t h e
of Ch i ckas aw B ayo u

TW E N TY SI X T H L O U ISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

42

m ain body of h i s com p any abo ut a m il e fro m th e

Y azo o sent o ut a picket of twelve m en und er Li e u
ten ant Legendre and bivo uacked n ear th e l evee
,

M O V E M E N T S O N S A T U RD A Y

D EC

C aptain Guion sent a detail u nder Lie uten an t

Ch am p agne to relieve Lieuten ant Legendre
Li e u
tenant C h amp agn e so on rep orted a re g im e n t o f in
fa n t r y and sever al comp anies of cavalry h a d l and
ed
C aptai n Guion sent o ut sco uts wh o st at ed
enemy were advan cing H e m oved hi s co mp any
to th e rear for a better p ositi on
A bo dy o f di s
m ounted cavalry op en ed re up o n h is co m m and
whi ch was vigoro usly returned and m ai ntai n ed as
h e retreated until sh eltered by o ur artill ery wh en
h e picketed h alf h is com p any and biv o a u ck e d
Th e regim ent early i n th e m orni ng was p o sted i n
ri e pits abo ut v e h undred yards i n advance o f o ur
m ai n line as ap p ears by th e acco mp anying sketch
Th e 1 7 th La under C olon el R i ch ardson h ad biv
and were so on engaged i n a
o u a ck e d i n fro nt of us
h o t Skirmish with th e en emy I sent o ut C apt ai n
B atem an with h is and C aptain S h affer s C o m p an ies
to d eploy i n a piece of woods to o ur righ t an d Skir
mish with th e left ank of th e en emy B atem an s
detach m ent was met by Colo nel Wit h ers th e n r ank
ing o f cer o n th e front w h o v aried my ord er and
directed B atem an to proceed at a do uble q ui ck and
ank th e en emy B atem an so o n fo und h im s elf co n
fro nted by artillery and th ree regim ents o f i nfantry
S h ot and sh ell and vollies of m usketry s o o n co m
A prison er h owever r ep orted
p e l l e d h i m t o retire
th is detach m ent before retiring killed s ix and wo u nd
ed two of th e enemy
W hile th is Skirmishing w a s going on th e regim ent
in th e pit s wa s co n tin uo u s ly a n d h eavily Sh e lled
.

C H I C K A SA W B A Y OU

T h e 1 7 th L a were relieved d uring th e d ay by th e

2 8t h La
under C o lo nel A llen T h om as wh ose com
m and skirm ish ed with th e en emy until nigh t wh en
th ey slept o n th e gro und th ey h ad fo ugh t o ver
,

M O V E M E N T S ON S U N D A Y

DEC

28

T h e enemy o p en ed re up o n C ap tain Guion at

Bl ake s levee th is m orni ng with artillery and sm all
arm s
H e w as rei nforced by a com pany from th e
4 6 t h M i s s and subseq uently relieved by a com p any
fro m th e sam e regim ent wh en h e j oi ned us i n th e
ri e p its
B ri sk Skirmi sh ing began early o n th e lin e of th e
2 8t h
C a ptai n M artin was ord ered to t ake h is com
p any and C aptain M e t oye r s and protect Col on el
T h om as righ t ank C olon el T h om as being h eavily
p ressed w as fo rced to retire th ro ugh o ur regim ent al
li n e and C aptai n M ar t in bro ugh t i n his d etach m ent
und er h e avy re
T h ere was now n othi ng between th e en emy and
th e 2 6 t h and o n th ey cam e I p assed near each
com p any and spoke to each a few word s of ch eer
Th e sh elling was kep t up and th e mi nni e balls so on
began to wh i stl e abo ut us but as th e rin g was
und er c over of wo ods wh i ch cam e with in two h un
dred yard s o f o ur pits we co uld h ave o nly occasi on al
gli m p ses of a m o vi ng body th erefore red sp aringly
Th e en emy well under cov er o f th e wo ods m ain
t a in e d th eir sh elling and m usketry re d uring th e
d ay
Th ere was a wago n ro ad fro m th e Y az oo
r un ni ng u p to and thro ugh o ur p its Th e enemy
r an up a battery on th is ro ad to withi n abo ut fo ur
h u ndred yard s o f o ur li ne and i n plai n V i ew ; abo ut
t h e tim e th e guns were u nlim bered we p epp ered
th em s o h otly th ey retired h astily with o ut favori ng
us with a si ngle sh ot E arly i n th e aftern oo n we

'

TW E N TY SI X TH L O UISI ANA I N F A N T R Y

44

n oted a m ovem ent in th e woods o n o ur righ t it

seem ed to be a body of m en and we op en ed on th em
S oo n som e o ne cried o ut th ey are o ur own m en
Firing ceased with o ut an ord er I th e n h ad to d e
termin e wh eth er it was friend or fo e A fter a m o
m ent of awful susp ense I d ecid ed I h ardly kn o w
h ow th at it was a h ostile lin e and ordered th e ring
kept up ; all signs of th em so on disap peared W e
learned afterward s it was two regim ents in l in e of
battle
A n un exp ected elem ent of d anger soo n reveal ed
itself th e pits we were in were con structed i n such
m anner as to exp ose us to an e n l a d in g re of sh arp
sh o oters in th e wood s to o ur righ t and we were
entirely at th eir m ercy
A n oth er strange feature of th ese pits was th at
th ey were n ot only raked by an e n l ad in g re but
th e gro und i n th e rear was an o pen eld slopi ng u p
ward for som e ve h undred yards t o th e bl u ff so
th at retreat wo uld h ave exp osed us from h ead t o
to e for th at distan ce to th e re o f t h e enemy A s
an illustration o f th is Lieuten ant Lee a co usi n o f
General S D Lee and an o f cer of h is st aff gal
loped d own to us at th e tim e t h e en emy reach ed us
in th e m orni ng and as h e was givi ng m e an ord er I
noticed him p ut a nger to h is m o uth h e gallo p ed
back with a j oint less on h is righ t fo renger a bul
l et h aving carri ed it away I t i s creditable to th e
com m and th at th e ord er to occupy th e pits give n
d o ubtless from th e urgency of th e case w as obeyed
with th e sam e alacrity as if th e p ositi on h ad every
advantage kn own to m odern w arfare
I t was a l ong weary day to us
I t seem ed n igh t
I wis h e d for it as h eartily as
wo uld never com e
Wellingto n wish ed for nigh t or Bl uch er at W ater
l oo
C aptain Legard e wh om we co nsid ered as M aj
,

C H I C KA S A W B A Y O U

or by righ t of p ro m oti on o n C ol o nel D e Clo uet

being reli eved fro m d uty h ad ch arge of th e l eft wing
and I of th e righ t M o re th an o nce I contrasted h is
c o ol stubborn m atter of fact way with my inten si
e d and anxi o us co nditio n
H e migh t h ave been
ass aulted o v erp owered every m an killed abo ut hi m ;
but h e wo uld h ave been fo un d th ere still h old i ng
th e tren ch es
O f cers and m en alike were quiet and self p o s
sessed T h e m en lyi ng l ow s ave th o se o n th e look
o ut or th ose i n t h e act o f ring A ll felt we h ad
been pl aced t h ere to h old th e tren ch es and th at we
wo uld d o so co t e qu il co t e A bo ut th e m iddle o f
t h e afterno o n C apt ai n T ucker was struck in th e
righ t tem ple by a m innie ba ll H e h ad m ade a seat
o f a sm all bo x fro m wh ich h e p ersistently kept an
eye to t h e fro nt with h is h ead above th e em bank
m ent scorni ng to sh i eld it H e was carri ed t o th e
bl u ff after d ark and d ied d uri ng th e nigh t
W h ilst we were so engaged Gen eral Lee and
st aff th e m ai n body of th e tro op s with th eir o fcers
and citiz en s of V ick sburg i ncl udi ng m any l adies
were on th e bl u ffs to o ur rear wh ere th ey co uld see
every sh ot red by us and o ur ag whi ch h ad forty
bullet h oles m ade in it th at d ay deantly o ating
o ver o ur work s
Th e red sun set ; with d arkn ess th e ring ceased ;
we breath ed freely and we still h eld th e trench es !
B esid es C aptain T ucker we l ost h ere S ix privates
kill ed and two wo und ed Pickets were p o sted a rod
ap art o n th e em bankm ent and I rep orted to General
Lee w h o ordered th e trench es vacated at 2 A M l eav
i ng a picket th ere at whi ch h our th e comp anies went
o ut o n e by on e with a tread n oiseless as th e step of
ti m e leaving th e gall ant C row with h i s comp any at
th e p erilo us p ost until after d ayligh t wh en th e
,

TW E N TY SIX T H L O U ISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

46

picket was withdrawn and C apt ai n Crow th anked

by General Lee for th e faith ful and e f ci en t p er
fo r m a n ce of h i s h az ard o us d uty
O ur n ext positi on was n ear th e fo ot o f th e h ill s
ve h undred yard s in th e rear Th ere were n o pits
wh ere we were pl aced and we h ad n o pi on eer to ol s
but by dint of using th e sword bayo nets by m orn
ing t h e m en h ad som e protectio n
,

M O VE M E NT S O F M O ND AY

DEC

29

I n th e early p art of th e d ay th ere was com p arati ve

q ui et O ur line of battle ran i n n early a strai gh t

directio n at th e foot of a r ange of h ill s wh ere w e
h ad Sh allow rie pits with two batteri es all co ver
ing subst anti ally th e op en gro u nd th e en emy h ad t o
cross i n order to reach us A bo ut 9 A M we co uld
perceiv e considerable stir indicati ng a general as
sault and at 1 0 A M th eir li n e w as form ed A t er
r ic storm o f Sh ot and sh ell n ow burst up o n us
an d
i n its fury its seemed as if no livi ng thing abo ut us
co uld escap e W h en at its h eigh th I cri ed o ut at
th e h igh est pitch of my voi ce : Th at s th e m usi c I
C apt ai n Winder rem arked afterward to som e gen
t l e m e n in my presence th at h e felt som e m isgivi ngs
until h e h eard m e wh en h e dismissed all c o ncer n
U nder cover of Sh ot and sh el l th e enemy a d
with a force quite su f cient t o carry o ur
v a n ce d
weak lin es for th e m en i n th e pits were in Si ngl e
le an d we h ad n o reserve force A rtillery and
infantry o n both sides so o n becam e h otly e ngaged
Th e enemy s line contin ued to adv an ce alth o ugh
every weap on on o ur side was warm and every m an
was d oi ng h i s best S om e appro ach ed wi th i n fty
yards of our lin e but it was th eir l ast assault S o o n
th e lin e wavers and breaks and confusedly attem pts
to retire M any prefer surrend er rath er th an bei ng
.

Fie d

B A T T L EF I ELD

S KET C H

@h i ch a s a w 2
551 9 0 11 ,
De

e m be r

28

a nd

29

l 86 2

Yf

OO

l l

Fe d e ra F

R I

ee t .

C H I C KA S A W B A Y O U

47

o n e o f a m ass o ur ri es co uld h ardly mi ss I re

ce iv e d a n ord er fro m Gen eral Lee to rep ort to h im
with Six co m p a ni es o f th e regi m ent as six h ad been
d et a ch ed I t o ok th e r em aind er being t h e co m p a
n ie s o f C a p t a i ns M o uto n B atem an E isl and and
Li e uten an t W ebre co m m andi ng C omp any I W e
h ad h ardly started wh en th e comm and re ach ed a
p oi n t wh ere a body o f th e en emy w as i n full V iew
o nly a h undred yard s away Th e temp tatio n w as to o
great for th e n augh ty boys Th ey stopped with o ut
orders an d s avagely p epp ered th e blue co ats I
th o ugh t i t best to let th em h ave th eir own way for a
w h ile as i f a p art of th e program m e o f th e o ccasio n
as I feared th ey m igh t n o t resp o nd to an ord er t o
m o ve wi th th eir us u al s ubordi n atio n
I w aited a
wh ile a nd wh en th e en emy h ad got well o ut o f th e
w ay I gav e th e order to cease ri ng and to m arch
wh i ch was readily o beyed perh ap s i n V iew of th e
fact th at n o ne of th eir O pp o nents were V isible fro m
th at p oin t
General Lee directed us to m ove i n th e op en
gro und i n fron t of o ur lin e and sec ure wh atever
priso ners we co uld
W e m o ved o ut th e boys co nsid er a bly wro ugh t up
A S ergeant o f C o mp any A spi ed a bl ue co at and
alth o ugh th e order to cease ring h ad been given
se nt a m in n ie after h im ; I was in th e re ar at th e
tim e ; I r a n up to th e S ergeant and g ave h im a
s m art rap o n th e back with th e at sid e of my sword
H e t ur ned ro und to l o o k wh ere th e bl ow cam e from
and w h en h e s aw m e seem ed as m uch as to ni sh ed as
if a sh ell h ad st u n g h im
I went in front ord ered
th e col um n i n to li n e co cked my revolver and s aid I
wo uld sh o o t th e rst m an th at wo uld re I n order
to q ui et th em I p ut th em thro ugh th e m anu al of
arm s i n p l a i n V i ew a nd entirely ex p osed to th e
.

48

TW E N TY SIX TH L O UISI ANA I N F A N T R Y

-

enemy m ost of wh om h ad now so ugh t co ver o f th e

woods wh ere th eir batteries were n ot over fo ur h un
dred yards d istant alth o ugh th eir sh arp sh o ot ers
were m uch nearer
Th e lin e went th ro ugh th e ex
e r cis e a s if o n p arade *
Gen eral Lee ro d e up wh ile
we were going th ro ugh th e drill
W e presen ted
arm s to h im wh en h e ordered us to fall back abo ut
o ne h und red yards to th e rear wh ere a wago n ro ad
w orn a foot deep aff orded u s a protecti o n t o th at
extent by lying at i n th e bed of th e ro ad
Th e enemy seeme d to be arrangi n g for a seco nd
assault General Lee ordered us to h old o ur re
until any advance was with in 1 0 0 yard s of o ur li n es
Th e wagon rut as I h ave said was only a fo ot deep
and as th e n at ural surface o f th e gro und was exp osed
to th e re of th e enemy we were ann oyed wh ile i n
th is p ositi on by Sh ell and sh arp sh o oters and s us
t a in e d a loss of o ne m an killed and t w o wo unded
I
kept watch ful eyes besid e my own to th e fro n t
Th ere w a s lyi n g n ear to m e a m assive yo ung fellow
wh ose depth th ro ugh th e body was m uch m ore t h an
th e wago n r ut co uld cover
H e seem ed anxi o us h i s
to o solid esh co uld atten and ad apt itself to cir
c u m s t a n ce s ; by way o f diverting h is attentio n
I called
up on him sever al tim es to look o ut an d let m e kn ow
i f h e could s e e any Y anks advan cing I n d oing so
h e h ad to raise up and exp ose h im self still m ore but
every tim e I ordered him h e raised up q uietly an d
took a th oro ugh V iew before h e rep orted
I t w as wh ile we were lying in th is ro ad C apt ai n
P aul H amilton adj utan t of Gen eral Lee was killed
i n o ur rear O f a com m anding presence an i ngen u
o us co unten ance and Sim ple ad dress co urteo us an d
fearless his death w as regretted i n th e brigad e as a
,

Se e

s ta t e m e

M a lcol m a nd H pl
e

n ts
e r.

L ut en n t E a s t n
A ppend i x N o t e B

of

ie

a nd

Se r

g n ts
ea

O B r ie n

C H I C KA S A W B A Y O U

49

p erso n al l oss as well as a loss to th e cause for whi ch

h e o ffered up h is yo un g and nobl e m an h o od
A t d ark a pi cket was d etailed from o ur regim ent I
p osted th em abo ut th ree h u ndred yard s i n front o f o ur
li nes and n o t ov er two h undred yard s from th e li ne
o f wo od s wh ere th e enemy lay ; hi s dead and wo und
ed w ere all abo ut us ; m any of th e wo unded begged
for w ater I ordered w ater given to th e m and th eir
canteen s lled A federal sergeant ro se up fr om a
h iding pl ace and s urrendered to us H e said h e
h ad l eft a com rade wh ere h e h ad h id I called to
th e m an to com e o ut h e did no t h eed m e I went
toward h im wh en n ear hi m h e j ump ed up and cam e
to m e and I se nt sergeant and private as prisoners
to th e rear
C ap tai n M artin with h i s com p any and th e com
p anics o f C ap tai n s B atem an E isl and and Gui on
were also p o sted in front of General S m ith s H ead
Q uart ers and exp o sed to an artill ery re besides be
i ng an n oyed by s h arp sh o oters
I t n ow began to rain th e m en n ot o n d uty built
res but kept th em alive with di f culty A fter th e
m en h ad been disp o sed o f for th e night I crept int o
a s urgeo n s tent wh ere t h e body o f C aptai n H amil
to n h ad been pl aced I was o ffered Som e custard a
go od l ady h ad sent to us A lth o ugh n ot regulation
fare I w aived th e p oi nt t o ok it with o ut a wry face
laid d own and sl ep t til l 2 A M I t was rai ni ng still
I m et th em
I w e n t o ut to lo ok after th e pickets
com i ng i n Th e en emy s sh arp sh o oters h ad m ad e
th eir p o sts unp leas ant
I th o ugh t it p ruden t t o
h av e th e regim ent up and was abo ut to send o ut
C apt ai n G uio n with h i s com p any to reco nnoitre
w h en th e p i cket guard requested m e to allow th em
t o ret urn
Th ey felt th ey h ad been needlessly
and wish ed to retri eve th eir lost gro und
al arm ed
,

TW E N TY SIX T H L O U I S I ANA I N F AN T R Y

50

Th ey return ed and were n ot furth er an n oyed but

we rem ained on th e alert until dayligh t
D ayligh t of T uesd ay D ecem ber 30 fo und u S i n
lin e ready for any em ergen cy but th ere was co m
A n ord er
p a r a t iv e quiet along th e resp ective lin es
cam e to m e abo ut dark to t ake a d et ach m ent an d
destroy a bridge between th e opp osing lin es i n
order to prevent th e artillery of t h e enemy fro m
using it ; it was near th e enemy s li nes and w e h ad
to work quietly as th e sligh test n oise wo uld h av e
aro used s usp ici on but we s ucceed ed in th e t ask and
return ed to o ur bivo uac with o ut m olest ation
O n Wedn esday D ecember 31 th e en emy sen t a
ag of truce aski ng a s usp ensi on o f h ostiliti es to
en able h im to bury h is dead and care for th e
wounded
O n Th ursd ay J an uary 1 1 86 3 we still exp ected
anoth er attempt against o ur li nes but th er e w as
q u i et General Lee sent for m e i nvited m e to p ar
t ake o f som e cake and win e th at h ad been sent to
h im by a lady an d i nform ed m e C olo nel C age s
resign atio n h ad been accepted and h e h ad been
relieved from d uty as Colonel of th e regim ent I
was th erefore prom oted to th e o f ce of C olo nel ;
M aj or Crow was prom oted to th e o f ce of L ie u t e n
ant Colon el and as C aptai n Lagard e agai n d eclin ed
prom oti on C apt ain M artin n ext in rank to th e o f ce
of M aj or
O n F rid ay J an uary 2 th e enemy disapp eared fro m
o ur fro nt h aving ret urn ed to th eir tr ansp orts o n t h e
Y az oo R iver wh ich were und er co nvoy o f gun
bo ats I n th e afterno on th e regim ent w a s dra wn up
i n lin e prep aratory to ret urning to c am p i n obe
d ie n ce to or ders
Gen eral Lee rod e up i n fro nt an d
said : I th ank th e 2 6 t h for its di sti nguish ed gal
l antry ; I th ank it for its end urance in t h e tre n ch es
,

C H I C KA S A W B A Y OU

51

H ereafter I sh all kn ow th at wh erever th ey are

pl aced t h ey will rem ai n until ord ered to leav e ; I
wi sh yo u n ow t o ret urn to yo ur tents and m ak e
yo urselves co m fort abl e so th at wh en yo ur servi ces
ar e again req ui red yo u will be re ady
I said

T h ree ch eers for Gen eral Lee th e h ero of Chi ck

asaw B ayo u
O f cers and m en gave th e m with a
will and am id a dren c h i n g r ain we trudged to o ur
camp near V i cksbur g cem etery and so ended o ur
ten d ays exp eri ence with th e enemy at Ch ickasaw
B ayo u
I h ave m enti on ed o nly th e casualti es on S und ay
wh il e we h eld th e trench es and th e casualti es on
M o nd ay as far as kn own T h ere were ot h er casual
t i es but I h ave n o auth entic d etails of th em at th is
tim e
W h ile we wer e at C hi ckas aw B ayo u an ord er cam e
for a d et ach m ent o f fty m en to aid i n planting tor
I t was an enterprise full of
p e d oe s i n t h e Y az o o
h az ard as th e en emy with hi s gun bo ats was lord of
th e str eam and was abl e to m ake e ffective argum ent
again st en cro ach m ent of hi s sway I h ad th e regi
m ent fall i nt o lin e m enti o ned th e order th at General
Lee preferred v ol unteers and th at all w h o wish ed to
go sh o uld step tw o p aces t o th e fro nt R epresen ta
t iv e s from every com p any sto od o ut at o n ce and th e
n umber of th e detach m ent w a s m ade up C omp any
B ( th e d ear old dirty sh irts ) th e n vol unteered to a
m an and req uested th at th ey alo n e be d et ach ed for
th e p urp o se Th e und ertaking h owever for som e
re aso n was n o t prosecut ed
I n oted th at wh en th e regi m en t felt th e rst rude
sh o ck of th e en emy on e m an aft er an oth er was taken
with an un easy qualmish feeling i nd eed fell sick and
asked to go to th e rear wh i ch I p ermitted as a m at
t er of co urse A fter several h ad been di sp osed of
,

T W E N TY SI XT H L O UIS IA N A I N F AN T RY

52

i n th at m anner an o f cer c a m e up and told m e h e fe l t

u n well an d wish ed t o go to th e rear Th e th o ugh t
d awn ed up o n m e th ese cases of illn ess were m ere
n ervo usness and th at th e best cure for i t was fo r
everyone to keep t o h is p ost of d uty so I told th e
o f cer I wo uld not allow h im to get si ck an d t o go
back to h is com p any
Th ere was n o furth er co m
pl aini ng I d o not m enti on th i s as a discredit t o th e
o f cer and th e m en Th ey did n ot season ki nd ly an d
qui ckly as som e oth ers and n o s uch o ccurren ce to ok
place at any subsequent m eeting with th e en emy
Th e cam p h ad been l eft i n ch arge o f Li eut en an t
J oseph A ycock h ere o ur pro visio n s were co oked
and sent to us A S th e o nly ro ad to us w as cov ered
com pl etely by th e en emy s re o ur go od q uarter
m aster C aptai n N ee h ad to sen d o ur rati o n s by
team s at nigh t but with th e e f cien t servi ce o f C ap
tai n M oss o ur com mi ssary i n p ro curi ng and o f
Lieutenant A yco ck in prep ari ng and of C ap tain
N ee in getting th em to us we were regul arly s up
plied with m eat and corn bread o ur o nly rati o n s at
th e tim e for o f cers and m en
,

C H A PT E R V I I I

S U PP O R T I N G W A T E R B A TT E R I ES
'
m
zu
m
v
j

863 I n

M ay

6 63

S o on after we return ed fro m Ch i ck asaw B ayo u to

C am p C row th e l adi es o f T ensas p arish i n Louis

ia n ia sen t to t h e r e g im e n t a l arge box o f cloth ing
T h ey h ad ap p arently levi ed up o n everyth ing i n
reach o ut of wh ich a sh irt or breech es or a p air of
so cks co uld be m ade
Wi nd ow curtai ns seem ed
legiti m ate prey for th e fair Sp oilers for th e fabric
m ad e warm substanti al s h irts and cloth of every
sh ad e was m ad e i nto neth er garm ents
O f co urse
th ere was n ot en o ugh to supply all but it sup pli ed
th o se wh o se n eed s were greatest and th e boys a p p r e
Th eir own h om es were n ow i n th e p ower
cia t e d it
o f th e enemy th ey were i n exile and it w a s pl easant
to k n ow th i s token o f s u bstan ti al sym p athy cam e
from oth er h om es th an th eir own alth o ugh th ey h ad
been d esp oiled for th e p urp o se
H ith erto o ur col or bearer h ad been only a tem
p o rary app oi ntm ent
I d etermin ed to ap p oint
S erge ant B r it s ch e o f C omp any D perm anently to
th i s p ositi on
B r it s ch e was a sm all wiry Ski n a n d
bon e son o f sun ny F ran ce I knew th e col ors wo uld
be s afe in h i s h and s
W ith a V iew o f m aki ng t h e
cerem o ny im p ressive I h ad th e regi m ent drawn up
i n lin e an d ro de to th e front wh ere th e colors were
near I to ok th em in my h and called S ergeant
,

'

TW E N TY SIX T H L O U ISI ANA I N F A N T R Y

54

to m e and said to hi m
S ergean t d o yo u
p romise to carry th ese col ors wh erever yo u are
ordered
B r it s ch e r aised h i s righ t h and an d in a

J e l e j ure
rm quiet m eani ng t on e repli ed
Colonel and took th em i n ch arg e
I t was w hil e w e were at th is cam p th at M rs
George M arsh all as sh e afterward s t old m e m et
L e o n v a l of Comp any D wh om S h e h a d n ursed at
h er h o use d uring a sp ell of sickn ess
A fter so m e
con versati on S h e said W ell L e o n v a l wh at d o all
L e o n v a l repli ed
o f yo u th in k of Colon el H all !
H e is a tyrant i n camp but very ki nd to u s o n th e
battl eeld
D uring a vi sit in th e neigh borh o od to som e m em
bers of th e family of o ur Bish o p General h i s d a u g h
ter M rs Gale m enti oned to m e sh e h ad som e pi eces
of carp et th at migh t serve som e o f th e boys as
bl ankets bro ugh t o ut pieces en o ugh for six bl ank
ets and in sist ed I sh o uld t ake th em I felt o u r n eed
to o great to refuse so bro ugh t th em to cam p an d
disp o sed of ve p ieces to th e m ost n eedy of C o m
p any D
I n default of an applicant I u sed th e
rem aining o n e on th e o or o f my te nt A few d ays
afterward a yo ung privat e of C om p any D cam e t o
my tent and wish ed to know wh eth er I h ad a bl a n k e t
to sp are as h e h ad n o n e
K n owi ng h ow carel ess
soldiers becom e I th ought I wo uld im press a l esso n
of pruden ce on th e yo ungster
I to ok h i m i nto th e
t ent sh owed h im th e carp et and m ade m uch ov er its
capacity for comfort ; I told hi m I co uld n o t give it
to h im w ith o ut h e wo uld prom i se t o t ake th e v ery
best care o f it H e repli ed
Col on el je l e gard er ai
com m e m es yeux and h e went aw ay a h ap py boy
A S th e enemy were still n ear to us and m igh t
m ove up o n us at any m om ent we were kept o n th e
qui V ive W e exp ected an attack by w ater wh i ch

B r it sch e

SU PP O R T I N G W A T E R B A TT E R IE S

was p erh ap s th e sim pl est way to take V i cksburg

and wo uld h av e co st th e en emy less m en th an th e
subsequent si ege To gu ard agai nst attack by water
am o ng oth er pre cauti o ns th e 2 6 t h w as ord ered to
picket every oth er nigh t a cert ai n p oint o n th e river
i m m edi ately abov e V icksburg
W e m oved o ut of
c am p at two o clo ck in th e m orning m arch ed two
m iles to t h e p oi nt i ndicated th rew o ut pickets and
slept o n o ur arm s ready to m o ve at a m om ent s
warni n g W e returned to cam p after d ayligh t as i t
w a s n ot ex pected th e en emy wo uld att ack us oth er
th an abo ut d aw n A fter p erformi ng th i s service for
s o m e tim e we were frequently o n th e sam e d uty at
oth er p oi nts o n th e ri ver
O n o n e o ccasi on w e were sent to picket imm e
dia t e ly i n fr ont of th e city
Th e re gim ent was dis
p o sed o f by pl acing o n e or two com p ani es at di ffer
ent p oi nts guardi ng as best we co uld a m ile of front
age
W h ile s o di sp osed between d ayligh t and sun
ri se I saw a steam er co ming down th e river I rode
at o nce t o th e extrem e righ t of th e li ne cautio ned
th e o f cers to be o n th e lo ok o ut and kept my eye
o n th e steam er
I t cam e down as if o n a h olid ay
trip th o ugh n ot a so ul up o n it co uld be seen W h en
op p osite t o m e I rod e d own th e river as i t moved

d ow n
O ur steam er th e City of V icksburg l ay
i n fro nt o f th e town I t ap p eared to be th e obj ect
o f t h e en emy steam er to reach it as it t urned wh en
op p osit e th e l andi ng as if to co m e in and m aki ng a
sweep cam e with its bow up stream a little bel ow
and j ust beh i nd th e C ity of V i cksburg
A h e avy
gun j ust op p o site to h er was m an ned but before it
co uld be m oved to bear up o n it got o ff its pi ntles ;
b ut tw o co m p anies of th e 2 6 t h were th ere and i f a
m an h ad sh owed h im self h e wo uld h ave been pi cked
F i nding
o ff as w e were only two h u n d r e d ya r d s away
,

TW E N TY SIX TH L O UI SI ANA I N F AN T R Y

SO

it co uld not accom plish its evid ent p urp o se to c ut

lo ose and t ake or d estroy o ur ste am er i t t urn ed
directly across th e river so as to be o ut o f reach of
o ur guns as far as p ossible went d own stream and
soon was o ut of Sigh t
T h ere were senti n el s p o ste d a Sh or t di stance fr o m
each oth er on th e brink of th e riv er wh o s e in s t r u c
ti on s were th at o n th e ap pro ach o f any v ess el co m
i ng d own th e river th e sentinel o n th e extrem e righ t
was to give an al arm by rin g hi s pi ece and each
sentin el successively w a s to re h i s piece so as t o
give th e alarm all al ong th e th e li n e
D uri ng a
foggy nigh t while th e regi m ent w as o n pi cket d uty
th e sentin els gave an alarm ; a bulky m ass was
d escried o ati ng leis urely d own th e o utlin e o f wh i ch
could not be discerned A s it p assed e ach battery
in successi on ope ned up on it
Th e im p eri al v otress
p assed on un h arm ed by sh ot and sh ell A ll at o n ce
th e c u rtain of th e fog w a s lifted and t o o ur i nt en se
di sgust sh owed an ordin ary at bo at with barrels
stacked o ne above anoth er for ch im n eys ! A d u m my
steamer sen t to feel o ur strength I A nd so i t w a s
th e enemy with o ut intending it retali ated for a for
m id a bl e battery of fo u r siege gun s m ad e o f w o od
and placed i n w orks on th e bank o f th e riv er wh i ch
frowned up o n th ei r e l d gl asses i n th e early d ays o f
th e fortication of V icksburg
W e still h ad n ews fr om tim e to tim e o f o ur fam il
ies i n L o u is ia n ia th ro ugh o ur co uri ers and friend s
s uccess in eluding th e V igilance of th e en emy s
p ickets and gun bo at p atrol Th e p ari sh es of
A ssum pti on Lafo urch e and T e n e bo n n e were ov er
r un by th e enemy I nform ers m ainly n egro es gave
th e status of every fam ily and to w h at extent it w as
represented i n t h e co n fe d e r a t e servi ce
My home
w a s subj ected to frequent V isits of a p red atory ch ar
,

U PP O R T I N G W A T E R B A T T E R IE S

57

a cter an d M rs H all oth erwise wa s m uch an n oyed

A t o n e ti m e a serv a nt cam e i nto th e h o use and told
h er th e Y ankees h ad t aken h er c arri age h or s es S h e
went o ut and fo und a serge ant and a s quad ; th e
serge ant m ounted o n on e h orse and l e ading th e
oth er
S h e cl aim ed th em as h er own told th e
,

sergeant h e co uld keep th em if h e co uld establish

any righ t t o th em i nd eed sh e t alked h im o ff th e
h orse f or h e s o on dism o unted and return ed both to
th e stable
Th ese ann oyances i ncre ased to such an extent She
d eterm i ned to abando n h er h o m e a n d go into co nfed
e r a t e lines
S h e went to th e o f ce of th e Provo st
M arsh al i n Th ibod aux swept by a crowd of l adies i n
an ante r o o m wh o were waiting th e go od pleasure of
th e o f cer for a p ass o ut o f th e li nes and sp oke to
a p erso n sh e presum ed was i n auth ority :
"
D o I address th e Provost M a rsh al !

Y es m ad am h e replied
I am th e wife of M aj or H all o f th e c onfederate

army I wish a p ass

W h ere to m ad am

A ny wh ere o ut o f yo ur lines I w ish it to incl ude

my family serv ants h orses carri age an d b aggage
T h e Pr o vo st M ars h all replied h e w as not auth or
iz e d to give s uch a p as s
S h e drove at o nce to Gener al W e it z e l s H ead
qu arters a mile below Th ibod aux told h i m wh at sh e
wanted and h e auth oriz ed th e p ass to iss ue
Th e l ast th ing S he did before le aving Th ibod aux
w a s to go t o a pl ace wh ere th ere was con cealed a
l arge s ack lled with cloth ing m ad e for o ur b oy s by
th eir families wh ich sh e h ad pl a ced in th e carri age
and th en r etreated with o ut lo ss until sh e and h er
fo ur ch ildren were s h eltered by th e gun s o f V icks
burg Th e soldi er s received th eir cloth ing and th e
,

TW E N TY S I X T H L O UI SI ANA I N F AN T R Y

58

h orses were t urned over to m e as S h e i nsi sted th e

army h ad need of th em m ore th an h er
O n F ebru a ry 1 9 1 86 3 th e regim en t n um bered six
h undred and seven ty fo ur rank and le
A bo ut th e rst of M arch it was m o ved i nt o v ac ant
wareroom s and dwellings i n V icksburg I o ccupi ed
a room on th e rst o or of th e m aso ni c build ing I
ord ered a sentry p o st n ear m e wh ere th ere were
standing orders to ro use m e i n eve nt o f an al arm
but my m ind was i n such ten si on I was n ever o n ce
awakened by th e sentry d uri ng th e n ext ten weeks
wh en m any al arm s o ccurred U sually I h eard th e
rst gun red
I n event of al arm th e regi m ent h ad been i n str ucted
com p any by co m p any o f th e p oin ts to be o ccupi ed ;
I h ad besides a private alarm well und ersto od
gi ven by th e ch ief m usici an pl ayi ng a certai n air
at which each com p any w a s at its p ost ready for
acti on with o ut attracti ng attenti on
A s th ere were i ndication s th e en emy migh t m o ve o n
Vicksburg by way of D eer Creek Gen eral Lee to o k
th e 3d and 2 6 t h L o u is ia n ia and 4 6 t h M i ssi ssip pi and
m oved up D eer Creek i n ord er to con fro n t any
force of th e enemy comi ng d own th e creek
A ny
h ostile m ovem ent h owever if pl ann ed h ad n ot been
carried o ut ; th e exp editio n was barren alike of i n ci
d ent and res ult ; on M arch 31 we were agai n i n
V icksburg after an absen ce of a week
B esides th e usual sch o ols drills and cam p di scipli n e
at o ur request C olonel D B eltzh o over a gradu ate of
W est P oint underto ok th e i nstruction o f th e o f cers
i n battery drill which i n tim e w a s sup pl anted by
C om p any B o ffering to keep up th e drill so t h at
th ey would be able to m an a batt e ry w h en ever an
occasi on invited such acti on
A s I w as p assing i n sigh t of th e am m unitio n ten t
,

WA T E R

SU P PO R T I N G

TT E R I ES

BA

59

o n e d ay I saw th e sentry wh o was guarding it i n a

sitti ng p o st ure A S o ur unwritten l aw pro claim ed a
sen try Sh o uld wal k h is p ost I sen t a m essage for h im
to com e to my quarters wh en relieved i ntending to
gi v e h i m a sh arp repri m and Th e sentry accordi ngly
cam e in as I was abo ut to breakfast I t w a s th e son
of an old fri end of T e n e bo n n e ! H ow co uld I be
severe to th e so n o f an old friend ! I forgot I was a
soldier and w aived strict di scipli ne I ad ministered
th e V ery mildest rebuke in my p ower and by way of
sm ooth ing over any p o ssible ro ugh p arts of it
w o und up by aski ng h im to jo in m e at breakfast
A bo ut th i s tim e we received at V i cksburg th e
fr uits of th e conscript l evees i n Lo ui si an a Th e m en
so r aised were pl aced in vario us L o u is ia n ia com
m ands after recei vi ng a wh ite wo ol en uniform Th e
un iform was u nlike any oth er abo ut us and m arked
th ese m en a m o n g t h e vol unteer soldi ers w h o treated
t h em with a contemp t in m any cases undeserved ;
but so it was th e white uniform was kn own o nly as
an em bl em of repro ach wh erever it app eared
S oo n aft er t h ese m en were i n h arness o ur regi
m ent recei ved th e sam e ki nd of uniform ; n ow th e
Q uarter M aster s D ep artm ent of th e 2 6 t h was n ever
so pleth ori c as to sup ply o ur m ere n ecessiti es i n th i s
li ne and a suit o f cloth es all aro und was a rare occa
sio n Th e cloth ing w a s sorely needed but a h owl of
i ndign ati on rose from th e regim ent at th e bare s ug
gestio n of w eari ng th e badge of a conscript
Th e
i ndignation was i nten si ed by th e fa ct th at no ne of
th e conscrip ts h ad bee n p ut into th e ranks of th e
2 6 t h and its integrity as a vol unteer organiz atio n was
i ntact
Co m fort ap pe aranc e everyth ing w as forgotten in
th e th o ugh t th at h en ceforth m en wh o h ad so ugh t
th e r anks and m en wh o h ad been im p ressed into ser
,

60

TWE N TY SI XT H

O UISI A N A I NFA N T RY

V i ce wo uld be blend ed by th e

u n ifo r m , in t o

an undi s
Th e i ndign ati o n seem ed so
t in g u is h abl e m ass
becomi ng a vol unteer th at o f cers were l o ath to
i n voke th e co erci ve m easures in th eir p ower T h ey
app ealed t o th e m en an d sh owed th e folly o f gi vi n g
away to a fan cy O n e co mp any after an oth er i n ti m e
yielded to wh at ap p eared to be i nevi tabl e until C o m
p any B staunch old h earts Sto od o ut al o n e C ap
t ai n B atem an h owe ver n ever re l axed h i s eff orts to
kindly bri ng th em to a sen se o f d uty un til o nly two
of th e com p any sto od o ut
Th e C ap t ain rep orted
th e case to m e I ord ered th e m en to b e ti ed up by
th e th um bs until t h ey were d isp o sed t o o bey th e
orders o f th eir C apt ain
Th ey so o n rel ent ed but I
fear n ot willingly
E vents th ickened abo ut V i cksburg
W e h ad a
lively tim e for m any weeks pri or to its i nvesti t ure by
th e forces under General Grant
W e were o n th e
q ui V ive d ay and nigh t A s th e p arti c ul ar d uty
assigned to o ur brigad e w as to sup port th e water
batteries and as an attack by water w as exp ect ed
th e regim ent was kept well in h and an d th e d iscip
lin e o f th e camp was kept up with an eye co nti n ually
on th e en emy
With a V iew of carryin g o ut hi s pl an to i nv est
V i cksburg General Grant sent tr an sp orts from ti m e
to tim e d own th e riv er l ad en with army stores in
order to be suppli ed wh en h is army sh o uld cro ss th e
M ississippi below Vi cksburg T h e rst attem p t wa s
m a de abo ut 9 P M o n an eveni ng up o n wh ich a l arge
p arty h ad been given i n V i cksburg at wh i ch w ere
m any of o ur o fficers
and th en and th ere was h urry

i ng to and fro
E ach o f cer was so o n at h i s p ost
Th e tran sports were convoyed by gun bo ats
O ur
batteries o pen ed
Th e gun bo ats resp o nd ed with
V igor Sh ot a nd sh ell lled th e air
O ut o f several
,

S U PP O RT I N G WA T E R
.

