3rd Louisiana Infantry Regiment (Confederate)

Last updated

3rd Louisiana Infantry Regiment (Confederate)
Louis Hebert.jpg
Louis Hebert was the regiment's first colonel.
Active11 May 1861 – 20 May 1865
CountryFlag of the Confederate States of America (1865).svg  Confederate States
AllegianceLouisiana Pelican Flag 1861.svg  State of Louisiana
BranchBattle flag of the Confederate States of America.svg  Confederate Army
Type Infantry
Size Regiment
Nickname(s)Pelican Rifles [1]
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Louis Hebert

The 3rd Louisiana Infantry Regiment was a unit of foot soldiers from Louisiana that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment distinguished itself at Wilson's Creek in 1861. The 3rd Louisiana fought at Pea Ridge, First Corinth, Iuka, and Second Corinth in 1862. The unit defended Vicksburg in 1863 where it was captured. At Vicksburg, the unit's fortification was twice blown up by powerful land mines. The surviving soldiers were paroled and exchanged, after which they performed guard duty for the rest of the war.

Contents

Formation

On 11 May 1861, the 3rd Louisiana Infantry Regiment organized at Camp Walker in New Orleans with 1,037 soldiers. The unit's original field officers were Colonel Louis Hebert, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel M. Hyams, and Major William F. Tunnard. On 20 May, the regiment started to travel to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Captains, company nicknames, and parishes where the men were recruited are listed below. [2]

Company information for the 3rd Louisiana Infantry Regiment [3]
CompanyNicknameCaptainsRecruitment Parish
AIberville GreysCharles A. Busle (x)
John Kinney (m-Vicksburg)
Thomas Gourrier		 Iberville
BMorehouse GuardsR. M. Hinson (k-Wilson's Creek)
W. T. Hall (r)
D. C. Morgan		 Morehouse
CWinn RiflesDavid Pierson (p)
N. M. Middlebrook		 Winn
DPelican Rifles No. 2James D. Blair (x)
William E. Russell		 Natchitoches
EMorehouse FenciblesJames F. Harris (x)
Charles H. Brashear (t)		Morehouse
FShreveport RangersJerome B. Gillmore (p)
William Kinney		 Caddo
GPelican Rifles No. 1Winter W. Breazeale (r)
L. Caspari (x)
William B. Butler		Natchitoches
HMonticello RiflesJohn S. Richards (p)
A. W. Currie		 Carroll
ICaldwell GuardsWilliam L. Gunnels (x)
Joseph E. Johnson (m-Vicksburg)
T. M. Meredith		 Caldwell
KPelican RiflesJohn B. Viglini (x)
Henry H. Gentles		 East Baton Rouge

History

1861

The 3rd Louisiana Infantry served in Benjamin McCulloch's brigade from May–September 1861. [4] When the indifferently-dressed pro-Southern Missourians first saw Hebert's regiment, they were impressed with its neat gray uniforms and the officers' gold braid. [1] On 10 August 1861 in the Battle of Wilson's Creek, 5,400 Union soldiers with 16 guns under Nathaniel Lyon attacked 10,175 Confederate troops with 15 guns led by Sterling Price, Nicholas Bartlett Pearce, and McCulloch. [5] Lyon's attack was a complete surprise. As his main column advanced from the north, Lyon sent 300 U.S. regular infantry under J. B. Plummer to protect his left flank. The 3rd Louisiana and the 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles met the regulars in a cornfield and defeated them after a fight lasting one hour. [6] A second Union column led by Franz Sigel advanced from the south and enjoyed a brief success. After its successful cornfield fight, Hebert's Pelican Rifles moved to face the new threat. Sigel's men held their fire because the Louisianans looked like an Iowa regiment. Sigel's troops were routed after being blasted by a volley. [7] Finally, the 3rd Louisiana joined the main battle against Lyon on Oak Hill, taking a position on the right flank next to the 3rd Texas Cavalry Regiment. After repelling four Confederate attacks, Lyon was killed and the Federals retreated after suffering 1,317 casualties. Confederate losses numbered 1,230. [8] The 3rd Louisiana lost 9 killed and 48 wounded at Wilson's Creek, [9] including Captain Hinson (B Company) killed. [3]

