COL. WINCHESTER HALL. 
 
 Next came a letter from Col. Winchester Hall, eighty-eight 
 years old, who resides at Pocomoke City, Md., who wrote me 
 concerning the pension laws of Louisiana. Colonel Hall com- 
 manded the 26th Regiment Louisiana Infantry, was wounded 
 during the siege of Vicksburg, and while disabled was as- 
 signed to one of the military courts, from which he resigned 
 and returned to his reeiment as soon ag remvprpH frnm hk 
 wound. 
 
 Qfatttell Untuctaitt} Hihrary 
 
 Stljara, 2feui ladt 
 
 THE JAMES VERNER SCAIFE 
 COLLECTION 
 
 CIVIL WAR LITERATURE 
 
 THE GIFT OP 
 
 JAMES VERNER SCAIFE 
 
 CLASS OF 1889 
 
 1919 
 
Hie date shows when this volume was taken. 
 
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 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030922649 
 
THE STORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 26th Louisiana Infantry. 
 
 IN THE SERVICE OF 
 
 THE CONFEDERATE STATES. 
 
 BY 
 
 Winchester Hall. 
 
IT IS PLEASANT TO REMEMBER 
 
 THE ACTIONS OF THOSE 
 
 WHO, IN THIS BRIEF AND FLEETING 
 
 LIFE OF OURS, 
 
 HAVE FEtL, DOING THEIR DUTY. 
 
 THIS HUMBLE NARRATIVE 
 
 IS A FEEBLE TRIBUTE 
 
 TO THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD 
 
 OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY, 
 
 WHO SLEEP AT THE OUTPOSTS 
 
 OF CHICKASAW BAYOU, 
 
 OR BEHIND THE BREASTWORKS 
 
 OF VICKSBURG, 
 
 OR, WHO DIED i:* THE SERVICE, 
 
 NOT LESS NOBLY, 
 
 THE VICTIMS OF DISEASE, 
 
 ALL, GIVING THEIR LIVES A HOLOCAUST, 
 
 TO THE GRAND OLD CAUSE OF RIGHT. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 I. — The Organization, -. i 
 
 II. — Retreat from New Orleans, . . 6 
 
 III. ViCKSBURG, II 
 
 IV. — Camp Hall i6 
 
 V. — Camp Lagarde, 23 
 
 VI.- — Camp Crow, 27 
 
 VII. — Chickasaw Bayou, 36 
 
 VIII. — Supporting Water Batteries, . . 53 
 
 IX. — Siege of Vicksburg, 63 
 
 X. — Within the Enemy's Lines, ... 100 
 
 XI. — In Dixie, . iii 
 
 XII. — Trans-Mississippi Department, . . 120 
 
 XIII. — The Disbanding, 132 
 
PREKACE. 
 
 IN professing to write the Story of the 26th, I 
 -'■ feel an explanation is due for giving it the shape 
 of a personal memoir. I have done so after proper 
 reflection, and if it bears the faintest tinge of egoism, 
 I deserve the censure of the patriotic and the unsel- 
 fish. 
 
 The fact is, when I had collected all available 
 materials, and run over, in my mind, all sources of 
 information whence I might possibly add something 
 as the narrative progressed, I saw still many gaps 
 which might make the subject disjointed, fragment- 
 ary and uninteresting. 
 
 It then occurred to me that if I would give it the 
 form of a personal memoir, I could weave into it all 
 facts connected with the regiment, while my own 
 individual experience would not only serve to make 
 the story continuous, but as a back ground, would 
 show, in some measure, the condition of the country 
 
at the time, and those surroundings which would 
 throw light upon the central figures of the sketch; 
 for, after all, my individual experience was only an 
 illustration of the experience of other officers and 
 men of the command, varied by circumstance. 
 
 On the other hand, I am confident those who know 
 me will acquit me of any desire to make myself a 
 conspicuous figure in that drama the 26th played 
 without fault, and for which it merited the applause 
 of all honorable men. I was simply one of the 
 troupe, and circumstances made me one of their 
 commanders. 
 
 I would rather my name utterly perish than it 
 should obscure, even for a moment, the halo of glory 
 around that faithful band, and which I trust may be 
 undimmed wherever independence is claimed as a 
 birthright, and love of country is more than a name. 
 
26th Louisiana Infantry. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ORGANIZATION. 
 February — April 1862. 
 
 Forts Henry and Donaldson, had fallen. There 
 was a wide spread and uneasy feeling that our great 
 enemy had gained two highways into the heart of 
 the Confederacy, which would give him terrible ad- 
 vantage, and require on our part every effort to 
 circumvent. 
 
 At this time I was a partner in the law office of 
 Bush & Hall, at Thibodaux, and in charge of the 
 office; Mr. Bush, having entered the army, with the 
 understanding between us, in view of the interests 
 committed to our hands, that I should maintain their 
 oversight. ' Up to this period I had contented my- 
 self, in bringing my family within our lines, and giv- 
 ing a civilian's aid to the cause. 
 
 Mr. Burton called at the office, and represented 
 to me the seriousness of the surrender of the forts; 
 that it rendered necessary on our part, an extraor- 
 dinary effort, and suggested as our contribution, 
 that another company be raised for the army, in ad- 
 dition to the two companies already sent from the 
 parish of Lafourche. Acting on his suggestion, I 
 made out a heading, to be signed by all who wished 
 
2 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 to be enrolled in a company for the war, under the 
 following officers: 
 
 Caleb J. Tucker, Captain. 
 
 Winchester Hall, ist Lieutenant. 
 
 Lovincey Webre, 2d " 
 
 W. D. Burton, Junior Lieut. 
 
 This roll was put in circulation and soon returned 
 with the recommendation that the names of the 
 Captain and First Lieutenant should be transposed; 
 perhaps, because I ranked in years. It was changed 
 accordingly. 
 
 The roll was commenced on Saturday, February 
 22d. On the next Saturday the company numbered 
 ninety-four, about fifty names being added on the 
 latter day, during a barbecue at Thibodaux, after 
 an eloquent appeal on the part of the Hon. Pierre 
 Sould, and stirring addresses by Abbe Menard and 
 others. Mr. H. Clay Knobloch's name was substi- 
 tuted for Mr. Burton's, as Junior Lieutenant, Mr. 
 Burton, having withdrawn. 
 
 I closed the law office. Events proved it useless to 
 be kept open. It was subsequently sacked by Fed- 
 eral troops. Every one who had been recently con- 
 nected with it, or was connected with it at its close 
 by me, joined the army, seven in all; of whom three 
 were killed during the war and one seriously wounded. 
 
 On March 5th the company went into camp, at 
 Thibodaux, under the name of the Allen Rifles, 
 which it assumed as complimentary to Mr. R. H. 
 Allen, of Lafourche, a devoted friend and liberal 
 contributor to the organization. On March 15th it 
 was mustered into confederate service for the war. 
 
 The community seemed thoroughly aroused, and 
 the completion of the Allen Rifles whetted the pub- 
 lic demand for another company. Acting in con- 
 
ORGANIZATION. 3 
 
 cert with several neighbors, I wrote out a roll for 
 another company, under the following officers: 
 Lewis Guion, Captain. 
 
 Cleophas Lagarde, ist Lieutenant. 
 Mathurin Boung, 2d Lieutenant. 
 
 On suggestion the offices of Captain and ist 
 Lieutenant were transposed, and the friends of Mr. 
 Bourg insisted, that on account of his age, he should 
 withdraw; his place being filled by Silv^re Navarre. 
 The company was soon made up with the requisite 
 rank and file. 
 
 On March i8th I received orders from Major 
 General Lovell, commanding the Department, to 
 rendezvous and encamp the company commanded 
 by me, and Captain Lagarde's Company, at Berwick 
 City. On reaching that point we occupied an old 
 camp called Camp Lovell, consisting of temporary 
 and comfortable shelters sufficient for a regiment. 
 As I was ranking Captain I became Post Comman- 
 dant. 
 
 Company drills were begun at once. As I had not 
 any knowledge whatever of military tactics I studied 
 Hardee three hours daily, and drilled the Allen Rifles 
 four hours. 
 
 Soon after we had encamped we were joined by 
 Captain Duncan S. Cage's Company, and Captain 
 John J. Shaffer's Company, of the parish of Terre- 
 bonne, 
 
 Captain Eraste Mounton's Company and Cap- 
 tain William C. Crow's Company, of the parish of 
 Lafayette, 
 
 Captain Manda W. Bateman's Company of the 
 parish of St. Mary, 
 
 And Captain W. W. Martin's Company of the 
 parish of Assumption. 
 
 On April 3d, the eight companies on the ground, 
 
4 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 went into an election for field officers. Alexandre 
 De Clouet, was elected Colonel, and Duncan S. 
 Cage, Lieutenant Colonel, without opposition. For 
 the office of Major, the names of Lewis Guion, and 
 myself were proposed and I was elected. The offi- 
 cers elect were called upon for speeches by the men ; 
 to which Colonel De Clouet, responded in French, 
 and Colonel Cage, in English; on my turn being 
 reached I simply said, all I could promise was, that 
 in any meeting with the enemy, I should not ask 
 them to lead, but to follow. 
 
 On the next day we were advised by a telegram 
 from Head Quarters, that we had no inght to organ- 
 ize with only light companies. The organization, 
 however, was tacitly permitted. 
 
 While at Berwick's Bay we heard of the battle of 
 Shiloh, in which the two companies already sent 
 from the parish of Lafourche were engaged, and 
 in which the Allen Rifles had many friends and kin. 
 It was with a dimmed eye I read the list of killed 
 and wounded — sons of neighbors and friends; soon 
 after receipt of the news, I ordered the Allen Rifles 
 to fall in. I spoke to them of brothers, cousins and 
 friends slaughtered at Shiloh. I called upon every 
 one determined to avenge their death to hold up his 
 hand and swear accordingly. Every hand went up. 
 Raising my own, I said, "We solemnly swear to 
 avenge the death of our brothers, cousins and friends 
 who fell at Shiloh." 
 
 Later, on the same day; I received a touching note 
 signed by the members of the company, asking me 
 to lead them on at once, to the front; appealing to 
 me, to use their own language: 
 
 "In God's name, in the name of those who now 
 sleep the eternal sleep, in the name of bereaved moth- 
 ers, fathers, sisters and brothers, and of homes 
 
ORGANIZATION. 5 
 
 made desolate by the loss of their hearts' idols; in 
 the name of all you hold dear, our beloved Captain, 
 do grant us this request."* 
 
 I explained to them we were under orders, and 
 could not move without them, but that I would do 
 all in my power to place them where they would 
 confront the enemy. 
 
 On April 20th we were ordered to New Orleans, 
 and went into camp in the suburbs, for the purpose 
 of completing our outfit. Captain Octave Metoy- 
 er's Company of Natchitoches, and Captain Dela- 
 houssaye's Company of the parish of Terrebonne, 
 joined us here, which completed the ten companies 
 requisite for a regular regiment. Our outfit was 
 quite thorough in arms, tents and camp equipage, 
 save that two companies were without serviceable 
 arms. 
 
 While in camp here, news came that the enemy's 
 fleet had passed the forts near the mouth of the Mis- 
 sissippi, and that we might soon expect them in 
 front of New Orleans. We felt that active service 
 was upon us, and awaited orders with eagerness. 
 
 . * See Appendix (Note A.) 
 
CPIAPTER II. 
 
 THE RETREAT FROM NEW ORLEANS. 
 April 1S62. 
 
 On Thursday, April 24th, about 10 a. m. Col. De 
 Clouet, received orders to move the regiment to 
 Camp Moore at once. He ordered two days rations 
 to be cooked; the wagons were filled with our camp 
 equipage; but before we moved another order came 
 for us to move to Camp Chalmette, six miles below 
 New Orleans. The regiment was soon in line, and 
 the wagons ready to follow. Col. De Clouet, being 
 absent in the city on business of the regiment. Col. 
 Cage, assumed command, and made a short and ef- 
 fective speech, in which he stated he was glad to 
 say to the regiment, they had been ordered to 
 face the enemy, instead of retreating, and he trusted 
 that the plains of Chalmette, made memorable by 
 Andrew Jackson's victory, should afford another 
 bright page to our country's history. It was near 
 dark when we started; we reached Camp Chalmette 
 about II p. M. and took position behind a breast 
 work near the swamp; posted sentinels, and the men 
 slept on their arms. As Eno Guedry was on o-uard 
 I used his blanket, for I had none. He came in 
 about 2 A. M. and we then shared it together. I 
 arose about 5 a. m. and seeing some of the men 
 about to get up, told them to sleep on. Gen. Buis- 
 son, of the state troops, soon afterward rode up and 
 
THE RETREAT FROM NEW ORLEANS. 7 
 
 Stated to me we might be shelled at any moment. 
 I now suggested to Col. De Clouet, who had joined 
 us during the night, that as we had moved to Chal- 
 mette, in obedience to orders, and had no further in- 
 structions, not even to report to a ranking officer, 
 in fact there was none on the ground to report to; 
 and as we could be of no avail against the enemy's 
 vessels, with two companies having unserviceable 
 arms, and the regiment without a round of ammuni- 
 tion; we owed it to the command not to expose it 
 unnecessarily. The Colonel soon ordered the regi- 
 ment to move further away from the river to the 
 woods. Gen. Tracy'y brigade of militia followed us. 
 This command, as well as ours, had no ammunition. 
 Our wagons had come, and the officers busied them- 
 selves in saving some personal effects. As it seemed 
 evident we would have to retreat, Aubain Bour- 
 geois and Eugene Trosclair, took my trunk to a 
 planter's near by. Lieut. Knobloch's was taken to 
 the same place. I had three fine blankets in the 
 wagon, quite a rarity even at that time,- the gift of 
 Mrs. Adam Beattie. Tell Knobloch offered to carry 
 one for me. I left the others to Bourgeois and Tros- 
 clair, who had put away my trunk. 
 
 After being in the woods some hour or two, we 
 moved nearer the city, in the rear of the barracks. 
 Col. De Clouet, rode to Head Quarters in the city 
 for orders. The enemy's vessels now appeared. A 
 battery on the river bank opened fire, and took away 
 from us the sting of defeat without firing a gun, but 
 the challenge was met in silence, if not in contempt. 
 Col. Cage, after a short consultation with me, deter- 
 mined we should assume command, respectively, of 
 our former companies, and that he would then order 
 each captain to take care of his company as best he 
 could. 
 
8 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 The retreat commenced, nor did we give heed to 
 the order of our going; the step was lively, there 
 was no lagging, and no order necessary to "close 
 up." The companies became separated, but each 
 company kept well together. I purposed to take 
 the Allen Rifles up the river, cross it where safe and 
 practicable, and get to Lafourche, where I would 
 await orders from the Colonel. The city was soon 
 reached. It was in the wildest confusion. Anxious 
 men and women thronged the streets — objectless — 
 fearing the worst, and showing little of that self pos- 
 session with which, afterward, they so nobly with- 
 stood the indignities resulting from the occupation 
 by the enemy. The burning of cotton in various 
 parts of the city added a grim feature to the scene. 
 I met Col. Cage, who ordered us to rendezvous at 
 the Jackson railway station, as we could there have 
 transportation to Camp Moore. All the companies 
 reached the station save Captain Lagarde's; through 
 misinformation the Captain retreated up the river, 
 and subsequently joined us. The tops of a train of 
 box-cars were occupied by us; a drenching shower 
 soon fell upon just and unjust alike. On another 
 track, in passenger coaches, ready also to be moved, 
 secure from the rain, and comfortable and jolly as a 
 pic-nic party, were the Confederate Guards, a regi- 
 ment composed of prominent and wealthy citizens 
 of New Orleans, who had been encamped for some 
 time in Lafayette Square, but had never entered 
 Confederate service. General Mansfield Lovell, the 
 Department Commander, came to the station ap- 
 parently to look after the Confederate Guards, and 
 without recognition of the only regiment of the Con- 
 federate service in the city, at the time. I told him, 
 where I could be heard, that we were as good sol- 
 diers as the Confederate Guards, and I saw no rea- 
 
THE RETREAT FROM NEW ORLEANS. 9 
 
 son why they should occupy passenger coaches, and 
 we the tops of box-cars. 
 
 Our train left about 3 p. m. We left all camp equi- 
 page and baggage. It did not seem to be a matter 
 of concern at Head Quarters, whether we had them 
 or not; perhaps more important matters required at- 
 tention. 
 
 When the Allen Rifles were organized their 
 friends subscribed over $3,000, for a uniform, and 
 whatever might serve for their com'fort, apart from 
 what could be obtained under military requisition; 
 with this fund and their individual means, they had 
 become suppHed in New Orleans with many articles 
 of convenience and usefulness in a soldiers life, and 
 which having lost, could not be replaced. I pre- 
 sume this was the case with other companies, but I 
 never heard a regret at the loss. 
 
 We reached Pontchitoula station about dark. 
 The train remained there all night, and on Saturday 
 April 26th moved us to Camp Moore. We met at 
 Camp Moore the Orleans Guards, and the Confed- 
 erate Guards; both organizations being about to 
 disband, the members of each command were very 
 kind in turning over to us, sundry articles of no fur- 
 ther use to them, and invaluable to us; I had several 
 acquaintances in the Confederate Guards, each of 
 whom added something to an outfit, and my valued 
 friend Gustave Landry, presented me with his 
 sword. 
 
 On returning to my quarters one day, after being 
 out, I was surprised to see my trunk which Captain 
 Shaffer, had brought from its hiding place near Camp 
 Chalmette. He had left camp shortly after our ar- 
 rival here, with a view of securing what he could, of 
 our personal effects, left in the retreat, and had suc- 
 ceeded far beyond expectation. 
 
lO TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 As it was some days before the enemy occupied 
 New Orleans, General Lovell, in the meanwhile, 
 was diligent in removing military stores to this point 
 upon which we now made requisition, to supply, as 
 far as practicable, the losses incident to our first and 
 only retreat. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 VICKSBURG. 
 May— June, 1862. 
 
 We remained at Camp Moore until May 6th, 
 when we moved thence, and pitched our tents at 
 Camp De Clouet, a point on the Brandon Road, 
 four miles from Jackson, (Miss.,) in a forest where 
 there were good springs of water, and which was in- 
 terspersed with vines and shrubs, and decked and 
 gladdened with floral beauty. It was about this time 
 General Beauregard honored the regiment by the 
 request that it be sent to him at Corinth. The pau- 
 city of troops in Louisiana and Mississippi prevented 
 a compliance, but it did not take away from officers 
 and men, untried and undisciplined as they were, the 
 pleasure of feeling they were already worthy the fav- 
 orable notice of a farned soldier. 
 
 On May 14th we struck our tents and moved to 
 Camp Cage, near Edward's station, on the Vicks- 
 burg and Jackson railway. On our march the boys 
 noted on the wayside, a lot of sugar which had 
 been stored by some speculators; coming as they 
 had from a land of sugar cane, they secured a sample 
 in their havresacs for the purpose of testing its sac- 
 charine quality. Soon after we were camped, two 
 owners of the sugar appeared to complain of the 
 offence. Col. De Clouet received them with his 
 usual courtesy, listened patiently to the story of 
 
12 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRV. 
 
 their wrongs, while I, standing by, was swelling with 
 indignation. The matter was with my superior offi- 
 cer, however, and I tried to keep quiet. But as 
 these owners pleaded and persisted that the men 
 should be punished, I gave way, and abused them, 
 in all the terms at my command, for their contemp- 
 tible mission. They soon retired in disgust, and we 
 never heard further of them. 
 
 As the enemy now threatened Vicksburg with 
 their vessels, on May 19th, the regiment was ordered 
 to move there, in light marching order, our camp 
 being left in charge of Lieut. Joseph Aycock. 
 Brigadier General Martin L. Smith, was then in 
 command at Vicksburg. His brigade consisted of 
 the following regiments: 
 
 26th Louisiana. 
 
 27th 
 
 28th 
 3d Mississippi. 
 As it was expected the enemy might attempt to 
 land on the left bank of the river below Vicksburg, 
 I was ordered by General Smith, to take five 
 companies for picket duty, about four miles out. 
 The companies of Capts. Lagarde, Mouton, Martin, 
 Shaffer and Tucker, comprised the force. 
 
 We marched at once to the place indicated. Two 
 companies of Col. P. B. Starke's regiment of cav- 
 alry, posted near, were to notify us of any appear- 
 ance of the enemy on their front. Rumors came to 
 us from time to time, of a landing; one to the ef- 
 fect that a small force was on the river bank, I sent- 
 out Lieut. Guion, with a detachment to look it up, 
 but it was not to be found. 
 
 We kept on duty four days, fully exposed to fre- 
 quent rains, and then received orders to move to 
 Vicksburg, where we returned on Saturday May 24th. 
 
VICKSBURG. 13 
 
 Vicksburg looked as if the simoon of war already 
 had swept over it, the lowlands about were flooded, 
 the city deserted by all who could leave, business 
 houses that were not closed were barren of Pfoods- 
 beautiful homes, set in emerald lawns, embowered 
 in magnolia, rose, myrtle and wild peach, and smil- 
 ing with beautiful flowers, awaited the coming of 
 the spoiler. 
 
 On May 26th, a shell from the enemy was my 
 reveille. He gave some attention to the lower bat- 
 teries, without serious effect. On the next day the 
 water battery at the Hospital was shelled and many 
 shells were thrown into the city. I rode down to 
 the railway station which seemed the centre of at- 
 traction, and where there were pickets from the. regi- 
 ment. Some of the boys seemed a little frightened 
 under their first fire; as to myself, this, my first per- 
 sonal experience of heavy shelling, was not satisfac- 
 tory. I did not feel brave at all. Horse and rider 
 were alike unnerved by the novelty. If I had dis- 
 mounted, I was too weak in the knees to mount 
 again; but as I was not actually struck, I survived 
 it. In the meanwhile General Smith sought to make 
 good that answer of a true soldier which he gave to 
 the demand for a surrender of the place — that he 
 would hold the defenses entrusted to him, at all 
 hazards, as long as he could. The shelling was vig- 
 orously kept up, but the Federal fleet remained at a 
 respectful distance from either of the four river bat- 
 teries, although one of them was of quaker guns. 
 