BA

T T E RI ES

6I

tr an sp o rts we d estroyed or di sabled th ree th e

re m ai nd er p assed on p robably m ore or l ess i nj ured
an d were so o n o ut o f sigh t Th e 2 6 t h was prom ptly
i n it s tr en ch es but sm all arm s were o f little avail o n
s uch an o ccasio n
T h ere w er e sev er al fr am e buildings on th e Sh ore
o p p o site V l ck s bu r g W e h ad a pick et o ut th ere
with directi o n s to re any on e of th e h o uses on th e
attem p t o f any vessel to p ass th e batteri es
A fterward several tran sp orts atte m pted to p ass
so o n after d ark o n e o f th e buildi ngs was red Th e
river w as i ll umi n ated ; o ur batteries op en ed
Th e
tran sp orts with o ut V i sibl e ligh t and q uiet as th e
grave steam ed away for de ar life
A sh ower of
sh ells burst i n th e air sunk in th e water or struck
th e m ark Th e scene in i ts wild terror was one not
to be forgotten
A t anoth er ti m e early in th e nigh t a steam t ug
w as to win g two barges
O ur batt eries op en ed up on
th em A sh ell sen t th e t ug to th e botto m all o n
bo ard wh o w ere un h urt escap ed to th e barges fro m
wh i ch we to ok th em priso ners and sec u red th e
barges and th eir cargo
D uring all thi s tim e th e forces o f th e enemy were
a few m iles above Vi cksburg o n th e op p osite bank
wh en ce Gen er al Gr ant m oved h is army by l and alo ng
th e west bank of th e M i ssissip pi and crossed th e
river at B r u e n s bu rg below V i cksburg
A p ortio n
of th e forces at V i cksb urg w as Sent o ut to m eet hi m
I n th e gh t wh i ch en sued Brigad ier General Tracy
was killed
General S tep h en D Lee o ur brigad e
co m m ander was assigned to d uty i n h is place
He
asked th at h e be all owed to take th e 2 6 t h L o u is ia n ia
with h i m but th e request was refused
T h e enemy slowly unwo und th eir coil o f tro ops
aro und V i cksburg ; n ally all th e forces in V icks
,

T W E N TY SI XT H

62

O U IS IA N A I N F A N T RY

burg were sent o ut to m eet h i m save o ur brigad e

which was retain ed to sup p ort th e water batterie s
Th e battl e of C h am pio n s H ills to ok pl ace i n wh ich
Gen eral S D Lee s com m and took p art
I t w as
said th at d uring th e gh t Gen eral Le e ord ered a
certain regim ent o f h is brigad e to advan ce un d er a
h eavy re as it h esit ated to do so h e ex cl aim ed
O h ! i f I only h ad th e 2 6 t h L o u is ia n ia h ere
Th e battl e of Ch am pi on s H ill end ed i n a retre at
to Vi cksburg
W h en th e enemy landed in th e east bank o f th e
M i ssi ssippi M rs H all and o ur ch ildren were enj oy
ing th e h ospitality o f M rs D owns at h er resid e n ce a
few m iles o ut fro m V i cksburg O n th e ap pr o ach of
th e tro op s S h e cam e with th e ch ildren i nto V i cks
burg and o ccupied r oo m s wh i ch M rs H an sford
kindly tendered to m e i n h e r dwelling

C H A PT E R

IX

T H E SI E G E O F V I C K S B U R G
[ll

IT

ay

m
c
y
yu /y

863

m ay be well h ere to p ause in th e n arrative for

th e p urp ose o f st ati ng th e strength o f th e F e d e r a l
and C on fed erate forces at th e si e g e of V icksburg
n ow abo ut to begin
Th e F eder al forces O p erating agai nst V icksburg
fro m M ay i 8t h to J uly 4 t h 1 86 3 co nsisted of th e
foll owing co m m ands
T h e N i nth A rmy Corp s under M aj or General
J o h n G P arke being ni neteen regim ents form ed
i nto ve brigades ( two divi sion s ) with th ree batte
r i es
T h e T h irteenth A rmy C orp s under M aj or Gene
ral J oh n G M cC l e r n a n d bei ng th irty ni n e regiments
form ed i nto eigh t brigades ( fo ur divisio ns ) with ten
batteri es
Th e F ifteenth A rmy C orp s und er M aj or Gen eral
W m T S h erm an bei ng thirty nin e regim ents form ed
i n to nin e brigad es ( th ree divi sion s ) with ni ne batte
ries
T h e S i xteenth A rmy Corp s und er M aj or Gen eral
C C W as hbu r n being th irty eigh t regim ents form ed
i nto ten brigades ( three divisio n s ) with nine batte
ri es
co ds f U n ion nd Confede te A m es S e ies I Vol
Offi c i l
P ge 48

4 P t
,

ar

re

ra

TW E N TY SIX TH L O U ISI ANA I NF A N T R Y

64

Th e S eventeenth A rmy C o rp s und er M aj or Ge n

eral J as B M cPhe r s o n being forty six regim en ts
form ed into eleve n brigad es ( fo ur divisio ns ) with
sixteen batteries
Th e C onfederate forces with in t h e forticati o n s o f
Vi cksburg d uri ng th e sam e p eriod co n sisted of th e
*
foll owing com m and s :
M aj or Gener al C L S tev e n son s di vi si o n bei n g
nineteen regim ents form ed i nto fo ur brigad es an d
W aul s Texas Legio n with eigh t batt eri es
M aj or Gen eral J oh n H F orn ey s di visio n bei ng
twelve regim ents form ed into two brigad es wit h
ten batteries
M aj or Gen eral M L S mith s di visio n bei ng
el even regiments form ed i nto fo ur brigad es with
ve batteries
M aj or Gen eral J o h n S B owen s d ivi si o n bei ng
nine regim ents form ed into two brigad es wit h ve
batteri es
Th ere were th erefore o n e h undred a nd eigh ty o n e
regiments and forty seven batteri es o n th e F ed er al
sid e op posed to fty o ne re g im ents and twe n ty si x
batteries on th e C onfederate sid e
Porter s co op erating eet o n J anuary 2 4 t h 1 86 3
n um bered sixty vessels of all cl asses carryi ng tw o
h undred and eigh ty g u n sr l A gainst w hi ch t h e C o n
federates h ad on th e river defen ces th irty o ne Siege
guns and th irteen ligh t gu n s i
Th e m ain assault against th e C o nfed er at e w orks
o n M ay 2 2 d was m ad e by th e T hirteent h F i fteen t h
and S even teenth A rmy C orp s Th e F ed er al forces
-

'

'

c l records of U n ion n d Con f d te Ar m ies S e ries I Vol

24P a rt 2 P a ge 32 6
1 B a d e a u s L ife of G r n t Vol 1 p g
I R eport of Col E d w r d H ggins co m m a nd ing R ive r Defen ces d a
te d J ul y 2 5 1 86 3
Offi ia

e ra

SI E G E

THE

VI C KS B U RG

OF

65

were s ubseq uently reinforced as follows

M ay 2 0 by B rigadier Gen eral L au m a n s D ivi si o n
J u n e 3 by B rigadier General K im ball s Provisio nal
D ivisio n
J un e I I by M aj or General H erro n s D ivisi on
J une 1 2 by B rigadi er General Wm S ooy S m ith s
D ivisi on
J un e 1 4 by th e N i nth A rmy C orp s
T h e di visi o ns o f Laum an K i mball and S mith
con stituted th e S ixteen th A rmy C orp s L a u m a n n s
di vi si o n bei ng att ac h ed tem porarily to th e Thirteenth
A rmy C orp s M aj or Gen eral H erro n s divisio n j oin ed
th e S even teent h A rmy C orp s *
T h ese additi o n al tro op s m ad e th e F ed eral forces
o p er ating again st V i cksburg by land 7 5 0 0 0 f strong
Th e C o n fed er ate forces op p o sed n umbered 1 8
50 0 I
Th e forty seven batteri es already m e ntio ned as
att ach ed to th e F ederal land forces n u m bered 2 2 0
gun s
T h e twe n ty six batteries attach ed to th e Co n fed
crate forces ( excl usive of th e artillery o n th e river
d efen ces ) n umbered o n e h undred and t w o guns
A sum m ary of th ese stat em ents will sh ow th e
besi egers h ad o n th e riv er :
6 0 vessels m o unting 2 80 guns
A nd o n l and
1 8 1 regim ents n um bering 7 50 0 0 m en
2 2 0 guns
4 7 batteries
A nd th e besieged h ad o n th e river defences
4 4 guns o f all calibres ;
by S m R oc k w ell R eed p g
8
T h V c ks b u g C m p ign
l ccoun t
(F d
L f f G n t Vol I pp 358 359
1 B d
l J C P m be to s epo t d t d A ugus t
I L i t n nt G
,

e ra

1 1

eau s

eu e

ra

i e o

e ne r a

86 3

a e

po t o f C p t ins P r m e nd Co m s tock
V ol X XI V P t p 7 6
P m b r ton 's r eport d a ted A ugust 2 86 3
Re

ar

2,

( Off

Re

co rds

S e rie

s)

T W E N TY S IX T H L O UISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

66

A nd o n l and fortication s

regim ents n umbering 1 850 0 m en ;

2 6 batteries
1 0 2 gun s
I t will be noted th e F ederal l and force i s p ut at
m en o n th e aut h ority o f B a d e au s Li fe o f
Grant a book wh ose i n acc uraci es h ave been
Sh arply criti ciz ed o n th e F eder al sid e A s t h e u ndi s
guised obj ect of this book w a s to pl ace Gen er al
Gran t in th e m ost favorable ligh t und er all co nti n
g e n cies it is reaso n able to beli eve th at wh ile th e o n e
h undred and eigh ty
o n e regi m ents o f ci ally m en
t io n e d as oper ating again st V i cksburg did n o t co n
tain less th an
m en i t i s pro babl e t h ey co n
t ain e d a m uch greater n um ber
I res um e th e n arr ative :
E arly on S und ay M ay 1 7 1 86 3 M rs H all c all ed
my attention to scattered bodi es o f tro op s co m i ng
in o n th e J ackson ro ad wh i ch ran n e ar my q u ar
ters ; I saw at o nce it was o u r army i n retre at and i n
utter co nfusion a l ong li ne o f stragglers Th ere
wo uld be a squad o f infantry a h orsem an a gu n
a few m ore infantry and so o n ; with n o m ore ord er
th an travelers on a highway seeki ng V ick sb urg a s a
sh elter Thi s stream of stragglers co nti n ued n early
all d ay A fter breakfast I w en t d own town to h ear
th e news
I t was all o ne story a gh t a rep ul s e
an d a retreat
E very o ne I m et h ad t h e gl o o m ies t
forebodings I felt so m e o f th e stern j oy w arri ors
feel My Spirits ro se as m uch above t h eir n o rm al
co nditio n as oth ers were d epressed
I n th e after
n oo n a n o rder c am e to m ove th e regim ent at o n ce
to a p oint of th e o uter lin e o f fortic atio ns wh ere
we slept o n o ur arm s in th e trench es
O n M o nd ay M ay 1 8 n ews reach ed H e ad Q uar
ters th at a force of th e en emy was m oving tow ard
T h e 2 7 t h a n d z orn
u s o n a ro a d n orth of th e city
51

T HE

S I EG E

V I C K S B U RG

0 F

67

L o u is ia nia

were ord ered o ut to i m p ed e i ts progress

W e to ok a p o sitio n on th e o uter fortic a tio ns and
awaited in v ai n t h eir appro ach ; alth o ugh we were
an noyed by sh a rp sh o oters con cealed by a forest i n
fro n t ; we l ay beh i nd a sp ur o f a ridge and were
n o t pl eased by th eir attenti on s p arti cul arly as we
co uld n ot pl ace th em
A fter som e tim e C aptai n
Hym el cam e to m e a n d s aid
C olo nel I will Sh ow
yo u wh ere th ey are
H e to ok m e over th e spur
p ointed t o so m e trees in th e di stan ce a m said th ey

are th ere
W e m ust h ave been fully exposed to
th eir re at th e pl ace wh ere we stood fo r th ree bul
lets wh iz zed near to us i n qui ck s uccessio n
I saw
at o n ce th ey were n o t only co ncealed but to o far
aw ay t o en a bl e us t o r et urn th e comp lim ent and no t
relish i ng th e p o sitio n of being m ade a target I so ugh t
sh elter beh i nd th e sp ur with as m uch elasticity in
my step as my r ank wo uld allo w
Th e captain fol
lowin g as un co ncern ed as if th ey h ad been sh o oting
p eas W e bivo u acked n ear th e o uter wo rks and at
3 A M o n T uesd ay M ay 1 9 we m oved back to th e
i nn er li n e o f forticatio n s I h ad ordered o ut th e
band and i ntended to give o ur op p onents
D ixi e
at d ayligh t but Brigadier General S h o up wh o n ow
co m m an d ed o ur brigad e co nsid ered it untim ely to
m ake overt ures t o th e en emy
Wh en we reach ed th e p o siti on as signed t o us I
fo und ri e pits for two co mp an ies o nly Th e
rem aind er o f th e gro und t o be covered by us was o n
a ridge o f gentle Slop e fully exp osed to a re from
th e fro n t
I h ad ord ered sp ad es and picks t o be
sen t o ut th e eveni ng p revio us
W e got to work at
o n ce m a king pits nor did we co m m ence to o so o n ;
we h ad n early co mp leted wh at wo uld h ave served a
t em p or a ry p urp ose wh en D or n e v il l e F abre of C o m
p a ny A w a s killed while at work I or d ere d th e work
t o ce a s e a n d th e c o m m a n d i n th e tr e n ch es
.

68

T WEN TV SI XT H

O U IS I A N A I N F A N T R Y

Th ere were several m o unted o f c ers o f th e en emy

n ow seen o n a dist ant hill o ut o f r ange o f o ur ri es
app arently t aking observatio n s with th eir eld gl ass es
Th e tro ops of th e enemy w er e well covered and so o n
began to ann oy us with artill ery and sh arp sh o oters
I h itch ed my h orse i n a d epressio n o ut o f h ar m s
W ay as I believed
M y eldest son n ow ap p eared
with my breakfast and I to ok a n ap as I h ad slep t
little th e nigh t before
Th e ring co nti n ued
It
was Li euten ant W est s rst exp eri en ce und er re
H e was ex cited H e sto od up fully exp o s ed and i n
l an guage not h eld orth odox soli cited h i s ad v ersary

t o com e on
I called out Get d own Li e uten ant
H e turned to m e
Colon el d o yo u ord er m e t o get
down

Y es

W ell if yo u ord er m e t o get d own I will get

down and suiting th e action to th e word pro tected
him self in th e trench es
I walked up and d own th e lin e abo ut fteen p a ces
i n th e rear protected by th e crest o f t h e ridge a s I
supposed from th e re o f th e en emy A bo ut n o o n
under cover of a h eavy artill ery re th e en emy
assaulted th e p osition of th e 2 7 t h L o u is ia n ia wh i ch
was next to us in lin e o n o ur righ t ; th ey were
ch ecked h owever aided to som e extent by a a nk
re of th e 2 6 t h A bo ut two h o urs l ater a ch a rge
was m ad e against th at p ortio n o f th e lin e h eld by th e
2 6 t h and th e 2 7 t h L o u is ia n ia
Th e col um n wh i ch
em erged from th e wo od s i n fron t o f us for th at p ur
p o se wa s driven t o cover by t h e re o f bo th r egi
m ents a lth o ugh a col or bearer sto od h is gro un d co n
ce a l e d i n a cl ump of bush es abov e wh i ch h e wai ved
h is colors as th o ugh h e wo uld stay th ere
A fter th is rep ulse th e en emy sto o d at a pr ud en t
distance and m aintai ned a h eavy artill ery and m us
k e t ry re until som e ti m e after d ark
,

SI E G E

THE

VI C KS B U RG

0 F

69

T h e F ed eral co m m and er p erh ap s h ad recko n e d

his op p on en ts at Ch am pio n s H ill h ad n ot reco vered
fro m th at con ict and th at t h i s assault wo uld be m et
by a di sorganiz ed m ass ; w h i ch co uld be ro uted with
o ut m uch ad o ; h i s rank and le did n ot entirely
sh are t h i s opi ni on
Lo ng en o ugh before th e l i nes adv anced each m an
c am e to reali z e th at i t was a so r t of forlorn h op e a d es
p erat e rush wi th n ot o n e ch ance i n twenty of
s uccess A n d yet wh en th e ord er cam e each com
p any breasted forward like a m ovi ng wall I t is a
brave m an wh o faces th e d anger h e knows O nly
scatteri ng tro op s j u st en o ugh to form m oving t ar
gets to di stract th e C o nfed erate r e to ok th e high
way O n e col um n m o ved t o t h e righ t to m ake a
solid attack up on on e of th e forts th e oth er m oved
to th e l eft t o m ake a feint agai nst th e oth er

I lli noi s I ndi an a and th e T hirteenth R egul ars took

th e lead W ith i n fo ur h undred feet of th eir start
i ng p oin t r egim ents l o st th eir alignm ent from th e
broken n at ure of th e gro und C h asm s h ad to be
cro ssed h oll ows d escended and slop es climbed and
d irectly th ey en co untered th e felled trees and th en
it lo oked to th e C o nfed er ates beh i nd th e works as if
a gre at m o b i n bl ue w as p ush ing ah ead
N ow th ey cam e und er re and th e gh t op ens
T h e m o n st er gun s in th e forts aid ed by th e eld
p ieces p ut i n p o siti on sweep th e crests of ridges as
with bro om s o f re and m en dem oraliz ed for th e
only to nd
i n stan t cro wd into r avi nes for cover
th at th ere is n o h idi ng pl ace safe from sh ot and
sh ell Two or t h ree ti m es th e bl ue m ass p auses and
w avers and seem s to circle ro und but each tim e it
gath ers stre ngth for a r ush th at carries it nearer th e
belch i ng cann o n and am i ng m uskets
I co uld lo ok ov er t h e sm oke
said an o f cer of
,

TW E N TY SIX T H L O UI SI A NA I N F AN T R Y

7O

S h o up s brigade

and see th e gro und blue with

F ederal d ead and I wo ndered i f we co uld co m e t o
cl ose gh ting at all Th ree o r fo ur ti m es I felt sure
th at th e col um n s were bei n g recoil e d b ut a fre sh
start bro u gh t th em clo ser each ti m e a n d n ally we
saw th at th ey were d eterm in ed to m ake a r ush at
th e fort

S lowly stead ily and with a d eter m i n ati o n wh i ch

com m and ed th e admirati o n o f fri end and fo e th e
adv ance n ally gain ed th e ditch i n fro nt o f F ort
H ill
H ere th e broken Twenty seven th I lli noi s
h alted on th e op en gro und wi th in h alf pi st ol sh ot of
ve th o usand h o stile m uskets fo rm ed th ei r li n es
anew and with th e rst ch e er o f th e assault d ash ed
at th e ditch and over it Th e E igh ty th ird I n di
an a followed a n d th e Th irteenth R egul ars cam e up
on th e ank Th e ditch was p assed and th e slo p e
gain ed and th ey co uld go n o furth er T h e Slo p e
was too steep to be surm o unted and to h old th e p o si
tion was to be red d own up o n and extermin ated
wh il e F ederal bullets cleared th e crest and d ro pp ed t o
th e gro und far i n th e rear Ligh ted sh ell s w ere rolled
down th e Slop e to pl ay terrible h av o c and t h e F ed
eral ags pl anted i n th e earth were sh ot t o sh red s i n
less th an ten mi nutes

F ort B eauregard w as being att acked o n th e

oth er Sid e of th e h i ghway and t h ere w as m ore o r
less gh ti ng all aro und th e crescent as F ed eral d i vi
si ons ad vanced to new p osition s but P em bert o n d id
not allow th ese fei nts t o distract h i s attenti o n fro m
F ort H ill Th at was th e p oin t ai m ed at and th at
was th e p oi nt to be d efe nded T h us wh il e t h ere
w a s a con stant bo om of c an non and a co n ti n uo us
r attl e o f m usketry alo ng th e entire fro n t th e burd en
of battle rested up o n a d oz en F ed eral regim ents
"
h
i
ch
h
ad
p
ush
ed
th
eir
way
righ
t
up
t
o
th
e
wo
rks
w

'

T H E SI E G E O F V I C K S B U R G

71

Th e assaulting col um n s co uld n ot carry th e slo pe

a n d yet th ey wo uld n ot retreat
U ntil th e recall
c am e t h ey co uld do n oth i ng bu t take th e steady re
p o ured d o wn up o n th em
T h e wo n der is th at a
si ngle m an w a s left aliv e
Th e R egul ars l ost on e
th ird o f th eir total n um ber and th e volunteers suf
fe re d s uc h sl augh ter as few regim ents were ever

call ed up on to stand
S ays th e C o n feder ate o f cer previ o usly quoted :
D uri ng th e e ntire ti m e th e F ederal tro op s were
i n th at d esp er ate p o siti o n th ey kept banging away
at th e p arap et but I d o not beli eve w e lost a m an
kill ed fro m th eir wild rin g
T h e ai r above us was
c ut by bull ets and dirt and d ust were sh owered up o n
u s fro m t h o se striki ng th e p arap et but all th e a d v a n
t age w a s with us I t w as a sh am eful th ing to h old
m en th ere as th ey were h eld and it seems a miracl e
t h at a single o n e escap ed Th e sh ells m ad e h orrible
wo rk am o ng th em and after th e gh t was o ver and
th e sm oke h ad blown away th e Sigh t was such as I
h ad n ever l o oked up o n before or t h o ugh t p o ssible i n
war

Th e recall cam e at d usk and th e remn ants of th e

butch ered com p anies ralli ed and m oved back to th e
F ed eral lin es wh i ch h ad been ad van ced som e di s
t an ce d uring th e aftern o o n
A constant re was
m ai ntai ned up o n th e tro op s as th ey fell back adding
co nsid er ably to th e li st of killed and wo unded and
th e roll call o f th e regim ents wh i ch h ad borne th e
brunt of th e affair sh o wed h ow terribly each co mp any

h ad s u ff ered

Th e assault i f m e ant as an assault h ad failed

but th e F ederal lin es h ad ad van ced to better p osi
ti o ns all th e army wa s up an d Grant was to try
agai n Th is tim e every F ed eral o n th e crescen t w a s
to m o ve forw ard a t th e sign al and Porter was to

TW E N TY SIX T H L O UISI AN A I N F AN T R Y

72

open s uch a re on th e fro nt of V i cksburg as w o uld

drive every living th i ng to sh elte r
E v en as th e
lim p and bleedi ng regi ments fe l l back fro m t h e rst
assault cannon were being planted and o th er pre
m
ad
e
for
th
e
far
ore
bl
o
ody
struggl
e
t
o
m
ara
t
i
o
n
s
p

com e
D uring thi s ass ault abo u t 2 P M I w a s w alki ng
slowly up to th e righ t o f th e li ne watch ing th e
m ovem ents i n fro nt wh en I felt som eth in g strike
th e calf of my righ t leg as th o ugh a cl o d h ad been
th rown again st it ; in a m om en t I be cam e d iz zy I
sat d own o n a bank of earth n ear to m e A d e ath ly
fai ntness cam e over m e M y ord erly cam e up I s ent
him for som e whi skey and t o ok eno ugh to revi ve m e
M aj or M arti n cam e up to kn ow th e extent o f th e
i nj ury A ll I co uld say or knew was th at I h ad been
str uck and was disabled
C olo n el C row cam e up
and h ad m e m o ved o n a stretch er to a less exp o sed
place
A s th e re of th e en emy cover ed o ur r ear
I co uld n ot be m oved from th e eld ; s o I l aid i n t h e
rut o f a wagon r o a d wit h my body cl o se t o th e bank ;
even h ere a sp ent m in nie str uck m e i n th e Sid e
I
was exceedingly n ervo us I kn ew th e regi m en t w as
h otly engaged and my anxi ety was str ung to it s
h igh est pitch
D uring th e same aftern o o n t h e regim ent sust ai n ed
t h e lo ss o f C aptai n Winder ; i n hi s early m anh o o d
i n th e d awn o f a career full of p ro mi se i n a co ntest
fo r prin ci pl e h e fell wh ere d uty called h im Li e u
ten ant Ternier a faith ful and e f cient yo ung o f cer
w a s killed abo ut th e s am e tim e
I rem ained in th i s wago n rut until d ark th e ri ng
h ad n o t ceased but I se n t for a stretch er and with
N o te T h f o ego ing cc un t f th F ede l m o m en ts i g v
unde t h ign tu of M Q
u d i th D E
F EE P E
The w it
i M Ch l
B Le wis n w t ff con t ib ut o t th N w Y ork W R D
.

Ma y

e s

ar es

89 1

re

s a

ra

T R OI T

ve

SS

en

er

THE

SIEGE

V I C KS B U RG

OF

bull ets whistli ng all abo ut us I was t aken to o ur

i mpro vised h ospital wh en ce I was t aken i n an
am bul ance to my q uarters wh i ch I reach ed abo ut
mid nigh t
I saw M rs H all at th e d o or waiti ng for

me
I cried o ut
H urrah for V icksburg and th e

S o uth er n Co nfederacy
S h e q uietly gave ord ers to
m ove m e to a cot S h e h ad m ad e r eady for m e and
so o n I was as co mfortable as circ um st an ces all owed
but I p assed un e n ui t bl an ch e as th e sh elling abo ut
us was terric and in cessant M rs H ansford s h o use
wh i ch we o ccup ied was in th e ac ute angle o f th e
C em etery ro ad and th e J ackso n ro ad
T h e enemy
h ad a o ating m ort ar battery in th e river O pp o site to
us
H i s efforts were directed to sh elli ng th ese two
ro ad s th oro ughly s o th at th ese ro ad s and any place
near to th em were unsafe for any li vi n g th i ng Th e
gro und s abo ut t h e h o use as well as th e h o use bor e
m any m arks o f th e sh elli ng but we were unin
j ured
Th e nex t m orning D r H all ex amin ed th e limb
but n ot bei ng well felt unequal to th e task of decid
i ng wh at to d o with it ; h e called i n a surgeon w h o
co n sid ered amp utati on prop er
D r H all n ot coin
ciding with h i m th ey agreed to leave th e decision to
D r W inn th e brigad e surgeon wh o h ad called i n th e
m e anwh ile
D r W inn declared in favor of an
attem p t to s ave th e li mb I was p ut under th e in
O n ret urn to co n scio usness
u e n ce o f chloroform
I fo und a Slit three i n ch es l o ng h ad been m ade o n
th e sh i n bo n e th e mi nnie ball wh i ch h ad been split
in two extracted sev eral pieces of bon e t aken o ut
and t h e Ski n sewed togeth er I t pro ved to be a com
p o und co m m in uted fract ure o f t h e tibi a
A S th e sh elling was vigoro usly kept up it was
deem ed pr ud ent to m o ve behin d a h ill i n th e rear of
M rs H an sford s dwelli ng H ere two tents were
,

10

T W E NTY SI X T H L O UISI ANA I NFAN T R Y

74

pitch ed and occupied by M rs George M arsh al and

h er ch ild an d my family
I t seem ed to p ro t ect u s
from th e m ort ar battery across th e river wh en ce t h e
h eavi est sh elling pro ceed ed as th e h ill h ad been p ar
t ia ll y c ut away alm o st p erp endi cularly an d o ur tents
were pitch ed close to th e cut
A p orti o n of th i s
cut h ad been scoop ed o ut su f ci ent to h old o n e o r
two p erso ns and to th is sco op ed o ut pl ace m y
yo ungest ch ildren learn ed to r un for s afety o n t h e
appro ach of a sh ell
D uring th e aftern o on o f th e
rst day we were so camp ed a Sh ell wa s h e ard
A
soldier p assing at th e s am e m om ent seei ng th i s
scoop ed o ut h ole in th e uprigh t bank o f t h e h ill
so ugh t Sh elter in it from th e com ing sh ell
I t ex
p l o d e d directly over h im th e co n c ussio n killi n g h i m
i nstantly in th e very sp ot my ch ildren h ad so ugh t
Sh elter frequently d uring th e d ay fort un ately th ey
were at th at tim e o ccupied with th eir di n ner i n M rs
M arsh all s tent and were n ot aware of th e co mi ng
of th e Sh ell Th e tent I o ccup i ed was th rown d own
by th e co ncussio n I was co vered with e arth an d it
gave m e a con sid er able sh ock
I resolved to str i ke o ur t ents for a m o r e sec ure
p osition i f practi cable W e pitch ed t h em behi nd
S ky p arlor h ill J ust as 1 reach ed th ere I h eard a
sh ell crash thro ugh a dwelling ne a r th e te n ts I
determined we co uld n ot rem ain C olon el H enry A
Cli nch of th e h eavy artillery called n oti n g th e forlo rn
co ndition of my family and my own h el plessn ess h e
started o ff to l ook up a better pl a ce for u s and s o o n
ret urn ed stati ng h e h ad fo und ro om s for us o n t h e
seco nd o or of th e dwelling o f Ti m D owli ng o n th e
river j ust b elow th e built p ortio n of th e city T h ith er
went M rs M arsh all and h er ch ild an d my fam ily I
followed on a stretch er W e staid h ere d uring t he
rem ai nder o f th e siege
.

SI E G E

THE

V I C KS B U R G

OF

75

T h e 2 0 t h an d z i st o f M ay were sp en t by th e
en emy i n erecting new batt eri es an d keepi ng up
fro m d ayligh t until d ark th e h eavi est p ossible ring
both of m usketry and artillery
Th e 2 2 d p assed in
th e sam e m ann er until abo ut 2 P M wh en a col um n
w as di scovered ad van cing again st th e righ t of o ur
brigade ; i t w as i mm edi ately dri ven back
A n oth er
th en ap p eared o n th e righ t o f th e centre th is was
di sp ersed with o ut great e ffort and with co nsiderabl e
l oss A gai n th e enemy app eared in in creased force
o n th e righ t of th e divisi o n of Gen eral M L S mith
of wh ich o ur brigad e was a p art but h e was promptly
rep ul sed and with h eavy lo ss
T hi s term in ated th e
d ay s op erati o n s with th e exceptio n of th e h eavy re
of m usketry and artill ery kep t up until d ark along
th e entire fr ont of th e division
E xtensive and th oro ugh prep arati on h ad been
m ad e by th e F ed eral com m and er for th is second
assault th at termi n ated i n s uch app alling lo sses to h is
army
A ll alo ng th e F ed eral lin es batteri es were p osted
for co n centri c re sh arp sh o oters p ush ed to th e front
an d every e ffort m ad e by sco uts to secure inform a
ti o n co ncerning th e C o nfederate defenses
Th e
eet i n th e river was to co op erate and P orter prom
i sed Grant s uch a re as V i cksburg h ad n ever felt
Grant s
order was for a gen eral assault at ten
o clo ck o n th e m orning of th e 2 2 d T hree h o urs
before th e bugles so unded every prep aratio n h ad
been m ade and every detail carefully l o oked to
E very pi ece of artillery wh i ch w as to take p art was in
p o siti on E very corp s divi si on brigade and regiment
h ad receiv ed i n structio n s for th e assault Th e com
m ands wh i ch were to carry p l anks and l adders for
cro ssing th e ditch es and scali ng p arap ets h ad been
,

See R

epo t of M jo Gen
r

e ra

lM L
.

S m it

h in a pp nd ix
e

76

TW E N TY SI X T H L O U I SI A N A I N F A N T RY
-

drafted and th eir m ateri als se cured ; and t h er e w as

n ot a soldier in th at wh ol e F ed er al army wh o h ad
n ot been instructed i n regard to em erge n ci es T h ey
were told h ow ditch es were to be cro ss ed h ow to
burrow i nto p a rap ets and Sl op es to h old th eir p o si
ti ons h ow to co nd uct th em selves i n fr on t o f abat
tis h ow to sh elter t h e m sel ves i n t h e r avi n es and
h ollows and while brigad es were t o act i n d ep end ent
of each oth er to a certai n extent th e wh ol e a ssault
w a s to be in h arm ony T h e testi m o ny o f all gen e
ral o fcers sh ows th at it was on e o f th e m o st care
fully pl anned assaults in m od ern w arfare a n d t h e
rep orts of regim ental co m m and ers pro v e th at th ere
was l ess co nfusi o n i n th e m id st o f rep uls e an d dis
aster t h an was i n st an ced before or after i n o ur ci vil
war

A t exactly ten o clo ck th e wh ol e F ed eral army

was tran sform ed into a m o nster serp en t wh i ch be
gan to writh e and twist an d turn and und ul at e
Brigades broke off and ad v an ced righ t or l eft o bli qu e
division s m oved up squ arely to t he fr o nt can n o n
began to th und er th e h o arse sh o uts of o f cers were
ech oed along th e li ne col um ns clo sed u p t h e
earth began to Sh ake and trem bl e th e curt ai n h ad
gone up o n th e tragedy of war

Th e van of S h erm an s assault was co m p o sed o f

a th in line of skirm ish ers foll owed by th e m en d e
tailed to carry planks and l ad ders and p i ck ax es and
sh ovel s Th en cam e th e solid lin es Th e Co n fed
crates wh o were watch ing every m o vem ent s ay th a t
a grander sigh t was n ever seen d uring th e w a r
E very m ovem ent was executed with a co ol ness t h at
spoke of determin ation and th e F ed er a l bat t eri es
red slowly and wasted but little am m uniti on

A s S h erman s v an swep t alo ng after h is skir

m is h e r s th e C on fed erate works app e a red t o h av e
,

SI E GE

T HE

OF

V I C KS B U RG

77

been d eserted and h u n dreds o f m en grasp ed at th e

d el usi ve h O p e th at th e C o nfederates h ad becom e
p ani c stri cken and retired S h erm an concentrated
th e re o f twen ty eigh t guns up on F ort H ill alo ne
and it seem ed to th e tro op s as i f th e pl ace was
being tor n to p ieces T h e C o nfeder ate sh arpsh oot
e r s ran i n as s o o n as pressed by th e skirmish lin es
and i n such h aste t h at m ore th an o n e F eder al o f cer
enco ur aged h is m en i n t h e beli ef n o resistance was
t o be m et wit h

Wi th a st eady tram p and with ranks as solid as

t h e e arth over w hich th ey m oved S h erm an s rst
brigad es h ad re ach ed with i n a sto n e s th row o f F ort
H ill before a bullet fell am o ng th em Th en de ath
cam e with th e r ush o f an aval anch e A t th e word a
th o usand C o n fed erates sprang up on t h e crest o f th e
p arap et an d a th o usand m uskets am ed and cracked
and sen t th eir bull ets righ t d o wn into th e crowd ed
r ank s
I t was a s udd en and terribl e ch eck
I n th ree
m i n utes m ore th e F ederals wo uld h ave been p o uring
i nto th e fort Th ere was a m o m e n t of confusio n
and th en o n e brigad e dash ed to th e righ t and
an oth er t o th e l eft and th e third rush ed at t h e crest
of a h ill o n a l evel with t h e p arap et and th ere
h ugged th e gro und and op ened such a r e th at a
r amro d h eld i n t h e air above th e fort wo uld h ave
been cut i n two on th e i nst ant S h erm an s tr oop s
were i n th e sam e p osi tio n as d urin g th e rst assault
T h ey h ad crossed th e ditch es reach ed th e Sl op es
pl anted th eir ags and burrowed into th e gro und
like fox es but th ey co uld advan ce n o furth er Pem
berton h ad n ot con centr ated against th e on e corp s
th i s ti m e E very m an i n th at F eder al army was
m arch i ng t o th e grand assault and P orter was rai n
i ng s uch a storm o f Sh ot and Sh ell up o n th e city as
b a d e f air t o wi p e it off th e h ills
,

TW E N TY SIX T H L O UISI A NA I N F AN T RY

78

Th e F ed eral a rtill ery was pl ayi ng up o n F ort

H ill with a terribl e re keeping m any o f its gun s
silent and cl eari ng th e p arap et of i nfantry ; but it be
cam e plai n after whil e th at th e on ly way t o t ake th e
place was by a rush of th e i nfantry lying ar o und it
Two brigades form ed for th i s p urp os e and d ash ed at
th e p arap et with ch eers th at we re h eard a mil e aw ay
above th e ro ar of battl e T h e lin es str uggled up th e
Slopes under a h ot re and as th ey braced for a d ash
o ver th e p a rap et th e C on fed erat e i nfantry r ose up
and sent th eir volli es into ranks so clo se th at th e
p o w der burned m en s faces I t was butch ery t o h url
m en against such d efen ces I t was d eat h t o rem ai n
th ere it was death to retreat
T h us th ro ugh l o ng
h o urs th e brigades of S h erm an s corp s bearin g th e
brunt of th e ght were p enn ed up and waitin g th ei r
turn to be p i cked o ff

M cPh er s o n h a d th e centre lap ping S h erm an o n

o ne h and and M cC l e r n a n d o n th e oth er R anso m s
brigad e o f M cPh e rs o n s corp s j oin ed i n S h erm an s
assault on F ort H ill an d S teele s brigad e did s o m e
terri c ghting furth er up th e li n e but it was th e
d ash of a wave ag ain st a ro ck

Th at p ortio n of M cPh e r s o n s corp s wh i ch w a s

h urled against th e stro ng lin es al o ng t h e J ackso n
R ailro ad h ad n o m ore Sh ow of c a rrying th em th an
Porter h ad of running h is eet o ver th e h o uset op s o f
th e city ; and several desp erate ass a ults m ad e r e
s u l t e d i n terrible l osses
I n fro nt o f a h un dred feet
o f C onfederate lin e m ore t h an fo ur h undred F ed er al s
l ay dead or wo unded at sunset th at d ay
W e were p erfectly safe fro m th e F ed eral artill ery

re says a C o nfederate an d as for th e i nfantry i n

front we p aid n o h eed t o th em except wh en th ey
assaulted W e waited u nti l th ey were clo se at h and
and th en s p r a ng u p and with ered th em with a si ngle

T H E SI E G E

OF

V I C K S B U RG

v olley
Long en o ugh before we h ad a wo un ded
m an i n my regim ent we co uld co unt t h e d e ad o n o ur
fro nt by th e scor e
M cC l e r n a n d to ok th e l eft with a determi natio n
t o c arry hi s corp s i nto th e C o nfed erate works T h e
gro und i n h i s fro nt was l ess di f cult to advance over
and th ere w as unm ist ak able enth usi asm a m ong h is
m en as th ey m oved o ut T h ey were ad van cing up o n
fort and red o ubt di tch an d basti o n but th e m ove
m e nt was m ad e i n n e Sp irits an d at th e rst r ush
th e adv an ce brigades were carri ed across th e ditch es
a n d h alf way up th e Slop es of every thi ng on th e
fro nt I t seem ed as if th ey m u s t w a l k righ t i nto th e
forts and tro op s i n th e rear were rai si ng ch eers of
V ictory wh en th e C o nfederate i nfantry ro se up an d
d eliv ered th at terrible volley at sh ort range
Th e
e ffect was th e s am e alo ng th e wh ole li ne
S uch a
volley killed every th ird m an i n th e ranks m ovi ng
up O h io I llin o is and I n d ia n ia h ad th eir ags
p lanted on th e C o nfed erate works and th e m en to ok
co ver and h un g righ t t h ere d eterm ined to wi n a
V ictory
Pieces o f artillery were h auled up by h and
and red into em brasures and i n sev eral i nstances
sm all d etach m ents o f F eder als cro ssed th e p arap ets
or p en etrated i nto forts but o nly to be Sh ot d own
or taken priso n ers

I t seem ed to M c C l e r n a n d as if h e h ad gained a
d ecided a dv antage H i s fro nt was all up advan ce
brigad es were lying righ t under th e Co nfeder ate
works and h e h ad sil en ced m any of th e guns above
h i m Th ere were evid en ces th at th e C o nfed erates
h ad all th ey co uld d o to h old h i m at th e fo ot o f t he ir
works
Let r ei nforcem ents com e and th e scale
wo uld t urn i n hi s favor H e th erefore h ung o n and
w aited

Gr ant w a s ready by n o o n to recall h is army fro m

.