1862

General Earl Van Dorn ConfederateGeneralEarlVanDorn.jpg
General Earl Van Dorn

In the Battle of Pea Ridge on 7–8 March 1862, the 3rd Louisiana was commanded by Major Tunnard since Colonel Hebert was promoted to brigade commander. The regiment sustained casualties of 10 killed, 15 wounded, and 42 missing during the fighting. [10] On 7 March, McCulloch was killed early in the fighting [11] and the division's second-in-command James M. McIntosh was shot dead soon afterward. [12] At about the same time, Hebert (who was third-in-command) led the 3rd Louisiana and the 4th, 14th, and 15th Arkansas infantry regiments into Morgan's Woods. When the staff officers of the fallen generals went looking for Hebert, he had disappeared into the woods, leaving McCulloch's division leaderless. [13] After extremely confused fighting, Hebert's regiments were defeated and withdrew from the woods. [14] Hebert and about 30 others became separated from his brigade and the group was later captured by Union cavalry. Tunnard, who had passed out from exhaustion, was also captured. [15] McCulloch's division dispersed; about 1,200 soldiers left the battlefield, 2,000 went with Albert Pike to join Earl Van Dorn, and another 3,500, including the survivors of the 3rd Louisiana, went with Elkanah Greer to join Van Dorn. [16] On 15 March, Hebert and Tunnard were released from captivity in exchange for two captured Federal officers, Francis J. Herron and William P. Chandler. [17] After Pea Ridge, the Confederate soldiers endured a terrible retreat in cold weather. Because Van Dorn's logistics broke down, they were forced to steal food from the local people. William Watson of the 3rd Louisiana called it a "miniature Moscow retreat". Two weeks after the battle, Tunnard reported that there were only 270 demoralized men in the regiment and that their uniforms were in tatters. Many more drifted in afterward. [18]

Van Dorn soon received an order to move his army to the east side of the Mississippi River. Accordingly, the Confederates marched from Van Buren to Des Arc, Arkansas where the troops boarded vessels that took them to Memphis, Tennessee. The soldiers in Hebert's brigade did not arrive in Des Arc until 15 April 1862 and did not board the transports until 24–25 April. [19] Corinth, Mississippi proved to be an unhealthy camp. Of the 80,000 Confederate troops concentrated there, 18,000 were ill. On 29 May, the Confederate army abandoned Corinth. [20] On 8 May 1862, Hebert, Hyams, Tunnard, and 6 captains were dropped and new officers were elected. Frank Crawford Armstrong became colonel, Jerome B. Gilmore became lieutenant colonel, and Samuel D. Russell became major. [2]

General Lewis H. Little was killed at Iuka. Lewis Henry Little.jpg
General Lewis H. Little was killed at Iuka.

On 18 September 1862, Armstrong's cavalry galloped into Iuka, Mississippi followed immediately by the 3rd Louisiana Infantry. The town had been hastily abandoned by its Federal garrison and many supplies left behind. The Louisiana soldiers quickly broke into the sutler stores and helped themselves to a variety of food, which was much better than their usual diet of beef and hoecake. [22] In the Battle of Iuka on 19 September, the 3rd Louisiana fought in Hebert's brigade, Lewis Henry Little's division, Price's corps. [23] Hebert arranged his 1,774-man brigade with the 3rd Texas Cavalry (dismounted) deployed in front as skirmishers, the 1st Texas Legion (dismounted) on the right, the combined 14th-17th Arkansas Infantry Regiments in the center, the 3rd Louisiana Infantry on the left, and the 40th Mississippi Infantry in reserve. They were supported by Faris's and Dawson's Missouri batteries. The 3rd Louisiana sent Company F forward as skirmishers and they killed 4 or 5 Union soldiers. At 5:15 pm, Hebert ordered his brigade to attack the Union troops in front. [24]