 We foiled them in what they considered an easy 
 undertaking, and although infantry was of no avail 
 in action, the Twenty-sixth was on the ground ready 
 to obey orders whatever they were; daily drafted for 
 heavy picket duty; exposed to fire of shot and shell 
 from the fleet, and even debarred the poor privilege 
 
I4 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 of giving blow for blow. Yet we would have en- 
 dured more to defend the homes of the noble men 
 and devoted women of Vicksburg — homes they gave 
 up without a murmur, nay, cheerfully, when military 
 necessity exacted it, although it made them outcasts 
 and refugees. 
 
 While we were quartered here in various va- 
 cant buildings, the measles broke out among 
 the men, and made a sad chapter in ou r history. 
 We were ill-conditioned to offer resistance to the 
 destroyer. It reigned in terror; we had no cots — 
 many of the men were even without blankets; we 
 had no hospital accommodations; we did not have, nor 
 could we procure proper medicine and nutriment; 
 nurses were out of the question. Soon the quarters 
 were filled with the sick and the dying; and it seemed 
 we were powerless to succor or to save. 
 
 Although not in command at the time, I was not 
 the less anxious to do something to relieve the poor 
 boys. I called upon the catholic priest of the place 
 Father Leray, afterward Archbishop of Louisiana. 
 I opened a chat with the good father; as it became 
 lively he ordered a bottle of wine; as we were dis- 
 cussing it, in the most temperate manner, I mention- 
 ed the condition of the regiment, pictured its desper- 
 ate strait, for want of proper attention and hinted 
 that the Sisters of Mercy, who had a small organiza- 
 tion in the town, might aid us, in our extremity. He 
 took my words to heart, and proposed we should 
 call upon them. The mother was asked for, and 
 soon appeared; on mentioning our" errand, she said 
 they would do what they could. They proved to be 
 Angels of Mercy. They turned their pretty home 
 into a hospital; every room was filled with our suf- 
 ferers, doubtless many lives were saved by their ten- 
 der ministrations. 
 
VICKSBURG. 15 
 
 The ladies of the town and neighborhood also 
 were very kind in taking the sick to their own 
 homes; I succeeded in entering six of my former 
 company at the City Hospital. We secured a large 
 airy country house, a short distance out, which was 
 turned into a hospital; and where the sick had all 
 the attention practicable, under the circumstances. 
 The good genius of this country house was a young 
 unmarried woman about twenty years of age; I re- 
 gret I cannot recall the name of this Florence 
 Nightingale. The record that is on high will show it. 
 With all the grace and dignity culture could add to 
 refinement, she made her home here amid the pes- 
 tilence, and never wearied in her gentle offices to the 
 sick and dying. 
 
 The regiment when organized with eight com- 
 panies consisted of nearly eight hundred men. 
 When the companies of Captains Metoyer and 
 Delahoussaye were added, it was about nine hundred 
 strong. Our number for duty was now so reduced 
 that on June 13, it was only one hundred and ninety- 
 seven, and on June 14, two hundred and one. Of 
 course many absent had been detailed to attend to 
 the sick. 
 
 On June i8th. all of the regiment that could be 
 moved were ordered to return to camp, near Ed- 
 ward's station. We changed camp on the 21st. for 
 better water and more shade; and on July 8th. we 
 moved to Camp Hall, three miles from Edward's 
 station and about that distance nearer to Vicksburg. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 CAMP HALL. 
 July — August, 1862, 
 
 Camp Hall was on a road leading to, and about 
 eighteen miles from Vicksburg; in a beautiful grove of 
 young oak and hickory, on a level stretch of ground, 
 which enabled us to lay ofif the camp in military 
 style. The streets between the tents of the "Field 
 and Staff," and the tents of the officers of the line, was 
 one hundred feet wide; and the street between the 
 tents of the latter, and those of the men was two 
 hundred feet in width. The former street was re- 
 served as a lounging place for the officers, where they 
 could chat, write or read and have their mess tables. 
 The cooking for the Field and Staff was done in the 
 rear of their tents, and their horses were also kept in 
 the rear; so this street always presented an inviting 
 appearance. It was quite a sight about one o'clock, 
 which was our dinner hour, to look through it, and 
 note groups of three or four around a rude table, in 
 a shady spot, discussing the latest effort of their 
 cooks. Colonel De Clouet, Captain N^e, his cousin, 
 who was our quartermaster, and myself messed 
 together, with the Colonel's old negro servant Jesse, 
 as our chef de cuisine. Old Jesse was provokingly 
 set in his ways, not always to our comfort, but I 
 never heard the Colonel utter a word of reproach 
 to him, although whenever Jesse brought in our 
 
CAMP HALL. 1 7 
 
 coffee some time after it and the fire had parted com- 
 pany, he would go so far as to say in the mildest 
 manner, "Jesse, le caf^ n'est pas chaud." 
 
 Being alone one day I invited Captain Pilsbury, 
 our Adjutant, Captain Bisland and Lieutenant Jo- 
 seph Aycock, to dine with me. Captain Pilsbury, 
 with a thoughtfulness which chimed with the occa- 
 sion, remarked as all of his mess were away he would 
 "fuse" with me. I was therefore not surprised when 
 his servant, who was a clever cook, brought the 
 Captain's quota for the table; Captain Bisland fur- 
 nished his boy Harrison as waiter. Lieutenant Ay- 
 cock furnished gutta-percha tumblers and tin plates. 
 We had a soup Julienne from Captain Pilsbury, a 
 chicken gumbo from the deft hands of old Jesse, 
 pork and cabbage, a tempting daube, sweetmeats from 
 Captain P's, and caf^ noir. 
 
 Four springs under the brow of a hill hard by, 
 kept clean and guarded by sentries, furnished our 
 drinking water; the Big Black river very near gave us 
 water for bathing and washing clothes, besides sup- 
 plying us with fish. The men were pleased with the 
 location, and in good spirits. The neighborhood at 
 the time was supplied with milk, butter, eggs, chick- 
 ens, vegetables and fresh meat, so necessary to the 
 sick, to whom the ladies of the neighborhood, God 
 bless them, were unremitting in their attentions; 
 many of our sick and convalescents being at their 
 own homes. 
 
 Mr. M. L. Cook, whose plantation was near to us, 
 was very kind, but he came into camp one day in no 
 good temper, and complained to me that the men 
 had been taking boards off his gin-house. I sug- 
 gested we go through the men's quarters in search of 
 them. We went down one street and up another. 
 It was apparent the men were not too comfortable, 
 
1 8 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 and we saw no boards. His brow relaxed — his big 
 heart would not down— he said, in his impulsive way, 
 " It's no use to look further. D— n it, the men want 
 them. Let them keep the boards ! " We gave up 
 the search, and went off for a chat. 
 
 Mr. Cook had a fine field of corn on the road op- 
 posite the camp, and I think it a credit to the men 
 that its savory roasting ears were allowed to mature 
 unharmed. 
 
 It seemed a matter of course with me, to keep a 
 parental eye on the Allen Rifles. I was gratified to 
 note they took care of each other, as so many broth- 
 ers. Joseph and Eugene Trosclair, Aubain Bour- 
 geois and Morvan were particularly active and kind 
 to the sick; while Oscar Webre watched over them 
 with a rare judgment of their necessities, and an 
 unobtrusive devotion to their comfort. 
 
 Our sick began to improve. On July 19 we had 
 two hundred and sixty nine for duty, on July 22, 
 three hundred and twenty seven, and on July 23, 
 three hundred and thirty. 
 
 Among those who attended to the sick was Mrs. 
 Hill, the mother of John Hill of Company I. She 
 was with the regiment for some time, shared our 
 camp fare, and devoted her time to the poor boys, 
 with a mother's concern and thoughtfulness. 
 
 Officers and men alike received numerous atten- 
 tions from the families of the neighborhood. Our 
 uniform here, as indeed, elsewhere, was a passport to 
 any household. The state of the country drew 
 closely the bonds of social life, so that we felt at 
 home wherever we went, by reason of the welcome 
 we met, and the hospitality with which we were 
 entertained. 
 
 Of the soldier-guests in Southern homes, there 
 was usually, with a rare and blessed delicacy, a dis- 
 
CAMP HALL. 19 
 
 tinction made in favor of the private. It was pre- 
 sumed the officer had better opportunities for talcing 
 care of himself, and so, in truth, he had. When, 
 therefore, a household volunteered to take care of a 
 squad of sick or convalescents, it was common to 
 seek them among the rank and file. 
 
 As the Federal fleet now patrolled the Mississippi, 
 and separated us from our homes, we had news from 
 our families only, now and then, as some bold spirit 
 would undertake to run the gauntlet of the river. 
 The enemy had already raided the Lafourche, and it 
 was debatable ground. In this strait, Auguste 
 Roger, of Lafourche and Roi, of one of the Atta- 
 kapas parishes, undertook to act as express riders 
 from their respective neighborhoods, to our camp, 
 for the purpose of carrying letters to and fro, and 
 such parcels of clothing as could be brought to us. 
 It may well be imagined, the appearance in camp of 
 one or the other, was always hailed with delight. 
 As our express remained with us only long enough 
 to enable us to write in return, the camp in the 
 meanwhile seemed changed to a writing school, and 
 all we're sending home accounts of "moving accidents, 
 by flood and field." 
 
 Our expresses as I have mentioned, not only 
 brought us letters, but clothing, which was most ac- 
 ceptable; as the men and many of the officers brought 
 no extra clothing out of New Orleans; and our 
 Quartermaster's Department, at the time could not 
 help us. 
 
 Roger would make a trip to camp and return 
 about every two weeks, bringing something every 
 time to relieve the necessities of the exiled boys. 
 On one of his trips he brought two sacks and six 
 champagne baskets of clothing. Only a dogged 
 spirit could have done as much, in view of the fact. 
 
20 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 the enemy had to be eluded, stream and swamp 
 crossed in small boats, the clothing packed across 
 the country mainly on horseback, at some points 
 a part only could be taken forward, compelling re- 
 turn trips for the remainder, and at one time he 
 packed part of a load .on his back for two miles, 
 where the water was two feet deep, making several 
 trips for the purpose of securing the remainder. 
 
 Our ordinary camp duties were as follows: Rev- 
 eille at 4 A. M. and Battalion drill for two hours. 
 
 6:15 Surgeons Call. 
 
 6:45 First Sergeants Call. 
 
 7 Breakfast Call. 
 
 8 Guard Mounting. 
 
 8 Company Drill Two Hours. 
 
 I P.M. Dinner Call. 
 
 6 " Dress Parade. 
 
 8 " Tattoo. 
 
 8:10" Taps. 
 On selecting these hours exposure to the mid- 
 day sun was avoided, which seemed necessary until 
 the command was thoroughly seasoned. 
 
 It had been a question among the officers wheth- 
 er the army regulations and articles of war, adopted 
 by the Confederate States and taken in substance 
 from the Federal Codes, were not intended for a 
 regular army, and did not apply in all their strictness 
 to us, as volunteers. We submitted the question to 
 Gen. Smith, who informed us they applied to volun- 
 teer and regular without distinction. We took 
 them, from that time, as a guide; they were referred 
 to as authority, and it was our endeavor to comply 
 with them in letter and spirit. 
 
 In tactics we had almost everything to learn. 
 Captain Martin, Lieutenant Shaffer and some others 
 had already served in Virginia, and their experience 
 
CAMP HALL. 2 1 
 
 was valuable to us. Copies of Hardee's tactics were 
 procured at an early day, and the officers studied and 
 drilled. Colonel Cage, Captains Shaffer and Martin 
 were familiar with battalion drill and initiated the 
 regiment. After while I took it in charge. I 
 studied 'at first a few simple moves, took out the 
 regiment and put it through so far as I had gone. 
 I would then study a few more moves, add these 
 to the drill, and so on — learning the lesson and teach- 
 ing it. I never studied with more assiduity. About 
 the time I was conceited enough to consider I could 
 handle the regiment as a tactician, I would make a 
 sad blunder, and soon retire from the field with a 
 wounded and subdued vanity. On one occasion I 
 got the regiment so mixed and confused, I had to 
 invoke Captain Martin's superior skill to give shape 
 to the unseemly mob I had made. A blunder of 
 another sort, which many civilians persist in com- 
 mitting, arises from failing to recognize the antipo- 
 dal distinction between civil and military rule, and 
 taking the former, by way of analogy, as a guide in 
 the latter. 
 
 About this time I committed an indiscretion of 
 this kind, in making an application to General Van 
 Dorn, in command of the Department, in which I 
 expressed the unanimous desire of the regiment to 
 be removed to Louisiana, in order to defend the 
 homes of its members. It was suggested their 
 knowledge of the country and the people would 
 enable it to do good service there, and not allow a 
 few hundred of the enemy, as had been done, 
 to overrun the fairest portion of the State. 
 
 General Van Dorn endorsed on the communica- 
 tion: "Applications such as the within do not come 
 within the limits of military propriety. Good sol- 
 diers go where they are ordered, and serve the 
 
2 2 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 country to the best of their ability wherever the 
 government sees fit to place them." 
 
 I felt thankful the application was returned with 
 so gentle an admonition, and endeavored afterward, 
 in whatever I did, to keep "within the limits of 
 military propriety," 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 CAMP LAGARDE. 
 Sept.— Oct., 1S62. 
 
 About the 25th of September we str.uck our tents 
 for Camp Lagarde, a point two miles in tlie rear of 
 Vicksbm-g, where we pitched them on several irreg- 
 ular spurs of ground, covered with the queenly 
 magnolia. 
 
 As the health of the regiment had now improved, 
 and as the weather was becoming cooler, we took up 
 books and drill eagerly, in the endeavor to reach a 
 high standard of discipline. The school .of company 
 officers was kept up, and there were company and 
 battalion drills daily. General Smith also drilled the 
 brigade. 
 
 Our commissary stores at this time, though lacking 
 in variety, were ample in quantity. We had corn, 
 meal, fresh beef, a small quantity of pork and bacon, 
 rice, molasses, flour for the sick, and sweet potatoes 
 abounded in the neighborhood. But winter was 
 coming on apace, and our Quartermaster's depart- 
 ment was sadly deficient. Roger and Roi con- 
 tinued their trips from our homes, always bringing 
 some clothing, which added much to our comfort. 
 The night of October 25th, and for two nights suc- 
 cessively, it was cold enough to form ice. Very soon 
 afterward thirty-five cases of pneumonia were devel- 
 oped in camp. Among its victims was ist Lieuten- 
 
24 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 ant Edward B. Crow, of Company E, a brother of 
 Captain Crow, a faithful young officer whose modest 
 demeanor marked intrinsic worth, and who impressed 
 all about him with the manly beauty of his character. 
 Two hundred of the regiment were at this time 
 without shoes; by dint of sending out to remote 
 places, where we could procure a few pairs, we grad- 
 ually had the men shod. We now received suits of 
 Georgia woolen for the regiment, professedly made 
 to order, some of which fitted, and a great many did 
 not. I wore my suit once, but it showed so much 
 wrist and ankle, I turned it over to Lieutenant 
 Leonard. Still the regiment suffered greatly for 
 want of blankets or a substitute. To obtain enough 
 for the regiment, in any way known to the army 
 regulations, was simply impracticable. Considering 
 that Company I had some personal claim upon me, 
 and was made up from the sons of old friends and 
 neighbors, I reconciled it to my conscience as not 
 doing an injustice to the other companies, if I were 
 to beg for them; so I asked Captain Tucker to let 
 me have a few of the boys of the company, and I 
 started with them to Vicksburg, determined to beg 
 from door to door, for whatever might suit our pur- 
 pose. At the first house we stopped, I enquired 
 for the lady of the house; when she appeared I men- 
 tioned to her the company was nearly destitute of 
 blankets, and that if she had anything whatever that 
 would serve the purpose, that she could spare, we 
 would be glad to have it. In a moment she pro- 
 duced several pieces of rag-carpeting, which she 
 said we were welcome to, and which the poor boys 
 eagerly folded and packed off, and all of us rejoiced 
 that our maiden effort, at a novel mode of acquisi- 
 tion, had been crowned with success. We then 
 went to the next dwelling on the street we were 
 
CAMP LAGARDE. 25 
 
 canvassing, and the next with strict impartiality. 
 Very soon a negro woman came towards us laden 
 with quilts that, evidently, had seen service, and ten- 
 dered them to us. She had simply heard of our 
 wants, and without solicitation had taken these, per- 
 haps from her own bed, and in that charity that 
 haply, belongs to no creed and no race, gave them to 
 us. A lady we called upon had a parlor carpet, dis- 
 figured by a huge oil spot from an overturned lamp, 
 which she gave to us. Another we called upon said 
 she had nothing that would answer the purpose, but 
 that she had some socks, the product of her own 
 household, which she could offer to us, and which I 
 accepted, well knowing willing feet would be found 
 for them. By the way, this lady saw me afterward, 
 commanding the regiment at dress parade, when I 
 had been promoted to the colonelcy, and told me 
 she had remarked that any officer who would go 
 about begging for his regiment, deserved to com- 
 mand it, and she seemed gratified to see me at its 
 head. 
 
 I continued these begging expeditions some three 
 or four days, starting early and giving the entire day 
 to it, and when every man of Captain Tucker's com- 
 pany was supplied, I kept them up for the benefit 
 of Captain Lagarde's company, which was also filled 
 with sons of old friends and neighbors. 
 
 A morning report before me for three days, end- 
 ing Oct. 3d, shows: 
 
 In arrest, ... - None. 
 
 Total sick, - - - 45 
 
 Aggregate strength of the regiment, ']']-2, 
 The aggregate strength of each company at this 
 tirne, was as follows : 
 
 Company A, Captain Mouton, 107 
 " B, " Bateman, 71 
 
26 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Company C, 
 
 C; 
 
 iptain 
 
 Martin, 
 
 85 
 
 D, 
 
 
 
 Lagarde, 
 
 81 
 
 " E, 
 
 
 
 Crow, 
 
 86 
 
 " F, 
 
 
 
 Shafifer, 
 
 64 
 
 G, 
 
 
 
 Metoyer, 
 
 63 
 
 " H, 
 
 
 
 Bisland, 
 
 93 
 
 I, 
 
 
 
 Tucker, 
 
 78 
 
 K, 
 
 
 
 Winder, 
 
 34 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 CAMP CROW. 
 Nov.— Dec. 1862. 
 
 Late in the fall we moved to Camp Crow, a 
 spot near the Vicksburg Cemetery; the 17th Louis- 
 iana Infantry, commanded by Colonel Robert Richard- 
 son, being encamped near. We made om"selves 
 quite comfortable by flooring the tents with boards, 
 and building chimneys so as to allow fire within. 
 
 The regiment was composed almost entirely of 
 Creoles, by that tei'm I mean natives of Louisiana 
 of French descent. The companies of Captains 
 Bateman and Metoyer, were about one half only of 
 that element, the remainder being mainly of Ameri- 
 can descent; and there were portions of American 
 descent, in all the companies. There were some 
 Irishmen, and very few Germans in the regiment. 
 
 The officers were about equally divided — one half 
 Creoles — the remainder of American parentage. 
 The Creoles were brought up in the Roman Catho- 
 lic faith. Subordination to "the powers that be," 
 was the earliest lesson of their childhood; hence 
 they were easily governed. Their duty made known 
 to them, performance followed. Whenever in com- 
 mand, I used to make it known I obeyed orders 
 without question, and expected obedience in turn, 
 from all in ray charge. While a call for volunteers 
 for special service was responded to, officers and 
 
28 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 men preferred a regular detail for the purpose. There 
 was not any of the looseness of discipline common 
 among volunteer troops. Indeed, men as well as 
 officers seemed to grasp readily the central idea of 
 subordination — the soul of military life — and sub- 
 mitted to it cheerfully, as a simple duty. 
 
 It is matter of profound pride to speak of the 
 officers, collectively, as being all that could be de- 
 sired. The simple name of Alexandre De Clouet, 
 as Colonel, gave tone to the regiment. Of French 
 descent, of high-bred ancestry, one could readily be- 
 lieve he descended from those heroes of the mother 
 land, whose bloody blades were never sheathed save 
 in honor, and whose knightly prowess illuminated the 
 pages of their country's history, and were the bur- 
 then of song and story. Dignity, courtesy and cour- 
 age were the triumvirs that ruled his every thought, 
 and proportioned his every act. He dared do all 
 things, save to do a wrong. 
 
 Colonel Cage was the very type of the southern 
 gentleman. His quiet and approachable manner, 
 and gracious speech, could only partially conceal a 
 chivalric nature, endowed with a lofty devotion to 
 principle, with a keen sense to perceive, and an en- 
 ergetic will to execute, what he believed to be right. 
 The instinct of military life was strong in him, and 
 it was a misfortune to the cause that he was not 
 able through ill health, as Col. De Clouet from ad- 
 vancing years, to undergo the privations of camp and 
 field. 
 
 Adjutant Pilsbury, was an agreeable, faithful and 
 efficient officer. We should have missed his p-ood 
 
 to 
 
 services more, if we had not been fortunate enough 
 to secure Mr. Bisland for the uninteresting, but nec- 
 essary details of this Department. 
 
 Of the company pfificers it would seem an ungrac- 
 
CAMP CROW. 29 
 
 ious task to single out any, there were so many that 
 were excellent, — that gave so much of a becoming 
 spirit to the entire command, that the less qualified, 
 and there were few of these, were pricked on to 
 eniulate, if not to excel. With all this, I feel there 
 was not an officer of the regiment, that would not 
 heartily join me, in any commendation I might 
 utter of Major Martin. His mind was of that pecu- 
 liar turn that intuitively grasped all military evolu- 
 tions. In a conflict he was as much at home, as if 
 in his tent knitting socks — a domestic labor with 
 which he whiled away spare moments of camp life. 
 On occasions when it became necessary to select, he 
 was one who would be in mind, and upon whom 
 command would naturally devolve, and he had the 
 undoubted mark of merit in his simple ways, his 
 gentle bearing, his mild speech, and a modest nature. 
 He was a born soldier, and would have adorned a 
 much higher position than he filled, at his untimely 
 death in the trenches of Vicksburg. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel Crow was "as gallant a soul 
 as ever blood warmed." I would have given him 
 charge of any desperate undertaking, in implicit 
 faith he would do all that could be done to achieve 
 it. 
 
