8th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent)

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8th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent)
Active1863–1864
Country United States of America
AllegianceFlag of the United States (1861-1863).svg  USA
Branch Union Army
Type Infantry
Engagements American Civil War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Hiram Scofield

The 8th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent) was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was composed primarily of freed or escaped slaves from Louisiana's plantations and was commanded by white officers. [1] [2]

Infantry military service branch that specializes in combat by individuals on foot

Infantry is a military specialization that engages in military combat on foot, distinguished from cavalry, artillery, and tank forces. Also known as foot soldiers or infanteers, infantry traditionally relies on moving by foot between combats as well, but may also use mounts, military vehicles, or other transport. Infantry make up a large portion of all armed forces in most nations, and typically bear the largest brunt in warfare, as measured by casualties, deprivation, or physical and psychological stress.

Regiment Military unit

A regiment is a military unit. Their role and size varies markedly, depending on the country and the arm of service.

Union Army Land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War

During the American Civil War, the Union Army referred to the United States Army, the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. Also known as the Federal Army, it proved essential to the preservation of the United States as a working, viable republic.

Contents

Organization

In the spring of 1863, Col. Hiram Scofield, a veteran officer in the 2nd Iowa Infantry, [3] organized the 8th Louisiana Infantry at Lake Providence, Louisiana. The new regiment was mustered into service on May 5.

Colonel (United States) Military rank of the United States

In the United States Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force, colonel is the most senior field grade military officer rank, immediately above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general. It is equivalent to the naval rank of captain in the other uniformed services. By law, a colonel must have at least 22 years of cumulative service and a minimum of three years as a lieutenant colonel before being promoted. The pay grade for colonel is O-6.

Hiram Scofield Union Army general

Hiram Scofield was a lawyer and Union Army officer during the American Civil War. He entered the Army as a private in 1861 and was discharged as a colonel on January 5, 1866. In February 1866 he was nominated by President Andrew Johnson for appointment to the rank of brevet brigadier general of volunteers and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment in April 1866.

2nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The 2nd Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Vicksburg Campaign

During the Vicksburg Campaign, the regiment was attached to the African Brigade, District of Northeast Louisiana. The brigade was led successively by Col. Isaac F. Shepard (who was under arrest at the time of the Battle of Milliken's Bend) and then Hermann Lieb (wounded June 7, 1863). Finally, Lt. Col. Charles J. Paine led the brigade as the campaign wound down. [4] Returning to Lake Providence, the regiment was engaged in a minor battle on June 9 against a small Confederate force composed of the 13th Texas Infantry Regiment and the 13th Louisiana Cavalry Battalion. [5]

Brigade Military formation size designation, typically of 3-6 battalions

A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division.

Battle of Millikens Bend Battle of the American Civil War

The Battle of Milliken's Bend, fought June 7, 1863, was part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Confederate Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton and his army were besieged in Vicksburg, Mississippi, by Union commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennessee.

Hermann Lieb was a Swiss immigrant to the United States who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is best remembered as the commander of the Union forces at the Battle of Milliken's Bend in 1863.

The 8th Louisiana was then on routine garrison duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi, until the late winter of 1864. Then, it participated in the expedition up the Yazoo River from February 1 until March 8, and participated in the capture of Yazoo City, Mississippi, on February 4. [6]

Vicksburg, Mississippi City in Mississippi, United States

Vicksburg is a historic American city, located on a high bluff on the east bank of the Mississippi River across from Louisiana.

Yazoo River river in the United States of America

The Yazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is considered by some to mark the southern boundary of what is called the Mississippi Delta, a broad floodplain that was cultivated for cotton plantations before the American Civil War. It has continued to be devoted to large-scale agriculture.

Yazoo City, Mississippi City in Mississippi, United States of America

Yazoo City is a U.S. city in Yazoo County, Mississippi. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe living near the river's mouth. It is the county seat of Yazoo County and the principal city of the Yazoo City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger Jackson–Yazoo City Combined Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, the population was 11,403.

U.S. Colored Troops

The regiment subsequently returned to Vicksburg, where it was reorganized as the 47th Regiment Infantry, United States Colored Troops on March 11. [7]

The 47th United States Colored Infantry Regiment was a U.S.C.T. infantry regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized from the 8th Louisiana Infantry in March 1864. Commanded by Colonel Hiram Scofield, it fought in Mississippi and Florida, including at the Battle of Fort Blakely in April 1865. The regiment was mustered out on January 5, 1866. During the war it lost one officer and thirty enlisted men either killed or mortally wounded and three officers and 398 enlisted men by disease, for a total of 432.

United States Colored Troops African American soldiers for the Union in the American Civil War

The United States Colored Troops (USCT) were regiments in the United States Army composed primarily of African-American (colored) soldiers, although members of other minority groups also served with the units. They were first recruited during the American Civil War, and by the end of that war in April 1865, the 175 USCT regiments constituted about one-tenth of the manpower of the Union Army. About 20% of USCT soldiers died, a rate about 35% higher than that for white Union troops. Despite heavy casualties, many fought with distinction, 15 USCT soldiers receiving the Medal of Honor and numerous others receiving other honors.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Dyer, Frederick Henry (1908). Compendium of the War of the Rebellion: Regimental Histories. New York: T. Yoseloff.
  2. ↑ United Nations Library (2006). Bibliography Of State Participation In The Civil War, 1861-1866. Martino Publishing. ISBN   1-57898-519-6.
  3. ↑ "Inventory of the Hiram Scofield Papers, 1857-1906". The Newberry Library. 2003. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  4. ↑ Bearss, Edwin, The Vicksburg Campaign, Volume III, p. 1206.
  5. ↑ Official Records , Series I, Volume XXIV, Chapter XXXVI, Part 2, p. 448.
  6. ↑ Civil War Archive
  7. ↑ "Union Regimental Histories: United States Colored Troops Infantry". The Civil War Archive. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
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