The Louisianans found themselves fighting the 5th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment at a range of 50 yd (46 m). Sergeant Willie Tunnard remarked that most of the 3rd Louisiana dropped to one knee to fire and avoided injury because the Federals fired too high. After trading volleys for 15 minutes, the Union troops advanced with bayonets and the 3rd Louisiana fell back. Soon the Louisiana soldiers pushed forward again to be pressed back by a second bayonet charge. As darkness fell and smoke obscured the field, the situation became confused. One Louisianan tried to seize the flag of the 5th Iowa, yelling, "Don't fire at us; we are your friends." The Iowans shot him down. Finally, the 5th Iowa started taking fire from the 1st Texas Legion and its three left flank companies were mauled. Four companies from the 26th Missouri Volunteer Infantry tried to fill the gap but were driven back by the 3rd Louisiana. When Hebert sent the 40th Mississippi to attack the Federal right flank, the 5th Iowa retreated, having suffered 217 casualties in 75 minutes of battle. The four companies of the 26th Missouri sustained 97 casualties. [25] Later, when a Federal attack threatened to overrun the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Gilmore led a charge that drove them back. Earlier, Gilmore had taken five flesh wounds, but he finally took a bullet in the shoulder. Meanwhile, Major Russell rode to the rear to stop friendly fire from hitting the Louisianans in the back. [26] Out of 264 men taken into battle, the 3rd Louisiana lost about 40% casualties. [27]

At the Second Battle of Corinth on 3–4 October 1862, the 3rd Louisiana Infantry was in W. Bruce Colbert's brigade, Hebert's division, Price's corps. The brigade had the same units as at Iuka. [28] On 3 October, Colbert's brigade started the day in reserve behind Hebert's three frontline brigades [29] and apparently ended the day in reserve. [30] On 4 October, Van Dorn ordered Hebert's division to attack at dawn. At 7:00 am, Hebert reported himself ill at headquarters and was replaced by Martin E. Green who was not briefed beforehand. [31] In the muddle, Green's troops finally attacked at 10:00 am. [32] Green's two right-hand brigades smashed through the Union defenses and took Battery Powell, but suffered heavy losses. [33] The two left-hand brigades, including Colbert's, ran into tougher opposition. The 3rd Louisiana fought against the same Federal unit that it fought at Iuka (5th Iowa). After 45 minutes of fighting, Colbert's soldiers were repulsed with severe losses. The 3rd Louisiana suffered 32 casualties, or about one-third of the soldiers who went into battle. [34] Armstrong was tapped to command a new cavalry brigade [35] and resigned on 5 November 1862. On that date, Gilmore became colonel, Russell moved up to lieutenant colonel, and David Pierson became major. [2]

1863–1865

In the Siege of Vicksburg, 18 May – 4 July 1863, the 3rd Louisiana Infantry commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Russell and seconded by Major Pierson was in Hebert's brigade of John Horace Forney's division. During the siege, the brigade suffered losses of 219 killed, 455 wounded, and 21 missing. [36] The 3rd Louisiana lost 45 killed and 126 wounded, the heaviest casualties of any unit in the brigade. [37] On 25 June, the Union forces exploded a mine under the 3rd Louisiana Redan and killed six men and wounded 21 more. [4] The Federals occupied the crater left by the explosion, but the Confederates were able to throw grenades into the seized position, inflicting about 30 casualties. [38] On 1 July, a second mine was detonated under the 3rd Louisiana's defenses, killing one and wounding 21. [4] The second mine mortally wounded both Captain Kinney (Company A) and Captain Johnson (Company I). [3] This time Union troops made no attempt to occupy the position. [38]

The Confederates surrendered at Vicksburg and the soldiers were paroled until they could be exchanged. [39] Gilmore resigned on 20 August 1863. Two days later, Russell was appointed colonel, Pierson became lieutenant colonel, and John S. Richards was promoted major. [2] The 3rd Louisiana Infantry's soldiers were officially exchanged on 12 September 1863 and ordered to report to Alexandria. However, very few of the men showed up. [4]