 Adjutant Bisland was well adapted to his posi- 
 tion — correct, methodical, painstaking, he performed 
 duties without a murmur of dissatisfaction from any 
 quarter. Captain N6e did the very best with the 
 slender and inadequate resources of his department. 
 His office was a thankless one, and was often ex- 
 pected, doubtless without thought, to furnish sup- 
 plies, and perform services, wholly beyond its limited 
 means. 
 
 Captain Moss as commissary was prompt, active 
 and enterprising. He got the best he could on his 
 
30 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 requisitions, and furnished the regiment as regularly 
 and bountifully as his usually lean larder afforded. 
 
 Surgeon Hall's forte was to improvise and substi- 
 tute, and make the most of the slender resources of 
 the Hospital Department. He was an adept at or- 
 ganizing — vigilant and painstaking. The sick and 
 wounded were as well cared for, as it was practicable 
 under the circumstances. 
 
 It may not be amiss to say here, I watched this 
 department sedulously. I made constant visits to 
 the sick and wounded in the regimental hospital, or 
 wherever they were, and knowing how careless nurses 
 generally are in such times, I visited the slightest 
 neglect and inattention on their heads, indeed would 
 not feel satisfied of any visit, if I did not find some- 
 thing out of the way, wherewith to charge them. 
 I think they feared me with a wholesome fear. 
 
 It may well be imagined that with such an effici- 
 ent and faithful body of officers, the commander of 
 the regiment had all he could do, to maintain his 
 position in keeping with the spirit and discipline in- 
 fused into the command, by such an array. 
 
 The non-commissioned officers, on whom so much 
 depends for the discipline in camp, which is neces- 
 sary to effectiveness on the field, were in harmony 
 with the remainder of the regiment, and gave a full 
 share to maintaining its good name; the first ser- 
 geants particularly, were thorough-paced soldiers, 
 any one of whom was worthy of the stripe of a 
 lieutenant. Quartermaster-Sergeant Thomas S. Bis- 
 land was especially efficient in his office, and although 
 it was not of as imposing a character as many others, 
 he was not behind any commissioned officer, in exe- 
 cuting, with zeal and fidelity, the duties assigned to him. 
 
 Chief Musician Theodore C. Minvielle deserves 
 the commendation of the regiment, for the skill and 
 
CAMP CROW. 31 
 
 patience with which he taught and practiced the 
 band, which gave so much life to the command, and 
 set its fair fame to music. 
 
 Surgeon Hall secured the services of Minvielle 
 and two musicians. Minvielle then selected certain 
 men out of the regiment, of whom I made a detail. 
 The necessary instruments were procured after dili- 
 gent search, for they were rare. Minvielle and his 
 neophytes began practice at once, and in a few 
 weeks the band was able to play a few tunes credit- 
 ably. He labored incessantly. In a short time the 
 repertoire of the band had sufficient variety, and it 
 was in demand on any gala day; indeed it would have 
 been worthy of any regiment, and was a source of 
 much recreation to us. 
 
 It must not be supposed that in our military family 
 of many hundred men we did not have our domestic 
 troubles. Self was not entirely forgotten. Interests 
 sometimes clashed. The acts of ranking officers in- 
 vited comrhent, and may have merited censure ; but 
 these family jars sunk into the insignificance in which 
 they had birth, in a conflict with the enemy. On 
 that grand occasion, the regiment was one and in- 
 divisible. As twinkling stars fade when the Day- 
 God approaches so petty disagreements disappeared, 
 in the glory that shone around our flag, when planted 
 defiantly in the face of the invader. 
 
 It may not be amiss to mention here, in a general 
 way, the extent and character of the supplies fur- 
 nished the regiment while in service. 
 
 While at Camp Moore, just after the retreat from 
 New Orleans, we obtained, on requisition, whatever 
 was necessary to complete our arms and accoutre- 
 ments. Most of the companies were armed with 
 the Enfield riffe, a good muzzle-loader of that time. 
 Two companies had Belgian rifles, which were sub- 
 
32 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 sequently changed for the Enfield pattern. We had 
 sufficient ammunition, but none to spare. 
 
 During over three years of service we received, if 
 I remember rightly, only two suits of clothes to the 
 man, through the Quartermaster's Department. 
 The suits consisted of a jacket and pantaloons; 
 whatever we had besides, was received from our 
 friends, or obtained by our own efforts from private 
 sources, by gift or purchase. As to shoes, hats and 
 shirts we had to take care of ourselves. Blankets 
 or any substitute were out of the question, save 
 what we might procure individually, from patriotic 
 citizens. 
 
 This normal condition of the Quartermaster's De- 
 partment was occasionally diversified by the patient 
 industry of Captain N^e, who would gather from 
 one source or another, one hardly realizes how, a 
 few shoes, or boots, or hats, or a small lot of cloth- 
 ing, by which he was able to provide, not for all the 
 needy, but for some of the worst cases of destitu- 
 tion. 
 
 As the men exhausted the occasional and partial 
 stores of the Quartermaster's Department, and as 
 the blockade of all southern ports soon depleted all 
 sources of private supply, it required effort on the 
 part of the officers to present an appearance suitable 
 to their rank; and it is to the credit of officers and 
 men that on all occasions of ceremony, their dress 
 was tidy and becoming. 
 
 In the commissary department we were soon re- 
 duced to elemental principles. Prior to the seige 
 of Vicksburg, and it never improved, we had corn- 
 meal, fresh beef, bacon as a substitute for lard, salt 
 and soap. The officers had nothing more, and it re- 
 quired all the energy of Captain Mess to regularly 
 provide even these for us. The corn-meal was 
 
CAMP CROW. 33 
 
 often made into bread for three days rations, when 
 we were in the field. Corn bread three days old was 
 not palatable even to hungry men, but it stifled hun- 
 ger. Early in 1863, the cattle from which we had 
 beef were so impoverished many died every day from 
 sheer hunger, and the quota of beef furnished the 
 regiment from these famished cattle was repulsive in 
 its blueness. For weeks, quarters of it were daily 
 laid on the bench in front of the commissary tent, 
 for any one to take as much as wanted. Few avail- 
 ed themselves of the opportunity — some of the more 
 hungry ventured to appease a gnawing stomach with 
 the best portions. I complained at Brigade Head- 
 quarters, but was informed no other meat could be 
 provided at the time, and so the boys bore the pangs 
 of hunger, without discontent and with manly hearts. 
 
 After we left New Orleans in April, 1862, we 
 never had a ration of coffee or tea. We rarely had 
 enough spirits for hospital purposes. Rank and file 
 were temperate to excess. Officers, with superior 
 facilities, now and then secured a bottle. It is pre- 
 sumed it was used medicinally. 
 
 The Hospital Department was in keeping with 
 the other departments of supply. Dr. Hall, how- 
 ever, was adept in using to advantage whatever was 
 within his reach, and in substituting one drug by the 
 next best in his medicine chest. Usually, we had 
 wheat flour for the sick and convalescent, but willow 
 bark frequently took the place of quinine. 
 
 Some time in the fall of 1862 General Martin L. 
 Smith was promoted to the rank of Major-General, 
 and Brigadier-General Stephen D. Lee of South 
 CaroHna, a graduate of West Point, assumed com- 
 mand of the brigade, which about Dec. 4th was 
 reorganized and composed of the following com- 
 mands: 
 
34 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Lieutenant Drew's Battery of Light Artillery. 
 
 Captain Bowman's " . " " 
 
 4th Regt. Miss. Infantry, Colonel Layton 
 
 46th " " " Lieutenant Col. Easterby 
 
 17th " La. " Colonel Richardson 
 
 26th " " " Colonel Cage 
 
 27th " " " - - Colonel Marks 
 
 28th " " " Colonel Allen Thomas 
 
 31st " " " - Colonel Morrison 
 
 While at this camp, General Joseph E. Johnston 
 came to Vicksburg, and a day was set on which he 
 would review the troops. I was anxious and made 
 every effort to give a fine appearance as to strength 
 of command, as well as discipline. When the regi- 
 ment was drawn up in line ready for the review, I 
 noticed a squad of twenty or more of our men pos- 
 ing as an audience, instead of being actors. Doubt- 
 less they were convalescents and men off duty, who 
 took advantage of their exemption to keep out of 
 the ranks. Considering they could have swelled our 
 numbers, if they had wished to do so, and that they 
 should have waived their exemption for the credit of 
 the regiment, it occured to me^ to teach them a les- 
 son. I went quietly up to Sergeant Stansbury, of 
 Company B, and told him to take six men and sur- 
 round and hold the idle squad. Quick as thought 
 Stansbury had his men out, and the squad held as 
 prisoners. They attempted to break through his 
 lines, he told them he was ordered to keep them 
 where they were. I then went up and ordered Stans- 
 bury to march them up and down in front of the 
 brigade. When he had done so, I went to them and 
 said they were the sort of men that shirked duty on 
 the field of battle, and they could now go to their 
 quarters. The squad was afterward known in camp 
 as "Company Q." 
 
Camp croW. 35 
 
 On November loth Colonel De Clouet was re- 
 lieved from duty, his resignation having been ac- 
 cepted. 
 
 The vacancy was filled by the promotion of Lieut- 
 enant Colonel Cage to the Colonelcy. I was pro- 
 moted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Cap- 
 tain Lagarde the senior Captain having declined 
 promotion, Captain Crow next in rank was pro- 
 moted to the office of Major. 
 
 On December 18 Surgeon Lashbrook tendered his 
 resignation which was accepted; while his resigna- 
 tion was pending Dr. Alfred Hall acted as surgeon, 
 having already been assistant-surgeon, and he was 
 appointed to the office of surgeon, on the acceptance 
 of Dr. Lashbrook's resignation. 
 
 Adjutant Pilsbury having resigned, Mr. John R. 
 Bisland was appointed to the vacancy. 
 
 Other changes, in the offices of the regiment, are 
 noted in the appendix. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 CHICKASAW BAYOU. 
 December, 1862. 
 
 As introductory to the part taken by the regiment 
 in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, it may be well to 
 state that late in the fall of the year 1862, the enemy 
 planned certain movements of the Army of the De- 
 partment of the Tennessee, co-operating with the 
 gun-boat fleet under command of Flag-officer Porter, 
 having for an ultimate object, the capture of Vicks- 
 burg, and opening of the Mississippi River. 
 
 In a letter of instructions from General Grant to 
 General Sherman, dated at Oxford, Miss., Dec. 8, 
 1862,* the latter was ordered to take certain troops 
 from Memphis and Helena, Ark., move down the 
 river, and with the co-operation of the gun-boat 
 fleet, proceed to the reduction of Vicksburg. 
 
 The instructions stated that transportation for 
 30,000 men would be ordered, and any deficiency 
 was to be supplied from the port of Memphis. 
 
 On Dec. 14, General Grant in a note to General 
 Sherman, relative to this expedition, states: 
 
 " The 21,000 men you have, with the 12,000 from 
 Helena, will make a good force."f 
 
 * See Sherman's Memoirs, Vol. I, p. 283. 
 f Sherman's Memoirs, Vol. I, p. 283. 
 
CI-IICKASAW BAYOU. 37 
 
 In his Memoirs, General Sherman writes, 
 
 "The preparations were necessarily hasty in the 
 extreme, but this was the essence of the whole plan, 
 viz: to reach Vicksburg as it were by surprise, while 
 General Grant held in check Pemberton's Army 
 about Grenada, leaving me to contend only with the 
 smaller garrison at Vicksburg, and its well known 
 strong batteries and defences." 
 
 "On the 19th the Memphis troops were embarked 
 and steamed down to Helena, where on the 21st 
 General Steele's Division was also embarked, and on 
 the 22d we were all rendezvoused at Friar's Point."* 
 
 The expedition consisted of four divisions, com- 
 prising forty-three regiments of infantry; The 
 First Iowa Artillery; eight additional batteries; 
 Thielman's Cavalry, with some fractional commands.f 
 
 Kentucky furnished three of the regiments; 
 Ohio — ten; Indiana — eight; Illinois — six; Iowa — 
 six; Wisconsin — one; and Missouri — nine. J 
 
 Fifty-seven transports were required to move the 
 formidable body, and it really seemed as if "the 
 smaller garrison at Vicksburg" mentioned by Gen- 
 eral Sherman, was hardly a mouthful for the monster. 
 
 To meet this imposing array we had the 1 7th — ' 
 26th — 28th and 31st La., the 42d Georgia — the 4th 
 and 46th Miss., and parts of the 3rd — i8th and 30th 
 Tennessee, these parts not amounting to an average 
 regiment, in all about three thousand men and ten 
 field pieces. § 
 
 Thirty-three thousand men were pitted against 
 three thousand! It seemed as if the odds were 
 against us. 
 
 * Sherman's Memoirs, Vol. I, p. 285. 
 f Sherman's Memoirs, Vol. I, p. 286. 
 \ See note i appendix for other details. 
 
 ^ This statement is from a letter of Lieutenant General S. D. Lee, to 
 the writer. 
 
38 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 In compliance with oi'dcrs from Major General 
 M. L. Smith, in command at Vicksburg, General S. 
 D. Lee, took charge of the defence of the water 
 front, from that city to Snyder's Mills, on the 
 Yazoo, where we had extensive fortifications. The' 
 distance from Vicksburg to Snyder's Mills was 
 about ten miles. This water front had a swamp in 
 its rear, which it was necessary to traverse in oi'der 
 to reach the hisfh arround, on which was the road lead- 
 ing to Vicksburg. There were only five points at 
 which the enemy could cross this swamp, save b)^ 
 pontoons. One of these points was Chickasaw Bayou, 
 where there was a good road running along the 
 Bayou, from the Yazoo, and it was selected by Sher- 
 man for his main attack. It being his intention to 
 move on this road, across the low ground and attack 
 our position which was near two miles from the 
 Yazoo, and covered the road leading to Vicksburg 
 just referred to, as far as we were able to protect 
 it. 
 
 This position selected by General Lee, although 
 the best the locality afforded to intercept the move- 
 ment of Sherman, had no particular advantage nat- 
 turally, or by artificial works. A portion of the line 
 held rifle pits, such as might be thrown up in a 
 night, indeed a part of the line held by the 26th had 
 no pits, until they had been made by using sword 
 bayonets, being the only implement at hand. Some 
 pits in advance of the main line, which were held 
 by the 26th for the two days prior to the main battle 
 were unskillfuUy constructed, and were commanded 
 by an enfilading fire of the enemy, under which we 
 suffered seriously. 
 
 With this outline of the surroundings, I will now 
 confine myself more strictly to the part taken by the 
 regiment in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou. 
 
CHICKASAW BAYOU. 39 
 
 On December 24th, 1862 orders came from Gen- 
 eral S. D. Lee, to move the regiment at once to a 
 point near Chickasaw Bayou, a few miles from 
 Vicksburg, in view of an anticipated attack, in that 
 vicinity, from the enemy at Yazoo River. We had 
 been subjected to the enemy's shelling for some time, 
 while on duty in Vicksburg without corresponding 
 advantage ; it now appeared we would soon be in a 
 position to give as well as take. We had, up 
 to this time, company and regimental and brig- 
 ade drills steadily — to the very confines of dis- 
 gust. When the regiment was drawn up, I recol- 
 lected how patiently it had borne the disciphne of 
 the drill, and how weary the men were of any move- 
 ment laid down by Hardee, and that now we were 
 to test the value of this discipline; so I gave an 
 order not in Hardee. "To meet the enemy — right 
 face — forward — march." 
 
 With a step, and a shout, the regiment responded. 
 
 On reaching the place designated, we found al- 
 ready there three companies of the 46th Miss., and 
 Captain Wofford's battery of four field pieces. Being 
 ranking officer, I assumed command. My orders 
 were to annoy the gun-boats, repel any attempt at 
 landing, and dispute the enemy's advance inland. 
 Captain Bateman was ordered to take his company 
 and Captain Winder's to the Yazoo, two miles away, 
 and annoy any gun-boats he would find there. He 
 remained on the river bank, in this service, until 
 dark, when he left Captain Winder there with a 
 strong picket, and bivouaced in the rear. The re- 
 mainder of the regiment slept on their arms on a 
 site afterward occupied by the enemy, and called by 
 it "Fort Morgan." 
 
 Next morning, (Dec. 25th.) although heavily 
 shelled, Captain Bateman, continued to annoy the 
 
40 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 enemy, until relieved about noon, by Captain Crow, 
 with his company, and the companies of Captains 
 Metoyer and Tucker, and Captain Sublette, of the 
 46th Miss. Five gun-boats only four hundred yards 
 away furiously shelled Captain Crow's command, 
 which remained in the position, annoying the enemy 
 all in its power, until night, when Captain Metoyer's 
 and Captain Sublette's Companies were picketed for 
 the night on the river bank. Next morning, (Dec. 
 26th.) the command returned to the regiment. 
 
 On Dec. 25th Captain Mouton's company was de- 
 tached for service at the Indian mound and joined 
 the regiment the next day, or the day after. Cap- 
 tain Guion was also sent out with his company to 
 take a position on the river below Mrs. Lake's 
 house, in support of a section of Woflford's battery, 
 and to annoy the gun-boats. The battery did not 
 engage, but Captain Guion annoyed the gun-boats 
 for several hours, and until relieved by Captain 
 Shaffer's company. 
 
 The main body of the command bivouaced that 
 night near Fort Morgan within two miles of the 
 river. Some of the officers had made an egg-nog; 
 we had taken a glass, in memory of the old-time fes- 
 tivities of the season, and felt gay and chatty, when, 
 about 8 p. M. a scout rode in, and reported Captain 
 Shaffer's picket had a sharp skirmish with a small 
 body of the enemy, and were compelled to fall back. 
 There was a road leading from our bivouac to the 
 mouth of Chickasaw Bayou, where Captain Shaffer 
 had been placed. I ordered Captain Wofford to 
 take a section of his battery, and move on this road 
 toward the river, in support of Captain Shaffer; 
 Captain Martin was ordered to take his company 
 forward for the same purpose, and Captain Bisland 
 was ordered to move within supporting distance of 
 
CHICKASAW BAYOU. 4 1 
 
 the command, in front. Captain Martin, being in 
 command, cautiously extended his picket line to a 
 point near its former position on the bank of the 
 river, without being further interfered with, during 
 the night. 
 
 MOVEMENTS ON FRIDAY, DEC. 26. 
 
 At daylight Captain Martin with ten men made a 
 reconnoissance and established a picket within three 
 or four hundred yards of the enemy's boats ; some of 
 the enemy being on land, but within pistol shot of 
 the boats. About 4 p. m. Captain Martin ordered 
 Lieutenant Leonard to take twenty men and drive 
 away a transport, and at the same time sent Lieuten- 
 ant Himel to take charge of the advance pickets. 
 Before Lieutenant Leonard reached the river bank, 
 the advance pickets discovered two regiments of 
 infantry, a battery, and a company of cavalry ap- 
 proaching. Lieutenant Leonard returned, and the 
 pickets were withdrawn. Captain Crow now came 
 up with his company, and assumed command. Two 
 details of skirmishers were ordered to the front, one 
 under Lieutenant Riu, and one under Sergeant 
 Richard, which were soon driven in, and fire opened 
 upon Captain Crow's command, which it returned 
 and kept up, as if fell back in good order for about 
 half a mile, where it reached the regiment, deployed 
 as skirmishers, in an old field near Mrs. Lake's dwell- 
 ing. The regiment while so deployed was shelled 
 by the enemy until dark, when the 17th La., took 
 its place, and it returned and bivouacked near Fort 
 Morgan. 
 
 On the same day Captain Guion had been sent 
 out to relieve Captain Metoyer's Company, which 
 had been posted on Blake's levee above the mouth 
 of Chickasaw Bayou. Captain Guion posted the 
 
42 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 main body of his company about a mile from the 
 Yazoo, sent out a picket of twelve men under Lieu- 
 tenant Legendre, and bivouacked near the levee. 
 
 MOVEMENTS ON SATURDAY DEC. 27. 
 
 Captain Guion sent a detail under Lieutenant 
 Champagne to relieve Lieutenant Legendre. Lieu- 
 tenant Champagne soon reported a regiment of in- 
 fantry and several companies of cavalry had land- 
 ed. Captain Guion sent out scouts who stated 
 enemy were advancing. He moved his company 
 to the rear for a better position. A body of dis- 
 mounted cavalry opened fire upon his command, 
 which was vigorously returned, and maintained as 
 he retreated until sheltered by our artillery, when 
 he picketed half his company and bivoaucked. 
 
 The regiment early in the morning was posted in 
 rifle pits about five hundred yards in advance of our 
 main line, as appears by the accompanying sketch. 
 The 17th La., under Colonel Richardson, had biv- 
 ouacked in front of us, and were soon engaged in a 
 hot skirmish with the enemy. I sent out Captain 
 Bateman with his and Captain Shaffer's Companies, 
 to deploy in a piece of woods to our right, and skir- 
 mish with the left flank of the enemy. Bateman's 
 detachment was met by Colonel Withers, then rank- 
 ing officer on the front, who varied my order, and 
 directed Bateman to proceed at a double quick and 
 flank the enemy. Bateman soon found himself con- 
 fronted by artillery and three regiments of infantry. 
 Shot and shell and vollies of musketry soon com- 
 pelled him to retire. A prisoner however, reported 
 this detachment before retiring killed six and wound- 
 ed two of the enemy. 
 
 While this skirmishing was going on, the regiment 
 in the pits was continuously and heavily shelled. 
 
CHICKASAW BAYOU. 43 
 
 The 17th La., were relieved during the day, by the 
 28th La., under Colonel Allen Thomas, whose com- 
 mand skirmished with the enemy until night, when 
 they slept on the ground they had fought over. 
 
 MOVEMENTS ON SUNDAY DEC. 28. 
 
 The enemy opened fire upon Captain Guion at 
 Blake's levee this morning, with artillery and small 
 arms. He was reinforced by a company from the 
 46th Miss., and subsequently relieved by a company 
 from the same regiment, when he joined us in the 
 rifle pits. 
 
 Brisk skirmishing began early on the line of the 
 28th. Captain Martin was ordered to take his com- 
 pany and Captain Metoyer's, and protect Colonel 
 Thomas' right flank. Colonel Thomas being heavily 
 pressed was forced to retire through our regimental 
 line, and Captain Martin brought in his detachment 
 under heavy fire. 
 