TW E N TY SI X TH L O UISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

80

th e assault H e co uld s e e th at n eith er S h erm an

n or M c Ph e r s o n h ad gai ned any ad v ant age wh ile
th eir losses h ad been terrible Th en c am e M c C l e r
n a u d s reports o f s uccess o ne foll owi n g th e oth er
and n ally m uch against hi s better j u d gm e n t h e
acquiesced i n M cC l e r n a n d s call for rei nforce m en ts
and S h erm an and M c Ph e r s o n were i n str ucted t o
m ake fresh ass aults al ong th eir fro nts as a di versi o n
M cC l e r n a n d co unted to o m uch o n th e end u r
ance of h is tro o ps H e exp ected th e sigh t o f rei n
forcem ents h astening up wo uld dis h e arten th e
C onfed erates H e fully and e arn estly believed th at
m ore m en wo uld aid h im to carry everyth i ng
i n hi s fro nt H e h urled h is corp s agai nst th e r o ck
tim e after tim e but o nly to leave h i s d e ad and
wo und ed alo ng th e ditch es S h er m an was h url ed
back M c Ph e r s o n was h urled back th e great ass ault
was a defeat all alo ng t h e li n e
W h en nigh t cam e d own t h e F ed eral army h ad
been beaten back at every p oi nt P orter s t re m e n
d o us bom bard ment h ad fail ed to Sil ence a si ngle
battery and th e dead and w o und ed were lyi ng i n
fro nt of th e lin es i n s uch n um bers as to ap p al
th ose wh o h ad safely co m e o ut of th e h orribl e tor
nado of
Th e di sastro us result o f th ese attem pts t o c arry
o ur li nes by assault i nd uced th e F ederal co m m an d er
to forego furth er m ovem ents of th i s ch ar acter an d
to win h is way i nto V i cksburg n ot ov er th e h er o
guarded battlements bu t by th e m ore pr ud ent
th o ugh p ai nfully tedio us w ay of un dergro und a p
pro ach
V ai n th e endeavor to give th e n um ber an d ch ar
acter of th ese Siege ap pro ach es E n gineeri ng art
was tasked to its utm o st cap acity A p pli an ces and
Th is desc p t on f th F d l tt ck by M C h l B L w s
,

ri

e ra

is

ai es

THE

IE GE

OF

V I C K S B U RG

81

Skill ed l abor wer e n ot l acking an d d ay by d ay sp ace

l essen ed between th e h o stil e li n e s
Th e h eaviest an d m ost d an gero us of th ese o p er a
t i o n s i n fro nt o f o ur divisi o n w a s o n th e extrem e
righ t and n obly di d th e 2 6 t h 2 7 t h 2 8t h and 3I st
Lo uisi an a r ep el and e n d ure it *
T h e following extr a cts fr o m th e rep ort of o ur
B rigad e C o m m and er m ay give a faint im p ressio n o f
wh at w as going on at th is tim e along th at thi n
li ne o f ragged h alf st arved troop s th at like J ack
so n s com m and sto od as a sto ne wall between V icks
burg and th e besiegers
M ay 2 3d to 3i st E n e my entrenching en ergetically
at nigh t ; keepi ng up a conti n uo us re d uring th e
d ay
J un e 5t h D uri ng th e nigh t th e enemy kept up an
i ncessant artillery re and o ccasi o n al m usketry
J un e 6 t h E n emy red ne arly all nigh t fro m ar
till ery
J un e 8t h C ontin uo us re d uri ng th e n igh t
J un e 9 t h Last nigh t th e enemy red into o ur
working p arty o n th e left wo undi ng two m en W e
are co nstructi ng a ro ugh stockad e at th at p oint t o
preven t a d ash fro m th e en emy s works n ow n ot
m ore th an seventy v e yard s distan t
J un e 1 i t h Th e sh arp sh o oters ar e extre m ely v ig i
l ant a nd are with in si xty or seventy yards ex cel
T h e 2 6 t h Lo uisi an a i s securing
l e n t ly covered
its fro nt agai n st a d ash by m eans of a pi cket with
br ush en tanglem ents
J u n e 1 3t h S h arp sh o oting very bitter
J un e i 5t h S ap at red an ( h eld by twenty seventh
L o uisi a n a) very close with i n ten p aces o f ditch
W e are usi ng h and gren ades o n worki ng p arti e s
J un e i 7 t h W e are o n sp e a king term s with th e
,

S ee R
11

eport of Major Genera l M

L S mit
.

h in a pp nd ix
e

82

T W E N TY SIX T H L O U ISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

-

ene m y at th e red an Th e picket p arti es at th at

p oint agree up on sh ort tr uces d uring wh i ch n eith er
p arty i s to re N otes are thrown across from o n e
p arty to th e other S om e tradi ng goi ng o n i n co ffe e
etc H ave forbidden com m uni cati o ns I p erm it it
only in th e presence of th e o f cer o f th e d ay
J une 2 o t h F uri ous cann o nading began at d ay
ligh t and conti n ued a go od p art o f th e d ay
J une 2 2 d M aj or W W M arti n 2 6 t h Lo ui si an a
was killed i nstantly by sh arp sh o oters H e w a s o n e
o f th e m o st gallant and ex cell en t yo un g o f cers o f
th e com m and
J une 2 9 t h A re using h and gren ad es o n h i m ( th e
en emy )
J uly 2 d E n emy advanci ng h is s ap i n fro n t o f th e
stockad e Protects him self from h and gren ad es by
covering h is track with rails W e are runn ing a
gallery from o ur tren ch es to blow in th e enemy s
works
J uly 3d E n emy is runnin g a gallery with th e in
tention of bl owing up th e sto ckade between l un ette
and red an 1 5 h ard at work to d ay W e follow t h e
ex am ple Th e questi on is wh ich sh all expl od e rst
W hen th e real investm ent began a cat co uld n o t
h ave crep t o ut of V i cksburg with o ut bei ng dis co v
ered
E very yard of riv er an d foo t o f land was
watch ed and guarded and th e h orrors o f a Siege wer e
fel t alike in th e streets of th e city and tren c h e s at
th e front

Gr an t learn ed h ere wh at h e afterw ard s p ut in

practice at Petersburg I f h e co uld n ot h url P em
berton from h is works h e co uld wear hi m o ut
S h arp sh o oters were advanced as cl o se as p ossibl e at
every p oint artillery p ush ed forward new p i eces
mo unted and every arr angem e n t m ad e to keep th e
l F nc is L S h up i
Gn
pp nd ix
Re po t of B g d i
.

ii

ei

e ia

ra

n a

T HE

IEGE

V I C K S B U RG

OF

83

C on fed er ates o n t h e anxio us seat Th e crack o f th e

ri es o f th e Sh arp sh o oters was n ever h ush ed even at
n igh t and sc arcely a d ay was p assed th at som e d e
m o n strati o n w as n ot m ade to cre ate appreh en si on
A regim ent wo uld m ake an advan ce at som e p o in t o n
th e lin es as if an assault was i ntend ed ; and th e Con
federates wo uld be stirred up up on th e fro nt a m ile
l o ng A t nigh t som e bold F ed eral wo uld creep
forw ard am o ng th e C on feder ate ri e p its and raise an
al arm th at wo uld extend to a th o usand m en Th ere
was n ot an h o ur i n th e twenty fo ur th at th e besieged
felt safe i n r esting and anyth ing like so und sleep
w as o ut of th e questio n
W h ile a co n stant artillery re w a s m aintained
o n both sid es m ost of th e lo ss was o ccasi oned by
sh arp sh o oters T h e F ederals we re i n rie pits or
beh i nd co ver and in som e cases n ear eno ugh to h ave
killed a sp arrow resting o n th e C onfed erate works
O ne o f th eir o bj ects was to silence th e big guns by
p icki ng off artillerists and i n a few instances th ey
were q uite successful Th ere were cann o n i n th e
C o nfederate forts wh ich were str uck by as m any as
Sixty bullets A wo od en sh ield i n use to protect th e
m an at o n e of th e gun s was i n eigh t h o urs str uck
by 44 balls ; o n th e oth er h and th e F eder al s s u ffered
even m ore th an th e C onfederate Sh arpsh o oters be
c ause l ess sh elt ered and alm o st co nst antly m aking
n ew m ovem ents and taki ng n ew p o sition s
O ne wh o lo oks over th e battle e l d o f V icks
burg will wond er th at th e p enins ul a ( now an island )
o p p o sit e th e city was n ot capt ured lo ng before th e
event t o ok p lace P orter s m ortars were so far up
stre am th at th ey were of little servi ce and wh enever
h e cam e d own with h is gun bo ats to r un p ast or e n
gage th e batteri es th e distan ce h e h ad t o m ake was
s o gre at th at th e Co nfeder ates h ad warni ng and were
.

'

TW E N TY SIX TH L OUI SI ANA I N F A N T R Y

84

fully prep ared for his comi ng Th e C o nfed er ate

force h olding th e p eninsul a was always weak i n n um
bers and co uld h ave been ro uted weeks befor e i t
was Wh en th e F ederals n ally to ok p o s sessi o n o f
th e gro und th e m ortar scows were bro ugh t d own
withi n rie range of th e city Th e wo oded p eni n
sula h id th em from Sight and served as a protecti o n
after th e siege began and after Porter s ecured th e
n ew p osition th e C onfed erates co uld n ever l o ok
forward to an h o ur of rest

Grant was im p atient at d el ay and wh en n eith er

assault or bombardm ent wo uld bring vi ctory h e be
gan to appro ach th e C o nfederat e works at v ari o u s
poi nts by sap and mi n e
I t becam e cert ain after a wh ile th at Grant wo uld
get i nto V icksburg if h e h ad to tun n el und er ev ery
h ill a n d F a t e sat d own with P emberton wh enever
h e rested and glided along besid e h im wh enever
h e rod e J oh nsto n co uld no t gath er force en o ugh
to warr ant an attack up o n Grant H e was a m e n
ace but not a d anger I t was th e sam e with T ayl or
I n th e last d ays of J une Pem berto n fully reali z ed
hi s p ositi o n H e m igh t rep ulse anoth er assault up o n
h is li nes and th e river batteries m igh t n ow and t h en
disable a gun bo at but th e end m ust co m e Gr ant
E v ery
w a s determined and Porter full of co urage
fo ot of th e lines was und er re and every fort w as
being ap proach ed by a m in e I n th e city it was still
worse Porter h ad op e n ed with a v engean ce a m
m uniti on was giving o ut i n th e V icksburg batterie s
and m en w h o h ad been under call for ov er forty d ays
and nights were at last wearing o ut

Grant n ever exh ibited better general sh ip and

greater pluck Porter never sh owed h is eet to
better advantage Th en let h i story n o m a t t t e r by
.

THE

IEGE

V I C K SB U R G

OF

85

wh o m written add th at th e C on fed erates h ad d o n e

all th at brave m e n co uld
I t wo uld be an idl e t ask to attem pt to describe t h e
h orrid engin ery used agai n st us d ay and night from
M ay i 8t h to J uly 3d B lo odi er i nventi on s co u l d
h ave com e on ly from th e connes of th e d am ned
T h e batteri es o n water and l and co m m a n n d e d th e
entire are a with in th e forti cation s N o sp ot with in
th e city and s uburbs was safe or kn owingly sp ared
W o m en ch ildren and th e wo und ed were ex posed
m ore th an th e soldi ers i n th e tren ch es Th ere were
l ulls i n th e storm of Sh ot and Sh ell only because th e
besi eger required rest to gain ren ewed strength fo r
h i s d i aboli cal mi ssi o n
Th e sh elli ng usually was ercest at d awn one
battery and an oth er and anoth er wo uld op en until
every gun and m ortar s eem ed o n d uty V ici o us and
un relenting as artillery covering an assault T h e
in cessant re o f sm all arms abo ut th e sam e ti m e led
o n e readily t o i m agi n e an assault w a s really m ad e Thi s
m a t in ee w as kep t up with r are i ntermissi on ; wh ile
th ro ugh o ut t h e nigh t as well as day th ere w a s at
o ne p oi nt or anoth er m ore or less ring with sm all
ar ms and artillery S o m etim es i n th e dead o f nigh t
j ust as an un usual stillness migh t be rem arked a
sudd en Sh arp disch arge of sm all arm s wo uld be
h e ard for a few m om ents wh en th e great guns
wo uld j oin u ntil we were ready to excl aim :
H ell i s em pty
and all th e d evils h ere
Th ere was o n th e gro und s abo ut th e dwelling a
cav e wh i ch was a protection p erh ap s fro m frag
m ents o f Sh ell and h ere M rs H all wo uld rep air
with th e ch ildren wh en t h e s helling seem ed as in
s urers say extr a h az ardo us T h e us ual h eavy ring
,

T h is ccoun t of
Le wi s
a

t he

s iege

fr m

F ede l ou tloo k is by Mr Ch a les

ra

86

TW E N TY SI X TH L O UISI ANA I N F AN T R Y
-

at d awn wo uld awaken m e but n o o n e else i n my

little camp I would aro use M rs H all S h e an d a
servant wo uld dress th e children with a d el iber ati on
th at invited a m o niti on o n my p art before th ey
started and th ey wo uld rem ain i n th e cav e until
th ere was a l ull i n th e sh elli ng
I s u ffe re d from th e wo und ; for th ree week s th e
p ai n was acute and unceasi ng I t w as n ece ssary to
keep down th e in am m atio n and as i ce was n ot t o
be h ad M rs H all h ad a fram e m ad e o ver and
attach ed to th e bedstead from wh ich sh e s usp end ed
a bucket with a sm all h ole i n th e botto m lled with
candle wick so th at wh en th e bucket w as ll ed with
water it wo uld drip on th e i nj ured li m b T h ere
w a s not an h o ur day or nigh t i n w hi ch sh e did n o t
exami ne and regulate th e drip as th e wi ck som e
tim es clogged
Th ere was no way of taking off th e s urpl us w at er
so th at it saturated th e p art of th e m attress co vered
by th e limb and th e lim b as it could n ot be m o ved
prud ently rested for som e three weeks o n th is wet
surface until th e bon e was knit
M embers of th e regim ent call ed frequently
C olonels H A Clin ch D B e t z h o o v e r E dw ard
H iggins called also fro m tim e to ti m e I re ad
several novels wh ile lying on my back wh i ch C ol o
n el B e t z h o o v e r kindly lo aned to m e O ur d o m esti c
life went o n as usual S h elli ng did n ot affect th e
app etite of th e little o nes and M rs H all m an aged
to give th em th ree m eals a d ay o f cam p fare an d
every afterno on send th em o ut for a walk d uri ng
whi ch as a p astim e th ey gath ered so m e o f th e m et al
th at a liberal enemy h ad scattered bro adcast Twen ty
o n e di fferent s p e cim e n t s of Sh ot and sh ell w as th e
result of th eir l abors O ne of my so n s m ad e a
sp eci alty of collecti ng m i n nie balls of wh ich h e h a d
,

SI E G E

THE

V I C K S B U RG

OF

87

two or th ree p o unds besid es a spent o ne wh i ch

struck h im but with o ut Seri o us i nj ury
W h en I w a s wo und ed and co mp elled to leave th e
eld th e co mm and d evolved up o n Lieuten ant C olo
n el Crow W ith h i m as ch ief M aj or M artin next
i n r ank an d with th e array of e f cient comp a n y
o f cers I h ad n o m i sgi vings o f th e regiment I
k n ew every o f cer and m an wo uld d o h i s d uty and
t h at I co uld be well sp ared I n th e general assault
o f th e en emy o n F rid ay M ay 2 2 d as already
m enti o ned a h eavy force th rown agai nst th e front
o ccup ied by th e regim en t was rep ulsed with te r ric
Sl a ugh ter I ts sad list of killed an d wound ed d urin g
th e Si ege attests its exp osure F or ty S ix consec utive
d ays and nigh ts i n th e tren ch es with o ut relief with
o ut ch ange o f clothing with sh ort rations and
co n stantly o n th e qui V ive was an ord eal only u n
all oyed m et al co uld with stand ; and from wh ich
o f cers an d m en em erged with th eir m anh o od
written by re o n th eir foreh eads
D urin g th e gener al assault of M ay 2 2 d L ie u t e n
ant A rr ie u x a promising yo ung o f cer w a s killed
I n m em oran d a h and ed to m e by o ur regim ental com
m is a r y C ap tai n M o ss h e s ays
I n furnish i ng yo u so m e tim e ago with nam es o f
my S ergean ts at V i cksburg I forgot to m entio n
th at j ust p revi o us to H aines I h ad with m e for a
Sh ort tim e J o sep h T Greig of C omp any A U p on
th e i nvestm ent o f V icksburg and th e o ccup ati on o f
th e tren ch es by o ur tro op s I was un able to restrai n
t h e z ealo us and im p etuo us yo uth of 1 8 from seizing
h i s gun and j oi ni ng h i s com p any i n th e trench es
O n th e fo urth d ay o f th e siege th e brave and n obl e
boy fell pi erced th ro ugh th e h ead
O n J u n e 2 I st M aj or M arti n fell at h is p o st of d uty
i n th e 2 2 d ye ar o f h is age E n dowed with a fearless
spirit a co ol h e a d a j udgm ent r are n o better soldier
,

TW E N TY SIX TH L O UISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

88

ever stood behind th e battl ements o f V i ck sburg

H ad h e fo ugh t under th e e agles of N ap ol eo n at an
earli er d ay th e keen i nsigh t o f th at great capta i n
wo uld h ave m arked h im and h i s tr an scend en t w orth
wo uld h ave m ade h im i n ti m e a m arsh all o f th e
empire
A s th e en emy s work grad ually appr o ach ed o ur
own th eir picket line and ours was so n ear togeth er
it was o ften und ersto od at vario us p oi nts th ere
sh o uld be no pi cket rin g O ne nigh t wh en o ur
pickets were i n ch arge of Lieuten ant S and ers o f
C omp any B h e w a s m aking a t o ur abo ut 2 A M
wh en h e h eard a V oice i n ord inary ton e n e ar to h i m
say wh at o cl ock is it R e b
I t proved t o be an
o f cer in comm and of th e enemy s picket !
Priv ate V il e o r D uh on of C omp any E h owever
h ad a co ntrary exp erience as m enti on ed to m e by
Lie utenant Gilbeau of th e sam e com p any D uh o n
being o n e of th e o uter li n e of pi ckets o n r each i ng
his p ost behind a log rai sed h i s h ead to lo ok t oward
th e front wh en a sh ot fro m th e enemy s p icket m ad e
i t prud ent for h im to protect h im self beh i nd th e l o g
n o t h aving been abl e to recogniz e t h e directi o n o f
t h e Sh ot h e ch anged h is p o sitio n beh in d th e l og
and placing hi s h at at th e end of a p ole r ai sed it at
th e p oint h e h ad rs t o cc u pi ed as so o n as th e h at
ap p eared a second Sh ot was red K n owi ng n ow
th e p osition of h i s ant agon i st h e gav e th e l atter ti m e
to relo ad and th en rep eated th e o p eratio n of r aisin g
th e h at h aving previo usly pl aced h is gun i n th e di
rectio n of hi s opp on ent Th e pi ck et to ok an oth er
sh ot at th e h at and D uh o n to ok a sh o t at t h e pi cket
and th rew h im self beh ind th e l og wh ere h e began to
relo ad ; before h e h ad got th ro u gh h e h e ard a
n oise on th e oth er side of th e log and risi ng q ui ckly
wa s abo ut to p ierce his advers ary with h is bayo n et
.

THE

SI E G E

V I C K SB U R G

0F

89

wh en h e surrendered sayi ng th at B ub o n s rst bal l

p assed very n ear h i s h ead and h e w as co ndent th e
n ext wo uld kill hi m
Th e d ays wore o n wearily ; with C olon el Crow in
ch arge of th e regi m ent and M rs H all i n ch arge of
my fam ily cam p both approved soldiers th ere w a s
n oth i ng m ore to be desired i n th eir several lines o f
d uty
M rs H all h ad driven int o V icksburg a cow
M rs D ow ns h ad given to h er I t was a treasure to
us S h e furni sh ed m ilk for th e ch ildren and was a
p o tent factor i n o ur com missari at A s som e soldi ers
were d etected at o n e tim e drivi ng h er away I h ad
h er guarded an d my eldest son p erform ed so me of
h i s e arliest milit ary d uty at th irteen in taking h is
to ur of d uty as sentry o ver h er but forage becam e
v ery scarce as my p o or th in h orses m utely attested
and I was co m pell ed to h ave h er killed I ndeed as
ti m e p assed by fo od an d forage were at a prem i um
th e l aw of dem and and sup ply was entirely ignored
and v ario us ex p ed ients were resorted to Th e pri
v ates o f th e regim ent s uccessfully underto ok a
d ecre ase i n th e rod ent p op ul atio n I n my weakened
conditio n cam p fare w as rep ulsive I sent o ut a
m an to sh o ot a r at for m e im agining I co uld eat it
broiled with reli sh but th e h unt failed to secure th e
gam e and th e fancy p assed T h e m en cut up th e
yo ung growth of th e wild cane boiled it and m ade
a d electabl e dish
P eas wer e gro und and mix ed with cor n m eal
but p ro ved un p al atabl e th e ever faith ful m ule was
l o oked up on with pitiless eye and th e scarcity of
for age i nd uced us to kill sever al and di stri bute th e
es h am o ng th e o fce r s m esses by way o f giving
co unten an ce to thi s novel additi o n to o ur m e n u and
p rep ari ng t h e m en for it A mid th is de arth of th e

12

TW E N TY SIX TH

90

O UI SI ANA I N F AN T R Y

general l arder I was th e reci pi ent every d ay for

several d ays of a n ewly laid egg ki ndly sent to m e
by M rs B o nd th e wife o f C aptai n B o nd o f th e
h eavy artillery ; and a p ond was fo und by my boys
sto cked with cr a ws h whi ch furni sh ed o ur t abl e
with a to oth som e di sh until th e s up ply w a s ex
,

hau ste d

Captain M oss writes of th e com mi ssari at o f th e

regi ment d uring th e siege

Th e ratio n s were issued in th e city t o d et ails

wh ich cooked and co nveyed th em d aily to t h eir
resp ective comp anies I n th e e arly p art of th e Siege
th is was don e in th e d ay tim e but as th ere w as an
op en sp ace comm anded by th e F ederal sh arp
sh ooters and artillery wh ere th e d etail w as exp osed
orders were given to p erform th is service at nigh t
A t intervals d uring th e siege th e rati on was red uced
until it w a s in su f cient to s ustai n li fe and th e m en
were forced to gath e r and co ok weed s and grasses
buds of trees and ro ots esp eci ally th e can e r o ot I
h eard som e say th ey ate rats I was o n th e Sick li st
during th e latter p art of th e Siege F eeling well
eno ugh on e d ay I went to th e com mi ssary q uarters
and fo und Lie uten ant C amp bell ( wh o w a s o n d uty
in my pl ace ) issuing a strange l o oking m eat and
asked h im wh at it w as h e repli ed m ule
S o we
did eat m ule th ere is no d o ubt abo ut it
A n d n ow th e siege was drawing to a cl o se fro m
sh eer lack of vitality o n o ur p art A m m unitio n w as
nearly expend ed provisi on s were well nigh exh austed
of forage th ere was no ne C o nstant d uty i n th e
trench es h ad told o n th e n oble p atience of th e m en
th e exp ect ati o n of bei ng relieved by J o h n sto n h ad
m erged i nt o h op e and h op e h ad v ani sh ed as th e
clo ud of a bursted sh ell in m id air
Th e s urrender was m ad e J uly 3d and news
,

T HE

S I E GE

0 F

V I C KSB U RG

o f it was bro ugh t to m e early o n t h e 4 t h of J uly ;

w asted in strength n ervo us from s u ffering and con
n e m e n t to my bed I wept

like a Si ck girl
t o th i nk th at th e 2 6 t h with its calm con stan t co urage
a n d its h eroi c en d uran ce was com p elled t o s u cco m b
I n my agony I wish ed vai n wi sh as it w as th at th e
p o or privilege h ad been allowed to it to cut its way
o ut co t e q u il co t e
S o o n a p ortio n of th e enemy s tro ops appeared
and a sq uad of bl ue co ats ent ered th e gro und s abo ut
o ur q u arters and went to t h e well for water M rs
H all w ent o ut and d em anded t o know of th em by
wh at righ t th ey entered o ur premi ses with out
p ermi ssi o n O n e of th em cam e up to h er and said
i n a q ui et to n e : Y o u h ad better go into th e h o use
R e ali zin g it was useless to contend singl e h anded with
a s up eri or force of th e en emy like a prud ent cap
t ai n sh e wit hd rew in go od order
I co uld n ow see arm s st acked o n a vi sible p orti on
o f o u r li n e so on a tro op of Y ankee calvary d ash ed
alo ng a ro ad near to us several regi ments of infantry
p assed in sight fo ur co mp ani es of artillery p arked
th eir gun s i n op en gro und n ear by and th e gran d
dr am a was o ver
I n wh at m anner th e besieged forces p erform ed
th eir p art o f th at dram a i s attested by Gen eral Grant
i n a n ote d ated J uly 3d to Gen eral P em berton re
sp ecti ng th e term s of capitulati on

M en wh o h ave sh own so m uch end urance

an d co urage as th o se n ow i n V i cksburg will always
ch allenge th e resp ect of an adversary
I n a lett er to th e B l ue and Grey A ssoci atio n of
V icksburg d ated A pril i 7 t h 1 89 0 A dmiral D avid
D P orter writes t o th e sam e e ffect :

I h av e a great ven eration for old Vi cksburg I

a d m ire th e brave soldi ers w h o so long and s t r e n u
,

TW E N TY SIX T H L O U ISI ANA I N F A N T R Y

con ten ded agai nst th e odds by wh ich t h ey w ere

confronted I admired th e calm n ess an d en d ur an ce
of th e inh abitants in h oldi ng o ut agai nst an av al an ch e
of explosives such as h as h ardly ever p o ured i nto a
city A bove all I admire th e dignity o f th e s old i er s
and p eople wh o aft er d oing th eir best to m ai nt ai n
th eir po ssession succum bed n ally t o th e stern d e
cree of fate wh en n oth i ng m ore co uld be d o ne
Brigadier General O rm e of I lli n oi s o cc up ied th e
rst oor of th e h o use we were in ; h aving h eard a
wounded o f cer was o n th e seco nd o or h e sent h i s
adj utan t with a kind i nquiry into my wants ; n o w I
wanted everything to begin with ; an d anyth i n g
edible wo uld n ot h ave com e am iss ; b ut I w a s n o t
i n a fram e of mi nd t o say so I th anked h im an d
told him I was n ot in n eed of anythi ng Gen er al
O rm e called so on and every d ay afterward sent t o
m e som e delicacy from hi s tabl e whi ch I w as t o o
polite and to o h ungry to refuse
Gener al O rm e wish ed to h oist his a g over h i s
h eadquarters and asked p ermi ssio n for hi s col or
sergeant to go thro ugh th e ro om s o ccupied by m e
for th e p urp ose I acceded to hi s request of co urse
Th e sergeant ung it to th e breez e every m or ni ng
and at evening f u rled it with great care an d to ok i t
in so th at n ot even th e mild est dew migh t m ar th e
beauty of th e rich silk of wh ich it was m ad e O n e
evening h e forgot it ; th ere were i ndicati on s of
rain I suggested to M rs H all t o send word t o th e
sergeant to take i n h is colors S h e told m e p lu m ply
S h e wo uld not th at h e migh t take care of h i s ow n
ag S h e wo uld n ot d o so for h im S o o n bl ack clo ud s
burst and envio us rain fell up o n th e ban n er it r e
m ain ed o ut all nigh t and next m orni ng red wh ite
and blue w a s an indisti nguish able m ass
A rrangem ents h ad been m ade to sen d away th e si ck
and wo unded of o ur army by water and all oth ers by
ou sl

THE

I E G E O F V I C KS B U RG

l and M rs H all call ed at General Gran t s h ead

q uarters for t h e p urp ose of h aving som e provision
m ad e for my rem ov al as my li mb was still i n a pre
c ario us co nditio n alth o ugh with th e aid o f crutch es
im pro vised fr om tent p ol es I was n ow abl e to m o ve
abo ut th e ro o m for a few min utes at a tim e
Gen eral Grant m et M rs H all ; h e was dressed pl ai n
l y a bl ack alp aca co at bei ng hi s m ost promin ent ar
tiel e o f dress S h e h ad q uite a lo ng C h at with h im
S h e t old m e h e t alke d calmly o n all s ubj ec t s a nd
seem ed tot ally with o ut excitement save wh en h e
S poke of wh at h e called th e guerill a attacks up on th e
transp orts o n th e river wh en h e seem ed utterly in
w hy th ese fello w s said
d ig n a n t at th eir co nd uct
h e will com e o ut and re up on o ur boats d o all th e
d am age th ey can and wh en we go to lo ok th em up
we nd t h em at th eir h o m es app arently ign orant o f
o ur exi sten ce
General Grant i n h is own h and
writing gav e M rs H all two p asses i n order sh e
migh t avail h erself of eith er o ne to K entucky th e
o th er with co nsent o f General B anks com m anding
th e D ep artm en t of th e Gulf to Lo ui si an a ; i n eith er
c ase tran sp ortatio n to be furnish ed by any Govern
m ent tr ansp ort W e decided to go to o ur friends i n
Lo uisi an a
I i ss ued th e following address to th e com m and :

V I C K S B U R G J uly 9 t h 1 86 3
T o th e o f cers and soldiers o f th e 2 6 t h R egim en t
Lo ui si an a V olunte ers :
C O M RA D ES A gain yo u h ave m et th e en emy F or
o v er forty d ays yo u h ave with sto od triple n umbers
arm ed with every missile kn own to warfare and ex
p ended with th e utm ost prodigality Y o ur undaunt
ed co urage and i ntrepid bearing h as drawn admiration
even from yo ur an tago nists W h enever th e bravery
.

T W E N TY SIX T H

94

O UISI A NA I N F AN T R Y

fortitude of h er sons i s called i n q u esti o n o ur

own d ear Lo uisi an a m ay pro udly p oin t t o th e h is
toric p age gilded by yo ur d eed s i n th e sw am p o f
Ch i ckas aw B ayo u and on th e forticati on s o f V i ck s
burg
Th o ugh circum stances n o t in yo ur con trol h av e
forced yo u to surrend er yo ur riddled and battle
stai n ed ag to th e fo e th e pro ud co n sci o usn ess th at
yo u h ave d on e yo ur duty sh o uld t ake away th e sti n g
o f d efeat Th e Gen eral com m andi ng will d o u btless
m ake s uch disp ositi o n of yo u as yo u d esire un ti l
yo u are exch anged
Y o ur Colo nel h as on e request to m ake of yo u
th at wh en yo u are exch anged wh i ch h e trusts wi ll
tak e pl ace in a few weeks yo u will prom ptly report
wh erever ord ered i n th e h op e w e m ay so on m eet
th e invader with ren ewed vigor in o ur arm s with
un sh aken faith i n th e j ustice of o ur cause and i n
th e full d etermi n ati on n ever t o p ut up o ur weap on s
u ntil p eace smiles o n o ur c o untry
I h ave already m enti oned th at th e cond uct of o ur
troops extorted prai se from o ur adversari es I t m ay
seem sup er uo u s to say m ore but th is record w o uld
not be com plete if I failed to add th e testim ony o f
th e com mand ers under wh om t h ey fo u gh t as to th at
m atch less v alor and fortit ud e wh ich Gr ant recog
n iz e d and P orter so well rem embered
I n Gen eral S h o u p s rep ort of th e p art taken by
his com m an d h e writes :
J uly 4 t h C apitul ati o n ord ered A t 1 0 A M we
m ov ed o ut o f o ur tren ch es by battali o n s st acked
arm s and ret urned to o ur old quarters in t own
Th e men were full of indign atio n Th o ugh t h ey
h ave h ad very scant fare and h ad been exp osed to a
m erciless and alm ost c o nti n uous re rem ai ning at
th eir p o sts in th e tren ch es with o ut reli ef I h ave
an d

T H E SI E G E O F V I C K S B U R G

r arely h eard a m urm ur or com pl aint Th e to ne h as

always been th is i s pretty h ard but we can stand

it
To o m uch pr aise c a nn ot be given to o fcers and
m en *
M a j or Gen er al M L S m ith says i n h i s rep ort :

Th e co nd uct o f th e entire d ivi si on was m ost ex

e m pl ar
y and i ts co ur a ge and ch eerfulness i ncre ased
i f p o ssibl e fro m d ay to d ay under th e h ardsh i p s and

pri vatio n s o f th e siege

Li euten ant General P em berto n com m andi ng th e
besi eged force s i n hi s rep ort o f A ugust 2 d 1 86 3
wr i tes :
F or forty seven d ays and n igh ts th ose h eroic m en
h ad been exp o sed to burning suns drench ing rains
d am p fogs a nd h eavy d ews and d uring all th is
p eriod n ever h ad by d ay or by nigh t th e sligh test
relief T h e extent of o ur works required every
a vailable m an i n th e trench es and eve n t hen t hey
were i n m any pl aces i ns u f cien tly m anned I t was
n ot i n my p ower to relieve a ny p ortio n of th e li ne
for a si ngle h o ur C o nned to th e n arrow limits of
a trench with th eir limbs cram ped and swollen
wit h o ut ex erci se co nstan tly exp o sed to a m urd ero us
Storm o f s h ot a n d sh ell wh ile th e en emy s unerring
sh arp sh o oters sto od ready t o pi ck off every m an v i
sibl e above th e p arap et
M any h ad m et de ath with a smile up o n th eir lips
all h ad ch eerfully en co untered d anger ; and alm ost
wi th o ut a m urm ur h ad borne pri vati o ns and h ard
sh ip s well calc ul ated to test th eir m anh o od Th ey
h ad h eld th e p l ace again st an en emy ve tim es th eir
n um ber ad mirably cloth ed an d fed and abund antly
s up pli ed with all th e ap pli ances o f war W h en ever
th e fo e a ttem p ted an a ss ault th ey drove th em back
d is co m t t e d co veri ng th e gro und with h is killed and
port
S e a pp n d ix f r
.

re

TW E N TY SI X T H L O U ISI ANA I N F AN T R Y

96

wo unded and h ad torn fr om his grasp v e stan d s o f

col ors as trop hi es of th eir prowess
I am indebted to C apt ai n A J M o ss for a list of
th e kill e d and wo und ed o f th e re g i m ent d uring th e
siege t aken fro m a di ary k e p t by h i m up t o J un e
2 9 t h wh en sickn ess prevented its co nti n uan ce
A
fe w omissi ons h ave been s upp lied :
,

R A NK

N ME
A

Co

P v a te
ri

C p ta n
a

F b
a

F l ix W nd
i

gun

shot wound

Win ch

er,

H ll

e s te r

uu

ie

N T n

Pi

e rr e

er

ie r

ri

a te

a bit

P v

rl

L ut

D a cis s e

un

S mith J ohn J

L uvie Cl
o

re

ay,

or

ra

re

L o t t i ng e i

er i

t1

Pi i v a te

Ch
K

on S ch y l
Im l

ias s

e r ne ,

ae

C po l F d c

in

he d
K 11ed g sho t wound in
th le f t bre s t
Wounded Fr c ture f t h e
g h t leg
K illed gun sh o t wound in
t h le f t bre s t
Wo ded
Wounded severel y gun sho t
wound through th j ws
W ounded severel y gun s t
wound i n t h he d
W ounded severel y g n sho t
wound i n th shoulder
W ounded
W oun ded
e

Col n l

Kl l l e d
th e

D or ne V I I Ie

re

R E MA RK S

'

e r,

20

ie u

Pr i

Ch l M D p
P t G E
a r es

a te

e ro

as

H
G

it

21

M th

u ri

hot wou d
K ll d

Gu n
i

in

th e

a rm

Wo und e d

se

e re

ly

h d
Wound d in th m
W de d s v el y
b k
Con tusion f th f oot

in

th e

iii

th e

ea

A ns l u m

Ser

e a nt

N hol
ic

D fy

as

e ar

ou n

er

ac

P v
ri

a te

L ut
P t
ie

r iv a e

B u g ois Flor nc
o

N um

Ga u d

Em l

se

i e,

G g J o ph T
Th ibod ux M t n
B g ud F l x
H b t El s
Mall t D l
L y ons L C P
re i

K ll d

A r rie u x

na

e i

er

0 7

i e,

ar i

Gun h o t w ound i n th sc lp
K ll d
Wound d v el y g
sho t
w o nd in t h
igh t b
t
W ound
n
ch in a n d l eft
shoulder
s

se

Ga m a s

Ca

si

m ir

er

e r

uu

re a s

T H E SI E G E O F V I C KSB U R G

R AN K

NAM E

97

R EM A R K S

23
.

r iv t e

L ou V I I e

J oseph L

Wounded in le ft a m nd
a m a mpu t ted
Wounded severel y in th
heel by shell
Gun shot wound in th a rm
r

Le

B l a ne

T h e od u l e

erge a n t Guedry C
,

r iv ate

24

Oze l et

J ules

i rt y

Ki ger Henr y

Killed
Leg f r c tured by shell nd
mpu t t ed
K Leg brok en by l i mb f
t ree
t nt w n by
sho t
f ll ing on h im
Wound ed in th wri st by
H
shel l
H
Wounded i n th sc lp by a
shell
F A rm bro ken by shell
Woun d ed n t h foot by
H
shell
a

Dubois J P i erre

Gun sho t wound in th th gh

off

Ki ng G eorge
M son Thom s
,

26

He d sho t

cu

at

K i ng Thom a s

ergeron W shi ng ton

a

C orpor l V i c tor B oudre u

Pr iv t e
B bin J oseph
a

C ormier

L a s t ie ,

Wounded mor t ll y in th e
he d by shell
G un shot wound in lef t shoul
der f W t h he died
G un shot wound in th e b ck
S erious gun sho t w ou nd
th he d
Wounded
a

B ergeron C h rles
a

Ll eu t

Pr l v a te

N v rre
F y e tte M rti n
S il v er e

F igh t M r ti n
a

B bin M cel
Whi tne y George
a

N uin M elville
C ooper E r
a

remin

l ou t

1 2

13

K illed
W ounded

f u ne
,

ourg O l im e
B ergeron Germ a in
B a b i n T h eod l e
,

eriousl y wounded
Wounded

f z me

Me l a ngon A im
B

Wounded
Wo nded

E v ns J
a

l u ne

O ne z im e

Wounded
Wounded

Ad m

M or ta ll y wounded

T r a SI m ond

B ou rg e ms
Fa g

ar

F
H

K i lled

Wou nded
Kill ed
.