By December 1863, there were only 38 fit men in camp. [27] A few men from the regiment were absorbed into the 22nd Louisiana Consolidated Regiment as Company H at Enterprise, Mississippi in January 1864. The regiment was not mustered until July 1864 at Pineville. The unit marched to Camp Boggs in Shreveport in August 1864 and mounted guard duty there for the remainder of the war. During this period, the 3rd Louisiana was assigned to Allen Thomas's brigade in Camille de Polignac's division. [4] The regiment disbanded on 19–20 May 1865. Out of 1,136 men enrolled into the 3rd Louisiana Infantry, 123 were killed in action, 74 died of disease, 3 died in accidents, 2 were murdered, and 1 drowned. [40]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Monaghan 1955, p. 156.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bergeron 1989, pp. 76–77.
  3. 1 2 3 Bergeron 1989, p. 77.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Cormier 2018.
  5. ↑ Battles & Leaders 1987a, p. 306.
  6. ↑ Monaghan 1955, pp. 172–174.
  7. ↑ Monaghan 1955, p. 177.
  8. ↑ Monaghan 1955, pp. 178–181.
  9. ↑ Dimitry & Harrell 1899, p. 162.
  10. ↑ Shea & Hess 1992, p. 334.
  11. ↑ Shea & Hess 1992, p. 110.
  12. ↑ Shea & Hess 1992, p. 115.
  13. ↑ Shea & Hess 1992, pp. 116–118.
  14. ↑ Shea & Hess 1992, pp. 120–142.
  15. ↑ Shea & Hess 1992, p. 149.
  16. ↑ Shea & Hess 1992, pp. 144–145.
  17. ↑ Shea & Hess 1992, p. 285.
  18. ↑ Shea & Hess 1992, pp. 266–267.
  19. ↑ Shea & Hess 1992, pp. 288–289.
  20. ↑ Cozzens 1997, pp. 22–23.
  21. ↑ Cozzens 1997, p. 100.
  22. ↑ Cozzens 1997, p. 57.
  23. ↑ Cozzens 1997, p. 325.
  24. ↑ Cozzens 1997, pp. 86–87.
  25. ↑ Cozzens 1997, pp. 92–95.
  26. ↑ Cozzens 1997, p. 106.
  27. 1 2 National Park Service 2017.
  28. ↑ Cozzens 1997, p. 327.
  29. ↑ Cozzens 1997, p. 167.
  30. ↑ Cozzens 1997, p. 203.
  31. ↑ Cozzens 1997, p. 235.
  32. ↑ Cozzens 1997, p. 237.
  33. ↑ Cozzens 1997, pp. 240–245.
  34. ↑ Cozzens 1997, pp. 250–251.
  35. ↑ Cozzens 1997, p. 39.
  36. ↑ Battles & Leaders 1987b, p. 549.
  37. ↑ Dimitry & Harrell 1899, p. 123.
  38. 1 2 Battles & Leaders 1987b, p. 528.
  39. ↑ Battles & Leaders 1987b, p. 533.
  40. ↑ Bergeron 1989, p. 78.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army of the West (1862)</span> Confederate States military unit

The Army of the West, also known as the Trans-Mississippi District, was a formation of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War that was a part of the Army of Mississippi. It saw action in the Battle of Pea Ridge, Battle of Corinth, and Battle of Iuka and consisted of about 20,000 personnel.