 There was now nothing between the enemy and 
 the 26th and on they came. I passed near each 
 company, and spoke to each a few words of cheer. 
 The shelling was kept up and the minnie balls soon 
 began to whistle about us, but as the firing was 
 under cover of woods which came within two hun- 
 dred yards of our pits, we could have only occasional 
 glimpses of a moving body, therefore fired sparingly. 
 
 The enemy, well under cover of the woods, main- 
 tained their shelling and musketry fire during the 
 day. There was a wagon road from the Yazoo, 
 running up to and through our pits. The enemy 
 ran up a battery on this road to within about four 
 hundred yards of our line, and in plain view; about 
 the time the guns were unlimbered we peppered 
 them so hotly, they retired hastily, without favoring 
 us with a single shot. Early in the afternoon- we 
 
44 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 noted a movement in the woods on our right, it 
 seemed to be a body of men, and we opened on them. 
 Soon some one cried out "they are our own men." 
 Firing ceased without an order. I then had to de- 
 termine whether it was friend or foe. After a mo- 
 ment of awful suspense, I decided, I hardly know 
 how, that it was a hostile line, and ordered the firing 
 kept up; all signs of them soon disappeared. We 
 learned afterwards it was two regiments in line of 
 battle. 
 
 An unexpected element of danger soon revealed 
 itself, the pits we were in were constructed in such 
 manner, as to expose us to an enfilading fire of sharp- 
 shooters in the woods to our right, and we were 
 entirely at their mercy. 
 
 Another strange feature of these pits was that 
 they were not only raked by an enfilading fire, but 
 the ground in the rear was an open field sloping up- 
 ward for some five hundred yards to the bluff, so 
 that retreat would have exposed us from head to 
 toe for that distance to the fire of the enemy. As 
 an illustration of this. Lieutenant Lee, a cousin of 
 General S. D. Lee, and an officer of his staff, gal- 
 loped down to us, at the time the enemy reached us 
 in the morning, and as he was giving me an order I 
 noticed him put a finger to his mouth, he galloped 
 back, with a joint less on his right forefinger, a bul- 
 let having carrie;d it away. It is creditable to the 
 command that the order to occupy the pits, given 
 doubtless from the urgency of the case, was obeyed 
 with the same alacrity, as if the position had every 
 advantage known to modern warfare. 
 
 It was a long weary day to us. It seemed night 
 would never come. I wished for it as heartily as 
 Wellington wished for night or Blucher at Water- 
 loo. Captain Legarde whom we considered as Maj- 
 
CHICKASAW BAYOU. 45 
 
 or, by right of promotion, on Colonel De Clouet 
 being relieved from duty, had charge of the left wing, 
 and I, of the right. More than once I contrasted his 
 cool, stubborn, matter of fact way, with my intensi- 
 fied and anxious condition. He miffht have been 
 assaulted, overpowered, every man killed about him; 
 but he would have been found there, still holding 
 the trenches. 
 
 Officers and men alike were quiet and self-pos- 
 sessed. The men lying low save those on the look- 
 out, or those in the act of firing. All felt we had 
 been placed there to hold the trenches, and that we 
 would do so coute qu'il coute. About the middle of 
 the afternoon Captain Tucker was struck in the 
 right temple by a minnie ball. He had made a seat 
 of a small box from which he persistently kept an 
 eye to the front, with his head above the embank- 
 ment, scorning to shield it. He was carried to the 
 bluff after dark, and died during the night. 
 
 Whilst we were so engaged, General Lee and 
 staff, the main body of the troops with their officers, 
 and citizens of Vicksburg, including many ladies, 
 were on the bluffs to our rear, where they could see 
 every shot fired by us, and our flag, which had forty 
 bullet holes made in it that day, defiantly floating 
 over our works. 
 
 The red sun set; with darkness the firing ceased; 
 we breathed freely, and we still held the trenches ! 
 
 Besides Captain Tucker, we lost here six privates 
 killed and two wounded. Pickets were posted a rod 
 apart on the embankment, and I reported to General 
 Lee, who ordered the trenches vacated at 2 a.m., leav- 
 ing a picket there, at which hour the companies went 
 out one by one, with a tread noiseless as the step of 
 time, leaving the gallant Crow with his company, at 
 the perilous post, until after daylight, when the 
 
46 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 picket was withdrawn, and Captain Crow thanked 
 by General Lee for the faithful and efficient per- 
 formance of his hazardous duty. 
 
 Our next position was near the foot of the hills, 
 five hundred yards in the rear. There were no pits 
 where we were placed, and we had no pioneer tools, 
 but by dint of using the sword bayonets, by morn- 
 ing the men had some protection. 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF MONDAY, DEC. 29. 
 
 In the early part of the day there was comparative 
 quiet. Our line of battle ran in nearly a straight 
 direction at the foot of a range of hills, where we 
 had shallow rifle pits, with two batteries, all cover- 
 ing substantially the open ground the enemy had to 
 cross in order to reach us. About 9 a. m. we could 
 perceive considerable stir indicating a general as- 
 sault, and at 10 a. m. their line was formed. A ter- 
 rific storm of shot and shell now burst upon us, and 
 in its fury its seemed as if no living thing about us 
 could escape. When at its heighth I cried out at 
 the highest pitch of my voice : "That's the music ! " 
 Captain Winder remarked afterward, to some gen- 
 tlemen in my presence, that he felt some misgivings, 
 until he heard me, when he dismissed all concern. 
 
 Under cover of shot and shell, the enemy ad- 
 vanced, with a force quite sufficient to carry our 
 weak lines, for the men in the pits were in single 
 file, and we had no reserve force. Artillery and 
 infantry, on both sides, soon became hotly engaged. 
 The enemy's line continued to advance, although 
 every weapon on our side was warm, and every man 
 was doing his best. Some approached within fifty 
 yards of our line, but it was their last assault. Soon 
 the line wavers and breaks, and confusedly attempts 
 to retire. Many prefer surrender rather than being 
 
CHICKASAW BAYOU. 47 
 
 one of a mass our rifles could hardly miss. I re- 
 ceived an order from General Lee to report to him 
 with six companies of the regiment, as six had been 
 detached, I took the remainder, being the compa- 
 nies of Captains Mouton, Bateman, Bisland and 
 Lieutenant Webre commanding Company I. We 
 had hardly started, when the command reached a 
 point, where a body of the enemy was in full view, 
 only a hundred yards away. The temptation was too 
 great for the naughty boys. They stopped without 
 orders, and savagely peppered the blue coats. I 
 thought it best to let them have their own way for a 
 while, as if a part of the programme of the occasion, 
 as I feared they might not respond to an order to 
 move, with their usual subordination. I waited a 
 while and when the enemy had got well out of the 
 way, I gave the order to cease firing, and to march, 
 which was readily obeyed, perhaps in view of the 
 fact that none of their opponents were visible from 
 that point. 
 
 General Lee directed us to move in the open 
 ground in front of our line and secure whatever 
 prisoners we could. 
 
 We moved out, the boys considerably wrought up. 
 A Sergeant of Company A., spied a blue coat, and 
 although the order to cease firing had been given, 
 sent a minnie after him; I was in the rear at the 
 time; I ran up to the Sergeant, and gave him a 
 smart rap on the back, with the flat side of my sword. 
 He turned round to look where the blow came from, 
 and when he saw me, seemed as much astonished as 
 if a shell had stung him. I went in front, ordered 
 the column into line, cocked my revolver and said I 
 would shoot the first man that would fire. In order 
 to quiet them, I put them through the manual of 
 arms, in plain view and entirely exposed to the 
 
48 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 enemy, most of whom had now sought cover of the 
 woods, where their batteries were not over four hun- 
 dred yards distant, although their sharpshooters 
 were much nearer. The line went through the ex- 
 ercise, as if on parade.* General Lee rode up while 
 we were going through the drill. We presented 
 arms to him, when he ordered us to fall back about 
 one hundred yards to the rear, where a wagon road, 
 worn a foot deep, afforded us a protection to that 
 extent, by lying flat in the bed of the road. 
 
 The enemy seemed to be arranging for a second 
 assault. General Lee ordered us to hold our fire 
 until any advance was within 100 yards of our lines. 
 The wagon rut, as I have said was only a foot deep, 
 and as the natural surface of the ground was exposed 
 to the fire of the enemy, we were annoyed, while in 
 this position, by shell and sharpshooters, and sus- 
 tained a loss of one man killed and two wounded. I 
 kept watchful eyes, beside my own, to the front. 
 There was lying near to me a massive young fellow, 
 whose depth through the body was much more than 
 the wagon rut could cover. He seemed anxious his 
 "too solid flesh " could flatten and adapt itself to cir- 
 cumstances; by way of diverting his attention, I called 
 upon him several times, to look out and let me know 
 if he could see any Yanks advancing. In doing so 
 he had to raise up, and expose himself still more, but 
 every time I ordered him, he raised up quietly and 
 took a thorough view before he reported. 
 
 It was while we were lying in this road. Captain 
 Paul Hamilton, adjutant of General Lee, was killed 
 in our rear. Of a commanding presence, an ingenu- 
 ous countenance and simple address, courteous and 
 fearless, his death was regretted in the brigade as a 
 
 *See statements of Lieutenant Eastin and Sergeants O'Brien, 
 Malcolm and Hepler. Appendix, Note B. 
 
CHICKASAW BAYOU. 49 
 
 personal loss, as well as a loss to the cause for which 
 he offered up his young and noble manhood. 
 
 At dark a picket was detailed from our regiment. I 
 posted them about three hundred yards in front of our 
 lines, and not over two hundred yards from the line 
 of woods where the enemy lay; his dead and wound- 
 ed were all about us; many of the wounded begged 
 for water, I ordered water given to them, and their 
 canteens filled. A federal sergeant rose up from a 
 hiding place, and surrendered to us. He said he 
 had left a comrade where he had hid. I called to 
 the man to come out, he did not heed me, I went 
 toward him, when near him he jumped up and came 
 to me, and I sent sergeant and private as prisoners 
 to the rear. 
 
 Captain Martin with his company and the com- 
 panies of Captains Bateman, Bisland and Guion, 
 were also posted in front of General Smith's Head 
 Quarters and exposed to an artillery fire, besides be- 
 ing annoyed by sharpshooters. 
 
 It now began to rain, the men not on duty built 
 fires, but kept them alive with difl&culty. After the 
 men had been disposed of for the night, I crept into 
 a surgeon's tent where the body of Captain Hamil- 
 ton had been placed. I was offered some custard a 
 good lady had sent to us. Although not regulation 
 fare, I waived the point, took it without a wry face, 
 laid down and slept till 2 a. m. It was raining still. 
 I went out to look after the pickets. I met them 
 coming in. The enemy's sharpshooters had made 
 their posts unpleasant. I thought it prudent to 
 have the regiment up, and was about to send out 
 Captain Guion with his company to reconnoitre, 
 when the picket guard requested me to allow them 
 to return. They felt they had been needlessly 
 alarmed, and wished to retrieve their lost ground. 
 
50 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 They returned and were not further annoyed, but 
 we remained on the alert until daylight. 
 
 Daylight of Tuesday, December 30, found us in 
 line ready for any emergency, but there was com- 
 parative quiet along the respective lines. An order 
 came to me about dark, to take a detachment and 
 destroy a bridge between the opposing lines, in 
 order to prevent the artillery of the enemy from 
 using it ; it was near the enemy's lines and we had 
 to work quietly, as the slightest noise would have 
 aroused suspicion, but we succeeded in the task and 
 returned to our bivouac without molestation. 
 
 On Wednesday, December 31, the enemy sent a 
 flag of truce, asking a suspension of hostilities, to 
 enable him to bury his dead, and care for the 
 wounded. 
 
 On Thursday, January i, 1863, we still expected 
 another attempt against our lines, but there was 
 quiet. General Lee sent for me, invited me to par- 
 take of some cake and wine that had been sent to 
 him by a lady, and informed me Colonel Cage's 
 resignation had been accepted, and he had been 
 relieved from duty, as Colonel of the regiment. I 
 was, therefore, promoted to the office of Colonel ; 
 Major Crow was promoted to the office of Lieuten- 
 ant Colonel, and as Captain Lagarde again declined 
 promotion. Captain Martin next in rank, to the office 
 of Major. 
 
 On Friday, January 2, the enemy disappeared from 
 our front, having returned to their transports on the 
 Yazoo River, which were under convoy of gun 
 boats. In the afternoon the regiment was drawn up 
 in line preparatory to returning to camp, in obe- 
 dience to orders. General Lee rode up in front and 
 said:, "I thank the 26th for its distinguished gal- 
 lantry ; I thank it for its endurance in the trenches. 
 
CHICKASAW BAYOU. 5 1 
 
 Hereafter I shall know that wherever they are 
 placed, they will remain until ordered to leave ; I 
 wish you now to return to your tents, and make 
 yourselves comfortable, so that when your services 
 are again required, you will be ready." I said : 
 " Three cheers for General Lee, the hero of Chick- 
 asaw Bayou." Officers and men gave them with a 
 will, and amid a drenching rain we trudged to our 
 camp near Vicksburg cemetery, and so ended our 
 ten days experience with the enemy at Chickasaw 
 Bayou. 
 
 I have mentioned only the casualties on Sunday, 
 while we held the trenches, and the casualties on 
 Monday as far as known. There were other casual- 
 ties, but I have no authentic details of them at this 
 time. 
 
 While we were at Chickasaw Bayou an order came 
 for a detachment of fifty men, to aid in planting tor- 
 pedoes in the Yazoo. It was an enterprise full of 
 hazard, as the enemy with his gun boats was lord of 
 the stream, and was able to make effective argument 
 against encroachment of his sway. I had the regi- 
 ment fall into line, mentioned the order, that General 
 Lee preferred volunteers, and that all who wished to 
 go should step two paces to the front. Representa- 
 tives from every company stood out at once, and the 
 number of the detachment was made up. Company 
 B (the dear old dirty shirts) then volunteered to a 
 man, and requested that they alone be detached for 
 the purpose. The undertaking, however, for some 
 reason, was not prosecuted. 
 
 I noted that when the regiment felt the first rude 
 shock of the enemy, one man after another was taken 
 with an uneasy, qualmish feeling — indeed, fell sick and 
 asked to go to the rear, which I permitted, as a mat- 
 ter of course. After several had been disposed of 
 
52 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 in that manner, an officer came up and told me he felt 
 unwell, and wished to go to the rear. The thought 
 dawned upon me these cases of illness were mere 
 nervousness, and that the best cure for it was for 
 everyone to keep to his post of duty, so I told' the 
 officer I would not allow him to get sick, and to go 
 back to his company. There was no further com- 
 plaining. I do not mention this as a discredit to the 
 officer and the men. They did not season kindly and 
 quickly as some others, and no such occurrence took 
 place at any subsequent meeting with the enemy. 
 
 The camp had been left in charge of Lieutenant 
 Joseph Aycock — here our provisions were cooked 
 and sent to us. As the only road to us was covered 
 completely by the enemy's fire, our good quarter- 
 master. Captain N^e had to send our rations by 
 teams at night, but with the efficient service of Cap- 
 tain Moss, our commissary, in procuring, and of 
 Lieutenant Aycock in preparing, and of Captain 
 N^e in getting them to us, we were regularly sup- 
 plied with meat and corn bread, our only rations at 
 the time for officers and men. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 SUPPORTING WATER BATTERIES. 
 Jamiarv 2, 1S63 to May /, iSbj. 
 
 Soon after we returned from Chickasaw Bayou to 
 Camp Crow, the ladies of Tensas parish in Louis- 
 iania sent to the regiment, a large box of clothing. 
 They had apparently levied upon everything in 
 reach, out of which a shirt or breeches, or a pair of 
 socks could be made. Window curtains seemed 
 legitimate prey for the fair spoilers, for the fabric 
 made warm substantial shirts, and cloth of every 
 shade was made into nether garments. Of course 
 there was not enough to supply all, but it supplied 
 those whose needs were greatest, and the boys appre- 
 ciated it. Their own homes were now in the power 
 of the enemy — they were in exile, and it was pleasant 
 to know this token of substantial sympathy came 
 from other homes than their own, although they had 
 been despoiled for the purpose. 
 
 Hitherto our color-bearer had been only a tem- 
 porary appointment. I determined to appoint 
 Sergeant Britsche of Company D permanently to 
 this position. Britsche was a small, wiry, skin-and- 
 bone son of sunny France. I knew the colors would 
 be safe in his hands. With a view of making the 
 ceremony impressive, I had the regiment drawn up 
 in line and rode to the front, where the colors were 
 near. I took them in my hand, called Sergeant 
 
54 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Britsche to me, and said to him : "Sergeant, do you 
 promise to carry these colors wherever you are 
 ordered." Britsche raised his right hand, and in a 
 firm, quiet, meaning tone, replied, "Je le jure, 
 Colonel," and took them in charge- 
 It was while. we were at this camp that Mrs. 
 George Marshall, as she afterwards told me, met 
 Leonval of Company D, whom she had nursed at 
 her house during a spell of sickness. After some 
 conversation she said, " Well, Leonval, what do all 
 of you think of Colonel Hall ?" Leonval replied, 
 " He is a tyrant in camp, but very kind to us on the 
 battlefield." 
 
 During a visit in the neighborhood to some mem- 
 bers of the family of our Bishop-General, his daugh- 
 ter, Mrs. Gale, mentioned to me she had some pieces 
 of carpet that might serve some of the boys as 
 blankets, brought out pieces enough for six blank- 
 ets, and insisted I should take them. I felt our need 
 too great to refuse, so brought them to camp, and 
 disposed of five pieces to the most needy of Com- 
 pany D. In default of an applicant, I used the 
 remaining one on the floor of my tent. A few days 
 afterward, a young private of Company D came to 
 my tent and wished to know whether I had a blanket 
 to spare, as he had none. Knowing how careless 
 soldiers become, I thought I would impress a lesson 
 of prudence on the youngster. I took him into the 
 tent, showed him the carpet and made much over its 
 capacity for comfort; I told him I could not give it 
 to him without he would promise to take the very 
 best care of it. He replied, " Colonel, je le garderai 
 comme mes yeux," and he went away a happy, boy. 
 
 As the enemy were still near to us, and might 
 move upon us at any moment, we were kept on the 
 qui vive. We expected an attack by water, which 
 
SUPPORTING WATER BATTERIES. 55 
 
 was, perhaps, the simplest way to take Vicksburg, 
 and would have cost the enemy less men than the 
 subsequent siege; To guard against attack by water, 
 among other precautions, the 26th was ordered to 
 picket every other night, a certain point on the river 
 immediately above Vicksburg. We moved out of 
 camp at two o'clock in the morning, marched two 
 miles to the point indicated, threw out pickets, and 
 slept on our arms, ready to move at a moment's 
 warning. We returned to camp after daylight, as it 
 was not expected the enemy would attack us, other 
 than about dawn. After performing this service for 
 some time, we were frequently on the same duty, at 
 other points on the river. 
 
 On one occasion we were sent to picket imme- 
 diately in front of the city. The regiment was dis- 
 posed of by placing one or two companies at differ- 
 ent points, guarding, as best we could, a mile of front- 
 age. While so disposed, between daylight and sun- 
 rise I saw a steamer coming down the river. I rode 
 at once to the extreme right of the line, cautioned 
 the officers to be on the look out, and kept my eye 
 on the steamer. It came down as if on a holiday 
 trip, though not a soul upon it could be seen. When 
 opposite to me, I rode down the river as it moved 
 'down. Our steamer, the " City of Vicksburg," lay 
 in front of the town. It appeared to be the object 
 of the enemy steamer to reach it, as it turned when 
 opposite the landing, as if to come in, and making a 
 sweep came with its bow up stream, a little below 
 and just behind the " City of Vicksburg." A heavy 
 gun just opposite to her was manned, but before it 
 could be moved to bear upon it, got off its pintles ; 
 but two companies of the 26th were there, and if a 
 man had showed himself he would have been picked 
 off, as we were only two hundred yards away. Finding 
 
56 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 it could not aecomplish its evident purpose to cut 
 loose, and take or destroy our steamer, it turned 
 directly across the river, so as to be out of reach of 
 our guns as far as possible, went down stream, and 
 soon was out of sight. 
 
 There were sentinels posted a short distance from 
 each other on the brink of the river, whose instruc- 
 tions were that on the approach of any vessel com- 
 ing down the river, the sentinel on the extreme right 
 was to give an alarm by firing his piece, and each 
 sentinel successively, was to fire his piece, so as to 
 give the alarm all along the the line. During a 
 foggy night, while the regiment was on picket duty, 
 the sentinels gave an alarm ; a bulky mass was 
 descried floating leisurely down, the outline of which 
 could not be discerned. As it passed, each battery 
 in succession opened upon it. " The imperial votress 
 passed on," unharmed by shot and shell. All at once 
 the curtain of the fog was lifted, and to our intense 
 disgust, showed an ordinary fiat boat, with barrels, 
 stacked one above another, for chimneys ! A dummy 
 steamer sent to feel our strength ! And so it was 
 the enemy, without intending it, retaliated for a for- 
 midable battery of four siege guns, made of wood, 
 and placed in works on the bank of the river, which 
 frowned upon their field-glasses in the early days of 
 the fortification of Vicksburg. 
 
 We still had news from time to time of our famil- 
 ies in Louisiania, through our couriers and friends 
 success in eluding the vigilance of the enemy's 
 pickets and gun boat patrol. The parishes of 
 Assumption, Lafourche and Tenebonne were over- 
 run by the enemy. Informers, mainly negroes, gave 
 the status of every family, and to what extent it was 
 represented in the-confederate service. My home 
 was subjected to frequent visits of a predatory char- 
 
SUPPORTING WATER BATTERIES. 57 
 
 acter, and Mrs. Hall otherwise was much annoyed. 
 At one time a servant came into the house and told 
 her the Yankees had taken her carriage horses. She 
 went out and found a sergeant and a squad ; the 
 sergeant mounted on one horse and leading the 
 other. She claimed them as her own, told the 
 sergeant he could keep them if he could establish 
 any right to them — indeed she talked him off the 
 horse, for he soon dismounted and returned both to 
 the stable. 
 
 These annoyances increased to such an extent she 
 determined to abandon her home and go into confed- 
 erate lines. She went to the office of the Provost 
 Marshal in Thibodaux, swept by a crowd of ladies in 
 an ante-room, who were waiting the good pleasure of 
 the officer, for a pass out of the lines, and spoke to 
 a person she presumed was in authority : 
 "Do I address the Provost Marshal?" 
 "Yes, madam," he replied. 
 