98

TW E N T Y

R AN K
a

ri v te
a

ri s c

M a jor
P

r i v te
a

C a ll a h e n

Wounded

jzm e

rse

S erg e n t
a

P i i v te
a

L e o na i d

M a x a m il l ia n

Wounded

Me i t a ll y

G
G

Wounded

Honor C h mp gne
C repelle S everin
Dug s N
.

r i v te

Delm s Dubois
a

Dubo i s

l din
a

f l u te
jzm e

B on i g ,

f tm a

ri v t e
a

C nc i enne B ile
H eber t A delin
a

az

Woun ded
ta te d

a nd

oo t

M or ta ll y wounded

Wounded
>
Wounded
w Wounded
w H e a d ho t
o
Wounded

>
r

B ld w i n Thom s J

29
~

everel y wounded

Wounded

27

r
D uhon E mi le
Gu i dry A n toi ne
B oudre u V i c tor
Pa t Cl o d om ire

26

Le B l a nc Ovi lle
.

d i ed

er i ously wounded
f th wound
Wounded
S everel y wound ed
Mor t ll y wounded

wounded

L i eu t

Wounded
Wounded

A n ton i o

B bin V
C ur tis Thom s E
E d w rd M i tchell
Troscl i r J oseph
,

L i eu t
Pr i v te

jzm e

v r i st e
a

Ki lled

21

M orta ll y wounded

jzm e

C ome u Ovide
A
m n t J ules
Lech e J e n B p tiste
a

con ussion

C rroll J mes

by

9
'
F

W W M rt in

D i s bled
Ki lled

EM A R K S

Ki lled

Gri m Michel
A rm n t B t h
a,

ge n t

jzm e

Ser

Ki lled

ol a ri J e a n
J ohnson J a mes
S

oudrea u C l i tus
x

K i lled

r i va t e

Co

L a mb S muel
R oy C e v e nn e

LO U ISIANA RE G I M E N T

SI X H

N A ME

riv te

o ff

D ied i n th serv i ce
D i e d in th e service
e

THE

SI E GE

OF

V I C K S B U RG

99

A fter p aroli ng t h e v ari o us com m and s wh ich

te

q uired s ever al d ays th e tro op s th at were on d uty at

th e tim e of th e s urrend er were m arch ed o ut of V icks
burg with o ut retai ning t h eir sep arate organiz atio n s ;
th e si ck and wo und ed were co nveyed by water S om e
d ays el ap sed before n ews was br o ugh t to m e th at a
steam er w a s at th e l andi ng ready to tak e my family
and myself to o ur d estin ati on W e went o n board
and fo und it ll ed with o ur wo unded I t h ad al so
a m o ng its p assengers a cath ol i c pri est and a n umber
o f l adies all o f wh om h ad been banish ed from S t
Lo uis as so uth ern sym p ath izers
U p on reach ing
th e F ed er al fort o p p osite D on ald sonv ill e we l and ed
T h e com m and ant o f th e fort furnish ed us an ambu
l an ce to T h ibod aux wh ere we were wel co m ed an d
sh eltered und er th e h o spitable ro of of old fri end s
,

C H A PT E R X
W I TH I N

THE

25 , 1

E NE M Y S L I N ES

863 1 0 F e br

u a ry

864

th e tim e we reach ed Thi bod aux th e Lafo urch e

p arish es were n ot occupied by eith er of th e co ntend
i ng forces Th e C onfederate tro op s h ad been with
drawn a sh ort W hile before an d th e F ed eral tro op s
resum ed p ossessio n after o ur arrival
M any of th e regim ent cro ssed th e h ostil e li n e i n
order to reach th eir h o m es as th ey h ad n o di f culty
in p assing th e F ed eral pi ckets with th eir p ar ol es ; I
feared th ey wo uld be embarrassed i n attem pti ng t o
return as n ot any of th em h ad a written p erm issi o n
as i n my case to go with i n th e en emy s lin e ; h ow
ever I said n othi ng to th em at t h e ti m e but d eter
mined after th ey h ad rested well at th ei r h o m es to
suggest th eir return We were kep t under s urveil
l an ce by th e milit ary auth oriti es Th e m en were
ordered to rep ort weekly to th e Pro vo st M arsh al
A p ass was necessary o n my p art t o m ake a visit
beyo n d th e im m edi ate neigh borh o od o f T h i bod aux
I t w a s m ost pleasant to n ote th e co nd uct o f my
p eo ple under th e rule of th e en emy O f co urse a l l
yo ung m en were i n th e army Th e com m unity
abo ut me was com p osed of th e old th e di sabl ed
wo men and ch ildr en A few were weal thy but th e
greater p ortio n were of m oderate m ean s all were
d evoted to th e S o uth ern cause T h ey did n ot pro
AT

WITHIN

L I NES

E N E Mv s

THE

10 1

voke h ostility I t wo uld h ave availed n othing Th ey

were h owever rm as ad am ant and m ade n o con
cessio ns to p ower Th ey were n ot di sm ayed by th e
gl eam o f bayon ets n or cast d own by reaso n of an
arm ed and irresi sti bl e force i n th eir mid st Th e few
wh o were ex cepti o n s to th e r ule were i nsignicant
alike i n n umbers as i n s oci al p o siti on A m ong th e
co nveni en ces o f bein g a p arol ed priso ner with in
t h e en emy s lin e w as th e pleasure of being able to
com m uni cate th ro ugh th e m ails with relations and
fri ends in th e bord er states and th e N orth many o f
W h o m we h ad n ot h eard of d uri n g over twelve
m o nth s and t o wh om we co uld n ow write in a m ore
circum stanti al way th an was usual by m eans of th e
a g of tr uce ch ann el at R ich m ond
H avi ng l earned th at my co usi n R o bert S nowden
'
o f General J o h n H M organ s com m and w as a pri s
o n er at C am p D o u g l a s I wrote to M rs S Li sl e
S mith of C hi cago a si ster of M aj or J oh n C P o tts
o f Terrebo n ne r eq uesting h er to d o wh at sh e co uld
for h i s com fort S h e went to t h e cam p with h er
sister M rs B ender an d fo und yo ung S nowd e n very
ill H is life was s aved d o ubtless through th eir
kin d m inistr atio ns T h ese l ad ies were unwearied in
th eir d evoti on to th e si ck and h elpless priso ners at
th i s cam p for th e sake of H im wh o wen t abo ut
d oin g go o d with o ut r esp ect to co untry or co nditio n
Y o ung S n owden soo n after w ard was exch anged
and in gratitude to h is fair deli verers i nvested h is
s urpl us fund s i n can ned esculent s and as h e p assed
th ro ugh R ich m o nd took t h em to th e i nm ates of
Libby priso n
I h ave already m enti on ed th at m a ny of th e regi
'
m ent h ad com e with in th e e nemy s line to th eir
h om es A fter sever al weeks recup er ation I a s ce r
t a in e d th ey were willin g to return acro ss th e h o stile
.

TW E N T Y SIX TH LO U I SIANA I N F AN T RY

10 2

lin e but th e lo cal m ilitary auth oriti es at T h i bo d aux

d eclined granting th em p ermi ss ion to d o s o
A bo ut A ugust 2 7 t h C aptai n S h affer and myself
went to N ew O rl eans to obtain th e requi site p erm it
for th e p urp ose from General N P B ank s th e D e
A s th e mi ssi on w as o n
p a r t m e n t C omm ander
o f ci al business I wore my uniform W h il e we were
cro ssi ng th e river at A lgiers a gentlem en h and ed
m e a ro se and p oi nting to a l ady o n th e ferry bo at
m enti oned sh e h ad sent it to me I l o oked t oward
h er and bowed and sh e ret urn ed th e greeting I
th o ugh t it strange as sh e w as n ot kn own t o m e n o t
considering at th e tim e it was my uniform sh e
recogniz ed i n n o unfriendly spirit
Captain S h affer an d I went at on ce to th e H ead
q uarters o f General B a n ks but h e h ad go n e o ut t o
a military review W e th en went t o Ga l p in s resta n
rant for di nn er S everal F ederal o f cers w ere di ni ng
th ere I noticed Galpin w alking up and d ow n th e
r oom eyei ng us sh arply A waiter so o n bro ugh t us
a bottle o f wi ne with M r Ga l p in s com pli m ent s I
sent for h im to drink with us H e cam e o u t s aid h e
h ad a son in th e S o uth ern A rmy and was deligh ted
to m eet us
C aptain S h affer left very soo n I rem ai n ed i n
th e city abo ut ten d ays i n th e fr uitless end eav or t o
sec ure for th e m en th e coveted p ermi ssi o n t o p ass
th e F ederal pickets into o ur li nes I n i nt e rvi ews for
th is purp o se I m et General B anks Gen er al C h arl es
P S ton e h is chief o f staff a n d Gen er al B owen
Pro vo st M arsh al General B anks d id n ot i m press
m e favorably as a gentlem an and a soldi er Ge ner a!
B owen h ad th e co urtesy o f th e trained soldi er an d
th e con sid erateness th at graces tri um p h and so oth es
defe at W h en I called up o n General S to n e I sent
i n my card by th e sergeant at h i s d oor and was at
,

WITH I N

THE

L I N ES

E N E Mv s

10

o n ce adm itted
A s I entered th e d oor o n my
cr utch es h e ro se and cam e to m e to ok my h and and
w alked with m e to a S eat with a n aivet e of m anner
th at w as exceedingly ch arm ing
I f h owever I failed in my m i ssion th e visit
o th erwise w as s uccessful and tri um ph ant Th ere
were m any Co nfed erate soldiers im priso n ed in th e
C usto m H o use but I w a s th e only o n e at l arge
with in th e city and m en wo m en an d children to ok
deligh t to do m e h o n or Th e fact I was still o n
crutch es d o ubtless added t o th e m anifest atio n and
ap p ealed to th eir sym p athy I was rep aid amply
rep aid in th e ov atio n tend ered for th e privati ons I
h ad end ur ed and th e p erils I h ad p assed ; a long
repressed and d eep feeling i n th e co m m unity n ow
h ad a o bj ect up o n whi ch it co uld sh ow it s devoti on
and it sp oke as un mi st akably as a battery of N ap o
l eon s W ith out th o ugh t with o ut warni ng I was a
h e m ensh ri n ed i n th e h earts of a p eople th at kept
faith with h usband s and so ns fath ers and broth ers
o n far away battle e l d s an d wh o n ever bowed th e
knee to a r ule enforced by th e bayo net nor swerved
fro m th at co urse of con d uct p ointed o ut by p atrioti c
d uty
I w as th e guest of my cousi n M rs S n owd en
E very eveni ng I h eld a levee
E ven General
B anks h on ored m e with an eaves droppi ng detect
i ve W h en ever I wen t o ut th ere was an endeavor
to attract my n otice or to sh ow m e som e attention
h owever sligh t
A s I h obbled alo ng o ne m orni ng I h eard som e
o n e s ay W ell ! gr ay is prettier th an blue I lo oked
up to th e balco ny wh ence th e v oice pro ceeded a n d
to ok o f my kepi s to th ree yo ung l adi es
A t an oth er ti m e it being co ol I was wearing my
to p c o at be aring th e p elican butto n A sm all n ews
.

I 0

TW E N T Y SIX T H LO U I SIANA I N F AN T RY

boy cam e up and with o ut lo oki ng at m e lo oked at

th e buttons said all righ t and p assed o n

I was seated i n a street car n ext to a m iddle aged
wom an evidently of h umble walk w h o after scan ni ng

C o n fed er at e !
m e closely for som e tim e said

Y es I replied S h e rej oined i t d o es my h e art

good to see yo u
I went into a store t o m ake a sm all p urch ase and
wh en I selected th e arti cle o ffered th e pri ce th e
storekeep er re m arked
I cann ot t ake anyth ing
from a Con fed erate soldi er
I t i s well known th e m o st arr ant r ebels were
N orth ern p eople w h o h ad lived so m e ti m e i n th e
S o uth
I was p assing th e evening with th e fam ily
o f a fri end wh o was a n ative of M ass ach usetts wh en
anoth er M assach usetts m a n called H e was ard ent
as re but tim id as a ch ild ; wh en we were i ntro
d u ce d h e took a seat beside m e and wh i sp ered in
my ear
I am so gl ad to see yo u I co uld h allo a
I was invited to di ne at an oth er h o m e of N ew E n g
l and p eople wh ere I m et a l ady well kn ow n to m e
wh o kissed m e ; t h e h o stess foll owed h er as beauti
ful i n feat ure and p erso n as s h e was lovely i n ch ar
acter but with wh o m I was n ot well acquai nted ; as
I sh ook h ands with h er sh e kissed o n e o f th e but
ton s o f my co at rem arkin g A t least I can ki ss o n e
of th e butto n s
I step p ed o ut of t h e street c ar l ate i n th e after
n oon and as I ap pro ach ed th e sid ew alk fo ur littl e
girl s pretti ly dressed stop p ed i n th eir walk and
awaited m e O ne of th em ap pro ach ed m e and o f

fe r e d h er h and saying W e are C on fed er ates

I
sh o ok h ands with th ree of th em but th e o t h e r o f
som e six summ ers stood shyly ap art ; th e little
sp okeswom an th en p ointed as th o ugh sh e w anted

m e to go to th e fo urth o ne and said S h e is a r e bel

,

W I TH I N

LI N E S

E N E Mv s

THE

10

S o I wen t up and sh o ok h and s with th e little

to o
r ebe l
Th ese i n cid ents a few o ut of m a ny serve to
Sh ow h ow a C o nfeder ate s oldi er as a re p resent ative
o f h is co untry s cause received th e profo und an d u n
ad ulter a te h om age o f th e p eopl e of N e w O rleans
O n my return to Lafo urch e and m aking known
my b arren eff orts for p erm issio n to retur n to o ur
li nes it w a s d etermi n ed th e m embers of th e regim ent
wo uld cro ss th e li n e cov ertly i n squ a ds Th e rst
con si s ting o f C a pt W ebre Lieut N av a rre a nd oth
ers agreed up o n a rend ezv o us for th e p urp ose at
th e c a p tain s d welling ; bein g anxio us for th e s uccess
o f th e enterprise and as i t wo uld aff ect ot h er sorties
o f th e s am e ch a r a cter I went to C ap t W e bre s to be
assured all prop e r a rrangem ents were m ade Th ey
m et and left abo ut 9 P M t aki ng wi th th em a st a nd
o f colors whi ch h ad been m ade by M isses A n n a and
M ary E llis and p resented by th em to th e regim ent
Th e d ay after th ey l eft i t w a s ascert a ined two or
t hree h orses of a pl anter w h o was friendly to th e
U nio n c ause h ad also di sapp eared an d rum or co n
n e ct e d th e d isap p earance of m en and h orses
I rem a in ed with C apt W e br e s f a mil y th e nigh t
th e sq u a d disap p eared A bo ut m idnigh t I h eard a
r a pping a t a fro nt do or and s om e o n e asking t h at
th e d o or be op ened I h eard M rs W ebr e r ep ly th at
sh e wo uld not I i nferr e d it w as a soldier an d called
to M rs W ebre to let h im i n S h e op ened th e d oor
wh i ch led i nto h er ro om and fo ur F eder a l o f cers
i n full uniform m arch ed t h ro ugh h er ro om and
th ro ugh h er ch ildren s room direct to mi n e O n e
an no unced t o m e I w a s under arrest a nd p l a ced a
soldier at th e d o or o f my ro om W h o ke p t h i s gun at
full co ck A S I w a s o n cr utch es I did not see th e
o r th e gun a t f u ll cook
n ecessity o f th e s entry
,

14

10

TW E N T Y S IX T H LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY
-

th o ugh p erh aps i t was an h o n or to con sid er th at a

l ll
t
s
rebel with a broken leg arm ed with a cr utch w a s
d angero us and co uld be overcom e o nly by an abl e
bodied m a n with a gun at full co ck
In
o

cer
f
Wh en th ey h ad th us secured m e th e
comm and stated to m e h e h ad und ersto od th ere w a s
a rebel m eeti ng at th e h o use I repli ed I w as n o t
aware of a ny such m eeting ; a diligent search o f th e
premi ses h owever was undertaken gar ret kitch en
closet well n othing escap ed th eir vigil an ce ; a nd
by th e way th ey search ed Capt W e br e s d esk w h er e
th e a g m e n ti on ed h ad been take n o ut o nl y th ree
h o urs before M rs W ebre with a s a ng fro i d worthy
of a soldier s wife followed th e p arty i n th eir se arch
and aided t h em wh ere s h e co uld but all W ith o ut
a vail N eith er rebel n or sign o f rebel co uld be fo un d
I n th e m eanwhile th e co m m andin g o f cer addressed

T h e l as t tim e
m e two or three tim es a s M r H all
I replied C olo nel H all i f yo u pl e a se ; I giv e yo ur

o f cers th eir titles and exp ect th e s am e for m ysel f

V ery well C olo nel h e replied
A fter th e search was over th e o f cer cam e t o m e
a nd said C olonel we will h ave to take yo u t o
H ead quarters
I replied
V ery well but as I am
un able to walk yo u will h ave to furni sh transp ort a
tion
S oo n a veh icle was d ecl ared re ady M rs
W ebre h eld a light for m e to s e e th e way t o t h e
fro nt abo ut twenty cavalry h ad acco m p ani ed t h e o f
cers and j ust as I becam e vi sibl e t o th e cav alry m en
o ne of th em w h o h ad d o ubtless seen m e abo ut T h i
W hy it s only th at
bo d au x cri ed o ut i n disgust

l am e Colo nel
O f co urse it was sm al l gam e fo r fo u r
o f cers and twenty m en to bag o nly a l am e C olo n el
wh o co uld not r un away if h e wo u ld
I t was fo ur miles to H eadq uarters o f Gen B irge
co m m and a nt of th e district I so ugh t to be a r myself
,

WITHI N

L I NES

E N EMv s

THE

10

m od estly u nder th e n ovelty of a rst exp eri en ce

with an escort o f cav alry W hil e on o ur way th e
r anking o f cer co n sid ering d o ubtl ess th ere was no
ch arge could be preferred agai n st m e m ention ed h e
wo uld send m e to my quarters at M r M ead s if I
desired
I expressed m y assent T h e escort was
th en dism issed at T h ibod aux and I was sent o n to
my q uarters wh i ch I r each ed abo ut d ayligh t
Th e s uccess o f thi s rst sorti e bei ng assured th ere
was n ot any d i f culty abo ut subseq uent attemp ts to
cro ss th e lin e alth o ugh it still h ad to be do n e se
cr e t l y
and i n sm all n umbers at a tim e Th e m en
were favored in th eir enterpri ses by th eir familiarity
wi th t h e sw am ps th ro ugh wh ich th ey h ad to p ass
and of th e p eople th ey h ad to avoid or to apply to
for succor
W ith t h e m en safe over F ederal lin es I n ext
t urn ed my attentio n to a suitable pl ace of refuge for
my family; as th e exp erience at V icksburg did not
app ear to j ustify it in following my fortun es i n th e
eld M rs H all went to N ew O rleans for th e p ur
p o se of pr ocuring a p ass and to ascertain th e best
ro ute t o h er fath er s h om e in K entucky wh ere sh e
h ad d ecid ed to go S h e was also to request a p ass
for m e to go into C o nfederate lines General B owen
granted a p ass to h er an d asked h er to take th e o ath
o f allegi ance S h e told h im sh e co uld n o t ; th at h er
h usband h eld rank in C o nfeder ate servi ce and sh e
co uld n ot d o an act h e wo uld n ot s an ctio n Gen eral
B owen repli ed I appreci ate yo ur p ositi on and sh all

n ot req uire it
A s to a p ass for myself sh e was not successful
Gen eral B anks decided th e p ass I h eld from General
Gran t under wh ich I entered F ederal lin es did n ot
warran t my exit ! I w as allowed h owever a p ass to
N e w O rle an s in order to t ake leave o f my family
,

10

TW E N T Y SI K H LO U ISIANA RE G I M E N T
-

n ow

A s th e M ississip pi R i ver was

app ropri ated by th e

enemy and all river craft pres um ably fo r h o stil e
p urp oses or d in ary t ra v e l o n t h e river was s usp end ed ;
so th at M rs H all and th e ch ildren h ad to go fro m
N ew O rleans by steam er to N e w Y ork th en ce to
th eir d esti n ati on
D uring th i s vi sit I presse d th e auth oriti es for a
p ass into th e C on fed eracy as a m atter o f sim pl e j us
tice M y friend J A d R ozi er aid ed m e all i n h is
p ower Th e request was n ot deni ed but it w as n ot
granted ; I d eem ed it prud ent to bide my ti m e an d
returned t o th e Lafo urch e wh ere I was agai n w e l
com ed t o th e h o spitabl e ro o f o f my friend M r
Fran cis L M ead A m em ber of hi s family M i ss
M argaret M cK ee ( after w ard s M rs B e a sl ey ) i n a
n ote to M rs H all gives an acco u nt o f a call of a
Lieutenant and squad of cavalry o f th e F ed er al arm y

at M r M ead s wh ilst I was th ere

I t w as n ow h alf p ast nin e s o M iss M cK e e

writes
suddenly th e d ogs begin t o bark as i f th ey
wo uld m ake m in ce m eat o f anybody wh o a p
A li ce cam e r unning i n an d s aid
M aa s
pr o a ch e d

Fr a nk th e yard i s full o f soldiers

S ur e en o ugh we
h eard th eir swords rattling an d l o oki ng th ro ugh th e
blind s saw th e frigh tful gleam of weap o n s wh ile
som e on e w as scream ing
I f yo u d o not t ake th es e
d ogs away I will kill th em
By th i s ti m e L ie u te n
ant F oster was o n th e gall ery p eep ing th ro ugh t h e
blinds U ncl e M ead tried to o p en th e do or but h a d
t o wait till Th eres a co uld be ro used sh e h ad l o ok e d
it a nd gone to bed Fi n ally th e do or was O p e n ed

and in stepped th e Li euten ant in all th e p o m p a n d

pride of war
H e w as so m uch agitated wh en h e
cam e in eith er from fear sh am e o r f a tigue ( h e h ad t o
climb th e gate ) th at h e did n o t sp eak for two o r
three min utes R ecovering h im self h e said to C 0 1
,

W I T H I N T H E E N E M Y S L I N ES
o ne l

10

H all C ol o n el I und erst and th ere i s to be a

m eeti ng o f rebel o f cers h ere to n igh t

I h ave n ot h eard o f it Li euten ant

W e were told so rej oi n ed th e Li euten an t

H e th en w anted to kn ow of C olo n el H all if h e

m ad e th i s h i s h om e wh ere h i s family was h ow l ong
h e exp ected to r e m a in w h a t d ay wo uld h e be sent
o ut of th e li n es etc all of wh ich questi o n s h e asked
th ree o r fo ur tim es and wh ich it seem ed h e co uld
n ot get xed i n h i s m em ory

A fter rem ai ni ng abo ut an h o ur h e go t up t o

le a ve but still li ngered as if loth to go C ol on el
H all s aid h e was gl ad h e was abo ut to be sent away
as it was n ot pleasant to M r M ead to be disturbed in
th i s m ann er
A fter a wh ile F oster took leave of us
H e gave
C olo n el H all a h earty sh ake of th e h and and said
W h ile th e l am p h olds o ut to burn th e vil est sinn er
m ay return I am glad to s ay to yo u th at t he bro ad
S avann ah s o f th e S o uth are fast beco ming red uced
we are drawing o ur coils closer and tigh ter aro und
yo u Y o u will soo n h ave to give up Colon el H al l
r ep lied M ay be so Li eutenant but we will ght yo u
to th e l ast and will di e h ard
A bo ut th e l atter p art o f J an uary ( A D 1 86 4 ) I
went again to N ew O rl eans an d by m eans o f t h e
co n ti nued go od servi ces of my friend R ozi er I suc
ce e d e d in obtaini ng a p ermi t to p ass th e lin es o n a
sch o o ner go ing to P ascago ul a and carrying an as
sorted cargo o f m en wo m en and children a lot o f
to o ard ent sym p athiz ers with th e S o uth ern cause
K n owi ng I wo uld n ot for a lo ng tim e be able to
add to my sto ck of cloth ing I sup plied myself to th e
full cap acity of my trunk and as each p assenger was
all owed to t ake a l unch my co usin M rs B owling
p ut u p o n e for m p con sisti ng of a h am Lyo ns sau
,

TW E N T Y S IX TH LO U ISIAN A I N F A N T RY

I IO

sage a pi n e a ppl e ch ees e several box e s o f sardi n e s

a l o af or two of bread two bottles o f win e and a bot
tle o f brandy I t is p erh ap s un n eccessary t o add I
did n ot con sum e all of it at a sin g le m eal I dressed
in full uni form wore my sword a nd was dri ven to
th e wh arf wh ere t h e sch oon er l ay I wa s m et th e r e
by my co usin M ary S n ow d en M r Th om as A
A d am s M r Geo rge Trufant an d oth er fri en d s
We
started about noon t h e l ast so und th a t grated up o n

o ur ears bei ng Y ankee D o od le s ung i n a sc h o ol

roo m by negro ch ildren !
,

C H A PT E R X I
I N D IX I E
F br u ary
e

864

t o A 757

! 4

865

W e reach ed Pascago ul a i n d ue time a n d l bre ath ed

th e free air o f D i xie C ap tive n ever lo nged m ore
for ligh t or enj oyed it m ore exq ui sitely th an I did
th is rst breath of S pring l ad en with th e p erfum e of
h er earli est flowers a calm C onfederate sky above
th e bl ue waters of th e bay sleeping i n th e distance
an d
go od C on fed erate m en wo m en and children
aro und m e
I went fro m P ascago ul a to M obile T h e F o urth
and T h irti eth Lo ui si ana R egiments h ad j ust reach ed
t h e l atter pl ace Th e p ari sh of Lafo urch e h ad f u r
n is h e d a co m p any to each
I wen t at on ce to a co t
t o n press wh ere th e regim ents were bivo uacki ng and
gave o ur boys th e lates t news from h o m e I e nter
t a in e d t h e crowd to th e best of my ability and th en
I w as s ubj ected to a direct as well as to a r aking re
o f sh arp sh ooting q uestions abo ut m o th er fath er and
all n o t o m itting th e girls th ey left behi nd th em
I d eterm i ned to go to R i chm ond to re d ress a p er
so n al gri evance in t h e refusal to accord to m e com
m utati on for quarters i n V i cksburg I co n ceived it
my righ t and intend ed to sp are no e ffort to obt ai n it
A s it w a s likely I wo uld be o n p arole for som e ti m e
I travelled by easy stages stop ping at M o ntgom ery
A ugusta and R aleigh W h ere I h ad fri ends and in
,

I I2

TW E N T Y SIX TH LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY
-

tim e reach ed R i ch m ond wh ere with my com

m utatio n account in h and p assed up ad versely by
s uccessive h eadquarters I presented myself un h eart
ened by prior d efeats and it was allowed
W h ile in R ich mond I cal led up o n Gen eral M L
S mith o ur whilom Brigadi er and D i visio n C o m m a n
der now with Lee s army Th e con versati o n i n
tim e drifted into th e defence of V i cksburg and h is
com m and th ere ; th e Gen eral rem arked h e co n s id
ered th e Lo uisi ana and M issi ssip pi tro op s h e co m

m a n d e d th ere a n e body of soldi ers

I ndeed
said h e and h e seem ed loth to say it so fearful h e
was of uttering a sentim ent th at migh t savor o f a
com plim ent or detract from th e sin cerity of h is n a
ture I ndeed I th ink th ey were as go od as any
tro op s i n Lee s army
Prai se fro m s o gen ui n e a
so urce a nd from o ne so reticent w a s in tr ut h a
graticati on H e h a d tried us and fo und us worthy
to stand sid e by sid e with th e h ero es of S to n ew all
J ackson of Lo ngstreet and t he H ills !
I called up o n Gen eral Bragg in V iew of my ex
ch ange to kn ow wh eth er I might n ot serve i n so m e
c ap acity until able to take th e eld for th e i nj ured
limb was slow in gaini ng strength H e o ffe red m e
mem bersh ip o n th e m ilitary co urt attac hed to Ge n
eral S D Lee s C avalry C orp s wh ich I accept ed
and went to R aleigh to await my exch ange Pa
t ie n ce bei ng sorely taxed at wh at seem ed un called for
d elay I decided to go to R ich m o nd and l o ok i nto
th e cause I reach ed th ere o n J u n e 3 A s t h e trai n
appro ach ed th e city th e bo o m of great gun s a n
n o u n ce d th e sh o ck o f arm s
I t stirred m e d eep er
th an a tr um pet s sound I lo nged to be free fro m
th e sh ackles of my p arole a nd to stand sid e by sid e
W i th my broth ers in arm s breasti ng th e s urge A
l ong railway tr ain lled with o ur wo und ed p assed by
du e

I N D I X IE

1 1

o n its way to h o spital s i n th e i nterior I t was a sad

sigh t to see o ur o wn brave boys m util ated in every
co n cei vabl e m ann er !
E veryth ing i n R ich m o nd wore a q uiet air
Twas
e arly d ay N ewsboys were cryi ng th e p ap ers M ilk
m en in th eir carts were ringing t h eir bells as of old
at t h e d o ors of th eir c ustom ers ice carts were going
t h eir usu al ro und s and amid th is bo oming o f artil
lery at th e v ery gat es o f R ich m ond v alise in h and I
lim p ed in to th e S p otswo od H otel registered my
n a m e to ok a bath and breakfasted app arently h eed
l ess o f th e great dram a go in g o n so n ear to m e
I went to see C om missio ner Q
u l d s about my ex
ch ange H e o ffered n o ex plan ati o n o f wh at seem ed
u n us ual d elay I co ul d o nly p ossess my so ul in p a
t ie n ce
I n th e co urse o f th e day I vi sited th e S en
ate and H o use o f R epresen tatives th en i n sessi on
an d h eard th e affairs o f th e Co nfederacy q uietly dis
c ussed wh ile th e welkin r u ng with th e ro ar of can
no n A s it app eared I co uld not advan ce my ex
ch ange by rem aining l n R i ch m ond I left th e m atter
with my old acquain tan ce D uncan F K enner and
ret urn ed t o R aleigh
A s an i n cid ent o f th e tim e I m ay m ention th at as
my corresp o nd en ce with M rs H all was now across
h o stil e li nes and as I wish ed to say m uch m ore th an
I co uld m enti on in an op en letter by th e us ual a g
of tr uce co m m uni catio n o ur go od fri end J am es J
T arlto n with Power Low
C o m ade a n arrange
m en t under wh ich letters p assed regul arly between
us by m ean s o f blockade r un n ers H er letters to
m e were sim ply directed to J M A r e n d a n o H a
van a wh ich being op ened a t H av an a disclosed a let
ter directed to B ogart
thi s
C o N assau N
bei ng o p en ed at N ass au disclosed a letter directed to
P ower Low 81 C o
W ilmi ngto n N
W h ich o n
.

15

T WE N T Y S I K H LO U I S IANA RE G I M E N T

I I4

being op ened th ere sh owed M rs H all s letter wh i ch

o ur friend Tarlton wh o kep t advised o f my ad dress
sent to m e My letters to h er were sent to T arlt o n
wh o sent th em to h er by t h e reverse directi o ns and
ro ute
I n th e exp e ctati on som e O f my l etters m igh t be
captured I w a s careful t o st ate i n th em wh at ever
was enco uraging in th e way of news ; w h eth er i t r e
l ated to s ubstituted m ateri al i nfant m a n uf a ct ure th e
extent of o ur reso urces or th e d eterm i nati on o f o ur
wh ol e p eople to gh t if need be to th e bitter end
I re ce iv e d n otice o f my exch ange o n J un e 1 3 1 86 4
I t h ad been delayed s o m uch m ore t h an I h ad ex
p e ct e d th at my lim b i n th e m e anwh ile h ad re co v
ered su f ciently to en abl e m e t o t ak e th e eld
Th erefore I wrote to General B ragg th at I wo u l d r e
port for d uty at o nce on t h e m ilitary co urt but d e
sired to rej oin my regim ent as th e tem p or ary di s a
bil ity was now rem oved
O n J u n e 1 8 Gen er al B ragg wrote to m e a nd s ug
gested I recall my accep tan ce o f th e ap p o i ntm ent o n
a milit ary co urt I addressed accordingly a co m
m u n ica t io n to Gene r al S C o op er A dj ut ant and I n
sp ector General recalling my accep t a n ce o f th e p o
si ti o u o n th e co urt provid ed th e rec a ll wo uld t e in
state m e as C olo nel o f th e 2 6 t h Lo uisi an a I nfantry
an d s t a t ing I h a d accepted th e app oi ntm e nt by re aso n
of tem p orary disability caused by a wo un d re ceived
i n service and th a t th e disability was n ow r em oved
General Bragg m ad e a favorable end orsem e nt o n th e
com m unicatio n Gen eral Co op er forw a rd ed i t to
th e S ecretary of War with th e endo rsem ent th a t n o
pro motio ns h ad been m ade to th e vac a n cy caused by
my a p p oin tm ent ; but th e S ecret ary of W ar d ecid ed
it w a s too l a te to m ake th e ch ange unless with th e
by my resi g n a ti on
as sent of a ll o f cers affected
.

D IX I E

1N

1 1

O n th e r ecei p t of th is d eci sion a dverse to my re

quest I wrote to Gen eral C o op er stati ng th e en tire
f a cts o f th e c a se and th at wh ile i n R ich m o nd on
J un e 3d l a st I h ad seen i n t h e h and s o f C ap t a in J G
C l a rk A A G o f B rigadi er Gen eral A llen T h om a s
a n applic a ti on o n th e p art of t h e Lieuten an t C olo nel
o f th e 2 6 t h Lo uisi an a R egim en t to be prom oted to
th e r ank O f C olo nel up on wh ich th ere was an e n
d or s e m e n t of th e W ar D ep artm ent refusin g th e a p
pli cati o n on th e gro und th e regim ent w a s d epleted
to an exten t th at d id n o t j ustify furth er prom oti on
am o n g th e eld o f cers and th at my r e in statem en t
th erefore wo uld n ot interfere with th e rights o f a ny
o f cer o f th e r egim e n t I furth er m enti oned it
wo uld d etr act from th e dignity of my o f ce an d de
cre ase th e sp h ere O f my useful n ess to resum e my
p o sitio n by th e favor o f subordi n a te o f cers as i nti
m ated in th e com m unic ati o n to m e from th e W ar
D ep a rtm ent and th at I co uld n ot accept rank at
th eir h and s
I r eceived n o reply to th i s com m uni catio n th e
A dj utant G en er al d o ubtless lo oking up on it as th e
d ust and sm ok e th at arises from a co n ict and a d e
feat s o m eth i ng exp ected but n ot worthy of n ote
I n J un e 1 86 4 I went to J ackson M is s wh ere I
j oin ed th e m embers of th e m ili tary co urt I t was
c om p o sed o f C olo nel J am es Ph elan of M ississip pi
form erly o f th e Con federate S tates S en ate Col onel
T A J o n es o f A l abam a and myself with C aptain
A usti n P ollan d of M i ssissip pi as J udge A dvocate
C a pt a in P h el an a s Pro vo st M arsh a l and M r Carter
C lerk W e h eld co urt at J ackso n a nd M eridi an I n
l eis ure m o m ents I st udied th e l aw rel ative to co urts
m arti al W e were m ad e welco m e to th e in viting
h o sp it ality o f J ackso n and as th e m embers of th e
co urt m essed togeth er ti m e d id n ot p ass t ard i ly
,

I16

T WE N T Y S IX T H L O U ISIA N A I N F A N T RY
-

Wh il e camping a t W est Point M i ss i ssip p i we

m ad e an e ffo rt to get into th e gh t o f Lee and F or
r est at H arriso nburg F ail ure to p ro cure h orse s
prevented us A fter th e battl e I learned a trai n o f
o ur wo und ed wo uld p ass th ro ugh th e town I wen t
to th e statio n to m eet th e m and t o h el p th em or at
least sp eak a few wo rd s o f com fort I m et a p ri
v ate 0 f th e 2 6 t h wh o h ad been i n th e gh t sorely
wo unded but full of enth usi asm Th e p o or wo und ed
fellows were p a cked i n clo se box c ars al m o st sti ed
with th e h eat of a mid sum m er d ay I w e nt o n o n e
of th e cars used m y cav alry bo ot vigoro usly and s uc
ce e d e d in kicking off a pl ank or two fr om t h e sid es
so as to admit th e air O th ers foll owed my ex am
pl e and soo n all th e s u ff ering boys h ad draugh t s o f
fresh air
A s corresp o nden ce seem ed of n o a v a il i n a d v a n c
i ng my return to th e regim en t wh i ch h a d r en d ez
v o u s e d n e a r A lexandri a Lo uisi an a and already n um
bered 31 2 m en I obtain ed leave of absen ce i n ord er
to go to R ich m o nd and plead my c a use i n p erson
My acquai ntan ces th ere M r Ch arles M C o n rad
M r D un can F K en n ar o f th e H o use o f R eprese m
t a t iv e s General S p arrow o f t h e S en a te M r B enj a
min S ecretary of S tate all con sidered I wo uld fai l in
my endeavor
M r K enn a r l aid th e m atter before th e S ecretary
of W ar and th e Presid en t successively w ith o ut av ail
I w as abo ut to leave R ich mo nd i n disgust but r e
m ained at th e suggesti o n o f C ol on el S a le o f Gen eral
B r a gg s staff wh o h ad en co uraged m e fro m th e be
gi nni ng and th ro ugh C olon el B urto n N H arris o n
th e President s Priv a te S ecret a ry h e o btai n ed fo r
m e anoth er h e a ri n g before th e Presid ent I to ok
my p ap ers to M r H arriso n wh o requested m e t o
wait and p erh a p s I co uld see th e Presid ent A p age
,

1N

I XIE

1 1

o o n entered th e ro o m and i nform ed m e I co uld see

th e P resid ent in h i s p riv at e ro om A s soo n as I w a s
w ith in t h e r oo m Presid en t D avi s ro se fro m h i s s eat

n
a n d s ayi g H ow d o yo u d o C olo n el advan ced t o
m eet m e with a quiet un ass um in g air H is pres
en ce sim ple as i t w as m oved m e a s I h a ve seld om
bee n m oved I st a ted to h im I h ad som e pap ers t o
l ay before hi m rel ative to my return to th e regi m ent
and begged le a ve to m ake a verbal explan ati o n
W h en I h ad do ne s o h e s uggested I sh o uld p ut my
expl an ati o n in writing and l eave it with th e p ap ers
I n a few d ays my ap plicati o n w a s ret urned wi th a fa
v o r a bl e end orsem ent
I was anxi ou s to ret urn at on ce to th e regim ent ;
th ere was n o o utgoin g train s a ve a freigh t train
wh i ch I bo arded Th e cars were lo cked and I was
n ot all owed in th e cabo ose My sol e ch an ce was
th e top o f t h e c abo o se wh ere I fo und a m ulatto as a
fell ow p assenger W e kep t close t o th e pip e of th e
sto ve i n th e cabo o se I t was midwinter S now l ay
up on th e gro un d and it was bitter cold Th e train
w o ul d m o ve only a few m iles a t a tim e W hile i n
m oti o n it see m ed a s i f t h e cold wind pierced every
sensitive p a rt o f my body I l a id down to avoid it
and v ery n ear th e m ul atto S eldo m h a d I p assed
such a nigh t o f s u ffering I tried wh iskey with o ut
av ail as a restor a tive Th e d awn bro ugh t reli ef as
I w a s th en tr an sferred to th e rear pl a tform o f a car
wh i ch sh i elded m e fro m t he wind
A t J ack son M ississip pi I met D B ergeron a pri

vate o f C o D wh o h ad been in prison at E lm ira

N ew Y ork and w a s ret urning to th e regim ent
I
obtain ed a J ersey wagon to take us to a p oi nt on th e
M i ssi ssipp i R iv er wh ere th ere were m eans of cross
i ng W e were kindly entertained o n o ur way o ur
l ast sto p pi n g p l a ce being a pl a nter s dwelling n ear
s