The 1st Missouri Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Originally commanded by Colonel John S. Bowen, the regiment fought at the Battle of Shiloh, where it was engaged near the Peach Orchard on April 6, 1862. On April 7, during the Union counterattacks at Shiloh, the regiment was instrumental in preventing the Washington Artillery from being captured. The regiment was next engaged at the Second Battle of Corinth, where it outflanked several Union positions. On the second day at Corinth, the regiment was only minimally engaged. On November 7, the 1st Missouri Infantry was combined with the 4th Missouri Infantry to form the 1st and 4th Missouri Infantry (Consolidated), as a result of heavy battle losses in both regiments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 9th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment fought at Round Mountain and Bird Creek (Chusto-Talasah) in 1861, Pea Ridge, Siege of Corinth, Second Corinth, Hatchie's Bridge and the Holly Springs Raid in 1862, and in the Atlanta campaign, Franklin, and Murfreesboro in 1864. The unit fought dismounted at Second Corinth and Hatchie's Bridge before being remounted as cavalry for the remainder of the war. The regiment surrendered to Federal forces on 4 May 1865 and its remaining personnel were paroled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Texas Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 7th Texas Infantry Regiment was a unit of Confederate States Army infantry volunteers organized in 1861 that fought mostly in the Army of Tennessee during the American Civil War. The regiment was captured at Fort Donelson in 1862 and sent to Northern prison camps. After the survivors were exchanged and new recruits added, the regiment was reconstituted and fought at Raymond, Jackson, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Ringgold Gap in 1863. The unit served in the Atlanta Campaign and at Franklin, Nashville, Averasborough, and Bentonville in 1864–1865. The regiment's 65 survivors surrendered to William Tecumseh Sherman's Federal forces on 26 April 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Texas Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 9th Texas Infantry Regiment was a unit of Confederate States Army infantry volunteers organized in December 1861 that fought during the American Civil War. The regiment fought at Shiloh, Perryville, and Stones River in 1862, Chickamauga in 1863, the Atlanta Campaign, Allatoona, and Nashville in 1864, and Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley in 1865. The remaining 87 officers and men surrendered to Federal forces in May 1865. Two of the regiment's commanding officers were promoted brigadier general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32nd Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 32nd Texas Cavalry Regiment, sometimes incorrectly named Andrews's 15th Texas Cavalry Regiment, was a unit of volunteer cavalry mustered into the Confederate States Army in May 1862 and which fought during the American Civil War. The regiment was formed around companies from Richard Phillip Crump's 1st Texas Cavalry Battalion which fought in Indian Territory and at Pea Ridge. Many of the soldiers died of disease in the unhealthy camps near Corinth, Mississippi. The cavalrymen were dismounted in July 1862 and served as infantry for the rest of the war. The regiment fought at Richmond, Ky., Stones River, and Chickamauga in 1862–1863, in the Meridian and Atlanta campaigns and at Nashville in 1864, and at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley in 1865. The regiment's 58 surviving members surrendered to Federal forces on 9 May 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Greusel</span>

Nicholas Greusel commanded the 36th Illinois Infantry Regiment during the early part of the American Civil War. As a teenager, he emigrated from the Kingdom of Bavaria to the United States. Later moving to Detroit, he was elected to political office for two years. He led a Michigan volunteer company during the Mexican-American War and later moved to Illinois. At the start of the Civil War he joined a three-month Illinois regiment, rising to field officer rank before the state governor appointed him colonel of the 36th Illinois. He led a brigade at the battles of Pea Ridge and Perryville and at the Siege of Corinth. At the Battle of Stones River he assumed command of the brigade when its commander was killed. He resigned because of poor health soon after Stones River and worked for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. He espoused pacifism in his later years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 3rd Texas Cavalry Regiment or South Kansas-Texas Mounted Volunteers was a unit of mounted volunteers that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment fought at Wilson's Creek and Chustenahlah in 1861, Pea Ridge, Corinth siege, Iuka, Second Corinth, and the Holly Springs Raid in 1862, Thompson's Station in 1863, and at Yazoo City, in the Atlanta campaign, and at Nashville in 1864. The regiment fought dismounted at Iuka and Second Corinth before being remounted for the rest of the war. The regiment surrendered to Federal forces in May 1865 and its remaining 207 men were paroled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">27th Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 27th Texas Cavalry Regiment, at times also known as Whitfield's Legion or 1st Texas Legion or 4th Texas Cavalry Battalion, was a unit of mounted volunteers that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. First organized as the 4th Texas Cavalry Battalion or Whitfield's Legion, the unit served dismounted at Pea Ridge and First Corinth. Additional companies from Texas were added and the unit was upgraded to the 27th Texas Cavalry Regiment or 1st Texas Legion later in 1862. Still dismounted, the unit fought at Iuka and Second Corinth. The regiment was remounted and fought at Holly Springs in 1862, Thompson's Station in 1863, and at Yazoo City, Atlanta, Franklin, and Third Murfreesboro in 1864. The regiment surrendered to Federal forces in May 1865 and its remaining soldiers were paroled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Texas Cavalry Regiment</span> Confederate mounted volunteers, American Civil War