 " I am the wife of Major Hall of the confederate 
 army. I wish a pass." 
 "Where to, madam ?" 
 
 "Any where out of your lines. 1 wish it to include 
 my family, servants, horses, carriage and baggage." 
 
 The Provost Marshall replied he was not author- 
 ized to give such a pass. 
 
 She drove at once to General Weitzel's Head- 
 quarters, a mile below Thibodaux, told him what she 
 wanted, and he authorized the pass to issue. 
 
 The last thing she did before leaving Thibodaux 
 was to go to a place where there was concealed a 
 large sack filled with clothing made for our boys, by 
 their families, which she had placed in the carriage, 
 and then retreated without loss, until she and her 
 four children were sheltered by the guns of Vicks- 
 burg. The soldiers received their clothing and the 
 
58 TWENTV-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 horses were turned over to me, as she insisted the 
 army had need of them more than her. 
 
 On February 19, 1863, the regiment numbered six 
 hundred and seventy-four rank and file. 
 
 About the first of March it was moved into vacant 
 warerooms and dwellings in Vicksburg. I occupied 
 a room on the first floor of the masonic building. I 
 ordered a sentry post near me, where there were 
 standing orders to rouse me in event of an alarm, 
 but my mind was in such tension, I was never once 
 awakened by the sentry during the next ten weeks, 
 when many alarms occurred. Usually I heard the 
 first gun fired. 
 
 In event of alarm the regiment had been instructed, 
 company by company, of the points to be occupied; 
 I had, besides, a private alarm, well understood, 
 given by the chief musician playing a certain air, 
 at which each company was at its post, ready for 
 action, without attracting attention. 
 
 As there were indications the enemy might move on 
 Vicksburg by way of Deer Creek, General Lee took 
 the 3d and 26th Louisiania and 46th Mississippi, and 
 moved up Deer Creek, in order to confront any 
 force of the enemy coming down the creek. Any 
 hostile movement, however, if planned, had not been 
 carried out ; the expedition was barren alike of inci- 
 dent and result; on March 31 we were again in 
 Vicksburg, after an absence of a week. 
 
 Besides the usual schools, drills and camp discipline, 
 at our request Colonel D. Beltzhoover, a graduate of 
 West Point, undertook the instruction of the officers 
 in battery drill, which, in time, was supplanted by 
 Company B offering to keep up the drill, so that 
 they would be able to man a battery whenever an 
 occasion invited such action. 
 
 As I was passing in sight of the ammunition tent 
 
SUPPORTING WATER BATTERIES. 59 
 
 one day, I saw the sentry who was guarding it, in a 
 sitting posture. As our unwritten law proclaimed a 
 sentry should walk his post, I sent a message for him 
 to come to my quarters when relieved, intending to 
 give him a sharp reprimand. The sentry accordingly 
 came in as I was about to breakfast. It was the son 
 of an old friend of Tenebonne ! How could I be 
 severe to the son of an old friend ? I forgot I was a 
 soldier, and waived strict discipline. I administered 
 the very mildest rebuke in my power, and by way of 
 smoothing over any possible rough parts of it, 
 wound up by asking him to join me at breakfast. 
 
 About this time we received at Vicksburg the 
 fruits of the conscript levees in Louisiana. The men 
 so raised were placed in various Louisiania com- 
 mands, after receiving a white woolen uniform. The 
 uniform was unlike any other about us, and marked 
 these men amongthe volunteer soldiers, who treated 
 them with a contempt, in many cases, undeserved ; 
 but so it was the white uniform was known only as 
 an emblem of reproach wherever it appeared. 
 
 Soon after these men were in harness, our regi- 
 ment received the same kind of uniform ; now the 
 Quarter Master's Department of the 26th was never 
 so plethoric as to supply our mere necessities in this 
 line, and a suit of clothes all around was a rare occa- 
 sion. The clothing was sorely needed, but a howl of 
 indignation rose from the regiment, at the bare sug- 
 gestion of wearing the badge of a conscript. The 
 indignation was intensified by the fact that none of 
 the conscripts had been put into the ranks of the 
 26th, and its integrity as a volunteer organization was 
 intact. 
 
 Comfort, appearance, everything was forgotten in 
 the thought that henceforth men who had sought 
 the ranks, and men who had been impressed into ser- 
 
6o TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 vice, would be blended, by the uniform, into an undis- 
 tinguishable mass. The indignation seemed so 
 becoming a volunteer, that officers were loath to 
 invoke the coercive measures in their power. They 
 appealed to the men, and showed the' folly of giving 
 away to a fancy. One company after another, in time, 
 yielded to what appeared to be inevitable, until Com- 
 pany B — staunch old hearts — stood out alone. Cap- 
 tain Bateman, however, never relaxed his efforts to 
 kindly bring them to a sense of duty, until only two 
 of the company stood out. The Captain reported 
 the case to me. I ordered the men to be tied up by 
 the thumbs until they were disposed to obey the 
 orders of their Captain. They soon relented, but I 
 fear not willingly. 
 
 Events thickened about Vicksburg. We had a 
 lively time for many weeks prior to its investiture by 
 the forces under General Grant. We were on the 
 qui vive day and night. As the particular duty 
 assigned to our brigade was to support the water 
 batteries, and as an attack by water was expected, 
 the regiment was kept well in hand, and the discip- 
 line of the camp was kept up, with an eye continually 
 on the enemy. 
 
 With a view of carrying out his plan to invest 
 Vicksburg, General Grant sent transports from time 
 to time down the river, laden with army stores, in 
 order to be supplied when his army should cross the 
 Mississippi below Vicksburg. The first attempt was 
 made about 9 p. m., on an evening upon which alarge 
 party had been given in Vicksburg, at which were 
 many of our officers, " and then and there was hurry- 
 ing to and fro." Each officer was soon at his post. 
 The transports were convoyed by gun-boats. Our 
 batteries opened. The gun-boats responded with 
 vigor ; shot and shell filled the air. Out of several 
 
SUPPORTING .WATER BATTERIES. 6 1 
 
 transports we destroyed or disabled three, the 
 remainder passed on, probably more or less injm^ed, 
 and were soon out of sight. The 26th was promptly 
 in its trenches, but small arms were of little avail on 
 such an occasion. 
 
 There were several frame buildings on the shore 
 opposite Vicksburg. We had a picket out there, 
 with directions to fire any one of the houses on the 
 attempt of any vessel to pass the batteries. 
 
 Afterward several transports attempted to pass 
 soon after dark, one of the buildings was fired. The 
 river was illuminated ; our batteries opened. The 
 transports, without visible light and quiet as the 
 grave, steamed away for dear life. A shower of 
 shells burst in the air, sunk in the water, or struck 
 the mark. The scene, in its wild terror, was one not 
 to be forgotten. 
 
 At another time, early in the night a steam tug 
 was towing two barges. Our batteries opened upon 
 them. A shell sent the tug to the bottom, all on 
 board who were unhurt, escaped to the barges, from 
 which we took them prisoners, and secured the 
 barges and their cargo. 
 
 During all this time the forces of the enemy were 
 a few miles above Vicksburg, on the opposite bank, 
 whence General Grant moved his army by land, along 
 the west bank of the Mississippi, and crossed the 
 river at Bruensburg, below Vicksburg. A portion 
 of the forces at Vicksburg was sent out to meet him. 
 In the fight which ensued Brigadier General Tracy 
 was killed. General Stephen D. Lee, our brigade 
 commander, was assigned to duty in his place. He 
 asked that he be allowed to take the 26th Louisiania 
 with him, but the request was refused. 
 
 The enemy slowly unwound their coil of troops 
 around Vicksburg; finally all the forces in Vicks- 
 
62 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 burg were sent out to meet him, save our brigade, 
 which was retained to support the water batteries. 
 The battle of Champion's Hills took place, in which 
 General S. D. Lee's command took part. It was 
 said that during the fight. General Lee ordered a 
 certain regiment of his brigade to advance under a 
 heavy fire, as it hesitated to do so, he exclaimed, 
 " Oh ! if I only had the 26th Louisiania here." 
 
 The battle of Champion's Hill ended in a retreat 
 to Vicksburg. 
 
 When the enemy landed in the east bank of the 
 Mississippi, Mrs. Hall and our children were enjoy- 
 ing the hospitality of Mrs. Downs, at her residence a 
 few miles out from Vicksburg. On the approach of 
 the troops she came with the children into Vicks- 
 burg, and occupied rooms which Mrs. Hansford 
 kindly tendered to me in her dwelling. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 May — June — yu/y, 1863. 
 
 It may be well, here, to pause in the narrative, for 
 the purpose of stating the strength of the Federal 
 and Confederate forces at the siege of Vicksburg, 
 now about to begin. 
 
 The Federal forces operating against Vicksburg, 
 frona May i8th to July 4th, 1863, consisted of the 
 following commands :* 
 
 The Ninth Army Corps under Major-General 
 John G. Parke, being nineteen regiments, formed 
 into five brigades (two divisions), with three batte- 
 ries. 
 
 The Thirteenth Army Corps under Major-Gene- 
 ral John G. McClernand, being thirty-nine regiments, 
 formed into eight brigades (four divisions), with ten 
 batteries. 
 
 The Fifteenth Army Corps under Major-General 
 Wm. T. Sherman, being thirty-nine regiments, formed 
 into nine brigades (three divisions), with nine batte- 
 ries. 
 
 The Sixteenth Army Corps under Major-General 
 C.C.Washburn, being thirty-eight regiments, formed 
 into ten brigades (three divisions), with nine batte- 
 ries. 
 
 * Official records of Union and Confederate Armies. Series I — Vol. 
 24— Part 2 — Page 148. 
 
64 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 The Seventeenth Array Corps under Major-Gen- 
 eral Jas. B. McPherson, being forty-six regiments, 
 formed into eleven brigades (four divisions), with 
 sixteen batteries. 
 
 The Confederate forces within the fortifications of 
 Vicksburg, during the same period, consisted of the 
 following commands:* 
 
 Major-General C. L. Stevenson's division, being 
 nineteen regiments, formed into four brigades, and 
 Waul's Texas Legion, with eight batteries. 
 
 Major-General John H. Forney's division, being 
 twelve regiments, formed into two brigades, with 
 ten batteries. 
 
 Major-General M. L. Smith's division, being 
 eleven regiments, formed into four brigades, with 
 five batteries. 
 
 Major-General John S. Bowen's division, being 
 nine regiments, formed into two brigades, with five 
 batteries. 
 
 There were, therefore, one hundred and eighty-one 
 regiments and forty-seven batteries on the Federal 
 side, opposed to fifty-one regiments and twenty-six 
 batteries on the Confederate side. 
 
 Porter's co-operating fleet, on January 24th, 1863, 
 numbered sixty vessels of all classes, carrying two 
 hundred and eighty guns.f Against which the Con- 
 federates had, on the river defences, thirty-one siege 
 guns and thirteen light guns.J 
 
 The main assault against the Confederate works 
 on May 22d, was made by the Thirteenth, Fifteenth 
 and Seventeenth Army Corps. The Federal forces 
 
 * Official records of Union and Confederate Armies. Series I— Vol. 
 24 — Part 2 — Page 326. 
 
 f Badeau's Life of Grant, Vol. I, page 161. ■. 
 
 i Report of Col. Edward Hi'ggins, commanding River Defences, da- 
 ted July 25, 1863. 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 65 
 
 were subsequently reinforced, as follows : 
 
 May 20, by Brigadier-General Lauman's Division. 
 
 June 3, by Brigadier-General Kimball's Provisional 
 Division. 
 
 June II, by Major-General Herron's Division. 
 
 June 12, by Brigadier-General Wm. Sooy Smith's 
 Division. 
 
 June 14, by the Ninth Army Corps. 
 
 The divisions of Lauman, Kimball and Smith 
 constituted the Sixteenth Army Corps, Laumann's 
 division being attached temporarily to the Thirteenth 
 Army Corps. Major General Herron's division joined 
 the Seventeenth Army Corps.* 
 
 These additional troops made the Federal forces, 
 operating against Vicksburgby land, 75,000 f strong. 
 
 The Confederate forces opposed numbered 18,- 
 500. t 
 
 The forty-seven batteries, already mentioned, as 
 attached to the Federal land forces numbered 220 
 guns.§ 
 
 The twenty-six batteries attached to the Confed- 
 erate forces (exclusive of the artillery on the river 
 defences) numbered one hundred and two guns. || 
 
 A summary of these statements will show the 
 besiegers had on the river : 
 
 60 vessels mounting 280 guns ; 
 And on land : 
 
 181 regiments numbering 75000 men ; 
 47 batteries " 220 guns ; 
 
 And the besieged had on the river defences : 
 44 guns of all calibres ; 
 
 * "The Vicksburg Campaign," by Sam. Rockwell Reed, page 118. 
 (Federal account.) 
 
 f Badeau's Life of Grant. Vol. I. pp. 358-359. 
 
 I Lieutenant General J. C. Pemberton's report dated August 2, 
 
 1863. 
 
 § Report of Captains Prime and Comstock. (Off. Records, Series). 
 
 Vol. XXIV, Part 2, p. 176. 
 
 II Pemberton's report, dated August 2, 1863. 
 
 9 
 
66 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 And on land fortifications : 
 
 51 regiments numbering 18500 men; 
 26 batteries " 102 guns. 
 
 It will be noted the Federal land force is put at 
 75,000 men, on the authority of " Badeau's Life of 
 Grant " — a book whose inaccuracies have been 
 sharply criticized on the Federal side. As the undis- 
 guised object of this book was to place General 
 Grant in the most favorable light, under all contin- 
 gencies, it is reasonable to believe, that while the one 
 hundred and eighty-one regiments officially men- 
 tioned as operating against Vicksburg, did not con- 
 tain less than 75,000 men, it is probable they con- 
 tained a much greater number. 
 
 I resume the narrative : 
 
 Early on Sunday, May 17, 1863, Mrs. Hall called 
 my attention to scattered bodies of troops coming 
 in, on the Jackson road, which ran near my quar- 
 ters ; I saw at once it was our army in retreat, and in 
 utter confusion — a long line of stragglers. There 
 would be a squad of infantry, a horseman — a gun — 
 a few more infantry, and so on ; with no more order 
 than travelers on a highway, seeking Vicksburg as a 
 shelter. This stream of stragglers continued nearly 
 all day. After breakfast, I went down town to hear 
 the news. It was all one story, a fight, a repulse 
 and a retreat. Every one I met had the gloomiest 
 forebodings. I felt some of the " stern joy " warriors 
 feel. My spirits rose as much above their normal 
 condition, as others were depressed. In the after- 
 noon an order came to move the regiment at once 
 to a point of the outer line of fortifications, where 
 we slept on our arms in the trenches. 
 
 On Monday, May 18, news reached Head Quar- 
 ters that a force of the enemy was moving toward 
 us, on a road north of the city. The 27th and 26th 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 67 
 
 Louisiania were ordered out to impede its progress. 
 We took a position on the outer fortifications, and 
 awaited, in vain, their approach ; although we were 
 annoyed by sharpshooters concealed by a forest in 
 front ; we lay behind a spur of a ridge, and were 
 not pleased by their attentions, particularly as we 
 could not place them. After some time Captain 
 Hymel came to me and said, " Colonel, I will show 
 you where they are." He took me over the spur, 
 pointed to some trees in the distance, anu said, " they 
 are there." We must have been fully exposed to 
 their fire, at the place where we stood, for three bul- 
 lets whizzed near to us in quick succession. I saw 
 at once they were not only concealed, but too far 
 away to enable us to return the compliment, and not 
 relishing the position of being made a target, I sought 
 shelter behind the spur, with as much elasticity in 
 my step, as my rank would allow. The captain fol- 
 lowing, as unconcerned as if they had been shooting 
 peas. We bivouacked near the outer works, and at 
 3 A. M. on Tuesday, May 19, we moved back to the 
 inner line of fortifications. I had ordered out the 
 band, and intended to give our opponents " Dixie " 
 at daylight, but Brigadier General Shoup, who now 
 commanded our brigade, considered it untimely to 
 make overtures to the enemy. 
 
 When we reached the position assigned to us, I 
 found rifle pits for two companies only. The 
 remainder of the ground to be covered by us, was on 
 a ridge of gentle slope fully exposed to a fire from 
 the front. I had ordered spades and picks to be 
 sent out the evening previous. We got to work at 
 once making pits, nor did we commence too soon ; 
 we had nearly completed what would have served a 
 temporary purpose, when Dorneville Fabre of Com- 
 pany A was killed while at work. I ordered the work 
 to cease, and the command in the trenches. 
 
68 twentv-sixth: Louisiana infantry. 
 
 There were several mounted ofificers of the enemy 
 now seen on a distant hill, out of range of our rifles, 
 apparently taking observations with their field glasses. 
 The troops of the enemy were well covered, and soon 
 began to annoy us with artillery, and sharpshooters. 
 I hitched my horse in a depression out of harm's 
 way, as I believed. My eldest son now appeared 
 with my breakfast, and I took a nap as I had slept 
 little the night before. The firing continued. It 
 was Lieutenant West's first experience under fire. 
 He was excited. He stood up fully exposed, and in 
 language not held orthodox, solicited his adversary 
 to come on. I called out " Get down. Lieutenant." 
 He turned to me, " Colonel do you order me to get 
 down ?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Well, if you order me to get down, I will get 
 down," and suiting the action to the word, protected 
 himself in the trenches. 
 
 I walked up and down the line about fifteen paces 
 in the rear, protected by the crest of the ridge, as I 
 supposed, from the fire of the enemy. About noon, 
 under cover of a heavy artillery fire, the enemy 
 assaulted the position of the 27th Louisiania, which 
 was next to us in line, on our right ; they were 
 checked, however, aided, to some extent, by a flank 
 fire of the 26th. About two hours later, a charge 
 was niade against that portion of the line held by the 
 26th and the 27th Louisiania. The column which 
 emerged from the woods in front of us, for that pur- 
 pose, was driven to cover by the fire of both regi- 
 ments, although a color-bearer stood his ground con- 
 cealed in a clump of bushes, above which he waived 
 his colors as though he would stay there. 
 
 After this repulse the enemy stood at a prudent 
 distance, and maintained a heavy artillery and mus- 
 ketry fire until some time after dark. 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 69 
 
 The Federal commander, perhaps, had reckoned 
 his opponents at Champion's Hill had not recovered 
 from that conflict, and that this assault would be met 
 by a disorganized mass,^ which could be routed with- 
 out much ado ; his rank and file did not entirely 
 share this opinion. 
 
 " Long enough before the lines advanced, each man 
 came to realize that it was a sort of forlorn hope — a des- 
 perate rush, with not one chance in twenty of 
 success. And yet when the order came, each com- 
 pany breasted forward like a moving wall. It is a 
 brave man who faces the danger he knows. Only 
 scattering troops — just enough to form moving tar- 
 gets to distract the Confederate fire — took the high- 
 way. One column moved to the right to make a 
 solid attack upon one of the forts — the other moved 
 to the left, to make a feint against the other. 
 
 "Illinois, Indiana and the Thirteenth Regulars took 
 the lead. Within four hundred feet of their start- 
 ing point regiments lost their alignment, from the 
 broken nature of the ground. Chasms had to be 
 crossed, hollows descended and slopes climbed, and 
 directly they encountered the felled trees, and then 
 it looked to the Confederates behind the works as if 
 a great mob in blue was pushing ahead. 
 
 " Now they came under fire and the fight opens. 
 The monster guns in the forts, aided by the field 
 pieces, put in position, sweep the crests of ridges as 
 with brooms of fire, and men demoralized for the 
 instant crowd into ravines for cover, only to find 
 that there is no hiding place safe from shot and 
 shell. Two or three times the blue mass pauses and 
 wavers, and seems to circle round, but each time it 
 gathers strength for a rush that carries it nearer the 
 belching cannon and flaming muskets." 
 
 " I could look over the smoke," said an officer of 
 
70 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Shoup's brigade, " and see the ground blue with 
 Federal dead, and I wondered if we could come to 
 close fighting at all. Three or four times I felt sure 
 that the columns were being recoiled, but a fresh 
 start brought them closer each time, and finally we 
 saw that they were determined to make a rush at 
 the fort." 
 
 " Slowly, steadily, and with a determination, which 
 commanded the admiration of friend and foe, the 
 advance finally gained the ditch in front of Fort 
 Hill. Here the broken Twenty-seventh Illinois 
 halted on the open ground, within half-pistol shot of 
 five thousand hostile muskets, formed their lines 
 anew, and with the first cheer of the assault, dashed 
 at the ditch and over it. The Eighty-third Indi- 
 ana followed, and the Thirteenth Regulars came up 
 on the flank. The ditch was passed, and the slope 
 gained, and they could go no further. The slope 
 was too steep to be surmounted, and to hold the posi- 
 tion was to be fired down upon and exterminated, 
 while Federal bullets cleared the crest, and dropped to 
 the ground far in the rear. Lighted shells were rolled 
 down the slope to play terrible havoc, and the Fed- 
 eral flags planted in the earth were shot to shreds in 
 less than ten minutes." 
 
 "Fort Beauregard was being attacked on the 
 other side of the highway, and there was more or 
 less fighting all around the crescent, as Federal divi- 
 sions advanced to new positions, but Pemberton did 
 not allow these feints to distract his attention from 
 Fort Hill. That was the point aimed at, and that 
 was the point' to be defended. Thus, wliile there 
 was a constant boom of cannon, and a continuous 
 rattle of musketry along the entire front, the burden 
 of battle rested upon a dozen Federal regiments, 
 which had pushed their way right up to the works.'' 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 7 1 
 
 "The assaulting columns could not carry the slope, 
 and yet they would not retreat. Until the recall 
 came they could do nothing but take the steady fire 
 poured down upon them. The wonder is that a 
 single man was left alive. The Regulars lost one- 
 third of their total number, and the volunteers suf- 
 fered such slaughter as few regiments were ever 
 called upon to stand." 
 
 Says the Confederate officer previously quoted : 
 
 " During the entire time the Federal troops were 
 in that desperate position they kept banging away 
 at the parapet, but I do not believe we lost a man 
 killed from their wild firing. The air above us was 
 cut by bullets, and dirt and dust were showered upon 
 us from those striking the parapet, but all the advan- 
 tage was with us. It was a shameful thing to hold 
 men there as they were held, and it seems a miracle 
 that a single one escaped. The shells made horrible 
 work among them, and after the fight was over and 
 the smoke had blown away, the sight was such as I 
 had never looked upon before or thought possible in 
 war." 
 