I18

TW E N T Y SI XT H LO U ISIA N A I N F A N T R Y

th e ri ver wh ere we stayed a nigh t with t h e i ntent i o n

o f attempting to cro ss i n th e m o rni n g with a p ro
viso th at n o gun bo ats of th e en emy were n ear
I was el ated with th e prosp ect of h avi ng my r egi
m ent in Lo uisi an a as dear to m e as my n ative S tate
asso ci ated as it was with ch eris h ed m em ori es goi ng
back and beyo nd my e arly m an h o od a n d I fan ci e d
myself saying as soon as I to uch ed th e soil
I stan d
upon my n ative h eath and my n am e i s M cGr e g o r
O n th e m orrow we went to th e bank o f th e ri ver
o ur coming h aving previously been m ad e kn own A
ferrym an soon m ad e hi s app earance and o ffer ed t o
t ake us over for $ 2 0 0 wh i ch I was q uite willing to
give We started and m ad e go od h eadway W h e n
abo ut th e middle of th e stre am we descri ed th e
sm oke of a ste am er com i n g d own T h e ferrym an
p u lled with a will l and ed us tumbl ed o ut my tr unk
and p ush ed from sh ore to seek h i s r efuge on th e
oth er side W e hid th e trunk i n a cl um p o f bush es
and so ugh t sh elter o ursel ves fro m u nfri endly o bs e r
v ation Th e steamer soon cam e i n vi ew I t pro v ed
to be a tran sp ort A ny o n e fro m its d eck co uld
h ave swep t th e eld about us with gl asses but th e
bush es we were i n d oubtless co n cealed us fro m
V i ew
I t was while I was cro uch ed i n th e b ush h id ing
from th e enemy and as a guilty th in g feari ng to face
th e d ay I recalled with p ity to my best p art o f
valor th e word s o f th e S cottish C h ieftai n :

I stand up o n my n ative h eath a n d my n am e is

,

M cGr e g o r

Th e transport was h ardly o ut of sigh t wh e n my

fellow traveller true to a soldi er s i n sti n ct w ent fo r
aging and soo n return ed with a n umber of eggs W e
pro cured a team con si sti ng of a yoke o f ox en a n d
th e tongue and fore wh eels of a w ago n up on wh ich

1N

we

D IX I E

1 1

l ash ed th e trunk and started to reach a pl anta

ti o n h o use a m ile and a h alf fro m th e river th e d ri
v e r o f th e team ch eering us with th e rem ark th at a
gang of m en fro m a gunbo at h ad d estroyed a ski ff
abo ut a fortnigh t before on th e sp o t wh ere w e
st o od W h en we reach ed th e pl antati o n h o use
we en tered and m et som e o f th e occup ants th e
own er being o ut S o on h owever h e m ade hi s a p
p e a r a n ce and seem ed extrem ely unh appy to enter
t ai n us and i n h i s h eart d o ubtless wish ed us in H ali
fax o r a m ore rem ote regi o n alth o ugh h e allowed
us to sl eep o n th e o or I n th e m orni ng we m ade
p rep arati on to leave before breakfast I n h is s urly
w ay h e i ntim ated we co uld h ave breakfast
I
t h anke d h im and told hi m th at unpleasant as it was
for h i m to entertai n it was m ore unpleasant for us
t o be entertai ned W e stopp ed at a negro cabi n
n ear bo ugh t som e bread and m eat for o ur breakfast
and r esum ed o ur j o urn ey
R aidi ng p arties of th e enemy s cavalry h ad beco m e
m ore famili ar th an agreeable to th e p eople with in a
few m iles of th e river so th at we h ad to travel cau
I n ti m e
t io u s l y to avoid bei ng pi cked up by th em
we were beyo nd th e limit of th eir forays and am o n g
friend s W e to ok t h e ro ad to H arriso nburg th ence
to A lexand ri a wh i ch we reach ed on A pril 4 1 86 5
,

C H A PT E R X I I

T RANS M ISSIS S I PP I D E P AR TM E N T
-

A p r il M a y

865

A fter th e s urrender of V i cksburg i t was Gr ant s

,

p oli cy to di sorganiz e and scatter th e entire C o nfed

crate forces th ere i n such m an ner th at n ei th er th e
auth ority of th e Co n f ederate Gover nm en t n or any
p erson al appeal to t h e p atri otism of th e soldi er
wo uld be able to unite th e severed m embers i nto a
sh ap ely and e ffective body
I n th e v al uable notes already referr ed t o fur
nish ed to m e by C aptai n M oss h e says

My recollectio n i s th at we were n o t allowed t o

m arch o u t in regular military order it seem ed t o be
the p olicy to disorganize o ur forces

A fter receiving ratio ns an d o ur p arol es fr om th e

F ederals we m arch ed o ut of th e city and it so o n
becam e known th at we were to rep ort at E nterpri se
M ississip pi and go into p arole cam p I t w as to o
m uch to exp ect fr om ragged starved an d s u fferi n g
m en to go i nto a p arole cam p for an i nd e nite tim e
wh ich proved after wards to be abo ut twel ve m onth s
S o th ey nearly all went h o m e m any o f th em h ad
families in want and misery to recup erate and be
r eady for duty wh en exch anged
Th e p olicy of disintegratio n we h ave all uded to
w as favored by th e fact th at th e h o m es n ow so u g h t
by th ese m en Were in territory s ubj ect to th e e n e
,

T RA NS M ISSI S SI PP I D E P AR TM E N T

I ! I

my s co ntrol w h ere th i s p oli cy was n o t o nly e n co u r

aged but in a m eas ure enforced
B ut G en eral Grant m isto ok th e tem per of th e
m en with wh om h e was d ealing and long before an
exch ange w a s e ffected p aroled soldiers wh o h ad gon e
i nto F ed eral territory to see t h eir famili es h ad r e
turn ed t o C o nfed er ate li nes to be ready to serve as
so o n as th e ban o f th eir p arole was lifted C aptai n
M o ss states in th e no tes I h ave m enti o ned :
I n th e S pring of 1 86 4 a p arole c am p was estab
l is h e d i n Lafayette P arish for C om p anies A and E
and s ubseq uently we were ordered to rep ort at Pin e
ville and o n M ay 1 1 86 4 a p arole cam p wa s estab
l is h e d n ear N at chi toch es Lo u isi an a for th e regi
m en t and p articularl y for C O G wh ose m embers re
sid ed in i ts neigh borh o od
I n th e rst draft o f th ese m em oirs I h ad no t any
n otes o f wh at o ccurred in rel ati on to th e regim ent
after th e s urrend er of V i cksburg and before I j oi ned
t h e regim en t at Pi neville Lo uisian a Th e gap h as
bee n h ap p ily clo sed by th e following i nter esting nar
r a t iv e from th e
pe n o f Lie uten ant B ossier of C o, G :
,

N A T C H I TO C H ES

LA

S ept

2 3,

889

M aj or Lagard e o f th e 2 6 t h Lo uisi an a R egim ent

re ach ed N atch i toch e s Lo uisian a abo ut M ay I I 86 4
t hree week s after th e battles of M anseld and Pleas
an t H ill w h ere B anks army was d efeated and ro uted
by th e C o n federates under comm and of General
D i ck T aylor
M aj or Lagarde C aptai n M etoyer Li euten ant L e
m ee and mysel f d ecided to establish a p arole c am p
at C am p S al ubrity We notied all th e p aroled sol
diers o f C o G and p ers uad ed abo ut o ne h alf to j oi n
us i n cam p abo ut th ree miles north o f th i s city
w h ere w e h ad th e best spring w a t e r in abund ance
,

'

16

TW E N T Y SI K H LO U I SIANA RE G I M EN T

1 22

M aj or Lagarde a n d myself went to work t o nd

co oking ute n sils etc for th e m en W e s ucceed ed
i n nding a supply i n deserted n egro q uarters d ow n
C ane R iver a bo ut ten m iles fro m th i s p oi nt
Co G rem ained at C a mp S al ubrity add ing p a
1 86 4
r o l e d soldi ers to its ranks unti l abo ut J un e 2 0
H aving now about 35 m en assem bled w e d ecid ed to
m ove to A lexandri a
W e m ad e arra n gem ents for a steam bo at t o t ake u s
down th us avoiding to p aroled soldi ers th e fatigue
of th e m arch in mid summ er
O urs bei ng th e o nly co mp any o f th e 2 6 t h in th is
l o cality w a s con sequently th e rst to m ake t h e m o ve
to establish a p arole cam p for th e regim ent W e se
l e ct e d a p oint across th e ri ver op p osite A lex andri a
n ear Pinevi lle wh ere w e establish ed o ur cam p abo ut
J une 2 5 1 86 4
H ere we were j oin ed by a few o f
cers and m en of th e 2 6 t h fro m l ower p ari sh es d ur
ing th e m onth s of J uly and A ug u st but I do n o t re
member from wh at com p ani es
N e w s of o ur bei n g ex ch anged reach ed us by t h e
last o f A ugust 1 86 4 wh en an order em an ati ng fro m
h ead quarters at A lex andria was read to th e s old iers
all o f W h om h ad been assembled fo r th at p urp ose
Th i s news was received i n camp w ith d em o nstr atio ns
of j oy and co ntributed l argely to disp el th e m o n o t
ony o f so l diers in a p arole camp
M aj or Lagard e was in co m m and and Li euten ant
L e m e e A cti n g A dj utant of th e batt ali o n
A rm s a n d acco utrem ents were fur n ish ed th e m en
i n cam p a g iia r d h o use i mprovised guard m o un ti ng
com pany drill and d ress p arade establi sh ed ; and i n
a word we felt like soldiers o nce m ore and re ady t o
p erform o ur d uties as s uch
D uring th e month s of S eptember O ctober and
N ovember o f cers and men con ti n ued to co m e i n
and rep ort for d uty
.

T RANS M ISSI SSI PP I D E P AR TM E N T

I 23

G uard m o unti ng battali o n drill and dress p arade

were h ad d aily D etach m e n ts were m ad e from all
th e battali o n s of o ur brigad e to work on th e two
forts i n pro cess o f co n structi o n o ne mile above
Pi n evill e o n t h e river D et ails to guard th e m any
p ri so n ers i n A lexand ria were of freq uen t o ccurrence
Th e pri son ers referre d to were d eserters j ay
h awkers etc A m on g th em was a n oted M aj or M c
G ee fo r traf cki ng with th e F ed erals in cotton
w hil e B ank s army was at th i s p oint
S om e tim e in N ovem ber 1 864 t h e 2 6 t h and 2 8t h
Lo ui si a n a batt ali o ns in com m and of Colo nel A llen
Th o m as or Lieuten ant Colon el Landey were ordered
t o m arc h d own t o E vergreen abo ut thirty m iles be
l ow A l exandri a to m eet t h e enemy reported to be
ad v an ci ng fro m below
T h e boys in grey rai sed a s h o u t w h ich m eant th ey
were always ready for b u si n ess wh en called up on to
m eet th e e nemy
W e sh o uldered arm s and m arch ed o ut of cam p
h aversacks pretty well lled with sweet potato es to
m eet th e en e m y for th e rst tim e sin ce th e siege of
V i cksburg
W hil e cro ssi ng th e p on to on bridge at A lexandria
t h e boys m ad e th e welkin ring w it h th eir sh o uts of
j oy
O ur forces abo ut 6 0 0 strong presented a sol
d ie r l y ap pearan ce and attracted a crowd of p eople
o n t h e levee in fro nt o f A lexandri a wond ering wh at
w as up W h en told of o ur mi ssi on to m eet th e
Y anks th ey ch eered us vo ciferously
W e reach ed E vergreen n ext d ay wh ere m e m et
Gen eral D e B ray co m m andi ng p icket forces of th at
se ct i o n
T h e Gen eral w as a gay old ch ap and told us if
we were n ot afraid we co uld stay all nigh t and
,

TW E N T Y S IX T H LO U ISIA NA I N F AN T RY

I 24

we migh t h ave a little p icnic with th e blu e belli es

n ext m orni ng
N ext d ay we were told by o ur h u m oro us old Ge n
eral h e reckoned th e Y anks h ad h eard som eth i n g
abo ut yo ur record at C h i ck asaw B ayo u w h ere G e n
eral S teph en D Lee h ad wh ipp ed and ro uted G e n
eral S h erm an
A fter p ausin g a wh il e un til th e boys
ceased to ch eer h e add ed
I wan ted t o s ay so m e
th ing to yo u abo ut yo ur record at th e siege o f V i ck s
burg but am afraid yo u will ch eer so l o ud t h e
Y anks m ight come t o see wh at s th e m att er
One
sh ould h ave been th ere to h e a r th e boys ch eer and
l augh S o me of t hem I believe laugh ed ti m e an d
again for a m onth over th e old Gen eral s am u sin g
ways
B ei n g left m asters o f th e situati on as th e Y ank s
were not to be fo u n d w e m arch ed back p assi n g
through C heneyville an d reach ed th e river wh ere a
bo at was wai t ing for u s
O ur brigade em barked and reach ed A l ex and ri a
all feeling better for th e exercise of th e m arch after
a long rest and th e fun provoked abo ut th i s bl o od
less vi ctory
S om e tim e in N ovem ber 1 864 Li e u ten a n t Gen
eral S B B uckner to ok com m and o f th e army
corp s with h e a dqu a rters at S hrevep ort W e th en
h ad several brigade drills ou r regim ent taking p art
i n all
A bo ut D ecember 1 864 Li eutenant M o ore o f th e
Confederate army was co urt m arti al ed fo und gui lty
o f d esertion and sh ot opp o site A l ex a nd ria O ur
regim ent and oth ers were witn esses o f th e s ad spe c
t acle
S om e tim e i n D ecem ber 1 86 4 C o m m od o re R a p h
ael S i mm s of th e A l abam a wh o se n a m e was a terror
to Y ankee vessels a rri ved a t A lex andri a ; o n wh ich

T RANS M ISSI SSI PP I D E P AR TM E N T

I 25

o ccasi on th e 2 6 t h a n d all oth er battali on s of thi s

army com m an d ed by Li euten ant Gen eral B uckner
h ad a grand brigad e d rill and p assed i n review be
fore th e h ero o f m any d aring adventures with th e
ren own ed A l abam a on th e bo so m o f th e d ee p bl ue
seas F iri n g o f c a n n o n and gen eral rej oi cing pre
v ail ed o n thi s o ccasio n w h en th e Com mod ore m ad e
hi s app earan ce o n th e eld selected for th e p u rp o se
i n th e rear o f A l ex andri a
F in ally i n J anu ary 1 86 5 th e reorganiz ati on o f th e
2 6 t h and oth er regi m en ts being co m pleted
form ed
th e Lo uisiana brigad e of th e Tran s M issi ssippi D e
A camp was establ ish ed abo ve Pin eville
p ar t m e nt
Th e m e n h astily co nstructed sm all cabin s with
pin e bo ard s C him neys were ad d ed and th ese with
a go od l og re served to protect th em fro m th e se
v eri ty of th i s h ard winter Th e gro und w as froz en
fro m th e I st to t h e 1 0 t h of J an u ary 1 86 5 A ll suf
fe r e d m uch from t h e cold
Th e d i fferen t regiments co mp osing th e brigad e
co nti n ued to drill by co mp any and battalion h ave
dress p arad es etc and at tim es working o n th e forts
a n d in fact p erform ing all th e d uties of a soldier i n
c am p
D urin g th e m o nth s o f F ebru ary and M arch th ere
was noth i ng o f i nterest th at transpired wort h record
i ng or relati ng
Th i s scrap of h istory bri ng us up to th e tim e C ol
o n e l H all arrived i n cam p and assum ed co mm and
I h ave already stated I re ach ed A l ex andri a o n
A pril 4 t h
I called up o n B rigadier Ge n eral A llen Th om as
co m m a n di ng th e brigad e to wh ich th e 2 6 t h was n ow
att ach e d a n d h anded h im a co m m u n ica t io n from th e
D ep artm en t of W ar rein stati ng m e i n com mand of
th e 2 6 t h accom p an i ed by a written request on my
,

'

TW E N T Y SIX T H LO U ISIANA I N F A N T RY

1 26

p art to assign m e to d uty H e st ated h e co uld n o t

d o so as th e Colon elcy h ad been con sid ered vaca n t
and pro m otion s m ad e accordi ngly
I t app ears t hat Li euten ant C ol on el Crow h ad been
promoted to th e o f ce o f C ol o n el M aj or Lagard e to
to th e o f ce of Li euten ant C ol on el and C apt ai n
B ateman to th e o f ce of M aj or ; but as th e p rom o
ti on s h ad not been conrm ed by t h e S ecretary o f
W ar th e General com m anding th e Tran s M i ssi s
sippi D ep artm ent ordered th em to be an n ull ed
Prior to th es e prom oti on s I h ad m enti o ned t o
Lieuten ant C olon el C row I was taking step s t o r e
t urn to th e regim ent ; as Gen eral Th o m as h owever
did n o t assign m e to d uty I to ok a stea m er at
o nce for S h reveport and called at Gen eral E K irby
S mith s h e ad quarters C ol S S A nd erson A A
G inform ed m e th at my ap plication wo uld be favo r
ably acted up o n and forwarded to Gen er al B uck n er s
h eadq uarters at N atchito ch es I wen t to N atch
toch es and received ord ers from th e l atter h e a d u a r
ters to report to th e regi ment
O n A pril 1 9 1 86 5 I j oined th e regim ent at Pi n e
ville n ear R ed R iver op p osite A l ex andri a wh ere i t
h ad taken p ossessi on of so m e vacant cabi n s I fo und
one n ot occupi ed and m ad e it my q uarters Th e rst
evening I p assed th ere I h ad th e co m pli m ent o f a
seren ade by th e bri g ade band di rected by Th e od ore
M in vielle wh o after vai n e ff orts t o h ear fro m m e as
to a regim ental band h ad orga n i zed a band for t h e
brigad e
I fo u n d th e regim en t und er Li e uten ant C ol o n el
Crow s com m and , i n ne and e ffecti ve co n di tio n
th ere w a s n oth ing wanti ng h i s z eal and e nergy co uld
h ave secured Lack o f m em o rand a p reve nts m e
from detailin g all h e h ad acco m p li sh ed fro m t h e r e n
d e z v o u s of th e regiment up to th e ti m e I res um ed
.

T RA N S M I S SI S SI PP I D E P AR T M E N T

I 2

co m m and A m orni ng rep ort before m e o f A pril

20
sh ows an aggregate of 54 2 only one enlisted m an
u n d er arrest a nd eleven enli sted m en absent with o ut
l eav e
O n A pril 2 5 th e m orning rep ort sh owed an a g g r e
gat e o f 57 1
O n A pril 2 6 th e d i vi si o n com m anded by M aj or
Gen er al H arry T H ays t o wh ich o ur brig a d e be
l o n ged m o ved u p R ed R iver under orders F ro m a
fr a g m e n t a ry it in e ra ry kep t by m e a t th e tim e I m ake
t h e following extracts :
.

N EAR

B I VO U A C

M O N E TT E S F E RRY A pril
,

29

for N atch ito ch es regim ent in line

at
A M T h e d ivisio n begun t h e m arc h at
A M an d w ent 1 3 m il es to th is pl ace weath er o p

r
e
s
s
i
e
v
l
warm
seven of th e regiment ha d to fall
p
y
to th e rear
B I VO U A C A pril 30
Left

C o t is l e

1 3
A
M
M
ad
e
abo
ut
5
mil es to d ay weath er warm and m en th oro ughly
tired alth o ugh we rested fo ur ti m es d uring th e
m arch abo ut twe nty m in utes each tim e

R egim ent i n li n e before

B I VO U A C N EAR CAN E R I V E R
T H RE E M I L ES F R O M N A T C H I TO C H ES
,

2 6 th
A
M
Lin
e
for
m
ed
before
th
e
5
4
leadi n g th e brigad e Th e boys m arch ed s o w ell th e
eld o fcer o f t he d ay told us we were goi ng to o
fast Gen eral Th o m as very so o n ca m e up and m ad e
th e s am e rem ark R each ed th e cam p abo ut 1 P M

R eveill e at

CA M P S A LU B RI T Y N EAR N A T C H I TO C H ES
M ay 2 1 86 5
,

R e ach ed h ere early t his m orning th e entire m arch

,

of abo ut

50

m il es h avi ng been m a d e with o ut

,

1 28

TW E N T Y SIX T H LO U I SIA NA I N F AN T RY
-

n ecessary fatigue to th e m en i n a sm all fracti o n o v er

th ree d ays
N ews of t h e surrender of Lee s army i n V ir g i ni a
reach ed us abo ut A pril 2 0 t h V i ewing i t i n th e
m ost favorable ligh t it w a s und o ubted ly a seri o us
blow to th e Co nfederacy ; an d i t i s n o t sayi ng t o o
m uch for th e i ntelligen ce of th e o f cers o f th e 2 6 t h
to assert t h ey so regarded i t ; b ut it wr o u gh t n o
ch ange in th ei r subordin ati o n or th eir sen s e o f m i li
tary prop riety I t m ay be co n cei ved t h at und er
t h ese circu m stan ces I was asto unded t o r e c eiv e a
com muni catio n fro m brigade h ead qu arters to t h e e f
fe e t that i n my co mm and o f cers up o n w h o m
devolves th e hi gh d u ty of sustai ni ng a n oble cause
sh o uld h ave proved recreant to all prin ci pl es o f m an
l in e s s and soldierly obedience and sh o w n by t h eir
i nsubordin ate and m uti no us l anguage th at th e y are
n o longer t to ll p o sitio n s o f resp o n sibility
A nd th is to o f cers wh o so gall antly l ed i n
o ur rst ght again st h eavy odd s at Ch ickasaw
B ayo u ; wh o nigh t and day for o ver fo rty d ays were
in th e trench es of V i cksburg ; and wh o se d iscipli n e
i n camp was as exact and com plete as t h eir co nd uct
in th e eld was i ntrepid and prai seworthy
I w a s directed by th is co m m uni catio n to
i n sti
t ute strict inquiry and wh enever it is fo und th at
o f cers use l anguage calculated t o weake n fai th i n
o ur cause or tending to d estroy di sci p lin e yo u wi l l
i mm ediately pl ace t h em und er clo se arrest p refer
ch arges against th e m and rep ort t h e facts t o th ese
"
h eadq uarters
I was also directed by it to rep ort th e spirit o f th e
comm and
O n A pril 2 4 I replied to th is co m m uni c atio n
wh ich was d ated th e d ay precedin g stati ng I h ad in
stit uted strict i nq uiry as to wh eth er any ofcers o f
,

T RA N S M ISSISSI PP I D E P AR TM E N T

I 29

co m m and h ad been guilty o f th e serio us ch arges

m enti on ed and t h at I h ad n o t been able to ascert ai n
up o n wh o m even suspi ci o n co uld r est and th at I
r egrett ed th e inform er did n ot m enti o n th e n am es
o f th e o f cers accused i n ord er I m igh t h ave at o nce
p ro ceed ed agai n st th em
I co ntin ued
I h ave n ow to resp ectfully ask th e
n am es be ascertai n ed and m ade kn own to m e in o r
d er 1 m ay pro ceed to x th e ch arge up o n th e guilty
i f s uch th ere be and reli eve th e rem ainder o f th e
o f cer s from th e od ium n ecessarily attach ed t o this
grave accus atio n I ask th is as a m atter o f righ t
con cernin g th e h on or of th e regim ent its o f cers
an d m en in my keepi ng an d th at it is m y d uty i n
t h e p rem ises t o protect th o se wh o are i nn o cent and
to p urge th e regim ent of th e guilty A s an act of
j usti ce to th e o f cers of th e regim ent I beg leave to
state th ey h ave always p erform ed th eir d u ti es ch eer
fully a n d faith fully and h ave ever been mindful of
m ili tary s ubordin ation and p ropriety Th e spirit of
th e regi m en t i s eq ual to any in th e army and its dis
cip l in e and s ubordin ati on all I co uld desire
O n th e s am e d ay I received a reply stating M y
co m m uni cati o n w as n ot o n e addressed o nly to yo u
an d re ecting o n th e o f cers of th e 2 6 t h R egim ent
Lo uisi an a I n fantry but was a copy of a letter sent to
all th e c o m m ands for it is kn own to General Th om as
th at si nce th e recepti o n o f th e bad news n um bers o f
o f cers i n cl udi ng so m e i n yo ur regim ent h ave ex
pr essed sentim ents d oing little credit to th eir p atriot
i sm or h abits o f m ilitary di scipli n e Th e Gener al i s
gl ad to k now th at th e sp irit of th e regim ent is go od
and h e i s ass ured t h at to bri ng th ese facts to yo ur
n oti ce i s su f ci ent
A s th i s w a s n ot r esp o nsive to my request and my
righ t t o h ave th e n am es of th e o f cers so grievously
,

'

17

I 3O

TW E N T Y SI X TH LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY
-

accused but rath er a rep etitio n of th e ch arge th o ugh

p erh aps i n mild er form I wrote to Brigad e H ead
q uarters enclosing a copy o f my com m uni cati o n o f
A pril 2 4 t h stating I h ad n ot h ad a rep ly and n ow
h ad th e h o nor of i nviting attentio n to i t
O n M ay 6 t h I received a n ote fro m H e ad q uarters
stating th is co mm unicati on and en clo s ure h ad been
received addi ng : Th e B rigad ier Gen er al co m
m anding is gratied at bei ng ass ured by yo u o f t h e
go od spirit of o f cers and m en o f yo ur co m m and u n
d er th e recent adverses
O n th e sam e d ay I ack nowl edged receip t o f th e
n ote an d stated : I beg leave to call yo ur attenti o n
to my co mm uni catio n of th e 2 4 t h ult i n wh ich I d e
m and specic a lly as a right th e n am es o f th e o ffend
ing o f cers be given up t o m e I n ow reiter ate my
request th at th e o ffend ers if such th ere be be m ad e
known to m e and I will furth er ask th at I be pl aced
in possessio n of th e evid en ce agai nst th em i n ord er
I m ay m ake th e ch arges and sp eci catio ns and fur
nish th e evidence to th e prop er tribun al
Th is com m unicatio n was returned to m e with th e

following endorsem ent

M ay 1 I 86 5 R e s p l y r e
t urn ed I t i s not n ecessary to take furth er actio n i n
th e case th e prop osed ends h aving been attai n ed by

calling th e attentio n of C olonel H all to th e facts

S ubsequents events r endered i t i mpr acticabl e t o
p ursue th e m atter and vindicate th e sm itten h o nor
of th e regiment S o th e affair rested wi th t h e a c
th e names o f th e accused asked for
cu s a t io n m ade
and n ot given th e evidence called for and n o t fur
I t seem s fair to pres um e th e evid en ce d id
n is h e d
n ot exi st and th at th e recrean t o f cers were a myth
I believed th ere was n ot t h e sligh test gro und for th i s
serio us arraign ment of th e O f cers o f th e 2 6 t h up o n
o ne of th e gr avest ch arges kn own to th e arti cles o f
,

T RANS M I SSISSI PP I D E P AR TM E N T

I 31

w ar

T h ere w as n ot o n e wh o wo uld n o t h ave

v it e d t h e strictest scr utiny in to h is co nd uct
and an
i n vestigati o n w o uld h ave sim ply served t o bring to
ligh t an un s m irch ed record o f absol ute delity to th e
ag
T h e seq uel will sh ow with wh at stern views of
di sciplin e and wit h wh at lo fty sense o f d uty th e
sto od b th at fl ag until it
2 6 t h o f ce r s an d m en
y
p assed i n to h istory
.

C H A PT E R X I I I
T H E D IS B A N D I N G

R ebelli on

fo ul dish on oring word

W hose wro ngful bligh t so o ft h a s stain e d
Th e h oliest cause th at t ongue or sword
O f m ortal ever lost or gain ed
H ow m any a spiri t bor n t o bl es s
H ath sunk beneath th at with eri ng n am e
W h om but a d ay an h our s s uccess
H ad w afted to etern al fam e
A s exh alatio ns wh en th ey burst
F rom th e warm earth if ch illed at rst
I f ch ecked i n so aring fro m th e plai n
D arken to fogs and si nk agai n ;
B ut if th ey o nce tri ump h ant spread
Th eir wings above th e m o unt ai n h ead
B ecom e enthron ed i n upp er air
A nd t urn to s un brigh t glories th ere

I h ave alre a dy all ud ed to th e fact th a t th e s urren

der o f Lee w a s co nsidered by th e o f cers o f th e 2 6 t h
a seri o us blow to th e C o nfederacy I ndeed th ese
.

views p erm eated th e divi si on to wh ich we bel o nged

and as t h e A rmy of Virgi ni a was t h e keysto n e o f th e
Confeder ate arch before sages reco vered breath t o
pred ict th e sequen ce th e arch gave way and th e
Con fed eracy w a s a th i ng o f th e past

TH E D IS B A N D I N G

I t m ust be born e i n m i nd th e Tr a n s M i ssissip pi

-

D ep artm e nt w as severed by h o stile lin es from th e

m ain p orti o n o f th e C o n fed eracy ; co uri ers co nsti
t u t e d th e tedi o us a nd un certai n ch a nn el o f i nter
co urse ; and i n t h e stirr i ng ev ents th at qui ckly s uc
ce e d e d th e surrender at A
ord ers co uld
pp a m a t ox
n o t be i ntel ligently given so th at th e comm andi n g
Gener al was left to act as I believe o n h i s own
sen se o f d uty T h e situ atio n o f his co m m and was
p eculi ar Th e m ilit ary organiz ati o n was i ntact N o
e n emy w a s n ear To disband under th e circ um
st an ces seem ed to be ass uming a grave r e s p o n s ibil
ity and o th er wis e j arred th e sense o f military pro
,

p r ie t y

M eanwh ile r a nk and le h ard ly less in telligent

t h an t h e o f cers p erceived th ey co uld n ot furth er
serve th e cause and were anxi o us to ret u rn to th eir
famili es and h o m es S o m e t urbulent sp i r i ts to o
co n sid er ed th e m ilitary s uppli es and stores wer e now
d ereli ct and bel o nged t o t h e rst wh o co uld seiz e
and h o ld
I n t hi s dil em m a we recei ved th e only ord ers mili
t ary di sciplin e wo uld allo w to m ov e w estward to
ward s M an s eld Th e order wh ile not based o n an
ap p aren t m otive was n ot o urs t o q uestio n I t
s er v ed i n a m easure to d istrac t t h e atten ti on o f th e
m en and en abled th e co m m anding General to take
ad vantage o f a ny co nti ngency th at m igh t arise i n
o ur favor h op eless as t h at contingen cy m igh t a p
p e ar
I m entio n th ese s urro undi ng circum stances as
th o se in wh ich s ubseq uen t events a re to be vi ewed
ex pl ai n ed and to a certain extent condo ned
O n M ay 1 0 t h wh ile th e regim ent was n ear
N atc h i to ch es I recei ved a co m m unication f r o m Bri
gad e H ead q u a rters d irecti ng m e to assum e ch arge
,

TW E N T Y SI X II LO U ISIA NA RE G I M E N T

34

of th e brigade assigning as a reaso n th e ill n ess o f

General Th om as S oon after th i s Gen er al B uckn er
o ur corp s com m ander ord ered a review o f th e di vi
si on A n old eld near N atch it o ch es was selected
for th e p urp ose A t th e app oi nted h o ur u nd er a
geni al sky at th i s h igh tid e o f S p ring p assin g sweet
and beauti ful in i ts l avi sh array o f F lora s ch oicest
o fferi n gs t h ere was gath ered for o ur l ast cerem o ni al
and as i f t o be a n oi nted for o ur buri al as n e a bo dy
of m en as fo ugh t at A nti etam or C h i ck am auga
I t was a scen e worthy o f th e h igh est t o uch of art
wh en General B uckner with h ead u n co vered and
h i s lo ng h air g ive n to t h e wi nd ro d e r ap idly d ow n
th e li ne followed by h is staff h is stalwart form and
bearing th e id eal of a soldi er p o ssessing every h e art
o f h is com m and with th e enth usi asm t h at swelled i n
th e breasts of th e followers o f Cleburn e or F orrest
and willing to go wh erever h e led
O n M ay 1 3 1 86 5 o ur divisi o n C ol o nel R o bert
R ich ard son comm andi ng as S eni or C olo n el i n t h e
absence of Gen eral H ays m oved und er th e o rd ers
m entioned in t he directio n of M ans eld
I n spite of th e vigilance of th e o f cers th e pi cket
ing of ro ad s th e d o ubling of camp guards and o t h er
precauti on s desertions were n ow beco m i ng n um er
o us amo ng th ose w h o con sidered furth er co nte n tio n
useless bu t w h o I believe to a m an wo uld h ave kep t
true to th e last and fo ugh t agai nst d esp er ate od ds
as long as th ere was th e sligh test h op e o f s uccess
T h e 2 ot h sto od by th eir colors ; th ere m ay h ave bee n
desertion s from it but n on e I can call t o m in d ; an d
th e organi z ati on and esprit d e corp s w as m ai ntai n ed
i n its integrity
T h ese desertion s were n ot only d em oral i zi ng t o
t h e m e n w h o rem ai n ed wit h us bu t as t h ey were a c
com p anie d by th e depl etio n of o u r s upp li es each
,

D I SB A N D I N G

THE

35

sq uad o f deserters l eft us with l ess m ean s to keep to

geth er o r to m ake a lengthy m arch
I t i s a n oteworthy an d credit able fact th at th e o f
cers o f th e d ivisi o n were steadfast to th e bitter end
and did all i n th eir p ower to preserve s ubordin ati on
alth o ugh t h e m en k new all auth ority h ad ce ased
all rank l ev ell ed S om e were re ady to assert it in
sp eech and act I t w as o n ly th e h abi t of di sciplin e
with so m e and p atri otic m oti ves of ot h ers ; th at kept
togeth er th o se o f th e rank a n d le th at sto od by
th eir colors t o th e l ast
O n M ay 1 9 w e camp ed n ear Ma n seld E ach
s uccessive d ay h ad i n creased th e desp eraten ess of
o ur sit uati o n C ol o nel R ich ardso n sent for m e
W e can vassed o ur co nditi on N o orders h ad been
recei ved by us since we left N atch itoch es o n th e
i 3t h
C o m m issary stores were n early exh austed
and th ere was n o legiti m ate so urce of supply I t
seem ed im practi cable t o keep th e comm and togeth er
W e were o f o n e m ind th at th e o nly th ing to be do ne
was to disband until furth er orders A ccordingly
h e i ss ued th e fo llowi ng ord er :
,

H EA D Q
U AR T E RS H A Y s D I V ISI O N
B U C K NER S C O R P S A R M Y W L A
CA M P N EA R M A NS F I E LD L A 1 9 M ay 1 86 5

G en eral O rd ers N o

3:

T h e m aj or p orti on of th e comm and h aving de

s e r t e d c am p and go n e to th eir h o m es all th e gov
e r n m e n t anim als and m ost of th e wago ns h aving
been forcibly t aken p ossessio n o f and carried away
th e C o mm iss ary and
uarterm aster s D ep artments
o f th i s co m m and and th e Post at M anseld h aving
bee n p illaged by th e tro op s ; all completely p a r a l iz
i ng t h e p resent m ilit ary organiz ati on and rend ering
th e m ai ntain ing of d iscip li n e and th e s ubsisten c e of
,

'

TW E N T Y SIX T H LO U I SIA NA I N F AN T RY

36

th e tro ops any l onger im p ossibl e ; brigad e co m m a n

ders are h ereby auth oriz ed to tem p orarily d isban d
th e tro op s u n der t h eir com m an d and t o p er m it
th em to p ro ceed to t h eir h om es th ere to aw ait fur
th er orders fro m th eir com m an ding o ffi cers
By order of
C O L R R I C H AR D S O N
C o mm andi ng H ays D ivi sio n
J J C L AR K E A A A G en er al
,

O ur l ast d ay in cam p was a stirri ng ti m e M any

o f th e m en look ed up on th e Governm ent prop erty
as abandon ed and so ught t o appropri ate w h atev er
could be fo und E arly i n th e m orni ng n ews cam e
to m e th at th e ordn an ce stores of th e brigad e wer e
being pl undered A S I di d n o t th i nk it exp edi ent
under th e circum stances t o give an absol ute order
I called for volunteers from th e 2 6 t h t o pr otect th e
stores Th e call was with o ut resp o n se I th o ugh t
i t strange my faith ful boys wo uld desert m e i n th i s
extrem ity S o on an o f cer called up o n m e an d r e
m arked th e m en said if a form al d etail w a s called it
wo uld be lled I ordered th e d etail I t was
prom p tly furni sh ed an d very so on i t was guarding
th e stores
A mid m uch lawlessn ess and co nfusio n th e 2 6 t h
drew regim ental li nes abo ut its cam p est abl ish ed a
cord on o f pickets for its protectio n an d o f cers o f
oth er regim ents availed th em sel ves o f t h e security
aff ord ed a nd th e h ospitality tend ered wit hin th ese
li nes
Two captai ns o f th e 2 ot h go t i nt o an alt ercati o n
revolver i n h and I p ut both under a rrest w hi ch
th ey subm itted to with o ut a word 1 sm o o th ed th eir
di fculty and released th em
I gav e th e o f cers and m en a certi c a te o f faith
ful service i n th e form used i n th e followi ng to C a p
t a in M oss :
.

TH E

D IS B A N D I N G

H EA D U AR T E RS

37

T H O M AS BRI G A D E
N EAR M ANS F I E LD M ay 1 9 1 885

Th i s is to certify th at C aptai n A J M o ss h as
h on orably served fro m th e 1 0 t h M arch 1 86 2 to thi s
d ate i n th e Pro v isi on al A rmy Co nfederate S tates
and th at thi s Brigad e h as from th is d ay disbanded
until furth er ord ers
W I N C H ES T ER H A LL
Colon el co m m andi n g T h om as Brigade
.

Th e 2 8t h Lo uisi an a gath ered around th e flag th ey

h ad l o ng foll owed with in nite credit W h il e th e
band pl ayed a d irge it wa s torn in pi eces and a p iece
given to each m e m ber as a m em ento N ot a word
was sp oken but h ar d ly an eye th at was not dim med
with a tear
Th e 2 6 t h gath ered ar o und its colors A gain a
d irge was played by th e band with M invi ell e as its
chi ef Th e col ors were taken d own and torn i n
p ieces S ilently with h eavy h earts an d eyes th at
sp oke m ore th an words e ach m em ber to ok a piece
I broke t h e staff and burn ed it
A fter th e di sbanding th e 2 6 t h to ok up its line of
m arch h o m eward and m aint ained its organiz ation
until its m em bers o n e by o ne dropp ed o ut of th e
ran ks as th ey reach ed th eir resp ective dwellings
I r e m a in e d with th em until we cam e to a place
I
w h ere o ur ro utes were i n d i ff erent directio ns
s t o od i n th e road and sh o ok h ands with each one
as th ey l ed by m e sayi ng : V o us avez bi en fait
v o tre devoir
Th i s sim pl e story o f th e 2 6 t h was written over
twen ty ye ars after th e w a r I ts end seem s like a n
o th er l eav e t aki ng o f th e regim ent s o m uch h as it
been i n my m ind s eye as I p enn ed th ese pages
I sh o uld be gl ad if wh at I h ave written im presses
t h e read er with th e esprit d e corp s o f t he regi m ent
.