The 6th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment fought at Chustenahlah in 1861. The following year the unit fought at Pea Ridge, First Corinth, Second Corinth, Hatchie's Bridge, and Holly Springs. The 6th Texas Cavalry participated in the fighting at Thompson's Station in 1863, the Atlanta campaign, and the Franklin–Nashville Campaign in 1864. The regiment formally surrendered to Union forces in May 1865 and its remaining soldiers were paroled.

Wade's Battery was an artillery battery in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The battery was mustered into Confederate service on December 28, 1861; many of the members of the battery had previously served in the Missouri State Guard. Assigned to the First Missouri Brigade, the battery saw action at the Battle of Pea Ridge and the Second Battle of Corinth in 1862. In 1863, the battery fought at the Battle of Grand Gulf, where Captain William Wade, first commander of the battery, was killed. The battery later saw action at the Battle of Champion Hill, Battle of Big Black River Bridge, and the Siege of Vicksburg. When the Confederates surrendered at the end of the Siege of Vicksburg, the men of the battery became prisoners of war. After a prisoner exchange, the men of the battery were combined with Landis's Battery and Guibor's Battery on October 3, 1863, and Wade's Battery ceased to exist as a separate unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Confederate)</span> Infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army

The 6th Missouri Infantry was an infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was formed on August 26, 1862, when two existing units were combined. Later that year, the regiment was then lightly engaged at the Battle of Iuka and saw heavy action at the Second Battle of Corinth. In 1863, the regiment was engaged at the Battle of Port Gibson, and was part of a major charge at the Battle of Champion Hill. After a defeat at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge, the regiment took part in the siege of Vicksburg, where it saw heavy fighting. The siege of Vicksburg ended on July 4 with a Confederate surrender; after being exchanged, the regiment combined with the 2nd Missouri Infantry to form the 2nd and 6th Missouri Infantry (Consolidated). The 6th Missouri Infantry ceased to exist as a separate unit.

The 4th Missouri Infantry Regiment was formed on April 28, 1862, and served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The infantry regiment did not see action at the Battle of Farmington on May 9, and the Battle of Iuka on September 19 despite being part of the Confederate force present at those battles. As part of Brigadier General Martin E. Green's brigade, the regiment participated in three charges against Union lines on October 3, 1862, during the Second Battle of Corinth. The following day, the regiment, along with the rest of Green's brigade, attacked the new Union lines. Despite initial success, the attack was repulsed by a Union counterattack. The regiment ceased to exist as a separate unit when it was combined with the 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment on November 7, 1862, to form the 1st and 4th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Consolidated).

The 3rd Missouri Light Battery was an artillery battery of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The battery originated as a Missouri State Guard unit active in late 1861, and was officially transferred to the Confederate States Army on January 28, 1862. The battery provided artillery support at the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862, and was lightly engaged at the Battle of Iuka in September. In October 1862, the battery was lightly engaged at the Second Battle of Corinth and saw action at the Battle of Davis Bridge, where it lost at least one cannon. The 3rd Light Battery saw action at the Battle of Champion Hill on May 16, 1863, and had its cannons captured at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge the next day. After participating in the Siege of Vicksburg, the battery was captured on July 4, 1863 and was paroled and exchanged. The battery was then consolidated with the Jackson Missouri Battery; the 3rd Light Battery designation was continued. In early 1864, the battery received replacement cannons and was assigned to the defense of Mobile Bay. The 3rd Light Battery saw action at the Battle of Spanish Fort in March and April 1865. When the Confederate Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana surrendered on May 4, 1865, the battery was again captured; the men of the battery were paroled on May 10, ending their military service.