 " The recall came at dusk, and the remnants of the 
 butchered companies rallied and moved back to the 
 Federal lines, which had been advanced some dis- 
 tance during the afternoon. A constant fire was 
 maintained upon the troops as they fell back, adding 
 considerably to the list of killed and wounded, and 
 the roll call of the regiments which had borne the 
 brunt of the affair showed how terribly each company 
 had suffered." 
 
 " The assault, if meant as an assault, had failed, 
 but the Federal lines had advanced to better posi- 
 tions, all the army was up, and Grant was to try 
 again. This time every Federal on the crescent was 
 to move forward at the signal, and Porter was to 
 
72 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 open such a fire on the front of Vicksburg as would 
 drive every living thing to shelter. Even as the 
 limp and bleeding regiments fell back from the first 
 assault, cannon were being planted and other pre- 
 parations made, for the far more bloody struggle to 
 come." * 
 
 During this assault about 2 p. m. I was walking 
 slowly up to the right of the line, watching the 
 movements in front, when I felt something strike 
 the calf of my right leg, as though a clod had been 
 thrown against it; in a moment I became dizzy. I 
 sat down on a bank of earth near to me. A deathly 
 faintness came over me. My orderly came up. I sent 
 him for some whiskey, and took enough to revive me. 
 Major Martin came up to know the extent of the 
 injury. All I could say or knew was, that I had been 
 struck, and was disabled. Colonel Crow came up, 
 and had me moved on a stretcher to a less exposed 
 place. As the fire of the enemy covered our rear, 
 I could not be moved from the field ; so I laid in the 
 rut of a wagon road, with my body close to the bank; 
 even here a spent minnie struck me in the side. I 
 was exceedingly nervous. I knew the regiment was 
 hotly engaged, and my anxiety was strung to its 
 highest pitch. 
 
 During the same afternoon the regiment sustained 
 the loss of Captain Winder; in his early manhood, 
 in the dawn of a career full of promise, in a contest 
 for principle, he fell where duty called him. Lieu- 
 tenant Ternier a faithful and efficient young officer 
 was killed about the same time. 
 
 I remained in this wagon rut until dark, the firing 
 had not ceased, but I sent for a stretcher, and with 
 
 * Note. The foregoing account of the Federal movements is given 
 under the signature of M. Quad in tlie Detuoit Free Press. The writer 
 is Mr. Charles B. Lewis, now staff contributor to the New York World. 
 May, 1891. 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 73 
 
 bullets whistling all about us, I was taken to our 
 improvised hospital, whence I was taken in an 
 ambulance to my quarters, which I reached about 
 midnight. I saw Mrs, Hall at the door waiting for 
 me. I cried out "Hurrah for Vicksburg and the 
 Southern Confederacy." She quietly gave orders to 
 move me to a cot she had made ready for me, and 
 soon I was as comfortable as circumstances allowed, 
 but I passed une nuit blanche, as the shelling about 
 us was terrific and incessant. Mrs. Hansford's house 
 which we occupied was in the acute angle of the 
 Cemetery road and the Jackson road. The enemy 
 had a floating mortar battery in the river opposite to 
 us. His efforts were directed to shelling these two 
 roads thoroughly ; so that these roads, and any place 
 near to them, were unsafe for any living thing. The 
 grounds about the house, as well as the house, bore 
 many marks of the shelling, but we were unin- 
 jured. 
 
 The next morning Dr. Hall examined the limb, 
 but not being well, felt unequal to the task of decid- 
 ing what to do with it ; he called in a surgeon who 
 considered amputation proper. Dr. Hall not coin- 
 ciding with him, they agreed to leave the decision to 
 Dr. Winn the brigade surgeon, who had called in the 
 meanwhile. Dr. Winn declared in favor of an 
 attempt to save the limb. I was put under the in- 
 fluence of chloroform. On return to consciousness 
 I found a slit three inches long had been made on 
 the shin-bone, the minnie ball which had been split 
 in two, extracted, several pieces of bone taken out, 
 and the skin sewed together. It proved to be a com- 
 pound, comminuted fracture of the tibia. 
 
 As the shelling was vigorously kept up, it was 
 deemed prudent to move behind a hill in the rear of 
 Mrs. Hansford's dwelling. Here two tents were 
 
 10 
 
74 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 pitched, and occupied by Mrs. George Marshal and 
 her child, and my family. It seemed to protect us 
 from the mortar battery across the river, whence the 
 heaviest shelling proceeded, as the hill had been par- 
 tially cut away, almost perpendicularly, and our tents 
 were pitched close to the cut. A portion of this 
 cut had been scooped out sufficient to hold one or 
 two persons, and to this scooped out place, my 
 youngest children learned to run for safety, on the 
 approach of a shell. During the afternoon of the 
 first day we were so camped, a shell was heard. A 
 soldier passing at the same moment, seeing this 
 scooped out hole in the upright bank of the hill, 
 sought shelter in it from the coming shell. It ex- 
 ploded directly over him, the concussion killing him 
 instantly, in the very spot my children had sought 
 shelter frequently during the day, fortunately, they 
 were, at that time, occupied with their dinner in Mrs. 
 Marshall's tent, and were not aware of the coming 
 of the shell. The tent I occupied was thrown down 
 by the concussion. I was covered with earth, and it 
 gave me a considerable shock. 
 
 I resolved to strike our tents for a more secure 
 position, if practicable. We pitched them behind 
 Sky-parlor hill. Just as I reached there I heard a 
 shell crash through a dwelling, near the tents. I 
 determined we could not remain. Colonel Henry A. 
 Clinch of the heavy artillery called, noting the forlorn 
 condition of my family, and my own helplessness, he 
 started off to look up a better place for us, and soon 
 returned stating he had found rooms for us, on the 
 second floor of the dwelling of Tim Dowling, on the 
 river just beilow the built portion of the city. Thither 
 went Mrs. Marshall and her child, and my family. I 
 followed on a stretcher. We staid here during the 
 remainder of the siege. 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 75 
 
 The 20th and 21st of May were spent by the 
 enemy in erecting new batteries, and keeping up 
 from daylight until dark, the heaviest possible firing, 
 both of musketry and artillery. The 2 2d passed in 
 the same manner until about 2 p. m., when a column 
 was discovered advancing against the right of our 
 brigade ; it was immediately driven back. Another 
 then appeared on the right of the centre, this was 
 dispersed without great effort, and with considerable 
 loss. Again the enemy appeared in increased force 
 on the right of the division of General M. L. Smith, 
 of which our brigade was apart, but he was promptly 
 repulsed and with heavy loss. This terminated the 
 day's operations with the exception of the heavy fire 
 of musketry and artillery kept up until dark along 
 the entire front of the division. * 
 
 Extensive and thorough preparation had been 
 made by the Federal commander for this second 
 assault that terminated in such appalling losses to his 
 army. 
 
 "All along the Federal lines batteries were posted 
 for concentric fire, sharpshooters pushed to the front, 
 and every effort made by scouts to secure informa- 
 tion concerning the Confederate defenses. The 
 fleet in the river was to co-operate, and Porter prom- 
 ised Grant such a fire as Vicksburg had never felt. 
 
 " Grant's order was for a general assault at ten 
 o'clock on the morning of the 2 2d. Three hours 
 before the bugles sounded every preparation had 
 been made, and every detail carefully looked to. 
 Every piece of artillery which was to take part was in 
 position. Every corps, division, brigade and regiment 
 had received instructions for the assault. The com- 
 mands, which were to carry planks and ladders for 
 crossing the ditches and scaling parapets, had been 
 
 *See Report of Major General M. L. Smith in appendix. 
 
76 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 drafted, and their materials secured ; and there was 
 not a soldier in that whole Federal army who had 
 not been instructed in regard to emergencies. They 
 were told how ditches were to be crossed — how to 
 burrow into parapets and slopes to hold their posi- 
 tions — how to conduct themselves in front of abat- 
 tis — how to shelter themselves in the ravines and 
 hollows, and while brigades were to act independent 
 of each other to a certain extent, the whole assault 
 was to be in harmony. The testimony of all gene- 
 ral officers shows that it was one of the most care- 
 fully planned assaults in modern warfare, and the 
 reports of regimental commanders prove that there 
 was less confusion, in the midst of repulse and dis- 
 aster, than was instanced before or after in our civil 
 war. 
 
 "At exactly ten o'clock the whole Federal army 
 was transformed into a monster serpent, which be- 
 gan to writhe and twist and turn and undulate. 
 Brigades broke off and advanced right or left oblique 
 — divisions moved up squarely to the front — cannon 
 began to thunder — the hoarse shouts of officers were 
 echoed along the line — columns closed up — the 
 earth began to shake and tremble — the curtain had 
 gone up on the tragedy of war. 
 
 "The van of Sherman's assault was composed of 
 a thin line of skirmishers, followed by the men de- 
 tailed to carry planks and ladders and pick-axes and 
 shovels. Then came the solid lines. The Confed- 
 erates who were watching every movement say, that 
 a grander sight was never seen during the war. 
 Every movement was executed with a coolness that 
 spoke of determination, and the Federal batteries 
 fired slowly and wasted but little ammunition. 
 ' "As Sherman's van swept along after his skir- 
 mishers, the Confederate works appeared to have 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. "]"] 
 
 been deserted, and hundreds of men grasped at the 
 delusive hope that the Confederates had become 
 panic-stricken and retired. Sherman concentrated 
 the fire of twenty-eight guns upon Fort Hill alone, 
 and it seemed to the troops as if the place was 
 being torn to pieces. The Confederate sharpshoot- 
 ers ran in as soon as pressed by the skirmish lines, 
 and in such haste that more than one Federal officer 
 encouraged his men in the belief no resistance was 
 to be met with. 
 
 " With a steady tramp, and with ranks as solid as 
 the earth over which they moved, Sherman's first 
 brigades had reached within a stone's throw of Fort 
 Hill before a bullet fell among them. Then death 
 came with the rush of an avalanche. At the word a 
 thousand Confederates sprang upon the crest of the 
 parapet, and a thousand muskets flamed and cracked 
 and sent their bullets right down into the crowded 
 ranks. 
 
 " It was a sudden and terrible check. In three 
 minutes more the Federals would have been pouring 
 into the fort. There was a moment of confusion, 
 and then one brigade dashed to the right, and 
 another to the left, and the third rushed at the crest 
 of a hill on a level with the parapet, and there 
 hugged the ground, and opened such a fire that a 
 ramrod held in the air above the fort would have 
 been cut in two on the instant. Sherman's troops 
 were in the same position as during the first assault. 
 
 They had crossed the ditches, reached the slopes, 
 planted their flags, and burrowed into the ground 
 like foxes, but they could advance no further. Pem- 
 berton had not concentrated against the one corps 
 this tim.e. Every man in that Federal army was 
 marching to the grand assault, and Porter was rain- 
 ing such a storm of shot and shell upon the city as 
 bade fair to wipe it off the hills. 
 
78 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 "The Federal artillery was playing upon Fort 
 Hill with a terrible fire, keeping many of its guns 
 silent and clearing the parapet of infantry ; but it be- 
 came plain after while that the only way to take the 
 place was by a rush of the infantry lying around it. 
 Two brigades formed for this purpose and dashed at 
 the parapet with cheers that were heard a mile away 
 above the roar of battle. The lines struggled up the 
 slopes under a hot fire, and as they braced for a dash 
 over the parapet, the Confederate infantry rose up 
 and sent their vollies into ranks so close that the 
 powder burned men's faces. It was butchery to hurl 
 men against such defences. It was death to remain 
 there, it was death to retreat. Thus through long 
 hours the brigades of Sherman's corps, bearing the 
 brunt of the fight, were penned up and waiting their 
 turn to be picked off. 
 
 " McPherson had the centre, lapping Sherman on 
 one hand, and McClernand on the other. Ransom's 
 brigade of McPherson's corps joined in Sherman's 
 assault on Fort Hill and Steele's brigade did some 
 terrific fighting further up the line, but it was the 
 dash of a wave against a rock. 
 
 " That portion of McPherson's corps which was 
 hurled against the strong lines along the Jackson 
 Railroad, had no more show of carrying them, than 
 Porter had of running his fleet over the housetops of 
 the city; and several desperate assaults made, re- 
 sulted in terrible losses. In front of a hundred feet 
 of Confederate line more than four hundred Federals 
 lay dead or wounded at sunset that day. 
 
 " We were perfectly safe from the Federal artillery 
 fire," says a Confederate, "and as for the infantry in 
 front we paid no heed to them except when they 
 assaulted. We waited until they were close at hand, 
 and then sprang up and withered them with a single 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 79 
 
 volley. Long enough before we had a wounded 
 man in my regiment, we could count the dead on our 
 front by the score. 
 
 " McClernand took the left with a determination 
 to carry his corps into the Confederate works. The 
 ground in his front was less difficult to advance over, 
 and there was unmistakable enthusiasm among his 
 men as they moved out. They were advancing upon 
 fort and redoubt ditch and bastion, but the move- 
 ment was made in fine spirits, and at the first rush 
 the advance brigades were carried across the ditches 
 and half way up the slopes of every thing on the 
 front. It seemed as if they must walk right into the 
 forts, and troops in the rear were raising cheers of 
 victory, when the Confederate infantry rose up and 
 delivered that terrible volley at short range. The 
 effect was the same along the whole line. Such a 
 volley killed every third man in the ranks moving 
 up. Ohio, Illinois and Indiania had their flags 
 planted on the Confederate works, and the men took 
 cover and hung right there, determined to win a 
 victory. Pieces of artillery were hauled up by hand 
 and fired into embrasures, and in several instances 
 small detachments of Federals crossed the parapets 
 or penetrated into forts, but only to be shot down 
 or taken prisoners. 
 
 " It seemed to McClernand as if he had gained a 
 decided advantage. His front was all up, advance 
 brigades were lying right under the Confederate 
 works, and he had silenced many of the guns above 
 him. There were evidences that the Confederates 
 had all they could do, to hold him at the foot of their 
 works. Let reinforcements come and the scale 
 would turn in his favor. He therefore hung on and 
 waited. 
 
 "Grant was ready by noon to recall his army from 
 
8o TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 the assault. He could see that neither Sherman, 
 nor McPherson had gained any advantage, while 
 their losses had been terrible. Then came McCler- 
 nand's reports of success, one following the other, 
 and finally, much against his better judgment, he 
 acquiesced in McClernand's call for reinforcements, 
 and Sherman and McPherson were instructed to 
 make fresh assaults along their fronts, as a diversion." 
 
 " McClernand counted too much on the endur- 
 ance of his troops. He expected the sight of rein- 
 forcements hastening up, would dishearten the 
 Confederates. He fully and earnestly believed that 
 5,000 more men would aid him to carry everything 
 in his front. He hurled his corps against the rock 
 time after time, but only to leave his dead and 
 wounded along the ditches. Sherman was hurled 
 back, McPherson was hurled back — the great assault 
 was a defeat all along the line." 
 
 " When night came down the Federal army had 
 been beaten back at every point. Porter's tremen- 
 dous bombardment had failed to silence a singfle 
 battery, and the dead and wounded were lying in 
 front of the lines in such numbers as to appal 
 those who had safely come out of the horrible tor- 
 nado of death."* 
 
 The disastrous result of these attempts to carry 
 our lines by assault induced the Federal commander 
 to forego further movements of this character, and 
 to win his way into Vicksburg, not over the hero- 
 guarded battlements, but by the more prudent, 
 though painfully tedious way of underground ap- 
 proach. 
 
 Vain the endeavor to give the number and char- 
 acter of these siege approaches. Engineering art 
 was tasked to its utmost capacity. Appliances and 
 
 * This description of the Federal attack is by Mr. Charles B. Lewis. 
 
THE, SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 8 1 
 
 skilled labor were not lacking, and day by day space 
 lessened between the hostile lines. 
 
 The heaviest and most dangerous of these opera- 
 tions in front of our division was on the extreme 
 right, and nobly did the 26th, 27th, 28th and 31st 
 Louisiana repel and endure it.* 
 
 The following extracts from the report of our 
 Brigade Commander may give a faint impression of 
 what was going on, at this time, along that thin 
 line of ragged, half-starved troops, that, like Jack- 
 son's command, stood, as a stone wall, between Vicks- 
 burg and the besiegers. 
 
 May 23d to 3 1 st — Enemy entrenching energetically 
 at night ; keeping up a continuous fire during the 
 day. 
 
 June 5th — During the night the enemy kept up an 
 incessant artillery fire and occasional musketry. 
 
 June 6th — Enemy fired nearly all night from ar- 
 tillery. 
 
 June 8th — Continuous fire during the night. 
 
 June 9th — Last night the enemy fired into our 
 working party on the left, wounding two men. We 
 are constructing a rough stockade at that point, to 
 prevent a dash from the enemy's works, now not 
 more than seventy-five yards distant. 
 
 June nth — The sharpshooters are extremely vigi- 
 lant, and are within sixty or seventy yards, excel- 
 lently covered. The 26th Louisiana is securing 
 its front against a dash, by means of a picket with 
 brush entanglements. 
 
 June 13th — Sharpshooting very bitter. 
 
 June 15th — Sap at redan (held by twenty-seventh 
 Louisiana), very close, within ten paces of ditch. 
 We are using hand-grenades on working parties. 
 
 June 1 7th — We are on speaking terms with the 
 
 * See Report of Major-General M, L. Smith in appendix. 
 
02 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 enemy at the redan. The picket parties at that 
 point agree upon short truces during which neither 
 party is to fire. Notes are thrown across from one 
 party to the other. Some trading going on in coffee, 
 etc. Have forbidden communications. I permit it 
 only in the presence of the officer of the day. 
 
 June 2oth — Furious cannonading began at day- 
 Hght, and continued a good part of the day. 
 
 June 22d — Major W. W. Martin, 26th Louisiana, 
 was killed instantly by sharpshooters. He was one 
 of the most gallant and excellent young officers of 
 the command. 
 
 June 29th — Are using hand-grenades on him (the 
 enemy). 
 
 July 2d — Enemy advancing his sap in front of the 
 stockade. Protects himself from hand-grenades by 
 covering his track with rails. We are running a 
 gallery from our trenches, to blow in the enemy's 
 works. 
 
 July 3d — Enemy is running a gallery, with the in- 
 tention of blowing up the stockade between lunette 
 and redan. Is hard at work to-day. We follow the 
 example. The question is which shall explode first ? * 
 
 " When the real investment began, a cat could not 
 have crept out of Vicksburg without being discov- 
 ered. Every yard of river and foot of land was 
 watched and guarded, and the horrors of a siege were 
 felt alike in the streets of the city, and trenches at 
 the front." 
 
 " Grant learned here what he afterwards put in 
 practice at Petersburg. If he could not hurl Pem- 
 berton from his works, he could wear him out. 
 Sharpshooters were advanced as close as possible at 
 every point, artillery pushed forward, new pieces 
 mounted, and every arrangement made to keep the 
 
 * Report of Brigadier-General Francis L. Shoup, in appendix. 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 83 
 
 Confederates on the anxious seat. The crack of the 
 rifles of the sharpshooters was never hushed, even at 
 night, and scarcely a day was passed that some de- 
 monstration was not made to create apprehension. 
 A regiment would make an advance at some point on 
 the lines, as if an assault was intended ; and the Con- 
 federates would be stirred up, upon the front a mile 
 long. At night some bold Federal would creep 
 forward among the Confederate rifle pits, and raise an 
 alarm that would extend to a thousand men. There 
 was not an hour in the twenty-four that the besieged 
 felt safe in resting, and anything like sound sleep 
 was out of the question." 
 
 " While a constant artillery fire was maintained 
 on both sides, most of the loss was occasioned by 
 sharpshooters. The Federals we're in rifle pits or 
 behind cover, and in some cases near enough to have 
 killed a sparrow resting on the Confederate works. 
 One of their objects was to silence the big guns by 
 picking off artillerists, and in a few instances they 
 were quite successful. There were cannon in the 
 Confederate forts which were struck by as many as 
 sixty bullets. A wooden shield in use to protect the 
 man at one of the guns, was, in eight hours, struck 
 by 44 balls ; on the other hand, the Federals suffered 
 even more than the Confederate sharpshooters, be- 
 cause less sheltered, and almost constantly making 
 new movements, and taking new positions." 
 
 "One who looks over the battle-field of Vicks- 
 burg will wonder that the peninsula (now an island) 
 opposite the city was not captured long before the 
 event took place. Porter's mortars were so far up 
 stream that they were of Httle service, and whenever 
 he came down with his gun boats to run past or en- 
 gage the batteries, the distance he had to make was 
 so great that the Confederates had warning and were 
 
84 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 fully prepared for his coming. The Confederate 
 force holding the peninsula was always weak in num- 
 bers, and could have been routed weeks before it 
 was. When the Federals finally took possession of 
 the ground, the mortar scows were brought down 
 within rifle range of the city. The wooded penin- 
 sula hid them from sight and served as a protection, 
 after the siege began, and after Porter secured the 
 new position, the Confederates could never look 
 forward to an hour of rest." 
 
 "Grant was impatient at delay, and when neither 
 assault or bombardment would bring victory, he be- 
 gan to approach the Confederate works at various 
 points by sap and mine." 
 
 " It became certain after a while that Grant would 
 get into Vicksburg, if he had to tunnel under every 
 hill, and Fate sat down with Pemberton whenever 
 he rested, and glided along beside him whenever 
 he rode. Johnston could not gather force enough 
 to warrant an attack upon Grant. He was a men- 
 ace, but not a danger. It wasthe same with Tayloi\" 
 " In the last days of June, Pemberton fully realized 
 his position. He might repulse another assault upon 
 his lines, and the river batteries might now and then 
 disable a gun-boat, but the end must come. Grant 
 was determined, and Porter full of courage. Every 
 foot of the lines was under fire, and every fort was 
 being approached by a mine. In the city it was still 
 worse. Porter had opened with a vengeance, am- 
 munition was giving out in the Vicksburg batteries, 
 and men who had been under call for over forty days 
 and nights were at last wearing out." 
 