18

3S

TW E N T Y SIX TH LO U ISIANA I N F A N T RY
-

as it im pressed m e I ts beari ng i n th e clo sing sce n e

is ch a racteri sti c o f its career I t sto od as a R o m an
ph alanx un m ove d d uri n g t h e sad th ro es o f th e l ast
d ays of th e C o nfed eracy
W h e n m ilitary r ank w a s
lev elled and subordin a ti on resolved i nto eq u ality i t
d e n i ed m y app eal for vol unteers but resp o nd ed
pro m ptly to a co mm an d W h en th e Brigad e h ad
disbande d its i nn ate sen se o f di scipli n e m ai n tai ned
its organiz ati o n in tact a n d it m arch ed h om eward i n
unbroken ra n ks an d obeyed t h e ord ers o f its n ow
self imp osed o f cers with th e sam e al acrity a r e p r e
s e n t a t iv e p ortio n o f it went th ro u gh th e m an u al o f
a rm s d uring th e h eat
of th e battl e o f C h i ckasaw
B ay o u
Th ere were m any regi ments of oth er S tates an d
of o ur o w n th at h ad sh ared in m ore battl es of th e
w a r but a l ofty p ositi on co uld be well acco rd ed to
th at com mand th at s urp assed th e 2 6 t h in d isci pli n e
in military propriety in devotion to th e flag and i n
hig h p atri otic p urp ose
I n com m o n with th e army of wh i ch i t was a p art
it fell sh ort of th at m ateri al s uccess w h ich i s a test
of merit with th e m ultit ud e ; but i t ach iev ed th at
grand er success d erived from th e con sci o usn ess o f
h aving p erform ed a d u ty a m id p e rils of th e eld and
pri vati on s o f th e cam p and t h e si ege i n a h eroi c an d
stead fast vi ndi cation o f th e righ t a n d wi th a d eep
scorn of t h e con sequ e nces
A nd wh en th e end cam e a n d i t fo und all resi st an ce
v ain its elem ents of tru e m a n h o od fo und relief i n
th e re fl ecti o n th at h eavy battalion s m ay o verwh el m
but no t s ubdue ; th at n o weight o f m etal can m ar a
prin ciple ; and th at wh ile n ati on s ri se or fall th e tri
del ity a n d co nst an cy reign s
u m v ira t e of h on or
forever
.

A P P E N D IX

N OT E A

Th e following i s a n ote fro m C o

allud ed to i n
t h e text whi ch was sent to m e j ust after th e battl e
of S h il o h wh en I h ad becom e m aj or o f th e regi
m en t :
CA M P L OV E LL A p ril 1 2 1 86 2
S aturd ay N igh t
T o C apt a i n W i n ch ester H all
W e address yo u by th at title for yo u are still to us
o ur C aptain W h at h as tran spired th is evening
forces us to m ake a req uest o f yo u wh ich w e h o pe
and tr ust will be granted i f s uch p ower can be
assum ed by yo u
Th at i s for o ur co mpa ny under yo ur comm an d
to p ro ceed i m m ediately to th e scene o f action wh ere
o ur broth ers i n ar m s a n d fri end s h ave been m ad e to
bit e th e d ust by t h e Lin col n va n d als
I n God s n am e i n th e n am e of th ose w ho n o w
sleep th e etern al sleep i n th e nam e of bereaved
m oth ers fath ers si sters and broth e r s h o m es m ad e
d es ol ate by th e l oss of th eir h earts id ols ; i n th e n am e
o f all yo u h old d ear o ur belo ved C ap t a i n d o grant
u s th i s req uest
.

TW E N T Y S I X T H L OU I S IA N A I N F A N T RY

4o

W e are but d allying in th i s regim en t ; m o n th s wil l

elap se p erh ap s before w e m ay be useful to o ur
broth ers i f we are still detai n ed h ere W e sp eak
bu t th e h earts truth wh en we say th at we w a n t yo u
as o ur l eader and will follow yo u wh erev er yo u will
lead us
Y o u r sym p athy thi s evenin g for o ur d ead bro th ers
and friend s p r oves to us th at yo u can n ot will n o t
refuse to reass um e yo ur co m m a n d o ver u s and im
m edi ately lead us to ave n ge th e d eath o f o ur bro th ers
and friends w hb fell gall an tly d efendi n g o ur righ ts
o ur h om es a n d o ur sacred h o nor
,

S I GNAT U R ES

L A L e bl a n ce
Philip A V a n d e r d o e s
C J G u edry
P Guill ot
G A R oger
F B ergeron
T H epl er
,

L e o nv a l

H
T
T
P

'

u s t il ie n

S t iv e n s

O ctave Po ch e
H enry E sti ve m
J ules D anti n
F r a n co is Led et
P A Led et
J u s t ilie n M arti n
G ustave M orvan
A C h am p agn e
F elix D el atte
J o sep h Land ry
S F D u s k)
,

Pro sp er B o u t e ry
F ran coi s Led et
E A D usky
M N aq uin
S erap h in Lain
Ch s M G aud e
E r n est M orv an
T P La wl ess

A B r a nd
J os F C aillo uet

P Poch
D Col l in s
F R oussell
E C h ampag ne
A H ebert
P S cott
W J Gladish J r
E A H epler
Lo uis To ups
Wm T K no bloch
Tere n ce l o up s
J o seph S evin
N C h aisso n
H C B e rnard
.

A PP E N D IX

41

Pi erre B o udrea u
J u o J S mi th
H F Led et
J B D usky
Prosp er B o ud re a u
O z m To ups
P rosp er T o u p s
J N A tki nson
F e licie n T o ups
E mil e Ch am pagn e
T E m ile To up s
D ora d o u Parr
W m N Dyer
C l id a m a n t Th ibod aux
W m T abor
E rn est A d am
J o sep h Tro sclair
E mile A d am
C o n st an t S im on eau
A S B o urgeois
F W a g e s p a ck
D B ar ra s
P B o urgeoi s
E d T a bor
L Tro scl ai r
O n esim e F algo ut
L o v in s i T ro scl air
E rn est Pi cou
V i ct or S i m o n eau
W P Pico u
U l g e r W a g e s p a ck
Th eop hile Pico u
E H Gaudet
A M elan con
J o h n H H ill
.

N OT E B

Th e following a re th e statem en ts m en ti on ed in a
n ote to th e text rel ative to com p anies A B H
a n d I goi ng th ro ugh t h e man ual o f arm s d urin g
th e battl e of C h ick a s a w B ayo u :
.

S T A T E M E N T M A D E B Y L I E U T H A ! AR D EAS T I N O F
CO A
.

O n M o n d ay D ecem ber 2 9 1 86 2 imm edi ately after

th e m ai n ass a u l t up o n th e Con fe d erate lin es at
C h i ckas aw B ayo u C olo n el Win ch ester H all com
m and ing t h e 2 6 t h Lo uisi an a R egim ent recei ved
ord ers from Gen er a l S D Lee to rep ort to h im with
co m p an ies o f th a t regim ent A S six comp ani es
S ix
h ad al ready been d etach e d C ol H all to ok th e r e
m ainin g com p anies to w it th e com p anies o f C ap tai n
,

TW E N T Y

42

LO U ISIA NA RE G I M E N T

SI X H

M o uton B ate m an E isl and and Com p any

co m
m a n d e d by Lieut W ebre and m oved toward Gen
Lee s p osi tion Wh il e on th e way we cam e i n V i ew
of a body o f th e enemy at Sh ort range and gav e th e m
som e of o ur am m u n iti on W h en we reach ed Geri
Lee h e directed us to m ove t o th e o pen gro un d i n
fron t of o ur line and sec u re wh atever prison ers we
co uld W e m oved o ut an d wh en we h ad re ach ed a
p oint abo ut a h undred yard s i n ad v a n ce o f o ur li n e
C ol H all cam e in fro nt ord ered us i nto li ne and p ut
us throug h th e m an u al o f arm s Gen Lee r o d e u p
wh ile w e were going th ro ugh th e drill W e p resented
arms to h im H e ordered us to fall back n ear th e
tren ch es wh ere we protected o ursel ves as well as w e
co uld by lyi ng a t in th e rut o f a wagon ro ad W e
rem ain ed i n this p osition exp osed to s h el l s an d
sh arp sh o oters until l ate i n th e aftern o o n
H EA ST I N
LA F AY E TT E L A
J uly I st 1 889
,

S T A T E M E N T O F SER G EAN T S O B RI E N A N D M A L C O M

W e were sergeants of Com p any B 2 6 t h Lo ui si an a

at th e battl e of Chi ck asaw B ayo u A fter th e m ai n
attack o n o ur lin e h ad been rep ul sed C olo n el H all
with com p ani es A B H and
rep orted t o Gen
Lee W e th en m oved o ut i n th e op en gro un d abo ut
o ne h undred yards i n advan ce o f o ur li n e o ur o bj ect
being to secure prisoners of whi c h m any h ad a lready
gon e to th e rear Th ere was n o m ore o f th e enemy
very near th at we co uld capture A ll h ad retre ated
to co v er of t h e bayo u banks and wo ods i n fro nt
fro m which an artillery and sh arp sh o o ter re was
kept up wh ich ann oyed us C ol o n el H all h ad gi v en
th e order t o cease rin g ; but t h e m en were excited
,

APPE N D I X

43

an d s o m e were ri ng again st o rd ers C ol on el H all

c am e fro m t h e rear to th e fro nt ordered us i nto li n e
and d r awing h i s revol ver said h e wo uld sh o ot any
m an th at red a sh o t th en p ut th e lin e th ro ug h t h e
m an ual of arm s Ge n eral Lee rod e up wh ile we
were going th ro ugh it and w e p rese n ted arm s to
h i m H e ord ered C ol on el H all to m o ve us to th e
rear wh ere we w ere less exp ose d and pf o t e ct e d
s om ewh at by lyi ng fl at i n a wago n r ut and h ere w e
r em ai ned un til d ark a n d alth o ugh less exp osed th an
at th e p oi nt wh ere we went th ro ugh th e drill we
were ann oyed all th e aftern o on by sh ell a nd sh arp
s h o oters
FAR L EY O B RI EN
S er g c ants
J A M ES MA L C OM
.

PA RI S H

OF

ST M A RY
.

LA

D ecember

889

S TA T E M E N T O F S E R G EAN T H E PL E R
I was a m em ber o f th e

Lo uisian a I nfantry
and at th e B attle o f C h ickasaw B ayo u I was S er
gea n t of C om p any I comm and ed by C aptain T ucker
an d aft er h i s d eath on th e eld by C ap tain W ebre
O n M o nd ay D ecem ber 2 9 1 86 2 j ust after th e as
sault o n o ur line C ol o n el H all to ok Com p anies A
B H and I and rep orted to General S D Lee
wh o ordered C olo n el H all to m ove out on th e op en
gro un d in fro nt o f o ur rifl e pits and t ake W h atever
p riso n ers we co uld W e m arch ed o ut i n col um ns
o f co m p anies to a p oi nt abo ut o n e h undred yard s i n
ad v anc e o f o ur r i e
p its wh i ch h ad been reach ed by
t h e m ai n body of th e en emy d ur i ng th e assault
V ario us bod ies o f th e enemy s tro o ps h ad already
been cap ture d and sen t to th e rear and th ere were
n o m or e ne ar t o us we co uld take
2

6t h

44

W EN T Y S IX TH LO U ISIAN A I N F A N T RY

T h e e nemy w ere keeping up th eir artillery re

and th e sh arp sh o oters an n oyed us T h e boys w er e
excited and som e were ri ng agai nst ord ers w h e n ever
a suitable m ark was O ff ered W h en we h ad re ach ed
th e poi nt m enti o ned C olo nel H all cam e fro m th e
rear to o ur front ord ered a h alt t hen ordered us into
lin e dre w his revolver an d said I wil l sh o o t t h e
rst m an th at res a sh ot ; and to co ol th e boys
do wn as I s upp ose p ut th e lin e th ro ugh t h e m an u al
o f arm s General Lee r o de up wh ile we were i n
line a n d we presented arm s t o h im H e th en ord ered
C olon el H all o n acco u nt of o ur exp o sed p ositi o n
as I presum e to m ove us to th e re ar i n fro nt o f o ur
ri e pits wh ere we prote cted o u rsel ves t o so m e e x
tent by lyin g a t in a wago n rut W e rem ai ned
here exp osed to musketry and artillery re for s ever al
h o urs until d ark
T H O M A S J H E PL E R
S T C H AR L ES PARI S H L A
M ay 2 5 1 89 0
,

N OT E

forces u nder Gener al S h erm an a t th e bat t l e o f

Ch ick asaw B ayo u near V i cksburg in D ecem ber
con sisted o f fo ur di v isi o ns :
1 86 2
T h e rst division under Brigadier General A J
S m ith co nsisted of ten regim en ts and two batteri es
Th e s eco nd d ivisi on und er B rig a d ier Gen er a l M
L S mi th co nsisted of eigh t regim e nts an d t w o
batteries
Th e th ird division und er B rigadier Gen eral G W
M organ con si sted o f eigh t regi m en t s and fo ur
batteri es
T he fo urth divisi on
under B rigadi er Ge n eral
Frederick S teele co nsisted of s eventeen r e g im ents
and th e F irst I o wa A rtillery
T he

A PP E N D IX

4S

B esides th ese t h ere was batt alio n 1 3th U nited

S tates I n fantry T h ie l m a n s C avalry p o nto on com
p anics & c
Th e abov e regim ents cl assied by S t ates are :
,

3r d , 9 t h ,
4zu d

and

2 2 nd

K ent ucky

54t h 57 t h 58t h

7 6th

83r d 9 6 t h

4 t h,

1 1

1 0

6 th ,

6 t h, s4 t h , 6 7 th ,

6 9 t h,

83r d , 9 7 t h

1 1

8t h

I n di an a
1

3th

4th

55t h 7 7 t h

9 th

3r d

6t h

1 1

3t h

ot h ,

M isso uri

6 t h,

1 1

3I st

2 8t h ,

W is co n s m

2 3r d

I st

34 t h

7 th

I o wa

1 2

1 2 t h,

7 th

2 9 t h,

3o t h 3I s t
,

32 n d

N OT E

E xtracts fro m th e rep ort m ad e by M aj or G e n e ral

M L S mith of th e op erati ons of th e di visio n com
-

m a nd ed

by him d uring th e siege of Vi cksburg :

D uri ng th e nigh t o f th e i 8t h ( M ay ) my tro ops
and artillery were all withdrawn withi n th e m ain li nes
and pl aced i n p o siti o n from wh ich th ey were n ever
for a n i nstant disl odged d u ring th e entire siege O n
t he 1 9 t h th e en emy s m ai n force arrived and p ro
ce e d e d at o nce to m ake a direct assault o n my righ t
and th e rst e ffor t was directed agai nst th e centre of
S h o up s brigad e ; b ut bei ng exp os e d to a h eavy and
well dire cted re th e enemy broke and e d R e
formi ng again a s eco nd advan ce was attem pted
again st my ex trem e righ t and a bold e ffort m ad e to
r u sh o ver in to t h e works Th e assaulti ng col um n s
seem ed to co n sist of six o r seve n regim ents and was
fo rm ed beh ind an el evatio n con ce aling it from si g h t

S ee S

herm

an

s Memoi rs Vol
,

2 86

TW E N T Y SI X TH LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY

4O

A fter co ming into V ie w i t m o ved co nden tly an d

,

determinedly forward Th e 2 6 t h and 2 7 t h Lo uisi an a

s upp orted by th e I st M i sso uri i n reserve rec ei ved
the ch arge with a with eri ng re and after a seco nd
volley th e en emy e d i n co nfusi on leavi ng ve col ors
on th e eld and strewn with th e d ead and w o und ed
O ne or two feeble attem pts t o r ally w ere easily r e
p u lsed and th e d ay clo sed wi th th e artillery and
sh arp sh ooters keepi ng up a co nti n uo us an d h e avy
re Th e 2 0 t h and z i s t were sp ent by th e en emy
i n er e cti ng n e w batte r ies and keepi ng up from d ay
light unti l d ark th e h eavi est po ssible rin g both of
m usketry and artillery T he 2 2 n d p assed in th e
sam e m a n ner until abo ut 2 P M wh en a col um n w a s
discovered advancing agai n st t he righ t o f S h o up s
brigade I t was im m ediately drive n back A n oth er
th en app e ared o n th e righ t o f th e ce n t re T h is w a s
d isp ersed with o ut great e ffort and wi th con siderabl e
lo ss
A gai n th e enemy ap peared in in creasi ng force o n
my righ t and F orney s l eft H e was p ro m ptly r e
p ulsed and with h eavy l oss T hi s term i n ated t h e
d ay s op erations with th e excep ti on of a h eavy re
o f m usketry and artillery kep t up u ntil d ark al o ng
my entire front A fter th ese several decid ed re
p ulses th e enemy seem ed to h ave aband o n ed th e
idea of taki ng by assault and we n t vigoro usly at
work to th oro ugh ly in vest and attack by regul ar
appro ach es
,

3
1

Th e go od co nd uct of bot h o f cers and m e n

d uring forty seven d ays in th e tren ch es i s wo rthy of
speci al praise N eit h er on e or t h e o th er co uld h ave
beh aved better
I n reference to th e Si ege op erati o ns generally h e
says :

APPENDIX

47

T h e h eaviest and m ost d angerous attack was o n

th e extrem e righ t and n o bly did th e 2 6 t h 2 7 t h 2 8t h
and 3i s t Lo uisi ana rep el and end ure i t T h e casu al
ti es am ong th e o f cers o f th ese regim ents indicate
th e n at ure of th e d efence req uired
I n th e 2 6 t h
Lo ui si an a M aj or M artin on e captai n and t wo li eu
ten ants were kill ed ; C olon el W H all serio usly
wo und ed ; in th e 2 7 t h Lo uisi an a Lieut C olon el
M c L a u r in o ne capt ain o n e lie u t e n a n t killed C olonel
D L M arks d angero usly
M aj or N orwo od on e
captai n o n e lie uten ant severely wo unded ; in th e
on e li euten ant killed and three lieute n ants
2 8t h
wo und ed ; i n th e 3I st C olo nel Gri f n wounded
,

>
1:

co nd uct of th e entire di vi si on was mo st ex

e m l ar
p
y and its co urage and ch eerfuln ess in creased
if p ossi ble fro m day to d ay under th e h ard shi ps and
priv ati on s o f th e si ege

T he

N OT E

Th e foll owing q uotati o ns from th e o ffi cial report

o f B rig a d ier Gen eral F A S h o up e wh o comm anded
th e bri gad e to wh ich th e regim ent was attach ed will
serve t o sh ow so m e of th e tri al s a n d som e of th e
tri um p h s of t h e 2 6 t h i n th is m em orable si eg e l
M ay 1 9 t h at d ayligh t th e en emy h ad taken p o s
sessi o n o f th e h eigh ts abando ned a few h o urs before
by o ur tro o ps from which p ositio n h e so on o pened
up o n us wi th artillery By 1 0 A M h e h ad placed
h is batteri es in o ur fro n t as well as at th e righ t and
l eft o f my p o sition th e lin e m aking a very d ecid ed
sali en t T h e re fro m artill ery and sh arp sh o oters
soo n becam e very h eavy
C olonel M rk s d i ed f h wounds
l R ecords V 1 4
Oi
R
epor
f th
R
ebell
i
on
t W
h
t
S
l
-

ee

Pa t

2,

40 5

ar

is

ei a

T WE N T Y

48

sI XT II
-

LO U I SIA N A I N F AN T RY

'

fo rce fro m
a gorge i n front of t he centr e o f my p ositi o n W e
op en ed on h i m H e brok e an d e d to th e co ve r o f
th e hills A fter a ti m e h e reapp e a red i n greater
force farth er to th e righ t i n fro nt o f red a n o ccup i ed
by Col M arks regim en t O ur fo rce staggered hi m
but th e fragm ents o f several regim ents succeed ed i n
g a ining th e cover o f a ridge i n fro nt o f th e red an
H ere h e rem ai n ed so m e tim e alm o st wh ol ly free
from o ur re H e n ally m ad e a rush with t h e in
tenti on of carryi ng o ur li n e but was m et by a t erri c
re i n fron t and ank and e d i n utter co n fusi o n
leaving m any d ead
Th e enemy conti nued a terric re un til d ark
M ay 2 o t h and 2 1 5 t C ontin ued re fro m t h e ar
tillery a n d S h arp sh o oters of th e e nemy
M ay 2 2 d Fire from t h e en e m y befo re d a w n
K eep it u p with extrem e vigor A l ittl e after n o o n
th e en emy attem pted t o c arry m y p ositi o n on th e ex
trem e right ; an oth er fail ure
A force o n my extre m e l eft begi n s to asse m ble
T aki ng advan tage of th e gorge i n fro nt th ey gai n
th e cover of th e steep declivity at th e foo t o f t h e
ridge runni n g d own from o ur lin e i n to th e gorge
S evere ! regim ents are nally assem bl ed A bo ut 3 P
M a very h eavy force di scovers i tself o n m y righ t
and Ge n eral H ebert s left I t m oves forward to
assault o ur li ne I t i s rep ulsed with great lo ss

A bo ut 5 P M th e force on my left j ust sp ok en

of m akes a d ash at my line it is sl aughtered and i es
i n co nfusi on

Th e troop s beh aved m ost admirably m o un t th e

p arapets with enth usiasm Colon el M ark s 2 7 t h La ;
Lie uten a n t C olonel M cL a u r e n 2 7 t h La ; L ie u te n
2 6 t h La ;
a n t Colon e l C row
M aj or M arti n 2 6 t h
La ; M a j or N orwood 2 7 t h La each di spl ay gre at
gall antry

A bo ut

P M th e en emy d e bo u ch e d

in

A PP E N D I X

49

M ay 2 3 to 31
E n emy en tren chi ng e n e rg e t i
cally at night K eepi ng up a co nt in o u s re d uri ng
th e d ay f

J u n e 5 D uring th e nigh t th e en emy kept up

"
an i n cessant artillery re and o ccasi on a l m usketry
J un e 6 E n emy red n early all nigh t from ar
tillery

J un e 8 C onti n uo us re d urin g th e nigh t

J u ne 9 Last n igh t th e enemy red i n to o ur
wor k i ng p arty o n th e left wo undi ng two m en W e
a re co n str ucti ng a ro ugh sto ckad e at th at p oi nt
to
prevent a d ash from th e enemy s works n ow n ot
m ore th an 7 5 yard s d istan t
J un e 1 1 Th e sh arp sh o oters a re ex trem ely v ig i
l ant an d a r e wi th i n 6 0 or 7 0 yard s excellently co y
ered Th e 2 6 t h Lo ui si an a i s securing its front
again st a d as h by m ean s of a picket wit h brush e u
t angl em ents
J une 1 3 S h arp sh o oti ng very bitter
J un e 1 5 Gap at red an ( h eld by 2 7 t h Louisi ana )
very clo se with in ten p aces o f d itch We are using
h an d gr e n ad es o n worki ng p arties
J un e 1 7 W e are o n sp eaking term s with th e
en emy at th e red an T h e picket parties at th at
p oin t agree up on sh ort tr uces d u r ing w h ich n eit h er
p arty i s to re N otes are th rown a cross fro m on e
p arty to th e oth er S om e tr a ding goi ng on i n e o f
fee etc H ave forbid den co m m unicati on s 1 p er
m i t i t o nly i n presen ce of th e o f cer of th e d ay
J un e 2 0 F uri ou s cann o n adi n g began at d ay
ligh t and contin ued a go od p art of th e d ay
J un e 2 2 M aj or W W M arti n 2 6 t h L o u i
si an a was ki lled in sta n tly by sh arp sh ooters H e was
o ne o f th e m ost gallant and ex cellent yo un g o f cers

o f th e com m and
"
J un e 2 9 A re using h and gren ades o n h im ( th e
e n emy )
.

TW E N T Y SIX TH LO U I SIANA I N F A N T RY

SO

J uly

E n emy

ad van cing h i s sap in fron t o f

sto ckad e Prote cts h im self from h and gren ad es by
cov e ring h is tr acks with r ails W e are ru nni ng a
gallery fro m o u r tre n ch es to blow in th e en emy s
"
works
J uly 3 E n emy i s run ning a gall ery with t h e
intenti on of bl owing up th e sto ckad e between l n
n ette and re d an I s h ard at work to d ay W e fol
low th e example T h e q uesti on is wh ic h s h all ex
p l o d e rst
J uly 4 Capitulati o n ord ered A t 1 0 A M we
m oved o ut of o ur tren ch es by batt ali o n s stack ed
arm s and returned to o u r old qu arters i n town Th e
m en were full o f i n dign atio n T h ough th ey h ave
h ad very scant fare and h ad been ex p osed t o a m er
cil e s s and a l mo st con tin uo us re rem aining at th eir
p o sts i n th e trench es with o ut reli ef I h a v e rarely
h eard a m urm ur or com pl aint T h e ton e h as a l
ways been Th is i s pretty h ard but we can stand
it
Too m uch pr ai se cann ot be given t o o ffi cers
and m e n

:l:

Li eute n ant C olo nel W C C Crow 2 6 t h R egi

m ent Lo ui sian a V ol un teers bore h im self with
m arked gall antry thro ugh o ut th e si ege H e w as th e
o nly eld o f cer rem aining i n h is regim en t
-

My th anks are

du e
:1:

to th e followi ng
3
:

Lieutenant Lewi s Guio n A cti ng I n sp ector Gen

,

eral

o fce r s :

2 OT H

R EGI ME NT

LO U IS lANA I NF A NT RY

F I E LD A N D S T A F F
F I E LD
A lexan d er

d e Cl o uet

E lected Col onel

1

D u ncan S C age
.

86 2

A pril

C aptai n of C o m p any H
E lected Lie utenant C olon el
Col on e l by
A pril 5 1 86 2
p rom otio n N ovem ber 1 0
R esign e d N ovember
1 86 2
R esign ati o n a c
25
I 86 2
ce t e d D ecem ber 30
1 86 2
p
C aptai n of C o mp an y I
E lected M aj or A pril 8
I 86 2
Li euten ant Colonel
by prom oti o n N ovember
C olo nel by pro
10
1 86 2
m oti o n N ovember 2 5 1 86 2
C aptain of C om p any E
M aj or by p ro m otion N o

Wi nch ester H a l l

W il l i am

Crow

v e m be r

1 0

86 2

L ie u t e n

ant C ol on e l by prom oti on

N ove m ber 2 5 1 86 2
C aptain o f C omp any C
M aj or by prom ot i on N o
.

W W h it m e l M artin

v e m be r 2 5, 1

86 2

TW EN T Y SI XI I LO U ISIANA RE G I M E N T

Cl eoph as Lagard e

C aptai n of C o m p any D
M aj or by pro m oti on J u ne
.

2 1

86 3*

S T A FF
R esign ed d ur
A dj ut ant
i ng S umm er of 1 86 2
A dj utant A pp oi nted d ur
ing S u mm er of 1 86 2
C aptai n and uarterm aster
Priva t e o f C o mp any A
C aptai n and A ssistant C o m
missary of S ubsistence A f
C o m m issary to
t e rward
T h om as Brigad e
S urgeon R esign ed D ecem
ber 1 8 1 86 2
A ssi stant S urgeo n and S ur
geon o n resign ati o n of S ur
geon Lash bro ok
.

E d ward

Pil s bu ry

J o hn R

Eisland

L E N ee
A J M oss

E L L a sh brook
.

A lfred H all

N O N C OM M ISSI O N E D S T A FF

M aj or
A fter
ward s elected J uni or Li e u
te n ant o i C om p any C J une
A ct i ng O rd n an ce
4 1 86 3
O f cer and A D C t o
Brigadier Gen er al A lle n
Th om as
C aptai n C o m
p any A W eath erly s B at
talio n of S h arp s h o o ters
J oh n M K nigh t
S ergeant o f C o m p any H
S u cceeded S ergeant M aj or
M arti n o n J une 4 1 86 3
N O p m t n f M jor C row on N ov 5 86 t L t
t C olonel C p t i n L g rde wa th r n ki ng C p t
b t d e cli ned pro

J am es

M artin

S ergeant

OTE

an

mo ti on

at

io

i me

th e t

o io

a i ii

2,

ie u

en

A PP E N D I X
A ubai n P Th i bod aux
.

53

Pri vate of C o mp any H

O rdn an ce S ergeant
S ergeant of C o mp any A
C o m missary S ergeant
Pri vate of C omp any A
C o m m issary S ergeant o n
disch arge o f S ergea n t Bro us
s ard und er S urgeon s certi
cate
F irst S ergeant of C om p any
A
C o m mi ss ary S ergeant
o n tr an sfer of S ergeant
H o op er to a Tex as com
m and
Pri vate o f C omp any B
C o m missary S ergeant o n
death of S ergean t Greig
wh o was killed i n battle
M ay 2 2 I 86 3
C orp oral o f C omp any I
S ucceed ed S ergean t H ai nes
as C omm i ssary S ergeant
A ssistant S urg eo n
A s s is t a n t S u r g e o n D etailed
for d uty F ebruary 2 5 1 86 3
uarterm aster S ergeant

D upr e B ro ussard

Geo rge F H o op er
.

J osep h T Greig
.

F ran k H ai nes

H Cl a y B ern ard
.

H ardgrove
C h arl es 0 H el w ig
.

Th o m as S
M U STER

E island

R O LL S D EA T H S I N T H E S ER V I C E C A S U A LT I ES
,

D IS C H A R G ES

&C

O F T H E S E V ERA L C O M P A N I ES

T h ere m ay be erro rs and om issio ns in th e

followi ng co m pil ati on as it was n ot attempted until
m any years after th e war wh en m uch val uable m a
t e r ia l h ad been dissi p ated and m any so urces o f in
form ati o n h ad been sealed by d eath ; I h ave h ow
e ver m ad e every effort i n my p ower to h ave it a s
N OT E

20

54

TW E N T Y SI X TH LO U I SIANA I N F AN T RY
-

accurate as t h ese circum stan ces permitted and

m uch i n detail as th e lap se of ti m e allowed
,

C O M P A NY

M U S T E R R OLL A T O R G A NI ! A T I O N

R AN K

N AM ES

C aptain
1 Lie ut
2 Li e ut
J uni or

E rast e M o uton
H az ar d E asti n

Willi am C am p bell
F e r n e s t M arti n
J o sep h S o sth en e M o uton
A nderso n J o sep h M o ss
0 R o us s eau M o uton
V al erie D M artin
D upr e Bro ussard
J oh n M M iles
E rn est B e rnard
B enj am in B ailey
J osep h T Greig
A lbarad o S ebastien
A lbarad o B ern ard
B ernar d J osep h
B ern ard A l cid e
B ern ard D esir e
B ern ard Lu cas
Bro ussard A l e x a n d re D
B ro ussard S t M auri ce
B roussard Leo n
Bro ussard D esir e
B ro ussar d Treville
B ro ussard E li z e
Bro ussard D u p r e v il l e
Brasse ux A d am
B abin eaux E m ilien
B abi neaux C h arl es V
B abin eaux B eli z air e
B a bi neaux A th an ase
.

3 S ergt

S er g t
5 S ergt

I Corp
2 C orp
3 Corp
4 C orp
Private

A PP E N D I X
Priv ate

B a bin eaux Th eodore

Br e aux V a lerie
B rea u x S osth en e
Breaux Lucien
B o u d reaux Gustave
B egn aud S ta n i slas
B egn aud Toled an o
B eg n aud M ar cel
B egn aud F r a n cm s
B egn aud F elix
Begn aud J o h n
B a u se p t X avier J N
B ourg F ran cois
B o ut t e Leop old
C om eau A ladin
C o m eau V alerie V
C om eau Ch arles O vide
C orm ier C l e m il e
C ormi er J o achi m
C ormier Lastic
C ampbell George W
D o m in ig u e V i ncent P
D o m in ig u e William J
D o m in ig u e A nt oi ne
D ugas E rast e
D ugas D u p l e s s in
D ugas C adet
D ugas J ul es
D ugas J oseph
D ugas A lexandre
D o uc e t Ge r a s s in
D uh on T r e v il l e
D uh on E m il e
D uh o n A l exi s
D ubois A l adi n
D ubois D esir e
,

55

L O U I SIANA I N F A N T RY

Private

D elh omm e O ct ave

D on o h ue C hri st o ph er
F abre M artial
F abre D o r n e v ill e
F abre J ean
Guidry E d m o n d
Guidry J ean B aptiste
,

Ga u t hr e a n O n e z im e
,

H id algo F elix
H o op er Ge orge F
J oyn er S am uel T
Lastrap e s L e on
Lo uvi ere J oseph
Landry
B D esir e
Landry D e r bes
Landry S osth en e
Landry Gust ave
Landry E m ile U rsin
Landry D esir e
Landry J ules
Langlina is O n ez im e
Lee R o bert B
M o uton J ules
M o uto n A n th ony
M o uton J e an
M artin B arm a s
M artin B alth az ar
M arti n Lo uis A
M arti n A lex and re
M artin P hileas
M o uto n F r an coi s
M bire E d o u ard
M orv a n N orbert
M orvan N um a
M orvan B eliz aire
M el a n co n N apol eon
,

'

A P PE N DI X

Pri vate

M el an con A lcid e
,

57

N e r a u l t A nd re
,

Porti er E rnes t
Pr ej e an D upr e
R oy F ran cois Las tic
R acca Cl airvill e
S avoi e H il ia r e
S av oi e D esi r e
S olari J ean
S o nni er O scar
S o nnier Cyprien
S on nier A lexandre
Trah an l s M axim ili en
Trah an D esir e
Trah an A lcide
T aylor H il ia r e
Th ibod aux M artin
,

T h e foll owi ng r oll and th e rolls of th e rem ai n i ng

co mp ani es o f th e regim ent fr o m A ugust 31 to O cto
ber 31 1 86 2 ( wh i ch will be fo und i n th eir proper
pl ace ) a re co pi es o f th e origin al r olls in th e C onfe d
e r a t e a r ch i ves of th e W ar D ep artm en t of th e F ed
eral G o vernm e nt at W ash i ngton D C :
,

M U S T E R R O LL
C O M P ANY
R AN K

NA M E S

AUG

31

Li eut W C am p bell
F M arti n
3d Li eut
I st S gt
J S M o uton
.

86 2

20

62

O ct
2d

0 CT
1
3

R EM AR K S

C ap tai n E M o ut on
I st Li eut H E asti n
.

Prom oted t o M aj or
by Gen M o uto n
.

TW E N T Y SIX T H LO U ISIANA I N F A N T RY

58

M artin

D i sch arged by o r der

O ct 2 4
D i s ch arged by ord er
J uly 2

Leon
5t h

S gt

L a sti ape s

M iles

D ie d in O u ic h it a J

u ne

R ed u ced to ra n ks
S ept a 4 t h
D is

ch arged o n a c
co unt o f dis ability
I st

B enj amin B ailey

Prom oted to I s t t
S e pt 2 4
Prom oted t o I st Sg t
S ept 24
Prom oted to I st S gt
J uly 4

2d

Corp

E rn est P orti e r

C orp

E rnest B ern ard

4t h

C orp J T Greig
.

J uly 4 and to I st
S gt S ept 2 4
,

H il ia r e

Private

T aylor

A lbar ad o

B ern ard J os
B ern ard A
B ern ard S
B ern ard L
B ern ard D esir e
.

Pro m o ted
J uly 2

C orp

Pro m oted
S ept 2 4

C o rp

Bro ussard S t M
Bro ussard A lex D
.

B ro ussard L
Bro ussard D
B ro uss ard Trevill e
Bro uss ard E
,

A PP E N D IX

59

Pr i vate
D ep t si nce M ay

B abi ne au E
,

D ied M i ss S pr i ng s
J uly 30
.

B reau V

B o udre a u G

Prom oted to C o r p
S ept 2 4
.

B egn aud M arvel

,

B egn aud S
,

D isch arged o n a c
co unt o f disability

J N K
.

B o ut e L
B uzet E d o u ar d
C o m eau A

D ied

C o m eau V V
C o m eau C h s O
C o rmi er C
C ormi er S
C ormi e r J
C am pbell Ge o W
.

B egn aud J ean

B a u se pt

D e pot A u g

60

TW E N T Y SI X T H LO U ISIANA RE G I M E N T
-

Priv ate
D ugas E r aste
D ugas J ules
,

Pro moted to C o rp

M a g n o l ia
D u gas A lex
D o uc e t G
D uh on E
D uh on F
D uh on A
D ubois A
D esir e D u boi s
D elh om m e O

D on a ho u

F abre D
F abre J
G uidry E
,

Disch arged o n a c
co un t o f di sability
A ug 2 5

Gea u t r e a u O
,

H oop er Geo
,

A ug
J oyn er S T
.

Pro m o t C o r p J u l y
2
Prom o ted S er
geant O ct 30

Lo uvi ere J o s
,

L andry D
,

L a ndry G
,

A PP END I X

61

Landry E U
Landry D esir e
La n dry J u l es
.

Lee R B
M o ut on D
M o uton J ules
M o uto n J
M o uto n A
.

'

M arti n B
M arti n L A
M arti n P
M artin A
M bire E
M orvan N orb e rt
M orv a n B
M orv an N um a s
M el an con N
M el an co n A
,

N eva u lt

Po n n ie r

B
Pr ej e an D

disability

F L
R ac ca C
S av oi e H
S avo i e D
S m ith W
R ay

D isc h arged o n acct

d isability O ct 1 0

So u l ar ie J

S o n nie r O
S on n i er C
S o nni er A l ex
.

Trah an M axim ili an

T rah an D
,

TW E N T Y S IX T H LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY

62

Private

Trah an

D isch arged o n acct

di sability S ept 30

Th ibod eau J
Th ibodeau M
,

D EA T H S I N T H E S E R V I C E
NA ME S

Private

R EM A R K S

D ied i n H osp ital a t

E dwar d s S tatio n
A ugust 9 1 86 2
A t h a n a s e D ied i n H o s pital at
M ississippi S pri ngs
J uly 30 1 86 2
T h e o d o r e D i ed
in M a soni c
H all V i cksburg
J un e 1 3 1 86 2
C h a r l e s V D ied D ecem ber 1 6

B o urg Fr an cois
,

R AN K

B a bin e a u

B a bin e a u

B a bin e a u

Breaux Lucien
,

86 2

D ied in H o use of
S isters of M ercy
V i cksburg J u ne

Begnaud Fran coi s

,

D ied i n H o use O f
S i sters o f M ercy
V icksburg J un e

B o urgeoi s F erg u s D i ed J un e 1 3 1 86 2
D omingue Vi n cent
Pierre
D ied at C am p M o ore
M ay 6 1 86 2
D ugas C ad et
D ied a t City H o sp ital
V i cksburg J une
,

D ubois A ladi n
,

3
,

86 2

D ied a t h om e o n
F url o ugh f a ll o f
,

86 2

A P PE N D I X

63

Gu id ry J e a n B aptiste D ied i n H o use of

S isters of M ercy
V icksb u rg J u ne

Priv ate

Lastrap es Leon
,

86 2

D ied i n O u ch ita
P ari sh Lo ui si an a
J un e 1 86 2
D ied i n City H ospital
V i cksburg J un e

M o uto n F r a n coi s
,

2 5,

M o uton J ean
,

86 2

D ied a t h om e on
F url o ugh fall o f

S o n ni er Bienven u
S o nn i er E ugen e
,

86 2

D I S C H A R G ES FO R D ISA B I L I T Y O N S U R G E O N S

CAT E
R AN K

Pri vate

NA ME S

R EM A R K S

B reaux V aleri e

B egn a ud S t a nislas
,

D u p rev il l e

D isch arged J un e

86 2 ,

S e rgt

M artin V aler i e
.