The 2nd Missouri Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Organized on January 16, 1862, the regiment first saw major action at the Battle of Pea Ridge on March 7 and 8, 1862. After Pea Ridge, the regiment was transferred across the Mississippi River, fighting in the Battle of Farmington, Mississippi on May 9. The unit missed the Battle of Iuka in September, but was heavily engaged at the Second Battle of Corinth on October 3 and 4. The regiment helped drive in a Union position on October 3. On October 4, the 2nd Missouri Infantry, along with the rest of Colonel Elijah Gates' brigade, captured a fortification known as Battery Powell, but were forced to retreat by Union reinforcements.

The 3rd Missouri Infantry Regiment served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The infantry regiment was officially mustered into service on January 17, 1862. It fought at the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas in March before being transferred across the Mississippi River. While stationed at Corinth, Mississippi, the regiment played a minor role in the Battle of Farmington before the evacuation of the town. In September, the unit saw light action at the Battle of Iuka before being heavily engaged during the Second Battle of Corinth as the Confederates attempted to retake the town in October. In early 1863, the regiment was transferred to Grand Gulf, Mississippi, in order to strengthen the defenses of the Mississippi River at that point. At the Battle of Grand Gulf on April 29, the unit helped repulse a Union Navy attack against the Confederate defensive works. After elements of the Union Army of the Tennessee landed below Grand Gulf, the regiment fought in a delaying action at the Battle of Port Gibson on May 1.

Hiram Bledsoe's Missouri Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Missouri State Guard and the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The battery was formed when the Missouri State Guard was formed as a pro-secession state militia unit in response to the Camp Jackson affair. As part of the Missouri State Guard, the unit was engaged in the Engagement near Carthage and the Battle of Wilson's Creek during mid-1861, before fighting at the Battle of Dry Wood Creek and the Siege of Lexington later that year when Major General Sterling Price led the Guard northwards towards the Missouri River. After the Missouri State Guard retreated into Arkansas in early 1862, Bledsoe's Battery served during the Confederate defeat at the Battle of Pea Ridge in March. The battery, as part of the Army of the West, transferred across the Mississippi River into Tennessee in April, where it left the Guard to enter Confederate service on April 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Louisiana Infantry Regiment (Confederate)</span> Infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army

The 7th Louisiana Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Louisiana that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Formed in June 1861, the regiment was sent to fight in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. After fighting at First Bull Run, the unit joined the 1st Louisiana Brigade. The regiment served in Jackson's Valley campaign and at Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Harpers Ferry, Antietam, and Fredericksburg in 1862. The regiment fought at Chancellorsville, Second Winchester, and Gettysburg in 1863. At Rappahannock Station in November 1863, almost the entire regiment was captured. The remnant of the unit fought at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the Valley campaigns of 1864. It served at Petersburg starting in December 1864 and surrendered at Appomattox in April 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20th Louisiana Infantry Regiment</span> Infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army

The 20th Louisiana Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Louisiana that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The unit began its existence as the 6th Louisiana Battalion in September 1861. The battalion was augmented to regimental strength in January 1862 at New Orleans and served during the war in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The regiment fought at Shiloh, Farmington, and Perryville in 1862. After being reduced in numbers, the regiment was consolidated with the 13th Louisiana Infantry Regiment and served at Stones River, Jackson, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge in 1863. The 13th-20th Consolidated Louisiana fought at Resaca, New Hope Church, Ezra Church, and Nashville in 1864. The consolidation with the 13th Louisiana was discontinued in February 1865 and the regiment was re-consolidated with other units. It fought its final battle at Spanish Fort one month before surrendering in May 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13th and 20th Consolidated Louisiana Infantry Regiment</span> Infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army

The 13th and 20th Consolidated Louisiana Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Louisiana that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It served only in the Western Theater. The unit was created in November 1862 by combining the veteran but diminished 13th Louisiana and 20th Louisiana Infantry Regiments to form the consolidated regiment. The regiment fought at Stones River, Jackson, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge in 1863. The 13th-20th Louisiana fought at Resaca, New Hope Church, Ezra Church, Jonesborough, and Nashville in 1864. The consolidation was discontinued in February 1865 and the 13th and 20th Infantry Regiments were re-consolidated with other units.

References

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.