 " Grant never exhibited better generalship and 
 greater pluck. Porter never showed his fleet to 
 better advantage. Then let history, no mattter by 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 85 
 
 whom written, add, that the Confederates had done 
 all that brave men could do."* 
 
 It would be an idle task to attempt to describe the 
 horrid enginery used against us day and night, from 
 May 1 8th to July 3d. Bloodier inventions could 
 have come only from the confines of the damned. 
 The batteries on water and land commannded the 
 entire area within the fortifications. No spot within 
 the city and suburbs was safe or knowingly spared. 
 Women, children and the wounded were exposed 
 more than the soldiers in the trenches. There were 
 lulls in the storm of shot and shell, only because the 
 besieger required rest to gain renewed strength for 
 his diabolical mission. 
 
 The shelling usually was fiercest at dawn, one 
 battery and another and another would open, until 
 every gun and mortar seemed on duty — vicious and 
 unrelenting as artillery covering an assault. The 
 incessant fire of small arms about the same time, led 
 one readily to imagine an assault was really made. This 
 matinee was kept up with rare intermission; while 
 throughout the night, as well as day, there was, at 
 one point or another, more or less firing, with small 
 arms and artillery. Sometimes, in the dead of night, 
 just as an unusual stillness might be remarked, a 
 sudden sharp discharge of small arms would be 
 heard for a few moments, when the great guns 
 would join until we were ready to exclaim : 
 — " Hell is empty 
 and all the devils here." 
 
 There was on the grounds, about the dwelling, a 
 cave, which was a protection, perhaps, from frag- 
 ments of shell, and here Mrs. Hall would repair 
 with the children when the shelling seemed, as in- 
 surers say, extra-hazardous. The usual heavy firing 
 
 * This account of the siege, from a Federal outloolc is by Mr. Charles 
 B. Lewis. 
 
86 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 at dawn would awaken me, but no one else in my 
 little camp. T would arouse Mrs. Hall. She and a 
 servant would dress the children with a deliberation 
 that invited a monition on my part before they 
 started, and they would remain in the cave until 
 there was a lull in the shelling. 
 
 I suffered from the wound ; for three weeks the 
 pain was acute and unceasing. It was necessary to 
 keep down the inflammation, and as ice was not to 
 be had, Mrs. Hall had a frame made over and 
 attached to the bedstead, from which she suspended 
 a bucket, with a small hole in the bottom filled with 
 candle wick, so that when the bucket was filled with 
 water, it would drip on the injured limb. There 
 was not an hour day or night in which she did not 
 examine and regulate the drip, as the wick some- 
 times clogged. 
 
 There was no way of taking off the surplus water, 
 so that it saturated the part of the mattress covered 
 by the limb, and the limb, as it could not be moved 
 prudently, rested for some three weeks on this wet 
 surface, until the bone was knit. 
 
 Members of the regiment called frequently — 
 Colonels H. A. Clinch, D. Betzhoover, Edward 
 Higgins called also from time to time. I read 
 several novels while lying on my back, which Colo- 
 nel Betzhoover kindly loaned to me. Our domestic 
 life went on as usual. Shelling did not affect the 
 appetite of the little ones, and Mrs. Hall managed 
 to give them three meals a day of camp fare, and 
 every afternoon send them out for a walk, during 
 which, as a pastime, they gathered some of the metal 
 that a liberal enemy had scattered broadcast. Twenty- 
 one different speciments of shot and shell was the 
 result of their labors. One of my sons made a 
 specialty of collecting minnie balls, of which he had 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 87 
 
 two or three pounds, besides a spent one which 
 struck him, but without serious injury. 
 
 When I was wounded and compelled to leave the 
 field, the command devolved upon Lieutenant-Colo- 
 nel Crow. With him as chief. Major Martin next 
 in rank and with the array of efficient company 
 officers, I had no misgivings of the regiment. I 
 knew every officer and man would do his duty, and 
 that I could be well spared. In the general assault 
 of the enemy, on Friday, May 2 2d, as already 
 mentioned, a heavy force thrown against the front 
 occupied by the regiment was repulsed with tejrific 
 slaughter. Its sad list of killed and wounded during 
 the siege attests its exposure. Forty-six consecutive 
 days and nights in the trenches, without relief, with- 
 out change of clothing, with short rations, and 
 constantly on the qui vive, was an ordeal only un- 
 alloyed metal could withstand; and from which 
 officers and men emerged, with their manhood 
 written by fire on their foreheads. 
 
 During the general assault of May 22d, Lieuten- 
 ant Arrieux a promising young officer was killed. 
 In memoranda handed to me by our regimental com- 
 misary Captain Moss, he says : 
 
 " In furnishing you some time ago with names of 
 my Sergeants at Vicksburg, I forgot to mention 
 that just previous to Haines, I had with me for a 
 short time Joseph T. Greig of Company A. Upon 
 the investment of Vicksburg, and the occupation of 
 the trenches by our troops, I was unable to restrain 
 the zealous and impetuous youth of 18, from seizing 
 his gun, and joining his company in the trenches. 
 On the fourth day of the siege, the brave and noble 
 boy fell, pierced through the head. 
 
 On June 2 ist Major Martin fell at his post of duty, 
 in the 22d year of his age. Endowed with a fearless 
 spirit, a cool head, a judgment rare, no better soldier 
 
88 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 ever stood behind the battlements of Vicksburg. 
 Had he fought under the eagles of Napoleon at an 
 earlier day, the keen insight of that great captain 
 would have marked him, and his transcendent worth 
 would have made him, in time, a marshall of the 
 empire." 
 
 As the enemy's work gradually approached our 
 own, their picket line and ours was so near together, 
 it was often understood, at various points, there 
 should be no picket firing. One night when our 
 pickets were in charge of Lieutenant Sanders of 
 Company B, he was making a tour about 2 a.m., 
 when he heard a voice in ordinary tone, near to him, 
 say "what o'clock is it Reb." It proved to be an 
 officer in command of the enemy's picket ! 
 
 Private Vileor Duhon of Company E, however, 
 had a contrary experience, as mentioned to me by 
 Lieutenant Gilbeau of the same company. Duhon 
 being one of the outer line of pickets, on reaching 
 his post behind a log, raised his head to look toward 
 the front, when a shot from the enemy's picket made 
 it prudent for him to protect himself behind the log, 
 not having been able to recognize the direction of 
 the shot, he changed his position behind the log, 
 and placing his hat at the end of a pole raised it at 
 the point he had first occupied, as soon as the hat 
 appeared a second shot was fired. Knowing now 
 the position of his antagonist, he gave the latter time 
 to reload, and then repeated the operation of raising 
 the hat, having previously placed his gun in the di- 
 rection of his opponent. The picket took another 
 shot at the hat, and Duhon took a shot at the picket 
 and threw himself behind the log where he began to 
 reload; before he had got through he heard a 
 noise on the other side of the log and rising quickly 
 was about to pierce his adversary with his bayonet, 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 89 
 
 when he surrendered, saying that Duhon's first ball 
 passed very near his head, and he was confident the 
 next would kill him. 
 
 The days wore on wearily; with Colonel Crow in 
 charge of the regiment, and Mrs. Hall in charge of 
 my family camp — both approved soldiers — there was 
 nothing more to be desired in their several lines of 
 duty. 
 
 Mrs. Hall had driven into Vicksburg a cow 
 Mrs. Downs had given to her. It was a treasure to 
 us. She furnished milk for the children, and was a 
 potent factor in our commissariat. As some soldiers 
 were detected at one time driving her away, I had 
 her guarded, and my eldest son performed some of 
 his earliest military duty, at thirteen, in taking his 
 tour of duty as sentry over her, but forage became 
 very scarce, as my poor thin horses mutely attested, 
 and I was compelled to have her killed. Indeed, as 
 time passed by, food and forage were at a premmm ; 
 the law of demand and supply was entirely ignored, 
 and various expedients were resorted to. The pri- 
 vates of the regiment successfully undertook a 
 decrease in the rodent population. In my weakened 
 condition, camp fare was repulsive. I sent out a 
 man to shoot a rat for me, imagining I could eat it 
 broiled with relish, but the hunt failed to secure the 
 game, and the fancy passed. The men cut up the 
 young growth of the wild cane, boiled it and made 
 a delectable dish. 
 
 Peas were ground and mixed with corn meal 
 but proved unpalatable — the ever-faithful mule was 
 looked upon with pitiless eye, and the scarcity of 
 forage induced us to kill several, and distribute the 
 flesh among the officers' messes, by way of giving 
 countenance to this novel addition to our menu, and 
 preparing the men for it. Amid this dearth of the 
 
 12 
 
90 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 general larder, I was the recipient every day, for 
 several days, of a newly laid egg, kindly sent to me 
 by Mrs. Bond, the wife of Captain Bond of the 
 heavy artillery ; and a pond was found by my boys 
 stocked with crawfish, which furnished our table 
 with a toothsome dish, until the supply was ex- 
 hausted. 
 
 Captain Moss writes of the commissariat of the 
 regiment during the siege : 
 
 " The rations were issued in the city to details, 
 which cooked and conveyed them daily to their 
 respective companies. In the early part of the siege 
 this was done in the day time, but as there was an 
 open space, commanded by the Federal sharp- 
 shooters and artillery, where the detail was exposed, 
 orders were given to perform this service at night. 
 At intervals, during the siege, the ration was reduced, 
 until it was insufficient to sustain life, and the men 
 were forced to gather and cook weeds and grasses, 
 buds of trees and roots, especially the cane root. I 
 heard some say they ate rats. I was on the sick list 
 during the latter part of the siege. Feeling well 
 enough one day, I went to the commissary quarters 
 and found Lieutenant Campbell (who was on duty 
 in my place) issuing a strange looking meat, and 
 asked him what it was, he replied ' mule.' So we 
 did eat mule, there is no doubt about it." 
 
 And now the siege was drawing to a close from 
 sheer lack of vitality on our part. Ammunition was 
 nearly expended, provisions were well nigh exhausted, 
 of forage there was none. Constant duty in the 
 trenches had told on the noble patience of the men, 
 the expectation of being relieved by Johnston had 
 merged into hope, and hope had vanished, as the 
 cloud of a bursted shell in mid-air. 
 
 The surrender was made July 3d, and news 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 9 1 
 
 of it was brought to me early on the 4th of July ; 
 wasted in strength, nervous from suffering and con- 
 finement to my bed, I wept 
 
 " like a sick girl," 
 to think that the 26th with its calm constant courage, 
 and its heroic endurance was compelled to succomb. 
 In my agony I wished — vain wish as it was — that the 
 poor privilege had been allowed to it, to cut its way 
 out, coute qu'il coute. 
 
 Soon a portion of the enemy's troops appeared, 
 and a squad of blue coats entered the grounds about 
 our quarters, and went to the well for water. Mrs. 
 Hall went out and demanded to know of them by 
 what right they entered our premises without 
 permission. One of them came up to her and said 
 in a quiet tone: "You had better go into the house," 
 Realizing it was useless to contend single-handed with 
 a superior force of the enemy, like a prudent cap- 
 tain, she withdrew in good order. 
 
 I could now see arms stacked on a visible portion 
 of our line, soon a troop of Yankee calvary dashed 
 along a road near to us, several regiments of infantry 
 passed in sight, four companies of artillery parked 
 their guns in open ground near by, and the grand 
 drama was over. 
 
 In what manner the besieged forces performed 
 their part of that drama, is attested by General Grant, 
 in a note dated July 3d to General Pemberton, re- 
 specting the terms of capitulation. 
 
 " Men who have shown so much endurance 
 and courage as those now in Vicksburg will always 
 challenge the respect of an adversary." 
 
 In a letter to the Blue and Grey Association of 
 Vicksburg, dated April 17th, 1890, Admiral David 
 D. Porter writes to the same effect : 
 
 "I have a great veneration for old Vicksburg. I 
 admire the brave soldiers who so long and strenu- 
 
92 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 ously contended against the odds by which they were 
 confronted. I admired the calmness and endurance 
 of the inhabitants in holding out against an avalanche 
 of explosives, such as has hardly ever poured into a 
 city. Above all I admire the dignity of the soldiers 
 and people who, after doing their best to maintain 
 their possession, succumbed finally to the stern de- 
 cree of fate when nothing more could be done." 
 
 Brigadier-General Orme of Illinois occupied the 
 first floor of the house we were in ; having heard a 
 wounded officer was on the second floor, he sent his 
 adjutant with a kind inquiry into my wants; now I 
 wanted everything to begin with ; and anything 
 edible would not have come amiss ; but I was not 
 in a frame of mind tb say so. I thanked him, and 
 told him I was not in need of anything. General 
 Orme called soon, and every day afterward sent to 
 me some delicacy from his table, which I was too 
 polite and too hungry to refuse. 
 
 General Orme wished to hoist his flag over his 
 headquarters, and asked permission for his color- 
 sergeant to go through the rooms occupied by me, 
 for the purpose, I acceded to his request of course. 
 The sergeant flung it to the breeze every morning, 
 and at evening furled it with great care, and took it 
 in, so that not even the mildest dew might mar the 
 beauty of the rich silk of which it was made. One 
 evening he forgot it ; there were indications of 
 rain. I suggested to Mrs. Hall to send word to the 
 sergeant to take in his colors. She told me plumply 
 she would not, that he might take care of his own 
 flag, she would not do so for him. Soon black clouds 
 burst and envious rain fell upon the banner, it re- 
 mained out all night and next morning, red, white 
 and blue, was an indistinguishable mass. 
 
 Arrangements had been made to send away the sick 
 and wounded of our army by water, and all others by 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 93 
 
 land. Mrs. Hall called at General Grant's head- 
 quarters for the purpose of having some provision 
 made for my removal, as my limb was still in a pre- 
 carious condition, although with the aid of crutches, 
 improvised from tent poles, I was now able to move 
 about the room, for a few minutes at a time. 
 General Grant met Mrs. Hall; he was dressed plain- 
 ly, a black alpaca coat, being his most prominent ar- 
 ticle of dress. She had quite a long chat with him. 
 She told me he talked calmly on all subjects, and 
 seemed totally without excitement, save when he 
 spoke of what he called the guerilla attacks upon the 
 transports on the river, when he seemed utterly in- 
 dignant at their conduct, " why these fellows " said 
 he "will come out and fire upon our boats, do all the 
 damage they can, and when we go to look them up, 
 we find them at their homes, apparently ignorant of 
 our existence." General Grant in his own hand 
 writing, gave Mrs. Hall two passes, in order she 
 might avail herself of either, one to Kentucky, the 
 other, with consent of General Banks commanding 
 the Department of the Gulf, to Louisiana; in either 
 case transportation to be furnished by any Govern- 
 ment transport. We decided to go to our friends in 
 Louisiana. 
 
 I issued the following address to the command : 
 
 ViCKSBURG, July 9th, 1863. 
 " To the officers and soldiers of the 26th Regiment 
 
 Louisiana Volunteers : 
 
 Comrades — Again you have met the enemy. For 
 over forty days you have withstood triple numbers 
 armed with every missile known to warfare, and ex- 
 pended with the utmost prodigality. Your undaunt- 
 ed courage and intrepid bearing has drawn admiration 
 even from your antagonists. Whenever the bravery 
 
94 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 and fortitude of her sons is called in question, our 
 own dear Louisiana may proudly point to the his- 
 toric page gilded by your deeds, in the swamp of 
 Chickasaw Bayou, and on the fortifications of Vicks- 
 burg. 
 
 Though circumstances not in your control have 
 forced you to surrender your riddled and battle- 
 stained flag to the foe, the proud consciousness that 
 you have done your duty should take away the sting 
 of defeat. The General commanding will doubtless 
 make such disposition of you, as you desire, until 
 you are exchanged. 
 
 Your Colonel has one request to make of you, 
 that when you are exchanged, which he trusts will 
 take place in a few weeks, you will promptly report 
 wherever ordered, in the hope we may soon meet 
 the invader, with renewed vigor in our arms, with 
 unshaken faith in the justice of our cause, and in 
 the full determination never to put up our weapons, 
 until peace smiles on our country." 
 
 I have already mentioned that the conduct of our 
 troops extorted praise from our adversaries. It may 
 seem superfluous to say more, but this record would 
 not be complete, if I failed to add the testimony of 
 the commanders under whom they fought, as to that 
 matchless valor and fortitude, which Grant recog- 
 nized and Porter so well remembered. 
 
 In General Shoup's report of the part taken by 
 his command, he writes : 
 
 July 4th — Capitulation ordered — At 10 a.m. we 
 moved out of our trenches by battalions, stacked 
 arms, and returned to our old quarters in town. 
 The men were full of indignation. Though they 
 have had very scant fare, and had been exposed to a 
 merciless and almost continuous fire, remaining at 
 their posts in the trenches without relief, I have 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 95 
 
 rarely heard a murmur or complaint. The tone has 
 always been " this is pretty hard, but we can stand 
 it." Too much praise cannot be given to officers and 
 men.* 
 
 Major-General M. L. Smith says in his report : 
 
 "The conduct of the entire division was most ex- 
 emplary, and its courage and cheerfulness increased, 
 if possible, from day to day, under the hardships and 
 privations of the siege." 
 
 Lieutenant-General Pemberton commanding the 
 besieged forces in his report of August 2d, 1863, 
 writes : 
 
 For forty-seven days and nights, those heroic men 
 had been exposed to burning suns, drenching rains, 
 damp fogs and heavy dews, and during all this 
 period, never had, by day or by night, the slightest 
 relief. The extent of our works required every 
 available man in the trenches, and, even then, they 
 were, in many places, insufficiently manned. It was 
 not in my power to relieve any portion of the line 
 for a sing-le hour. Confined to the narrow limits of 
 a trench, with their limbs cramped and swollen, 
 without exercise, constantly exposed to a murderous 
 storm of shot and shell, while the enemy's unerring 
 sharpshooters stood ready to pick off every man vi- 
 sible above the parapet. 
 
 Many had met death with a smile upon their lips, 
 all had cheerfully encountered danger; and, almost 
 without a murmur had borne privations and hard- 
 ships well calculated to test their manhood. They 
 had held the place against an enemy five times their 
 number, admirably clothed and fed, and abundantly 
 supplied with all the appliances of war. Whenever 
 the foe attempted an assault, they drove them back 
 discomfitted, covering the ground with his killed and 
 
 *i3ee appendix for report. 
 
96 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 wounded, and had torn from his grasp five stands of 
 colors, as trophies of their prowess. 
 
 I am indebted to Captain A. J. Moss for a list of 
 the killed and wounded of the regiment during the 
 siege, taken from a diary kept by him up to June 
 29th, when sickness prevented its continuance. A 
 few omissions have been supplied : 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 Killed— gun-shot wound in 
 
 the head. 
 Killed — gun-shot wound in 
 
 the left breast. 
 Wounded — Fracture of the 
 
 right leg. 
 Killed — gun-shot wound in 
 
 the left breast. 
 Wounded. 
 Wounded severely — gun-shot 
 
 wound through the jaws. 
 Wounded severely — gun-she t 
 
 wound in the head. 
 Wounded severely — gun-shot 
 
 wound in the shoulder. 
 Wounded. 
 Wounded. 
 
 Gun-shot wound in the arm. 
 Killed. 
 
 Rank. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Co. 
 May 19. 
 
 Private 
 
 Fabre Dorneville, 
 
 A 
 
 Captain 
 
 Felix Winder, 
 
 K 
 
 Colonel 
 
 Winchester Hall, 
 
 
 Lieut. 
 
 Pierre N. Ternier, 
 
 G 
 
 Private 
 
 Labit Dacisse, 
 
 K 
 
 " 
 
 Smith, John J , 
 
 I 
 
 " 
 
 Louvifire Clay, 
 
 E 
 
 Corporal 
 
 Frederic Lottinger, 
 
 H 
 
 Private 
 
 Chiasson Schuyler, 
 
 F 
 
 " Kerne, Ismael, 
 
 Jyieut. Charles M. Daspit, 
 
 Private Perot, G. E., 
 
 Adam Mathurin, 
 
 Anslum, W., 
 Sergeant Nicholas Duffy, 
 
 Private Bourgeois, Florence, 
 
 Lieut. Numa Arrieux, 
 
 Private Gaude Emile, 
 
 Greig. Joseph T. , 
 Thibodaux, Martin, 
 Begnaud, Felix, 
 Hebert, Elise, 
 Mallet Dolze, 
 Lyons, L. C. P., 
 
 Gamas Casimir, 
 
 May 20. 
 H 
 G 
 
 May 21. 
 D 
 
 B 
 
 C 
 
 F 
 
 May 22. 
 
 C 
 
 I 
 
 A 
 A 
 A 
 E 
 E 
 FI 
 
 G 
 
 severely in the 
 
 the 
 
 Wounded 
 head. 
 
 Wounded in the arm. 
 
 Wounded .severely in 
 back. 
 
 Contusion of the foot. 
 Killed. 
 
 Gun-shot wound in the scalp. 
 Killed. 
 
 Wounded severely— gun-shot 
 wound in the right breast. 
 
 Wound on chin and left 
 shoulder. 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 97 
 
 Rank. Name. Co. 
 
 May 23. 
 Private Louvifire, Joseph L., E 
 
 Le Blanc, Theodule, 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 Sergeant Guedry, C. I., 
 Private Ozelet, Jules, 
 
 Kiger, Henry C, 
 
 King, George, 
 " Mason, Thoma.s, 
 
 " Dubois, J. Pierre, 
 
 C 
 
 I 
 May 24. 
 
 F 
 May 26. 
 
 H 
 May 29. 
 
 H 
 
 B 
 
 K 
 
 King, Thomas, 
 
 '■ Bergeron, Wa.shington, 
 
 Corporal Victor Boudreau, 
 
 Private Babin, Joseph, 
 
 " Cormier, Lastie, 
 
 " Bergeron, Charles, 
 
 Lieut. Silvere, Navarre, 
 
 Private Fayette, Martin, 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 F 
 H 
 
 Fight, Martin, 
 
 Babin, Marcel, 
 Whitney, George, 
 
 June 5. 
 A 
 
 H 
 
 D 
 B 
 
 C 
 
 June 7. 
 D 
 F 
 
 [une 9. 
 I 
 H 
 C 
 
 Naquin, Melville, 
 Cooper, Ezra. 
 Fremin, Trasimond, . 
 
 fune 10. 
 