86 2

D isch arged A ugust

2
2d

Guidry E d mond

86 2

A ugust

D isch arge d J uly

I
,

D isch arged

2,

Bro ussard

C E RT I F I

86 2

D i sch arged O cto ber

M o ut o n O R o usseau Di sch arged J uly

,

Priv ate

M iles J o h n M
,

ean
Pi j

D up r e

86 2

2,

Di sch arged O ctober

D isch arged A ugust

64

T WE N T Y SI X T H L O U ISI A NA

RE

Pri vate

Trah an A lcid e
,

GIME NT

D isch arged S ept em

ber 30 1 86 2
Di sch arged O cto ber

S mith W
,

10

86 2

C AS U A LT I ES A T TH E B A TTL E O F C H I C K ASA W B AY O U
R AN K

N A ME S

Private

R EM A R K S

M artin A d olp h

K ill ed

C AS U A LT I ES D U RI N G TH E SI E G E O F V I C K S B U R G
R AN K

N A ME
,

R EM A R K S

Priv ate
F abre D o r n e v il l e
I st S ergt Greig J oseph T
Priv ate
T hibod aux M artin
B egn aud F elix
C ormi er Lasti c
S olari J ean
,

K illed M ay

9,

86 3

J un e

Dis abled by co nc uss

i on J un e 1 6 1 86 3
C omeaux C harles O vide W o und ed J un e
,

24

D ubois A l ad i n
,

D uh on E m ile
,

Guidry A n toi n e
,

VV o u n d a I J

u ne

VV o u n d a i

R AN K

N A M ES

M and a W B atem an
A ugustus S Lawes
D enni s C D ani els
J ared Y S an d ers
.

J u ne

u ne

M U S T ER R O LL A T O R G AN I ! A T I O N A P RI L

C apt ain
I st Li eut
2 d Li eut
J unior

86 3

VV o u n d e d J

R O LL S O F C O M P A N Y B

86 2

A PPE N D I X

I st S ergt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5t h S ergt
i st C orp
2 d C orp
3d C orp
4 t h C orp
Priv a te
.

Cl eop h as Peni sson

J a m es H H arwo od
F arley O B r ie n
J am es M alco m
A lfred E S tansbury
Gid eon H ebert
A B urto n D ai sy
J uli us M aup a s
Gi d eon A ucoin
A n s l u m W illi am
A lbert A
A lbert Clairville
Br andenburg O th o
B igler J oh n J
B igl er N ich ol a s
B o urgeois
B o udreau V ictor
B o udr e au J o seph
B o udreau Louis
B o urg M
B eadl e Frank
C h ase F rank
C o ck e B owm a n
C opp ell J oh n B
C ar e n t in e M ich ael
Co n cien ne Th om a s
D uval Willi am
D uval F elix
D aisy J P em berton
D ailey J D ennis
E van s J
F ayette M artin
F itzger ald J asp er
F rost William
Go unin V ictor
,

65

66

TW E N T Y SIX TH LO U ISIA NA I N F A N T RY
-

Private

Gautreau O z m
Green Wi n eld
Giroir J
H ebert J oh n
H ead D a vid H
H ai nes F r ank
H eato n J
H ollid ay
H artm an J am es
I rwi n W illi am
I m ly Frank
J oh n ston J o h n L
J o h nson C h arles
J o h nson J am es
K nigh t J oh n
K en nelly M arti n
K ing W illi am
Leger F red eri c
Lee Loui s
Lanter m a n J oh n
Leary P atrick
M ason Th om a s
M cC r ack e n F rank
M cL a u g hl in R obert
M c K e nn a B arn ey
N op e F eli x
P ul aski A l cide
P enisso n V i ctor
P eni sson J uli us
P en isson E tien n e
Pratt J o h n
R e n t r o p Le a nd er
R eeve O C
S and ers A usti n
S p ence J oh n
S all es A
,

A P P E N D IX

S weari ngi n Le m uel C

S ta n sbury A ndrew
S teven s ! ed eki ah
S tiner C h risti a n

Priv a te

H enry
W h ite J oh n B
W afford J o sep h
,

M U S T E R R O LL
Co

N A M ES

31

86 2

A S Lawes
.

Li eut
I st S ergt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5t h S ergt
I s t C orp
2 d C or p
3d C or p
4 t h C or p
Private
.

o n furl o ugh o f
d ays from
20
O ct 8
A bsent with leave
o n furlo ugh of
d ays from
30
S ept 2 8

J Y S and ers
C P enisso n
J H H arwood
F O B rie n
J M alcom
A E S t an sbury
G H ebert
T K nigh t
J D uboi s
A ucoi n
A ns l u m Wm
A lbert A
C
B r a n d e nbu g O
.

A bsent with leave

2d

I st Lie ut

R EM A R K SS

M W B atem an

C aptain

L O U IS IANA I N F AN T RY C S A

26T H

DATED O C T
RAN K

T u r ar o

67

68

Private

TW E N T Y SI X T H LO U I S IANA I N F AN T RY
-

Bigler J J

B o urg M
B o udre a ux L
B eadl e F
.

C oek e B

D i sch arged
5t h fro m di sah

l ity

C o ppell J B
C a r e n t in e M
Co ncien n e T
D uval W
D uv al F
D aisy J P
D aily D
D uboi s D elm as
E v an s J
F ayette M
F ro st W
Go un i n V
Gautreaux
.

R ej oi ned fro m u m

a v o i d a b l e ah
sence o n O ct i
.

H ebert A lex and er

,

86 2

R ej oi ned fro m u n

a v o i d a b l e ah
sence o n O ct 1 4
.

Giroir

86 2

Died a t V ick bu rg
d uri ng th e bo m
ba r d m e n t ; n o r e
cord k e p t o f h is
d e ath

H ead D H
,

A PP E N D I X
Priv ate

H ain es

H e ato n
I m l y,

69

'
.

F
J o h nston J L
J o h nso n C
J o h n son J am es
K en n e lly M
.

Leger F
,

La nte rm an J
Leary P
M a up as J
M aso n T h om as
.

M c L au g h lin R
,

In C o n f e d e r at e

H ospital
SI SS l

p pl

at

P ul aski A
,

P e n n is s o n

Pe n n is s o n E
Pratt J
,

R e n t rop

S anders A
S pe nce
,

S tin er C
-

V icksburg M ia
,

Sl S S l p p l

TW EN T Y SIX T H LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY

7O

Private

H
W h ite J B
W o fford J
T u ra ro

R ESI G NA T I O NS

AND

PR OM OT I O N S

resign atio n o f 2 d Li eu t D aniel s abo ut A ugust

1 86 2 j unior 2 d Lie ut S anders became 2 d Li e ut
e n a n t and S ergeant Pe n i sso n becam e j unior 2 d
Lieuten ant
O n resign atio n of Li eut Lawes abo ut O cto ber 2 8t h
2 d Lie ut
S anders becam e I st Li euten a n t ;
1 86 2
J unior 2 d Lieut Penisso n becam e 2 d Li euten ant
and private D elm as D uboi s becam e J uni or 2 d
Li eutenant
.

R O L LS O F C O M PA N Y C

L O U ISIA NA I N F AN T RY

2 6T H

C S A
.

U S T ER R OLL A T O R G ANI ! A T I O N A P RI L

2,

AN K

86 2

N A ME S

Captain
I st Lieut
2 d Lieut
J unior
I st S ergt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5t h S ergt
I s t C orp
2 d C orp
3d C orp
4 t h C orp
Pri v ate
.

W W hit m e l M artin
L o v in cy H im el
N um a A rr ie u x
Leon A ch ee
E m ile T a illiu
J oh n C arri ere
A ubert H ebert
N i ch ol as D u ffy
N orbert C o u r cie r
A n atol e D F oret
T r a s im o n d A B o ud reau
Guillaume A rr ie u x
A pp olin aire Gilbert
A ll em and A ntoi ne
A r s e m e n t J ules
.

A PP E N D I X

Priv at e

A ucoin
A ucoin
A ucoin
A ucoin

E ti en n e

Fran cois
Gideo n
J ules
B ergeron D u br e g
B ergeron E mil e
B ergeron H o mer
B ergeron A lfred
B ern ar d C l e z ia
B e r t h e l ot t e A ugust
B er t h e l ot t e Fr a n coi s
Bl anch ard A m ed ee
B l an ch ard Lo uis
B o l o t t e C am ille
B o n n a m o u r Clovi s
B o nvillai n Liz e
B o u d e l o ch e A d olph e
B o ud reau E rnest
B o udreau F ran cois
B o udreau Clitus
B o ud reau Fr a n cois G
B o udreau T r a sim o n d
B o urg A lfred
B o urg F el ix
B o urg M a r cil l ain
B o urg T heod u l e
C anci e n n e B az il
D el aun e A m ed e
D elaun e C l d o m ir e
D el a un e Fran coi s
D evin e Ch arl es
D ol an M ich ael
D o oly Patrick
D uboi s ! ephyr
Frem i n A m ed ee
F remin T ra s im o n d
,

71

72

TW E N T Y SIX T H LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY
-

Private
4

F orgi Pierr e
Gauth re aux F ortu natus
Gauth reaux H e r m e n e g e l e
Gauth rea u x M a u ri ce
Giroir A ch ill e
Gro s J u s t il ie n
Gros S erap h i n
H ebert A d elin
H ebert L o v in cy
H ebert Pierre
H ebert V il e o r
H i m el A dolph e
H im el D avid
H im el Fr an coi s
J olet J o h n
K erri e I sm ael
Labich e Gustave
Landry H e r m o g en e
L e B l a n c Gu st a v e
,

Le B l a n c T heod u l e
,

Lech e C h arles
L ech e J ean B ap ti ste
M arti n L eon a rd
M arti n J oseph J
M el an con N o e
Pr egea n t E do uar d
R o bi ch aud Lo ui s
S ch mid t H erm an ,
R o usseau E d m ond
Th ibo d aux A lfred
T hi bod a u x J o seph
T h ibod aux N arc isse
,

T r ie h e E l p h e g e P
,

Truxillo

A n d re

A PP E N D IX

M U S T E R R O LL
C O M P A NY C

26th

A U G UST
R AN K

LO U I SIA NA I N F A N T RY C S A

C aptai n
I st Li eut
2 d Li eut
2 d Lie ut

3I

O C TO B E R

31 ,

R esign ed S ep tem

E mi l e T a lliu
J oh n C arri ere
A ubert H ebert
N i ch olas D u ffy
N orbert C o u r cie r
A n atole D F ore t
T r as im o n d A B o u dreau

Gi ll aume A r r ie u x
A pp oli n aire Gilbert
A llem an A ntoin e
A r se m a n J ules
A ucoi n E ti en ne
A ucoi n F ran coi s
A ucoi n Gid eo n
A ucoin J ules
B ergeron D u br e g
B ergero n E mil e
B ergeron O m er
B er nar d A l fred
B er t e l ot t e A uguste
B e r t e l o t t e Fr an coi s
Bl an ch ard A m ed ee
B o l o t t e C am ill e
B o nn a m o u r Cl ovis
.

ber
I st S ergt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5t h S ergt
I st C orpl
2 d C orpl
3d C orpl
4 t h C orpl
Pri vat e

86 2

R EM A R K S

W W h it m e l M arti n
L o v in cy H i mel
N um a A r r ie u x
Leon A ch ee

NA ME S

73

29

86 2

TW E N T Y SIX TH LO U ISIA NA RE G I M E N T

74

Pri v ate
( t

B o n v il a in E u z l ie n
,

Liz e
B o u d e l o ch e A d olp h e
B o udreau E rnest
B o ud reau Clitus
B o u d reau Fr an coi s
B o udreau F ran co is G
B o u d reau T r a s im o nd
B o urg A lfred
Bo urg F elix
Bo urg M ar ce l l a in
B o urg T h e o d u l e
Can cien ne B asil
D el a u n e A m ed e
D el aun e C l e d o m ir e
D el aun e F ran coi s
D e vin e C h as
D ol a n M i ch ael
B o n v il a in ,

,~

H o sp it al
at E d wards
p ot M i ss

D ool ey Pat k
D uboi s ! ep h i re
F remin A m ed e
Fremi n T r a s im o n d
F o rg i Pierre

D ied O ctober

Gautreau F ortun atus

Gautre au H e r m e n e g e l e
Gautreau M auri ce
Giroir A chille
Gros J u s t il ie n
Gros S erap h i n
H ebert A d eli n
H ebert A uguste
H ebert L o v in cy
H ebert P ierre
.

86 2

2 1

A PP EN D I X
Privat e

H ebert V il eo r
H im el A d olp h e
H im el D avi d
H i m el F ran c o is

75

D ied O ctober

J ol e t J o h n
K er ri e I sm ael
Labich e Gustave
L a ndry H e r m o g en e
L e B l a n c Gustave

86 2

31 ,

L e B l a n c T he o d u l e
,

L ech e C h arles
Lech e J Ba p tiste
M art i n Leo n ard
M elan co n N oe
Pr egeant E dward
R o bi ch aux Lo uis
R o u ba t h a m J o sep h
R o usseau E dward
S ch midt H erm an
Th i bodaux A lfred
Thibod aux J o seph
Th ibod aux N a rCI Ss e
Tri ch e P E l p h e g e
Tr uxillo A n d r e ( l s )
.

Co

LO U I S I A N A I N F A N T R Y

6T H

M U S T E R R O LL F R O M F E B R U ARY
30
R AN K

86 3

N A ME S

Li eut
2 d Li eut
J uni or

The a bove is a cop y f ro m

.

86 3
,

L o v in cy

A P RI L

H i mel

N um a A rrie u x
R obert C M artin
,

th e

To

I st

H i mel

2 8,

origi n l roll f urnished

a

by

pta i n

76

TW EN T Y SIX T H LO U ISIANA I N F A N T RY
-

S ergt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5t h S ergt
I st

E mile

C orp
2 d Corp
3d Corp
4 t h Corp
Private

J oh n C arri ere
A ubert H ebert
N ich olas D uffy
N orbert C o u r cie r
A n atole D F or e t
T r a s im o n d A B o udreau
Guillaum e A r r ie u x
A pp oli n aire Gilbert
A llem a n d A ntoi n e
A r s e m e n t J ules
A u coi n E ti en n e
A ucoi n F ran cois
B ergeron D u br g e
B ergero n H o m er
B e r t h e l o t t e A uguste
,

I st

T a l l iu

B e r t h e l o tt e

r a n g o is ,

Bl an ch ard A m ed ee
B o l o t t e C am ille
B o n n a m o u r Clovi s
B o nvillain E u z el ie n
Bonvillain Liz e
B o u d e l o ch e A d olp h
B o udreau E r n est
B o udreau Clitus
B o udreau F ran c oi s
B o udreau F ran cois G
B o udreau T r a s im o n d
Bo urg A lfred
Bo urg F elix
B o urg M ar cil l a in
B o ur g T h e o d u l e
C an cie nn e B a sil
D el aune A m ed ee
D el aune C l d o m ire
D elaune F ran co is
,

A P P E N D IX
Priv a te
H

D evi n e C h arles
D ol an M ich a el
D o oly Patrick
D ubois ! ep hire
F remi n A m ed ee
Fremin T r asim o n d
G auth reaux F ortun a tus
G auth reaux H e r m e n e g el e
G auth reaux M a urice
Giroir A ch ill e
Gros J u s t ilie n
Gros S erap h in
H ebert A delin
H ebert A uguste
H ebert L o v in cy
H ebert Pierre
H ebert V il eor
H im el A d olp h e
H imel D avid
K erri e I sm ael
Labich e Gust a ve
Landry H e r m og en e
L e B l a n c Gustave
,

L e B l a n c T heod u l e
,

Lech e C h arles
Lech e J e an B a ptiste
M arti n L eo n ar d
Pregeant E dw a rd
R o bi ch aud Lo uis
R o u bat h a m J o sep h
R o usseau E d m ond
S ch midt H erm an
T hi bod aux A lfred
Th ibod aux J o se p h
Th ibod aux N a rcisse
T r ie h e E l p heg e P
Truxill o A n dre
,

TW E N T Y SIX TH LO U I SIANA I N F A N T RY

78

C OM P A NY C

L O U ISIA NA I N F AN T RY

2 6th

RESI G NA T I O NS

P R O M OT I O N S

AND

O n resignation of J unior 2 d L ie u t e n t a n t A ch ee o n
S eptember 2 9 1 86 2 R obert C am pbell M arti n
w a s promoted J uni or 2 d Lieuten ant
O n prom otio n of C aptain M artin to th e r ank o f
M aj or o n N ovem ber 2 5t h 1 86 2 Li euten ant
H im el was prom oted cap tai n ; 2 d Li euten ant
A r r ie u x was prom oted i s t Lieuten ant ; J unior
2 d Lieuten ant R obert C
M arti n was p ro m o ted
2 d Lieutenant
and S ergeant E m il T a il l iu was
was prom oted j unior 2 d Li euten ant
O n death of Lieuten ant A rr ie u x killed i n battl e
M ay 2 2 d 1 86 3 Lieutenant R obert C M arti n
was prom oted I st Lieuten ant J unior 2 d Lie u
ten ant T ail l iu w a s pro m oted 2 d Li euten ant and
J am es Bryan M arti n was elected and pr om oted
J unior 2 d Lie uten ant
,

D EA T H S I N T H E S E R V I C E
Private

A ucoin E tie n ne
,

D el aun e J

F or m e n t a l
B ar ill e a u

C orp
Private
.

D i ed J une

Lo uis
.

u
u

30
4
6

,
u
,

u
.

u
.

6,

86 2

86 2

u
u

2 1

D i ed O ctober
1

A ucoin J ul es

D i ed O cto ber
1

H im el Fran cois

J uly
u
u
u

H ebert J B
Blanch ard Lo ui s
Bo urg Cl ovis
Bern ard C l e z ia
Gauthreaux C amille
F orgi Pi erre
,

31

D i ed N ov e m h e r
7

86 2

A P P E N D IX

J ol e t J oh n

P ri vate

D i ed

N o v e mber

2d, 1

A ucoi n Gid eon

,

D i ed M ay

D I S C H AR G E S

D i ed D e ce m b e r

Lech e C h arles
R o usse a u E dm o nd
,

86 2

2,

63
.

D ISA B I L I T Y U N D E R S U R G E O N S
C ER T I F I C A T E

F OR

Priv ate

A ch ee K leber
,

D isch arged J uly

F remi n R osem o nd
,

M arti n J osep h
,

D isch arged J uly

D isch a rged A ug
ust 1 3 1 86 2

C H I C K A S A W B AY O U

C AS U A LT IE S A T T H E B A TTL E

Pri v a te

B ergeron E m il e

A S U A LT I ES D U RI N G TH E SI E G E O F V I C KSB U R G

Priv a te
4th
2d

K illed D ecember

K erri e I sm ael
,

S ergt

Lie ut

N u m a A r r ie u x

W o u n d e d M ay

K illed

Priv a te

L e B l a nc T h e o d u l e
,

F igh t M artin
,

F rem i n

W o u n d e d M ay

N i ch ol a s D uffy

M ay

22,

86 3
.

W o u n d e d M ay

W o u n d e d J u ne

T r a s im o n d

W o und ed J une 9
1 86
3 and D ied
J uly 1 86 3
K ill ed J un e 1 4

B o ud rea u Clitus
,

86 3
.

80

TW E N T Y SIX TH L O U ISIANA
-

Private

L ech e J ean B aptiste

,

A rse m e n t

J ules

C anci en n e Bazil
H ebert A d elin

u n

d J
d J

Jt dy

une

u ne

86 3
.

D ESE R T I O NS

M ed us Pierre
,

D eserted

VV o u

[ e d

Private

N F AN T RY

VV o

ach ari e A nd r e
,

86 2

D e serted

86 2

R O L LS O F C O M PA N Y D

I h ave been unable to pro c ure a m uster roll o f

Com pany D as organiz ed Th e follo wi ng were

t he o fcers at th e organiz ati o n :
.

RAN K

NA ME S

C a ptain
I st Lieut
2 d Li eut
J uni or

Cleop h as Lagarde
.

Sil v ere

N avarre

M A ug u sti n Legend re
J O ctave Pico u
A rm and Britsch
J D B esso ns
T P Larki n
Ludger Bergeron
A ubert H erbert
H o n or e C h amp agne
O z m e N aquin
E mil e Tro scl air
M arti n E l p h eg e
.

S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5t h S ergt
2d

I st C orp
2 d C orp
3d Corp
4 t h C orp
D rum mer
,

A P PE N D I X

I 8I

M U S T E R R O LL
C O M P ANY D

RAN K

L O U ISIANA I N F AN T RY C S A

26TH

A U G U ST

31

O C TO B E R 30

N AM ES

C apt a in
I st Li e ut
2 d Li eut
3d Li e ut
I st S ergt
2 d S ergt
5t h S ergt
I st C orp

1
2d

3d

4th

C orp

C orp

C h am p agn e H o nor

Tr oxl er E mi le

C orp

M usi ci an
Pri vate

Lagar d e Cleo p h as
G ui on Lewis
N avarre Sil v er e
Legen dre M A ugustin
Pico u J O ctave
Britsch A rm and
Bergero n Ludger
N aquin O z e m
P romoted 3d S er
g e a n t A ug u st
,

86 2

R EM A R K S

P arr A ureli en
,

86 2

Left si ck at E d
ward s D epot
H o spital A ug
ust 2 6 1 86 2

Prom oted 4th

S er g e an t A ug
ust 1 3 1 86 2
Promoted 1 st
C orp oral A ug
ust I 3 1 86 2
Promoted 2d
C orp oral A ug
ust 1 3 1 86 2

M artin E l p heg e
A d am O ct ave

A d am M ath uri n
A d am A ugust e
B ern ard M iles Tayl or Left Si ck at E d
.

wards D ep ot
H o spit al A ug
ust 2 6 I 86 2
,

82

Private

TW E N T Y SI X T H LO U IS I A NA I N F A N T RY
-

B abi n M arcel
B ergeron D r o z in
Berger o n E ugene
B ergero n E u z ebe
Bo udreaux O l e z i
B o urgeoi s V asseur
B o urgeoi s M a r cil ie n
B ourgeoi s N orb e rt S
Breau x A ugustin
Breaux F elicien
Brown R obert
C antr e l O scar
C antrel E rn est
C ad i ere Lo uis
Cogan J o h n
Ch a m p agn e J F l orest an
C antrel J ackson
C an trel A r m o g en e
D antin L iv a u d ais
D arc e L eo n
D roz Lo uis
D upr e Th eop hile
E x n iC I OS J o seph
F arell Fran k
Grim a M ich ael
Gu e rr in C G
Guillot U lysse
Guill ot J osep h
Left sick
.

s is s i

pp i S prings
J une 2 0 1 86 2
,

Guillot Fran c oi s
,

n ever rep orted

Left si ck at D on
a l s o n v ill e
La
A pril 2 6 1 86 2
never rep orted
,

APPE ND I X
Private

G uillot J e an
,

83

D i ed at C S
H o spital at M i s
s iss ip p i S prings
J uly 1 86 2
.

H awk R aym ond

H awk T he o l in
H ebert H yp olite
H ebert O z m
H ebert Welli ngto n
.

Promoted 4th
Corp or al A ug
ust 1 3 I 86 2
,

Le B l a n c

O ville
Ledet A m ed e
Led et A m ed e A
Lej eune O vile
Lirette Pi erre
M arti n Georges
M al bro u x Lem e
.

D etaile d as team
ster A ugust 1 2

86 2

M irre E v a riste
M ol aison A ugustin
N aq uin J oseph
N aq ui n E ugene
N av a rre E variste
Pico u Leo n
Pi co u Gustave
R en sch C h arles
R o bich eaux Lo ui s
R o bich e a ux Th eop hile
R odrigue Lo uis
Le ft C o mp any
A p ril 2 6 1 86 2
near D on also n
V ill e Lo uisian a
n ever re p orted
R oger A ugusti n
.

TW E N T Y S I X T H LO U I S IA NA I N F AN T RY

84

Private

R oger Fran cois

R oger J oseph
S evin N i col as
,

J u s t il ie n
Thibod e a ux Cl ai born e G
T au s in

Pro m oted 3d
Co rp o ral
A ugust 1 3

86 2

Thi bod e a ux F ran coi s

Thibodeaux J o seph
Toups Pierre
To ups O nesim e
To up s L O z m
P R OM OT I O NS
O n prom otio n of Captai n Lagard e to t h e rank o f
M aj or on J un e 2 1 1 86 3
i s t Li euten ant Lewi s Gui o n was prom oted to C ap
.

t a in cy

Lieuten ant S il v ere N avarre was pro m oted t o I s t

Li eutenancy
J unior 2 d Li euten ant M A ugusti n Legendre w a s
prom oted to 2 d Lieut e n ancy
H o nor Ch am p agn e w a s prom oted to J uni or 2 d Li e u
ten an cy
D EA TH S I N T H E S ER V I C E
R AN K
NA M
EMA R K S
Pr i vate
Guillot F ran cois
Left sick at D o n
a l so n v ill e Lo n i
sian a on A pril
26 th
1 86 2
an d
su bsequently
died
G uillot J oseph
Left si ck at M i s
s is s ipp i S pri ngs
o n J une 2 0 1 86 2
a nd died after
w ard
2d

A PP E N D IX
Private

A rm stro ng Ge orge
,

85

D ied in V i c k s
burg J une 2 6
,

Pon ti ff C h arles
,

86 2

D i ed at C amp
C age J une 6 2
D ied i n H o spital
at M i s s i s s i p p i
S prings J uly 6 2
D i ed at C am p
H all abo ut A ug
ust 1 86 2
D i ed n ear M an s
eld Lo uisi ana

G u i ll ot J ean

R o bich aux

Lo uis

T o up s

O n e z im e

a bo u

Ca d i ere Lo u is
,

t A p r il ,

86 2

D ied i n H ospital
at V icksburg

IS C H AR G ES FO R D ISA B I L I T Y U N D E R S U R G E O N S
C ER T I F I C A T E

I st C orp

A ubert H ebert
,

D isch arged abo ut

J une 1 86 2

C AS U A LT I ES

Pri vate
C

AT

THE

B A TTL E

Lir e tte Pi erre

,

OF

C H I C K ASA W
K illed

B AY oU

AS U A LT I ES D U RI N G TH E SI E G E O F V I C K S B U R G

Pri vate

A d am M ath urin
,

W o und ed in th e
h ead on M ay 2 1

Li e ut

S il v er e

N av arre

W o und ed J u n e
5

Private

B abin M arcel
,

Grim a M i ch el
,

86 3
.

W o u n d ed J u n e

Privat e

86 3
.

K ill e d
1

J u ne

883
.

TW EN T Y SIX TH LO U ISIA NA I N F AN T RY

86

2d

S ergt

A rm and B ritsch
,

W o unded J u n e

Li eut

Private

H o nor e Ch am pagn e
,

Lebl an c O ville
,

86 3

W o und ed

J une

S everely wo und

ed J u ne
D ESE R T I O NS

Pri vate

R odrigue Lo ui s
,

26,

Left com p any

near D on ald so n
ville Lo uisi an a
A pri l 2 6 I 86 2

R O L LS O F C O M PA N Y E
2 6 TH

L O U I SIANA I N F AN T RY C S A
.

M U S T ER R OLL A T O R G ANI ! A T I O N A P RI L
,

R AN K

86 2

N A ME S

C aptain
i s t Lieut
2 d Lieut
J un ior
I st S ergt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5th S ergt
i s t Corp
2 d Corp
3d Corp
4 t h C orp
Private

Willi am C C row
E dward B Cr ow
J o s ep h C R iu
J osep h Lo uvi ere
T h eo d u l e E Landry
J o h n 0 R ich ard
Pancrasse L R i u
A im e D Landry
.

63

Pe n o t t e

E A r ce n a u x
.

P a u l Broussard
Pi erre P R ich ard
A lex andre M Bro uss ard
A lfred Peck
,

A r ce n a u x
A r ce n a u x

D e s t iv al

N um a

Braux Clairville
Br aux P aul O
,

A PP E N D I X

Pri vate
6

B raux J o achim
Braux N orbert
Br aux S im on
Braux O sc a r
Bo urgeoi s Pierre
B o udreau A dri en
B o udreau Lessin
B o d o in C am ill e
B o d o in D elph in
B ro ussard J ules
B ro ussard D esir e
Ch i asson D upr e
Ch iasson T heo g ene
C om eau O vid e
C o m eau Lessin
C orm ier B e l o n ie
D uh on J ules
D uh o n V alentin
D uh o n V il e o r
D uh on O n ez im e
D uh o n Lucien
F or e s t ie r Phil o m ie n
Guilbeau A dolph e
Giro uard N orbert
Gri f th J oh n
Guidry A lexandre
H ebert E liz e
K eo ugh Peter
Landry B asil D
Landry A th an ase
Landry J ul es
Landry O livier
Lebl an c N euville
,

L e bl a n c D u pl es in
,

Lebert Lo ui s
Lebert Pierr e
,

87

88

TW E N TY SI XTH L O U IS I A N A I N F A N T RY
-

Langli n ai s H e r m o g ene
Langlin ai s J ules
Legere Pi e rre
Leg ere C o nstant
Louvi ere O z em e
Lo uvi ere O l e p s i
Lo uvi ere C l e yt
Lo uvi ere J o seph
M el an co n O n s ip h or e
M allet D o l z
M allet E m ile

Private

M o n t e O n e z im e
,

Pr ej e an A ndr e
Pr ej ean S o sth en e
Pr ej ean A g e r in
R oy C ev e n n e
R owa n Wyatt
S mith Hyp olite
S on ni er S evign e
S tutes Tobi as
S i m o n E ugene
Trah an R emo u d
Tra h an Pi erre
W ebre M ar t i n
,

R O LL S O F CO M P AN Y

M U ST E R RO L L
C O M P ANY E

2 6T H

A U G U ST

31

T O O C TO B ER

C aptai n
I st Lie ut
2 d Lieut

Willi am C C row
E d ward B Crow
J os C R i u
.

31

86 2

R EM A R K S
.

N A ME S

L O U I SIANA I N F AN T RY C

R AN K
.

A PP E N D I X
Li e ut
I st S ergt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h Sergt
5t h S ergt
I st C orp
2 d C orp
3d C orp
4 t h C orp
2d

J o sep h Lo uvi ere

J o h n O R i ch ard
P an crasse L R i u
T h eo d u l e E La n d ry

Pe n o tt e

A r ce n a u x

A d ol ph e L Guilbeau
A im e D Land ry
Pi erre 0 R i ch ard
.

P aul B ro ussard
F loren ce Gon z ales
.

Died in Vicks
burg O c t o b e r

Pri vate

A rce n a u x
A r ce n a u x

D e s t iv a l

N um a

B o urgeois Pierre
B ro ussard J ules
Br o uss a rd A lex M
B raux C l e r v ill e
Braux J o achim
B raux P aul O
Braux S i m o n
B raux N orbert
Braux Paul
B o ulet E raste
B o udrea u A dri en
B o udreau M oi se L
B o d o in C amille
B o d o in D elp h i n
Brown C h arles
C orm ier B e l o n ie
C om eau Lo zi n
C om eau O vide
C hi asso n T h e o g en e
C h i asso n D upr e L
D e l h o mm e s J ules
D uh on Lucien
.

86 2

90

Private

TW E N T Y SIX TH LO U ISIANA I N F AN T R Y
-

D uh on V al enti n
D uh on O n e z im e
D uh on J ul es
D uh on V il e o r
F oresti er Phil o m ie n
Guedry A l ex and re
Giro uard N orbert
Glau d e E rn est
H ebert S yl vest er
H ebert E liz e
H ebert T h o d u l e L
Keo ugh P eter
Landry O li vi er
Landry V i ct or A ch
Landry J ules
Landry J ean
Landry A th a n ase
Landry B azil D
Landry C l e r v il l e
Lo uvi ere O z m e
Lo uvi ere C l e yt
Lo uvi ere O lyp s i
Louvi ere J o s E
Lebert Pierre
,

'

Lebl an c D u p l e s in
Lebl anc N euville
L e g er r e Pierre
L e g er r e C o nstant
,

sick furlo ugh

i n Lo ui si an a
'
si nce J uly I 5 6 2

Langl in ais H e r m o g e n e
Laass Fredric
O n furl o ugh i n
Lo ui sian a si n ce
A pril I 5 1 86 2
M all et D o l z
.

A PP E N D I X

M o nte O n e z im e
M el a n co n O n e s ip h o r e
M a ssy 1 n o P
Pr ej e an A n d r e
R egi m ental Team
ster s i nce O cto
ber 2 8 1 86 2
P r ej e a n S o sth en e
P eck A lfred

Pri v ate

Q
R oy

u e bod e a u
,

A nd a l

C v e n ne

R ayn er Ge o
R ow a n Wyatt
S avoi e J ean
S mith H yp o l it
S on ni er S evign e
S t utes Tobi as
.

Tr ah an Pierre M
Tr ah an R em o u d
Trah an H e n r ia r t
W h i ttingto n A lex
W ebr e M arti n
.

P R OM OT I O N S

Wi l li am C Cr ow

C aptai n

Prom oted M aj or
No v e m b e r 1 0
and Li eu
1 86 2
ten a nt C ol onel
N o v e mb e r 25

I st S ergt

J osep h

R ich ard

86 2

Prom oted I st Lieu

t e n an t abo ut
N o v e mb e r 30

86 2

2d

TW E N T Y SIX TH LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY

S ergt

Pan crasse L R iu
.

Pr om ot ed 2 d Li e u
ten an t abo ut
N o ve m b e r 1 0
1 86 2 and to c ap
abo ut
t a i n cy
N o v e m b e r 30

5t h

S ergt

A d ol ph L Guilbeau
.

86 2

E lected

and pr o
m oted 2 d Li e u
ten ant abo ut
N o v e m b e r 30
,

cl in e d

J unior
pro m otion

N OT E

86 2

Li euten ant J ose p h Lo uvi ere de

2d
.

D EA T H S I N T H E S E R V I C E
Private

Bro ussard E rnest

Private

M allet E mile

D ied i n V icksb ur g
on M ay
D ied in V icksburg

hd ay 31
'

C orporal

Gon z ales Florence

,

86 2

D ied in V i cksburg
O ctober 2 1 6 2
D i ed i n V i cksburg

Lieut

E dward B Crow
.

N o v e m be r
1

Private

B o udreau A drien
,

86 2

J o sep h C R i u
.

D i ed i n V i cksburg
A pril 30 1 86 3
D i e d at h o m e
wh il e o n leav e
abo ut N o v e m
ber 1 86 2
D i ed i n 1 86 2
D ied i n 1 86 2
D ied i n 1 86 3
.

Lieut

Private

Braux O scar
Pr ej ean A g e r in
Le g ere P ierre
,

APPE N D I X

93

D IS C H A R G E S FO R D ISA B I L I T I ES U N D E R S U R G E O N S
C E RT I F I C A T E
.

Private

Gri f th J o h n
Legere C o nst ant
S i m o n E uge n e
.

C AS U A LT I ES D U RI N G TH E SI E G E

Private

Lo uvi er

VI C KS B U RG

'

OF

M ay 1 9 1 86 3 gun
sh ot wo und i n
t he h ead
M ay 2 2 1 86 3 g u n
Sh ot wo und i n
th e h ead
M a y 2 3 I 86 3
wo und ed Left
arm am p ut ated
J un e
,

H ebert E li s e
,

Lo uvier J
,

R oy C ev e n n e
,

M allet

D olze

RO L LS O F C O M PA N Y F

M U S T E R R O LL
F

2 6T H

A UG U ST
C ap tain
i s t Lie ut
2 d Lie ut
3d Lie ut

O C TO B E R

A ME

J o h n J S h a ffer
J A Leo n ard
T J S h affer
.

86 2

31

R EM A R K S

L O U ISIA NA I NF AN T RY C
1

A bs ent W i t h o u t

l e ave sin ce O cto

ber 1 2 I 86 2
,

I st S ergt

E v ari ste Leon ard

TW EN T Y S I X T H LOU ISIANA I N F AN T RY
-

3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt

D ugas
X Giroir
5t h S ergt N B o udreaux
I st C orp A d ri e n C ancienn e
2 d Corp
O ctav e B o d o in
H enry Labit
3d C orp
Gervais D uplantis
4 t h C orp
L o v in cy

N urse at M is s is sip
pi S pri ngs

Private

A u co in A dri en

B ergero n Germ ai n
B ergeron T r a s im o n
Bergero n E r m in v ill e
Bo u rgeoi s Fl orence
B o u g eo is J o sep h
Bo urg A u l im e
Bo udreaux A dri en
Bo udreaux V ictor
Bo udreaux Clovi s
Bo udreaux E m ile
N urse a t V icks
Besse C A
burg h o sp ital
D isch arged o u a c
Brue U lysse
co unt o f s ick n e ss
S e pte m be r 2 9
.

Ch iasso n S ch uyler
Col on ate J oseph
C antey J oh n D
,

86 2

E nlisted i n R egi

m ent O c t o b e r
,

D elatte F
D avis J oe
D ar c J o h n
D uboi s J B
Gros Ger a z im e
Giroir T h e l es
.

86 2

APPENDI X

Pri v at e
6

Giroir J B
G autre a ux E d
H ebert T he l e s
H ebert Lusign an
H ebert E v ariste
H ebert O vi lle
H ebert T he o d u l e
J enki ns E d
J un ot A rist ide
K ell er Gustave
Kal l a h e n B en
Kal l a h e n C
L e B l a n c Pro sper

95

S ick at M i ssissipp i
S prings
S i ck at M i ssissi pp i
S prings

O l cu s

L e B l a nc

Labit J o sep h
L as s a ig ne A bel
L a s s a ig n e J oh n
M un son T B
N aquin J osep h
O ze l e t J ules
P erillo ux J oseph
P itre F austin
Pitre J B
P art C l o d o m ir e
P ortier V i ctori n
Polit F elix
.

D ied i n Camp o n
S e pt e mb e r 2 7

R oger A l ex
R i ch ard Lo ui s

86 2

A bsent w i t h o u t

l eave since M arc h

1

Th ibod aux O ville

Th i bod aux E v ari ste
,

86 2

T W E N T Y SI X TH LO U I S I A N A I N F AN T RY
-

Pri vate

Th ibod aux H ilaire

U se J B
W h it ney George
,

M U ST E R
C O M P ANY F

L O U IS IA NA I N F A N T RY C

26T H

M AR C H I S T A P RI L
R AN K

30 T H

R EM A R K S

C ap tain
I st Li eut F A L e o u a r d
Li eut
2d
J uni or
P P Lebl an c
E vari ste Leo n a r d
S e rg r
.

Promoted 1
S erg e a n t; A p r il
I 1 86 3
Prom o ted 2 d S er
.

L o v in cy

D ugas

4th

X G iroir
.

5t h

S ergt

86 3
.

J L C a n ty
.

Pro m ot e d 3d S er
gean t Ap r i l

86 3
.

Pro m oted

C orp A drien C anci en ne

.

Corp

O ctave

B o d o in

4th

S er

86 3
.

Prom oted 5t h S er
g e an t A p r i l
I 1 86 3
P ro m ot e d I s t
C orp or al A pril
.

2d

86 3

N A ME S

3d

Corp

T he

86 3
,

Prom ot ed 2 d
C orp oral A p ril

1
X

bove i s copy
a

of

th e

or i g i n a l roll f urn i sh ed

86 3

by

C p t S h ff er
a

A PP E N D I X

3d

C orp

Pr ivate
1

D u p l a n t ie r

Gerv ais

A ucoin A dri en

Red uced

97

A pril

Bergero n Germ ain

B ergero n T r a s im o n
B ergero n E r m in v ill e
B o urgeoi s F l or en ce
B o urgeoi s J o sep h
B o urg A u l im e
B o udre aux A d rie n
B o udreaux Cl ovis
Bo ud reaux E mile
B oudreaux V ictor
Promoted 4th
C orporal A pril
.

B o udreaux N
,

SteW

at

R egi

m e ntal H ospital
C h iasso n S ch uyler
C ol on ate J oseph
D el atte F
D arc e J oh n
D uboi s J B
Gro s Ge r a z im e
Giroir T h e l e s
Giroir J B
Gautreaux E d
H ebert Lusign an
H ebert E vari ste
H ebert O vill e
H ebert T h e o d u l e
J enkin s E d
J uno t A ri stid es
K eller Gust ave
K a ll a h e n Ben
Ka l l a h e n C
,

98

Private

TW EN T Y SI X T H LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY
-

Le B l a nc O l e u s
,

Labit J o seph
M u n so n T B

P r o 11 1 o t e d 3d
Corp or al A pril
o

N aq uin J o sep h
,

J ules
P eril l o ux J o seph
Pitre F austi n
Pitre J B
P art C l o d o m ir e
Portier V i ctori n
Th ibodaux O vill e
T h i bod aux H iliar e
U se J B
W h itney George
H ebert T h e l e s
O ze l et

bu rg I I

L ass a ig ne

A bel

l e ave
A bsent
leave

Prosp er
U s e J o seph
M olai so n A dri en
P o nti ff D or n e v ill e
L e B l a nc

osp

Ha l

u d t ho u

Akbs e n t

with o u t
.

D EA T H S I N T H E S E R V I C E
Private

'

at R egi
m ental H o sp ital
S teward
V i cks

R ich ard Lo uis

86 3,

Besse C

Dd a r ch

[Ne d

[He d

J u ne 3 1 86 2
i ie d J u n e 1 2
D
1

Le B l anc

E rnest

86 2

D ied

Di ed J u ne
1

P olit F elix

86 2

S eptember

A P PEN D IX
Pri vate

L a s s a ig n e

J ohn

H ebert Th el es
,

99

D ied

N o v em ber

D ied M arch 1 8
at R egi
1 86 2
m ental H o spital

D IS C HAR G E S

F OR

D I SA B I L I T Y U N D E R S U R G E O N S
C E R T I F I C A TE
.

B r ue U lysse
,

D i sch arged
tem ber 2 9

C AS U A LT I ES D U RI N G T H E SI E G E

Pri v a te

C hi asson S ch uyler
,

OF

S ep
,

V I C KS B U RG

86 2

W o unded M ay

B o urgeois F loren ce
,

86 3
.

W o unded M ay

2 1

O z el e t

J ules

H e a d s h o t o ff
M ay 2 4 1 86 3
A rm br oke n by a
sh ell M ay 2 9

C orp oral

Vi cto r B o udreau

Private

W hitn ey George
,

A u l im e

une

E v ariste Leo n ard

P arr C l o d o m ir e
,

1 2,

86 3
.

M ort a lly wo unded

J u n e 1 9 1 86 3
Wo und ed J un e 2 5
.

Priv a te

1 2,

86 3

S ergeant

W o u nd e d J u ne
1

86 3

K ill ed

Bergeron Germ ai n
,

K all a ha n C

86 3

W o u nded J un e

B o urg

86 3
,

M ortally wo unded
J une 2 9 1 86 3
,

20 0

TW EN T Y SI X TH LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY
-

RO LL S O F C O M PA N Y G

C OM P A NY G
M

26TH

L O U ISIA NA I N FA N T RY C S A
3

O ctave V M et oyer
G eorge W C obb
S en eca P ace
Lo ui s A l ex andre Bossier
F ran ci s M E vans
Pi e rre N o t r e be Tern i er
A lexis E L e m e e
J o h n M D urrett
R ich ard G N ash
J o sep h T Lyn ch
W illi am B S h arp
William M Lyn ch
Pi erre E m an uel Pr ud h o m m e
A g a is s e A m bro se
A lford W R iley
Bri d ges L P
Bish op I saac C
Brazz e l R ussel
B u a r d J osep h E variste
B aldwin T h o m as J
Br az z e l W illi a m
C h e l e t t re F N evill e
C o bb J oh n
Cl a rk J ames
C h ain W illi am D
C urtis Th om a s E
C am pi o n Lo uis
D e r u s s e a u x F ran cois X
D uke R N ewto n
.

S ergt
S ergt

i st C orp
d C orp
3d C orp
4 t h C orp
a

86 2

NA M E S

Captain
I s t Li eut
d Lieut
J uni or
I s t S ergt
2 d S ergt
4th
5t h

U S T ER R O LL A T O R G AN I ! A T I O N A P RI L
RAN K

D e r ba u n e P
,

A PP E N D I X
Pri v a te
H

20 1

E v er s u l l

W illi a m F
E d en s J oh n
E dward s M itch ell
E dward s W o od
F a vro n A z e n or
F l a n ik e n J J
Gr a n d ch a m p t E rn est
G a m as C asimir
Grah am I s a ac
Go odm an S am uel E
Gl ass J oh n
H orn I saac
H orn L D
H orn W illi am C
H ern an dez Gilbert
H udler Willi am
J arn ac J ean
J ackson H enry J
J o nes H ugh
J o nes J L
L a v o o George N
Lam b S am uel
Labatt J ack C
M cD o n a l d J oh n R
M c c lendon Bright H
M axi mili en A n to n io
M ontgo m ery A lex a nder
N ash Willi am
N ash E ly
O rtol an D a vid
Prescott F M
Park J osep h
R h od us J oh n J
S a m p it A lber t
Sh ull J o h n M at
Taylor J G
,

26

TW E N T Y SI X TH LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY

20 2

Tram m ell G eorge W

V erch er J o h n B
V erch er C asim ir
W ad e A ugustus
W h it e si d e J am es J
W all T h om as T
V alery B en oi st

Private

M U S T E R R O LL

R AN K

3I S T

N A M ES

C aptai n
2 d Lie ut
3d Lieut
I st S ergt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5t h S ergt
I s t Corp
2 d Corp
3d Corp
4 t h C orp
Private

V M etoyer
S en e ca Pace
L A B ossier
P N Ter n i er

A S Le m ee
J M D urrett
R N N ash
.

J T Lyn ch
W m Lynch
W B S h arp
E m Prud h o mm e
N arci sse Pr udh o m m e
.

A g a is s e

A lford W B
.

B ish op 1 C
Brazz ell R
B u a rd J E
B a l d w in T J
B e s a u ry J ean
C h elette F N
C obb J o h n
.

O C T O B ER
I
S
T
3

AUGU ST

L O U ISIA NA I N F AN T RY C

26TH

C OM P ANY G

86 2

A PP E N D I X

Priv ate

Cl a rk J a m es
Ch ai n W D
C urti s T E
C a m p i on Lo ui s
D e r u ss e a u x F X
D uke R N
E v e r su l l W F
E d en s J oh n
E lli ot H enry
E dw a rds M
E dw ard s W

20

F av r o n

Gra n d ch a m p t E
G am a s 0
Grah a m J
Goo dm a n S E
,

D i s ch a rged O ct
o ber 1 3 1 86 2

H orn 1
H orn W C
H o rn L D
H ern and ez G
H udler W m
J a rn ac J ean
J a ckson H J
L a voo G W
L a mb S am l
.

Mc D o n a l d J R
M cL a n d o n B H
M axi m illi an A
.

N ash

Wm
N ash E ly
O rtol an D avid

P ark J o s
R o d us J J
.

S a m p it e

D isch arged
tember I

86 2

20

W E N T Y S I X TH L O U IS I ANA I N F A N T RY
-

Private

S i mm s C
S h ull J M

Tr a m m ell G W
T aylor J G
.

D i sch arged
tem ber 1

S ep
1

V erch er J B
V erch er C
V alery B
W ade A
W h itesid e J J
W all T T
.

D i sch a rged O ct
o ber 3 1 86 2

C O M P ANY G

L O U ISIA NA I N F AN T RY

2 6TH

M U S T E R R OLL F R O M M AR C H
R AN K

86 3

O ct ave V M etoyer
S eneca Pace
Lo ui s A lex B ossi er
Pierre N Ternier
A l exi s E L e m e e
R ich ard G N ash
J o h n M D urrett
J o seph T Lynch
H N J o nes
Willi a m Lyn ch
Willi am B S h a rp
E Prudh om m e
N Pr udh om m e
.

A g a iss e

A lford W B
A irh art W m

Bridges L
,

L e mee

copy

86 3*

is

ve

30

N A ME S

a bo

A P RI L

To

C aptai n
i s t Lieut
2 d Li eut
J unior
I st S ergt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5t h S ergt
I st C orp
2 d C orp
3d C orp
4 t h Corp
Pri vate

The

86 2

of

th e

P,
.

origin a l roll furnished

by

Lieu t en a n t

A PP E N D IX
Priv a t e
( l

20

Bi sh o p J C
B razz el R
B u a rd J E
B aldwi n T J
C h el ette F N
C obb J o h n
C h ain W D
C am p io n Lo ui s
C urti s T E
Caradin e T
D e r u ss e a u x F X
D uke R N
E v ers u l l W F
E dens J oh n
E d en s O v e rto n
E d war d s M
E dw ard s W
F avron A
.

Gr a n d ch a m pt

G am as C
H orn I saac
H orn W C
H orn L D
H er n and ez G
J arn ac J ean
J ackso n H T
K ey T T
L a vo o G N
Lamb
Labatt J E
Lacaz e A
M cD o n a l d J R
M cL a n d o n B H
.

,,

M a x im il l ie n A
N a sh E ly
N a sh W m
,

20

TW EN T Y SI X T H LO U ISIANA I N F A N T RY
-

Private

Park J osep h
P erot G E
R ach al P
R ayburn S A
,

S a m p it A
,

S h ull J M
.

V erch er J B
V erch er C
V al ery B
W ade A
Wh it esid e J J
Wrigh t J o sep h
.

C O M P ANY G

2 6TH

M U S T ER R OLL A T

RE

J AN U ARY ,

86 4

O ctave V M etoyer
S e neca P ace
Lo uis A lex B o ssier
A lexis E L e m e e
Pierre E Pr udh om m e
R i ch ard S N ash
J o h n M D urrett
J oseph T Lynch
J o sep h E v ariste B u a rd
W ill iam Lyn ch
W illi am B S h arp
L N arcisse Pr ud h o m m e
L P Bridges
A g ais s e A m bro se
A l ford W R il ey
B razz el R ussell
C h e l e t t r e F N evil l e
.

O R G A NI ! A T I O N I N T RA N S

N A ME

C aptai n
1 st Li eut
2 d Lie ut
J unior
1 st S ergt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5t h S ergt
I st C orp
2 d C orp
3d C orp
4 t h Corp
Private

L O U ISIA NA I N F AN T RY C S A

M I S SIS S I PP I D E P AR TM E N T
R AN K

A P P E N D IX

Priv a te

20

C obb J oh n
C obb Willi am
D e r u ss e a u x Fran cois X
D uke R N ewto n
Ed en s J oh n
E dward s M itch ell
E dward s W o od
,

F a v r o n, A ze nor

Gr a n d cha m p t E rnest
Gam as C a simir
,

H ern andez Gilbert

M cC l e n d o n B H
N ash Willi am
N ash E ly
Park J o sep h
S a m p it A lbert
V erch er J oh n B
V al ery Benoist
W ade A ugustin
,

R E S I G N AT I O N S A N D P R O M O T I O N S

I st Li eut

George W C obb
.

Li e ut

S en ec a P ace

86 2

Promoted
i st
Lie u t e n an t
N ovem ber 1 86 2
Pro m oted
2 d
Li e u t e n an t
N ovem ber 1 86 2
Prom oted J unior
Lieutenant
N ovember 1 86 2
,

J uni or

Lo ui s A B ossi er
.

I st S ergt

Pierre N Ternier
.

R esi gned A ugust

1
2d

20

TW EN T Y S IX T H LO U IS IANA I N F AN T RY
-

A l exis E L e m e e

I st

Pro m o ted J u ni or
Lieutenant
M ay 1 86 3 and
i n Tran s M issi s
sip p i D ep art
ment
A cti ng
A dj utan t of th e
R egim en t
Promoted 1 st
S ergeant J uly

2d

S ergt

Pierre N Ternier

3d

S ergt

A lexis E L e m e e
.

86 2

Promoted 1 st
S ergean t N o v
ember 1 86 2
Promoted I st
S erge a nt M ay
.

Private

J oseph E variste

B u ard

D EA T H S I N T H E
Private

Glass J oh n
,

86 3
.

SE R V I C E

D ied in V i cksburg
J un e 1 86 2
D ied a t Clinto n
M ississip pi J uly

I st S ergt

Francis M E v an s
.

Private

N ash Willi am
,

86 2

D ied at C am p
Crow M a rch 1 i

D I S C H AR G E S

86 3
.

D ISA B I L I T Y U N D ER S U R G E O N S
C E RT I F I C A T E

F OR

Private

Go odm an S am uel
,

D isc h arged O ct
ober 1 3 1 86 2
D isch arged S ep
tem ber I 1 86 2
Di sch arged S ep
tem ber I I 86 2
.

O rtol an D avid
,

T aylor J G
,

A P P E N D IX
Pri vate

W all T h om as

20

D isch arged
O ct
ober 2 1 86 2

C AS U A LT I ES A T TH E B A TTL E O F

Private

R h od us J oh n

Killed

shot
through the
h ead
S h o t th rough th e
legs and died in
City H o s p i t a l
M arch 2 5 I 86 3
W o und ed i n th e
Sh o ulder
W o unded

S h ull J oh n M
,

E dward s M itch ell

,

'
,

A l ford W Riley
.

C AS U A LT I E S D U RI N G T H E SI E G E

J un Li eut Pi erre N Tern i er

Private
Pero t G E
Gam as C asim ir
.

VI C KS B U RG

0F

K illed M ay
u
u

20

Gun sh ot o n ch in
and left Sh ould
er M ay
K illed J une I 3 6 3
Lamb S am uel
M ax imili en A n to nio M ortally wounded
J u n e 2 5 1 86 3
and di ed of th e
wo und
Wo unded J un e 2 5
C urti s T h o m as E
,

E dward s M itch ell

,

D ESE R T I O NS

Wrigh t J o sep h
,

W o und ed J une

B aldwi n Th o m as

86 3
2 5,

86 3
.

S h ot in th e m o uth

D eserted A p ril
I

86 3
.

21 0

TW EN T Y SIX T H LO U ISIA NA I N F AN T RY
-

R O LL S O F C O M P A N Y H

C OM P ANY H

2 6TH

L O U ISIANA I N F A N T RY C
,

M U S T ER R OLL A T O R G A NI ! A T I O N
RAN K

NA ME S

Captain
I st Lieut
2 d Lieut
J unior
I st Se rgt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5t h S ergt
I s t Corp
2 d Corp
3d Corp
4 t h C orp
Private

D un can S C age
Will iam A E isl a n d
J oseph A yco ck
H o m er Lirette
H Claiborne D aspi t
T e l e s p h o r B abi n
J S ch uyler Porch e
J oh n M K night
M Servill e Trah a n
E lias H aines
A Th ibod aux P orch e
Leop old B o udreaux
Frederic L o tt in g e r
A rceneaux Wilfred
A rceneaux S o sth ene
A nti ! A lbert
A yo s G
B o udreaux J ules
Bergeron O ctave
Bergero n W ash ingto n
B ergeron Ch arles
B ergero n S ch uyler
Bru n et F austi n
B abin T he o d u l e
B abin J osep h
B ourg E d o uard
B o urg F austin
B ernard Lewis A
B uford W illi am
B o ard J W
.

A PP E N D I X

Pri v a te

21 1

B ro ussard A ugusti n
B ell anger H enri
Bl an ch ard J B
Bl anch ard T heo d u l e
Bl an ch ard E d o uard
B urn s J o h n
Bo udreaux N um a
B o urgeoi s A d am
Cro ch et E d o u ard
C rep ell e S everin
C oo p er E zr a
Cl ark T h om as
C h aisson Bern a rd
Ch auvin L e u fr oi
Ch auvi n F elix
C lem ent J oseph
D avis M P
D upr e J B
D i r e Ludger
D ugas J N
D omingue A ntoi ne
D om ingue J B
,

D a ig n o n E u z e l ie n
,

D u pr e S im eon
D up l antis E u s e b
E llend er H enry
E th eridge Willi a m G
F ord R obert B
Frem in A ureli en
F lippi n J am es D
F orestier C aesar
G uidry Ludger
Guidry O n e z im e
G ui dry H ebert
G u idry E r n est
H atch A lph on s e
,

2 1 2

TW

E N T Y S I XT H LO U I SIANA I NF A N T RY

Private

H ebert Lo ui s
H utchi n son A d ol ph e
H otard J osep h
K iger H enry C
K ing Th o m as
K i ng George
Kn i gh t W O
K ni g h t J osh ua B
Lirette Bello ni
Lyons L C P
L e comp te J usti n
L e B l a n c H enri
Lanc o n F ortune
Landry S o sth en e
L e n a in J B
Lori o D on at i en
M unso n Fr ank
M unso n S ylva n us
M iller C hri stop h er
M iller E li as
M arcel S ead A
M i ch el Pro sp er
M arl b oro ugh J osep h
M un son A s a
O live J osep h
O r d e n a u J oh n
Po in co t E tienn e
Pi ch o ff A ugustin
Porch e H C
R o undtree Th om as
R o u g e l e t A lfred
S avo i e M arcellin
S avoi e W illi am
,

Th ibod aux A ugusti n

T h ibod aux A ubai n P
,

A P PE N DI X

21

Th ibod aux E m ile

Th ibod aux A d am
Trah an O n e s ip ho r e
Trah an O z m
Th er i ot A urelie
Th eri ot O liva
T o u p s George
V oi sin Leon ar d
V i es E m ile
V allette A
Wym an C ha rles H
,

M U S T E R R O LL
C O M P A NY H

L O U ISIA NA I N F AN T RY C

2 6 TH

A U G U S T 3I O C TO B E R 31 ,

NA ME S

C ap tain
I st Li eut
2 d Lie ut
2 d J un i or
i s t S ergt
I d Li e ut
S
ergt
d
3
.

86 2

Pr o m o t e d S e p t e m

ber 2 6 1 8 6 2
A pp ointed S e p
tember 2 6 1 86 2
.

4t h

S ergt

R EM A R K S

Wm A Ei sl and
J o seph A yco ck
H o m er Lirette
H C D aspit
C h arles M D aspit
J o h n M K nigh t
E li as M i ller
.

A urel ie Th eri ot

5t h

S ergt

i st C orp
2 d C orp
Co
rp
d
3

M S er v ille Trah an
.

A T Porch e
.

Pro m oted S eptem

ber 2 6 1 86 2
A p poi n ted S e p t
em ber 2 6 1 86 2
.

4th

C orp

G O A yo s
.

21

Pri v a te

TW E N TY SIX TH LO U IS IA NA I N F A N T R Y
-

A rcen eaux S o sth en e

,

A ntil A lbert
,

Left a t h o m e sick
o n furlo ugh M ay
D i ed O c t o b e r 8
at M i ssi s
1 86 2
sipp i S prings

Bo udreaux J ules
B ergero n O ctave
B ergeron W ashi ngton
B ergeron C h arles
Bergeron S ch uyler
B runet F austi n
B abi n T he o d u l e
B abin J osep h
B abin T el e s p h o r
B o urg E dward
B o urg F austin
Bern ard Lo uis A
Buford Wm
B oard J W
Bell anger H enry
Bl an ch ard J B
B l a n ch a rd T h e o d u l e
B o udreau N um a
B o urgeois A d am
Cro ch et E dward
C rep elle S ev eri n
C OOp e r E zra
Ch a isso n B ern ar d
C h a u vin Le u fr o i
C h a uvi n F elix
Clem en t J oseph
D avis M P
D upr e L u d g er e
D ugas J N
D omingue J B
.

A PP EN D I X
Pri vate

D a ig n on E u z e lie n
,

2 1

D u p r e S im eo n
D upl a ntis E us eb e
E th eridge Wm G
F ord R ob ert B
F rem i n A u reli e n
G uidry L u d ger
Guidry O n e z em e
G uidry H ubert
G uidry E r nest
H atch A lp h o ns e
H ebert Lo uis
K iger H enry C
K i ng T h om as
K i ng George
K n igh t W 0
K nigh t J o sh u a B
Lirette B ello n i
Lyo ns L C P
Lecom pte J ustin
L e B l a n c H enry
Lan co n F ort un e
Landry S o sth en e
L e n ain J B
M un so n F r ank
M unso n S ylvan us
M arcel S A
M ich el Prosp er
M alboro ugh J O S
M un so n A sa
M iller C 0
.

D ied S e p te mb e r
1 86 2 at E d
w a rds D ep ot
,

O live J o sep h
O rd en a n J o h n
Poin cot E tienne
.

2 1

TW EN T Y SIX TH LO U ISIANA I N F A N T RY

R ed uced S e ptem

P orch e J S ch uyl er
.

Porch e H C
Pich o ff A
.

ber

26,

86 2

D ied supposed
about J u n e 2 7
at V i cksburg

R oun d tree Th os
S avo ie M arcelli n
S p arks J N
S kin n er S am uel
Thi bod aux E mile
Th i bod aux A d am
.

Trah an O n e s ip h o r
Trahan O z m
T h eriot O liva
To ups George
V oi sin Leo n ard
Vi es E mile
Wy m an C H
,

P R O M OT I O N S

O n the electio n and prom otion o f C a pt a i n C age

th e rank of Lie uten ant C ol o nel o n A pril 3 1 86 2
i st Li euten ant William A B is l a n d w a s p r o m o t
ed to th e rank of C ap tain ; 2 d Li eutenant J o sep h
Ayco ck to th e rank o f i st Li e utenant ; J uni or
2 d Lieuten ant Lirette to th e rank o f 2 d L ie u t e n
ant and I s t S ergeant H Claiborn e D aspit to th e
rank of J unior 2 d Lieuten ant
O n th e resignati on of 2 d Li e utena n t Lirette abo ut
N ovem ber 1 86 2 J unior 2 d Li e uten ant D asp it
becam e 2 d Li euten ant and I st S ergeant C h arles
M D aspit becam e J unior 2 d Li e uten ant
,

D EA T H S I N T H E S E R V I C E
Private

B urns J oh n
Blan ch ard E dward

D ied J un e

86 2
H

A PP E N D IX
Priv a te

21

Lori o D on atien
D ie d J une 1 7
H ot a rd J o seph
22
S a voi e William
22
Flip pe n J am es D
23
F Ore s tie r C ae s ar
26
B ro uss ard A ugusti n
26
H utch i nso n A dolp h e
26
Pich off A ugustin
27
E llend er H enry
J uly 1 5
D o m ingue A ntoin e
1 9
D upr e J B
26

Cl ark T h o m as
A ug st 2
M iller C hristop h er C
S ept 2 7
A ntil A lbert
O ct 8
O r d e n a u J oh n
F eb y 2 5
H ebert Lo uis
J uly 4
,

86 2

86 3

C A S U A LT I E S D U RI N G TH E SI E G E O F V I C KSB U R G

C orp oral

Frederic

L o t t in g e r

Gu n s ho t wo un d
i n sh o ulder M ay

Lie ut

Ch a rles M D aspit

Wo unded M ay 2 0

Priv a te

Lyo n s L C P
,

86 3
.

S erio us gun sh ot

wound in left
b re a s t M a y 2 2

K iger H C
,

1
,

K ing Th om as
,

ay

86 3
.

W o unded M ay 2 9

B erg eron

26,

86 3

Killed M

1
,

W o unded M ay

K i ng George

86 3

86 3
.

W a s h in g t o n W o unded in s calp
by sh ell M ay 2 9
,

1
28

86 3
.

21

TW E N T Y SIX TH LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY
-

Private

B abi n J osep h
,

W o und ed i n fo o t
by a sh ell M ay

B ergero n C h arles
,

M ortally wo unded
J une 5 1 86 3
W o und ed J un e 9

Co op er E zr a
,

Bo urgeois A d am

S everely wo und ed

86 3

J un e 1 0 1 86 3
Killed J une 1 2
.

B abin

T h eo d u l e

Babin

86 3
.

Wo und ed J un e

Crep elle S everin

,

2 5,

86 3
.

S everely wo und ed
J un e 2 5 1 86 3

D ugas J N

M ortally wo un d ed
J un e 2 5 1 86 3
and died of th e
wo und J un e 2 8

D E S ER T I O NS

Private

V allette

D eserted M ay

E tien ne

Po inco t

86 3

86 2

D eserted D ecem
ber 2 1 I 86 2

R O LL S O F C O M P A N Y 1
,

2 6TH

L O U ISIANA I N F A N T RY C
,

N A ME S

C aptain
I s t Lieut
2 d Lieut
.

Win ch ester H a ll
Cal eb J T ucker
L o v incey A W ebre
,

M U S T E R R OLL A T O R G ANI ! A T I O N
R AN K

C O M P A NY I

A PP E N D I X
J uni or
I st S ergt
2 d S ergt
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
5t h S ergt
I st C orp
2 d C orp
3d C orp
4 t h C orp
Private

Cl ay K n oblo ch
F E Guedry

A Le B l a nc
.

C J Guedry
A urelien B raud
T h o m as J H ep l er
Ch arles M yr t il d e Gaud et
G ust ave M orv an
C lay Bern ard
A S ch uyler B ourgeoi s
A d am E rnest
A d am E mil e
A tkinso n
N
A ucoin A lp h on se
B ark A uguste
B rown R obert
B ergero n Fr anklin
B o u t a ry Pro sper
B o udreau Pi erre
B o udreau Pro sp er
Bo urgeois P aul
B arras D e m os t h en e
B o urgeois M axi mili en
Bo urgeois A pp olinaire
C hi asson O ctave
Chi asso n E d m und
C ollin s Th om as J
C h am p agne P E rn est
C aillo uet J o sep h F
C h am p agn e J A
Ch am p agn e E m ile
C hi asson U lysse
C h am p agne R o bert
D uskey E li D
D uskey S il as F
D uskey J am es B
D antin J ules
.

L o v in ce y

( 1

21

2 20

TW E N T Y SI X T H L O U I S I A NA I N F A N T R Y
-

Private

D e s l a tt e s

F elix

Dyer W N
Clem ent T r a sim on
E stive m H en ri
F r a n cio ni Laur e nt
F algo ut O n e z im e
Guedry J J
Guedry J B E n o
Guillot P aulin
Guill ot Tel es
Gl adish J r William J
Ga u d E m ile H
Green W P
H epl er E rn est A
H ill J oh n H
H ebert A lp h on se
K n oblo ch Wm Tell
L e o n v a l E mile
Led et F ran coi s
Led et P aulin A
Led et H enri F
Lain S erap hi n
Lawl ess T Percy
Landry J osep h
M orv an E rn est
M arti n J u s t ilie n
M el a n con A im e
M ol aiso n J ules
N aqui n M elville
Po ch H P
P och O ctave
Pi co u E rn est
Pico u U rbai n P
Pi co u T heo p hile
P arr D o r a d o u
R o ger Gustave A
R o us s el Th o m a s F
.

A PP E N D I X
Pri v ate

221

S cott P a ul
S evi n J osep h
S mit h J o h n J
S t iv e n s J u s t il ie n
S im o n eau C o nstant
S im o n eau V ictor
Trosclair E ugen e
,

Tro scl air J osep h

Tro scl air L e u fr o i
Troscl air L ov in cey
T o up s Lo uis
To up s Terence
T o up s Pro sp er
To up s F elicien
Tou p s T E mil e
To up s O z m
Tabor William
Tabor E dw a rd
Th ibod aux C l d a m a n t
V a n d e r d oe s Philip A
W a g e s pa ck F lorian
W a g e s p ack U l g e r
Webre P O sc a r
W a g e s p a ck Lo ui s
,

M U S T E R R O LL
C O M P A NY I

A UG U S T
RAN K

31

N A ME S

C a pt ai n
I st Li eut
2 d Li eut
2 d S ergt
.

To

O C TO B ER

31 ,

C al eb J Tucker
L ov in ce y A Webre
F E rn est Gu edry
.

L o v in ce y

C S A
.

86 2

R EM AR K S

L O U ISIANA I N F AN T RY

26TH

Le B l a nc

TW EN T Y SI XT H LO U I S IANA I N F A N T RY

2 22

3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt
.

5t h

S ergt

I st Corp

C J Guedry
A u relien B raud
Th os J H epler
C h arles M Gaud et
.

Left at Lafo urch e

on th e 1 8t h A p ril

Corp
3d C orp
4 t h C orp
Private
2d

Gustave M orvant
Cl ay Bernard
A ubai n S ch uyl er B o urgeois
A d am E m ile
A dam E rnest
A ucoin A lp h on se
A tkin son J N
B o u d r a u x Pi erre
B o u d r a u x Prosp er
Bo urgeo is P aul
B ergero n F rankli n
B ou t e r ie Prosp er
Clement T r a s im o nd A t M i s s i s s i p p i
S pri n g sn u r s e
i n h o sp ital
Colli ns Th om as
Ch i asson U lysse
C h amp agne J A
Ch am p agn e E m ile
D uskey S ilas F
Left in h ospital a t
E dward s D ep o t
A ugu s t 2 6 6 3
D uskey E li D
D uskey J a m es B
D anti n J ules
D e l att e s F eli x
Dyer Will i a rd N
E st e v e n H enry
F algo ut O ne z im e
F ra n cio ni Laurent
.

86 2

A PP E N D IX
Priv a te

G uedry J B E
Guedry J ul es J
Ga u d E m ile
Gl ad ish J r W J
Guillot P aulin
H epler E rn est A
H ill George
.

QO N

Tran s ferred O cto

ber 1 1 from 4 t h
Lo uisiana R egi
m ent

H ebert A lph on se
H i ll J oh n H
K n o blo ck W T
Lan dry J o seph
Lawles s T Percy
Ledet H enri F
Ledet Pauli n
Led et Fr an coi s
L eo n v a l E mile
M artin J u s t il ie n
M ol a iso n J ul es
M orv a nt E rnest
N aquin M elvill e
Pico u U rbai n P
Pico u E rn est
Por he O ct ave
Part D o u r a d o u x
,

Left a t M i ssissi pp i
S pri ngs i n h os
p ital

R o ussel Th o m as F
R oger Gustave A
S i m o neau V i c t or
S im o n e au C on stant
S m ith J oh n J
S evi n J o sep h
.

S cott

P aul
T o u p s F elicien
.

2 24

TW E N T Y SI X TH LO U ISIA NA I N F AN T RY
-

To up s Lo uis
To up s J E m ile
T o up s O z em e
To ups Pr osp er
To ups Teren ce
Tro scl ai r L o v in ce y

Pri vate

Left at C am p Ben
j am in n ear N ew
O rl e an s A p r i l

2 5,

Tro scl air Leufr oy

Trosclair J o sep h
Tro scl air E ug en e
,

86 2

T h id o d a u x

C l e d a m a nt

P h ili p A
Webre P O scar
a n d e r d oe s ,

P R O M OT I O NS A N D RESI G NA T I O NS

O n el ectio n an d pro m oti o n of C aptai n H all t o th e

rank of M aj or A pril 3 1 86 2 I s t Lie ute n ant
T ucker was prom oted to th e rank o f C ap tai n ;
o f I s t Lie u
2 d Li eutenant W ebre to th e rank
tenant an d J uni or 2 d Li e uten ant K n o bl o ch to
to th e rank of 2 d Li euten ant
O n th e resign ati o n and absence of Li e uten an t K n ob
l och I st S ergeant F E rnest Guedry was p ro
m oted to th e r ank of 2 d Li euten ant
th e death of C ap tain T ucker ki l led i n battle
D ecem ber 2 8 1 86 2 Lie uten ant W ebre was pro
m oted to th e r an k of C aptai n 2 d Li euten ant
Guedry to t he rank of I st Li euten ant and I st
S ergeant L o v in cey A Lebl anc to th e rank o f
2 d Lieuten ant
,

D EA T H S I N T H E S E R V I C E
Pri vate

S t iv e n s J
,

u s t il ie n ,

Died J un e 2 2 6 2
at M r s W illi am
S m ith s ne ar E d
ward s S tati on

A PP E N D I X
Priv ate

Pico u Th eo p h il e
,

22

D ied i n H osp ital

J un e 2 8 1 86 2
D ied i n H o spita l
about J uly 1 6 2
D i ed in cam p J uly

T abor E dward
,

C h am p agn e E rn est
,

B arr as D e m os t hen e
,

86 2

D ied in h o s p i t a l
at M i s s i s s i p p i
S prings A ugust

To u p s F e l icie n
M ol ai so n J ul es
,

D I S C HA RG E S

F OR

86 2

D ISA B I L I T Y U N D ER S U R G E O N S
C E RTI F I CAT E

Pri vate

C aill o uet J o sep h

,

D isch arged J uly 8

G u edry J B E n o
.

86 2

D isch arged O cto

ber 1 7 1 86 2

C AS U A LT I E S A T C H I C K A S A W B AY O U

C aptai n
Li eut
.

C al eb J T ucker
.

L o v in ce y

K illed

A L e B l a n c W o und ed severely
.

i n th e sh o uld er
C A S U A LT I ES

Priv ate

DU RI N G

T H E SI E G E O F V I C KSB U R G

S mith J o h n J
,

S everely wound ed

M ay 1 9 1 86 3
K illed M ay 2 2 6 3
W o unded M ay 2 3
.

Priv at e
S ergeant

G aud et E mile
C J Guedry
,

N a q ui n M elville N
,

86 3
.

M ortally wo unded
J un e 9 1 86 3
W o un ded J un e 1 0
,

F algo ut

O ne z im e

Priv ate

86 3
.

TW E N T Y S IX TH LO U ISIANA I N F AN T RY

2 26

Private

M el an co n

W o u nd e d J u n e

A im e

Tro sclair J o sep h

,

1 1

86 3
.

S everely wo und ed

J u n e 2 5 1 86 3
and subs eq uent
ly di e d o f t h e
wo und
,

R O LL S O F CO M P A N Y K

M U S T E R R O LL
C OM PA NY K

R AN K

3I

O C TO B ER 31

N A ME S

Captain

L O U ISIA NA I N F AN T RY C S A

2 6TH

A UG UST

86 2

R EM A R K S

F elix Grundy W ind er Pro m oted Captain

,

86 2

Li eut Ch arles Ten n e nt

2 d Lieut
R i ch a rd C W est
I st S ergt E rn est Lirette
2 d S ergt
E rnest B on villain
S o sth en e A ubain D ar c
3d S ergt
4 t h S ergt W ilfred A rce n a u x
Prom oted 5t h S er
5t h S ergt Tri st a m S E aston
geant i n place o f
H illier red uced
O cto ber 30 6 2
I st C orp Croch et Prosp er
2 d C orp
C ad et E ch e t e
! en o n R odrigu es
3d C orp
George C ol o it r e
4 t h C orp
Priv ate
Bon vill ain W ash
B a bi n Th eop h ile
B o n d e l o ch e J ed eo n
B aud oin Wil l iam
2d

lA PPEN D I x

Private

C orn e a u
C o l oit r e

D oir on
D uboi s
D upr e

22

E ch t ,

G ust av e
H a n ag riff: i o m
L a bit D a sSt i
H illi er J am es

di i

to ranks

30

M a rcel E m il e
N aquin H yp olite
N aqui n C h as
Pitre A l fred
Pitre J o seph
Prevo st J osep h
S anders J oh n
S i ce M ich ael
U s e Leo
W atki ns Willi am
,

62

RE S I G NA T I O NS

AN

mi

I ON s

C aptain C 0 D e La Ho s ayK resign ed abo ut

O cto ber 1 86 2
F elix Gin n d y W inder elected I s t
I s t Lie uten ant
Li euten an t abo ut J uly 1 86 2 and prom oted to
C ap tain cy o n resignati on of C ap tai n D e La
H o ussaye
2 d Lieuten ant Ch arle s T enn ent resign ed about A ug
ust I I 1 86 2
J uni or 2 d Lieuten ant R ich ard C W e st pro m oted to
I st Li euten ant o n resign ati o n o f 2 d Li euten an t
T enn ent and t o r ank of C aptain on d eath o f
C ap tai n Wind er killed i n battle M ay 1 9 1 86 3
S erge ant E rn est Bo n vill ai n pr om oted to 2 d Lie u t e n

2 28

TW E N T Y SIX T H LO U ISIA NA I N F A N T RY
-

a n cy o n resign ati on of 2 d Li e uten an t T en n en t

a nd to 1 s t Li eut en ancy o n d eath of C ap tai n

W inder

C O M PA N Y K

C AS U A LT IE S D U RI N G T H E SI E G E O F V I C K S B U R G
C aptain

Private

F elix Grundy Winder K illed M ay 1 9

Labit B acis
W o unded M ay
,

Pierre

C arroll J am es
,

86 3
.

Wo un d ed J un e

3,

86 3
.

D EA T H S I N T H E S E R V I C E
,

9,

Leg broken M a y

Gn ar t Lo uis
E n ol

63
.

D uboi s

Priv ate

D ied M ay 31 6 2
D ied N o v e m b e r
,

86 2

( Th e two n am es above are from th e records o f th e

S exto n of Vi cksburg C em etery )

THE

F O LLOW I N G RO LLS
TH EI R

W ERE

R AN K

N A ME S

Priv ate

IN

PRO PER PLAC E

C O M P ANY B
IN

D E AT H S

O MITT ED

SE R V I C E

THE

R E M A RK S

B o urgeois

D ied at C am p M oore
a bo ut M ay I 1 86 2
D uv al F elix
D ied at C am p H all
abo ut A ug 1 86 2
D a isy J Pemberto n D ied at V icksburg
A B urto n D ai sy
D ied at C amp H all
abo u t A u g 1 86 2
F itzger a ld J a sp er D ied in h osp ital at
J ackson M iss
Green W ineld
D ied at C am p H all
a bo u t A ug I 86 2
Giroir J
D ied i n h ospital at
V icksburg
H eato n J
H ollid ay
D ied at Cam p H all
abo ut A ug 1 86 2
H artm an J am es
D ied at C amp H all
abo ut A ug 1 86 2
D ied near V i cksburg
N op e F elix
N ov 2 1 1 86 2
S tansb ury A ndrew D ied i n V icksburg
J une 1 4 I 86 2
S we a ri ngen Lem C D ied in h ospital at
M iss S pri ngs
M cC r a ck e n Fr ank D ied in V icksburg
J un e 1 2 1 86 2
,

2d

Corp

Privat e

D I SC H AR G E S

'

F O R D I SA B I L I T Y

U N D E R S U RG E O N S

C ER T I F I C A T E
R AN K

NA ME S

Private

R EM A R K S

C ocke B owm a n

1
,

O ct

D isch arged

S alles A

86 2

S tin er C hristi an
,

D isch arged

86 2

O ct

D i sch ar ged at V i ck s
burg

TH E

C A S U A LT I E S A T

R AN K

N A ME S

Private

R EM A R K S

S and ers A ustin

,

N A MES

A n sl u m

Private

K ill ed D ec

C AS U A LT I ES D U RI N G TH E
R AN K

SI

E GE

OF

2 8, 1

V I C KSB U R G

M ason Th o m as
,

F ayette M arti n
,

J oh nson J am es
D elm as D uboi s

Private

fter s urrender
W o u n d e d in t h e h ead
J u n e 5 1 86 3
K illed J un e I 1 I 86 3
K illed J un e 1 6 1 86 3
W o und ed and fo ot
a mp u ta t e d J u n e

D E SE R T I ON S

R AN K

Private

N A ME S

W o u n d ed
H e a d sh ot

o ff

R E MA R K S
,

Pr a tt J oh n

a nd d i e d
on a tr ansport

B o udre a u V i cto r
B o urg M

2 1

VVo u n d e d

J r Li eut

86 3

86 2

W o unded M ay

E v an s J

REM A R K S

Willi am

C H I C K A S A W B AY O U

B ATT L E OF

D esert ed at C a m p
L a g a rd e i n f all of
1

86 2