 Bourgeois, Adam, H 
 
 Falgout, Onezinie, I 
 
 June II. 
 
 Evans, J., B 
 
 Melangon, Aime, I 
 
 June 12. 
 
 Bourg, Olime, F 
 
 Bergeron, Germain, F 
 
 Babin, Theodule, H 
 
 Wounded in left arm, and 
 
 arm amputaled. 
 Wounded severely in the 
 
 heel by a shell. 
 Gun-shot wound in the arm. 
 
 Head shot off. 
 
 Gun-shot wound in the thigh. 
 
 Killed. 
 
 Leg fractured by a shell and 
 
 amputated. 
 Leg broken by a limb of a 
 
 tree, cut intwam by a shot, 
 
 falling on him. 
 Wounded in the wrist by a 
 
 shell. 
 Wounded in the .scalp by a 
 
 shell. 
 Arm broken by a shell. 
 Wounded in the foot by a 
 
 shell. 
 
 Wounded mortally in the 
 head by a shell. 
 
 Gun-shot wound in left shoul- 
 der of which he died. 
 
 Gun-shot wound in the back. 
 
 Serious gun-shot wound in 
 the head. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Wounded. 
 Wounded. 
 
 Mortally wounded. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Seriously wounded. 
 Wounded. 
 
 Killed. 
 Wounded. 
 
 Killed. 
 
 Wouiided. 
 
 Killed. 
 
 13 
 
98 
 
 TWENTY-SIXH LOUISIANA REGIMENT. 
 
 Rank. 
 Private 
 
 Private 
 
 Sergeant 
 Private 
 Major 
 Private 
 
 Name. 
 
 Lamb, Samuel, 
 Roy, Cevenne, 
 
 Boudreaux, Clitus, 
 
 Solari, Jean, 
 Johnson, James, 
 
 Grima, Michel, 
 Armaut Britsche, 
 
 Callahen, C, 
 
 W. W. Martin, 
 
 Carroll, James, 
 
 Serj^eant 
 Piivate 
 
 Lieut. 
 Private 
 
 Lieut. 
 Private 
 
 June 
 
 June 
 June 
 
 Jtine 
 
 June 
 June 
 June 
 June 
 
 Co. 
 
 13- 
 G 
 
 E 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 Comeaux, Ovide, 
 Arsement, Jules, 
 Leche, Jean Baptiste, 
 
 June 
 Evariste, Leonard, 
 Maxamillian, Antonio, 
 Babin, V., 
 Curtis, Thomas E., 
 Edward Mitchell, 
 Tro-sclair, Joseph, 
 
 Honore Champagne, 
 Crepelle, Severin, 
 Dugas, J. N., 
 
 June 
 June 
 
 14. 
 C 
 
 16. 
 A 
 B 
 
 18. 
 D 
 D 
 
 19- 
 'F 
 
 23. 
 K 
 
 24. 
 A 
 C 
 C 
 
 25- 
 F 
 H 
 H 
 G 
 G 
 I 
 
 D 
 H 
 H 
 26. 
 D 
 27. 
 B 
 
 Private 
 
 Le Blanc, Oville, 
 
 Delmas Dubois, 
 
 Dubois, Aladin, A 
 June 2g. 
 
 Part Clodomire, F 
 
 Duhon, Emile, A 
 
 Guidry, Antoine, A 
 
 Boudreaux, Victor, B 
 
 Bourg, M,, B 
 
 Baldwin, Thomas J., G 
 
 July. 
 
 Cancienne Bazile, C 
 
 Hebert, Adelin, C 
 
 Killed. 
 Wounded. 
 
 Killed. 
 
 Disabled by concussion. 
 Killed. 
 
 Killed. 
 Wounded. 
 
 Mortally wounded. 
 
 Killed. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Wounded. 
 Wounded. 
 Wounded. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Mortally wounded. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Seriously wounded and died 
 
 of the wound. 
 Wounded. 
 Severely wounded. 
 Mortally wounded. 
 
 Severely wounded. 
 
 Wounded and foot ampu- 
 tated. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Mortally wounded. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Head .shot off. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 Died in the service. 
 Died in the service. 
 
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. . 99 
 
 After paroling the various commands which re- 
 quired several days, the troops that were on duty, at 
 the time of the surrender were marched out of Vicks- 
 burg, without retaining their separate organizations; 
 the sick and wounded were conveyed by water. Some 
 days elapsed before news was brought to me, that a 
 steamer was at the landing ready to take my family 
 and myself to our destination. We went on board 
 and found it filled with our wounded. It had also 
 among its passengers a catholic priest and a number 
 of ladies, all of whom had been banished from St. 
 Louis as southern sympathizers. Upon reaching 
 the Federal fort opposite Donaldsonville we landed. 
 The commandant of the fort furnished us an ambu- 
 lance to Thibodaux where we were welcomed and 
 sheltered under the hospitable roof of old friends. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 WITHIN THE enemy's LINES. 
 J^^ly ^J, i86s to February /, 1864. 
 
 At the time we reached Thibodaux, the Lafourche 
 parishes were not occupied by either of the contend- 
 ing forces. The Confederate troops had been with- 
 drawn a short while before, and the Federal troops 
 resumed possession after our arrival. 
 
 Many of the regiment crossed the hostile line in 
 order to reach their homes, as they had no difficulty 
 in passing the Federal pickets with their paroles ; I 
 feared they would be embarrassed in attempting to 
 return, as not any of them had a written permission, 
 as in my case, to go within the enemy's line ; how- 
 ever, I said nothing to them at the time, but deter- 
 mined, after they had rested well at their homes, to 
 suggest their return. We were kept under surveil- 
 lance by the military authorities. The men were 
 ordered to report weekly to the Provost-Marshal. 
 A pass was necessary, on my part, to make a visit 
 beyond the immediate neighborhood of Thibodaux. 
 
 It was most pleasant to note the conduct of my 
 people under the rule of the enemy. Of course all 
 young men were in the army. The community 
 about me was composed of the old, the disabled, 
 women and children. A few were wealthy, but the 
 greater portion were of moderate means — all were 
 devoted to the Southern cause. They did not pro- 
 
WITHIN THE ENEMY S LINES. lOI 
 
 yoke hostility. It would have availed nothing. They 
 were, however, firm as adamant, and made no con- 
 cessions to power. They were not dismayed by the 
 gleam of bayonets, nor cast down by reason of an 
 armed and irresistible force in their midst. The few 
 who were exceptions to the rule were insignificant 
 alike in numbers, as in social position. Among the 
 conveniences of being a paroled prisoner within 
 the enemy's line, was the pleasure of being able to 
 communicate, through the mails, with relations and 
 friends in the border states and the North, many of 
 whom we had not heard of during over twelve 
 months, and to whom we could now write in a more 
 circumstantial way, than was usual by means of the 
 flag of truce channel at Richmond. 
 
 Having learned that my cousin Robert Snowden 
 of General John H. Morgan's command was a pris- 
 oner at Camp Douglas, I wrote to Mrs. S. Lisle 
 Smith of Chicago, a sister of Major John C. Potts 
 of Terrebonne, requesting her to do what she could 
 for his comfort. She went to the camp, with her 
 sister Mrs. Bender, and found young Snowden very 
 ill. His hfe was saved, doubtless, through their 
 kind ministrations. These ladies were unwearied in 
 their devotion to the sick and helpless prisoners at 
 this camp, for the sake of Him who went about 
 doing good without respect to country or condition. 
 
 Young Snowden soon afterward was exchanged, 
 and in gratitude to his fair deHverers, invested his 
 surplus funds in canned esculents, and as he passed 
 through Richmond, took them to the inmates of 
 Libby prison. 
 
 I have already mentioned that many of the regi- 
 ment had come within the enemy's line to their 
 homes. After several weeks recuperation, I ascer- 
 tained they were wilHng to return across the hostile 
 
102 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 line, but the local military authorities at Thibodaux 
 declined granting them permission to do so. 
 
 About August 27th Captain Shaffer and myself 
 went to New Orleans to obtain the requisite permit 
 for the purpose, from General N. P. Banks the De- 
 partment Commander. As the mission was on 
 official business I wore my uniform. While we were 
 crossing the river at Algiers, a gentlemen handed 
 me a rose, and pointing to a lady on the ferry boat, 
 mentioned she had sent it to me. I looked toward 
 her and bowed, and she returned the greeting. I 
 thought it strange, as she was not known to me, not 
 considering, at the time, it was my uniform she 
 recognized in no unfriendly spirit. 
 
 Captain Shaffer and I went at once to the Head- 
 quarters of General Banks, but he had gone out to 
 a military review. We then went to Galpin's restau- 
 rant for dinner. Several Federal officers were dining 
 there. I noticed Galpin walking up and down the 
 room eyeing us sharply. A waiter soon brought us 
 a bottle of wine with Mr. Galpin's compliments. I 
 sent for him to drink with us. He came out, said he 
 had a son in the Southern Army and was delighted 
 to meet us. 
 
 Captain Shaffer left very soon. I remained in 
 the city about ten days, in the fruitless endeavor to 
 secure for the men, the coveted permission to pass 
 the Federal pickets into our lines. In interviews for 
 this purpose I met General Banks, General Charles 
 P. Stone his chief of staff, and General Bowen 
 Provost-Marshal. General Banks did 'not impress 
 me favorably as a gentleman and a soldier. General 
 Bowen had the courtesy of the trained soldier, and 
 the considerateness that graces triumph and soothes 
 defeat. When I called upon General Stone I sent 
 in my card, by the sergeant at his door and was at 
 
WITHIN THE enemy's LINES. 103 
 
 once admitted. As I entered the door on my 
 crutches, he rose and came to me, took my hand and 
 walked with me to a seat, with a naivete of manner 
 that was exceedingly charming. 
 
 If, however, I failed in my mission, the visit, 
 otherwise, was successful and triumphant. There 
 were many Confederate soldiers imprisoned in the 
 Custom House, but I was the only one at large 
 within the city, and men, women and children took 
 delight to do me honor. The fact I was still on 
 crutches, doubtless, added to the manifestation, and 
 appealed to their sympathy. I was repaid, amply 
 repaid, in the ovation tendered, for the privations I 
 had endured, and the perils I had passed; a long 
 repressed and deep feeling in the cornmunity now 
 had a object upon which it could show its devotion, 
 and it spoke as unmistakably as a battery of Napo- 
 leons. Without thought, without warning, I was a 
 hero — enshrined in the hearts of a people that kept 
 faith with husbands and sons, fathers and brothers 
 on far away battle-fields, and who never bowed the 
 knee to a rule enforced by the bayonet, nor swerved 
 from that course of conduct pointed out by patriotic 
 duty. 
 
 I was the guest of my cousin Mrs. Snowden. 
 Every evening I held a levee. Even General 
 Banks honored me — with an eaves-dropping detect- 
 ive. Whenever I went out there was an endeavor 
 to attract my notice, or to show me some attention, 
 however slight. 
 
 As I hobbled along one morning, I heard some 
 one say, "Well ! gray is prettier than blue." I looked 
 up to the balcony whence the voice proceeded, and 
 took of my kepis to three young ladies. 
 
 At another time, it being cool, I was wearing my 
 top coat, bearing the pelican button. A small news- 
 
I04 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 boy came up, and without looking at me — looked at 
 the buttons — said " all right," and passed on. 
 
 I was seated in a street car next to a middle-aged 
 woman evidently of humble walk, who after scanning 
 me closely for some time said, "Confederate?" 
 "Yes," I replied. She rejoined, "it does ray heart 
 good to see you." 
 
 I went into a store to make a small purchase, and 
 when I selected the article, offered the price, the 
 storekeeper remarked, " I cannot take anything 
 from a Confederate soldier." 
 
 It is well known the most arrant rebels were 
 Northern people who had lived some time in the 
 South. I was passing the evening with the family 
 of a friend, who was a native of Massachusetts, when 
 another Massachusetts man called. He was ardent 
 as fire, but timid as a child ; when we were intro- 
 duced, he took a seat beside me, and whispered in 
 my ear, " I am so glad to see you, I could halloa." 
 
 I was invited to dine at another home of New Eng- 
 land people, where I met a lady well known to me, 
 who kissed me ; the hostess followed her— as beauti- 
 ful in feature and person as she was lovely in char- 
 acter — but with whom I was not well acquainted ; as 
 I shook hands with her, she kissed one of the but- 
 tons of my coat, remarking, "At least, I can kiss one 
 of the buttons." 
 
 I stepped out of the street car late in the after- 
 noon, and as I approached the sidewalk four little 
 girls, prettily dressed, stopped in their walk and 
 awaited me. One of them approached me and of- 
 fered her hand, saying "We are Confederates." I 
 shook hands with three of them, but the other — of 
 some six summers — stood shyly apart ; the little 
 spokeswoman then pointed, as though she wanted 
 me to go to the fourth one, and said " She is a rebel 
 
WITHIN THE ENEMY S LINES. IO5 
 
 too." So I went up and shook hands with the Uttle 
 rebel. 
 
 These incidents — a few out of many— serve to 
 show how a Confederate soldier, as a representative 
 of his country's cause, received the profound and un- 
 adulterate homage of the people of New Orleans. 
 
 On my return to Lafourche, and making known 
 my barren efforts for permission to return to our 
 lines, it was determined the members of the regiment 
 would cross the line, covertly, in squads. The first, 
 consisting of Capt. Webre, Lieut. Navarre and oth- 
 ers, agreed upon a rendezvous, for the purpose, at 
 the captain's dwelling ; being anxious for the success 
 of the enterprise, and as it would affect other sorties 
 of the same character, I went to Capt. Webre's to be 
 assured all proper arrangements were made. They 
 met and left about 9 p. m., taking with them a stand 
 of colors, which had been made by Misses Anna and 
 Mary Ellis, and presented by them to the regiment. 
 The day after they left it was ascertained two or 
 three horses of a planter who was friendly to the 
 Union cause had also disappeared, and rumor con- 
 nected the disappearance of men and horses. 
 
 I remained with Capt. Webre's family the night 
 the squad disappeared. About midnight I heard a 
 rapping at a front door, and some one asking that 
 the door be opened. I heard Mrs, Webre reply that 
 she would not. I inferred it was a soldier, and called 
 to Mrs. Webre to let him in. She opened the door, 
 which led into her room, and four Federal officers, 
 in full uniform, marched through her room, and 
 through her children's room, direct to mine. One 
 announced to me I was under arrest, and placed a 
 soldier at the door of my room, who kept his gun at 
 full cock. As I was on crutches I did not see the 
 necessity of the sentry, or the gun at full cock, 
 
 J4 
 
I06 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 though, perhaps, it was an honor to consider that a 
 rebel with a broken leg, armed with a crutch, was still 
 dangerous, and could be overcome only by an able- 
 bodied man with a gun at full cock. 
 
 When they had thus secured me, the officer in 
 command stated to me he had understood there was 
 a rebel meeting at the house. I replied I was not 
 aware of any such meeting ; a diligent search of the 
 premises, however, was undertaken — garret, kitchen, 
 closet, well — nothing escaped their vigilance ; and, 
 by the way, they searched Capt. Webre's desk where 
 the flag mentioned had been taken out only three 
 hours before. Mrs. Webre, with a sang-froid worthy 
 of a soldier's wife, followed the party in their search, 
 and aided them where she could, but all without 
 avail. Neither rebel nor sign of rebel could be found. 
 In the meanwhile the commanding officer addressed 
 me two or three times as "Mr. Hall." The last time 
 I replied, "Colonel Hall, if you please; I give your 
 officers their titles, and expect the same for myself." 
 "Very well. Colonel," he replied. 
 
 After the search was over the officer came to me 
 and said, " Colonel, we will have to take you to 
 Headquarters." I replied, "Very well, but as I am 
 unable to walk, you will have to furnish transporta- 
 tion." Soon a vehicle was declared ready, Mrs. 
 Webre held a light for me to see the way to the 
 front, about twenty cavalry had accompanied the offi- 
 cers, and just as I became visible to the cavalry men 
 one of them, who had doubtless seen me about Thi- 
 bodaux, cried out in disgust, " Why, it's only that 
 lame Colonel." Of course it was small game for four 
 officers and twenty men to bag only a lame Colonel 
 who could not run away if he would. 
 
 It was four miles to Headquarters of Gen. Birge, 
 commandant of the district. I sought to bear myself 
 
WITHIN THE ENEMY S LINES. lOj 
 
 modestly, under the novelty of a first experience 
 with an escort of cavalry. While on our way, the 
 ranking officer, considering, doubtless, there was no 
 charge could be preferred against me, mentioned he 
 would send me to my quarters, at Mr. Meads, if I 
 desired. I expressed my assent. The escort was 
 then dismissed at Thibodaux, and I was sent on to 
 my quarters, which I reached about daylight. 
 
 The success of this first sortie being assured, there 
 was not any difficulty about subsequent attempts to 
 cross the line, although it still had to be done se- 
 cretly, and in small numbers at a time. The men 
 were favored in their enterprises by their familiarity 
 with the swamps through which they had to pass, 
 and of the people they had to avoid, or to apply to, 
 for succor. 
 
 With the men safe over Federal lines, I next 
 turned my attention to a suitable place of refuge for 
 my family; as the experience at Vicksburg did not 
 appear to justify it in following my fortunes in the 
 field. Mrs. Hall went to New Orleans for the pur- 
 pose of procuring a pass, and to ascertain the best 
 route to her father's home in Kentucky, where she 
 had decided to go. She was also to request a pass 
 for me to go into Confederate lines. General Bowen 
 granted a pass to her, and asked her to take the oath 
 of allegiance. " She told him she could not; that her 
 husband held rank in Confederate service, and she 
 could not do an act he would not sanction. General 
 Bowen replied, "I appreciate your position, and shall 
 not require it." 
 
 As to a pass for myself she was not successful. 
 General Banks decided the pass I held from General 
 Grant under which I entered Federal lines, did not 
 warrant my exit ! I was allowed, however, a pass to 
 New Orleans, in order to take leave of my family. 
 
I08 TWENTV-SIXH LOUISIANA REGIMENT. 
 
 As the Mississippi River was now appropriated by the 
 enemy, and all river craft, presumably for hostile 
 purposes, ordinary travel on the river was suspended; 
 so that Mrs. Hall and the children had to go from 
 New Orleans by steamer to New York, thence to 
 their destination. 
 
 During this visit I pressed the authorities for a 
 pass into the Confederacy, as a matter of simple jus- 
 tice. My friend, J. Ad. Rozier, aided me all in his 
 power. The request was not denied, but it was not 
 granted ; I deemed it prudent to bide my time, and 
 returned to the Lafourche, where I was again wel- 
 comed to the hospitable roof of my friend, Mr. 
 Francis L. Mead, A member of his family, Miss 
 Margaret McKee (afterwards Mrs. Beasley,) in a 
 note to Mrs. Hall, gives an account of a call of a 
 Lieutenant and squad of cavalry of the Federal army 
 at Mr. Mead's, whilst I was there." 
 
 " It was now half-past nine" — so Miss McKee 
 writes — " suddenly the dogs begin to bark, as if they 
 would make mince meat of anybody who ap- 
 proached. Alice came running in and said, " Maas 
 Frank, the yard is full of soldiers." Sure enough we 
 heard their swords rattling, and looking through the 
 blinds saw the frightful gleam of weapons, while 
 some one was screaming, " If you do not take these 
 dogs away I will kill them." By this time Lieuten- 
 ant Foster was on the gallery, peeping through the 
 blinds, Uncle Mead tried to open the door, but had 
 to wait till Theresa could be roused — she had locked 
 it and gone to bed. Finally, the door was opened 
 and in stepped the Lieutenant "in all the pomp and 
 pride of war." He was so much agitated when he 
 came in, either from fear, shame or fatigue (he had to 
 climb the gate,) that he did not speak for two or 
 three minutes. Recovering himself, he said to Col- 
 
WITHIN THE ENEMY S LINES. IO9 
 
 onel Hall, "Colonel, I understand there is to be a 
 meeting of rebel officers here to-night." 
 
 " I have not heard of it, Lieutenant." 
 
 "We were told so," rejoined the Lieutenant. 
 
 " He then wanted to know of Colonel Hall if he 
 made this his home — where his family was — how long 
 he expected to remain — what day would he be sent 
 out of the lines, etc., all of which questions he asked 
 three or four times, and which it seemed he could 
 not get fixed in his memory, 
 
 "After remaining about an hour, he got up to 
 leave, but still lingered as if loth to go. Colonel 
 Hall said he was glad he was about to be sent away, 
 as it was not pleasant to Mr. Mead to be disturbed in 
 this manner. 
 
 " After a while Foster took leave of us. He gave 
 Colonel Hall a hearty shake of the hand and said, 
 ' While the lamp holds out to burn, the vilest sinner 
 may return. I am glad to say to you that the broad 
 Savannahs of the South are fast becoming reduced, 
 we are drawing our coils closer and tighter around 
 you. You will soon have to give up.' Colonel Hall 
 replied, 'May be so. Lieutenant, but we will fight you 
 to the last, and will die hard.' " 
 
 About the latter part of January (A. D. 1864) I 
 went again to New Orleans, and by means of the 
 continued good services of my friend Rozier, I suc- 
 ceeded in obtaining a permit to pass the lines on a 
 schooner going to Pascagoula, and carrying an as- 
 sorted cargo of men, women and children — a lot of 
 too ardent sympathizers with the Southern cause. 
 
 Knowing I would not, for a long time, be able to 
 add to my stock of clothing, I supplied myself to the 
 full capacity of my trunk, and as each passenger was 
 allowed to take a lunch, my cousin, Mrs. Bowling, 
 put up one for me, consisting of a ham, Lyons sau- 
 
I lO TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 sage, a pine apple, cheese, several boxes of sardines, 
 a loaf or two of bread, two bottles of wine and a bot- 
 tle of brandy. It is perhaps unneccessary to add I 
 did not consume all of it at a single meal. I dressed 
 in full uniform, wore my sword, and was driven to 
 the wharf where the schooner lay. I was met there 
 by my cousin, Mary Snowden, Mr. Thomas A. 
 Adams, Mr. George Trufant and other friends. We 
 started about noon — the last sound that grated upon 
 our eai'S being "Yankee Doodle," sung in a school 
 room by negro children ! 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 IN DIXIE. 
 Febritdry /, 1864, to April 4, iS6j. 
 
 We reached Pascagoula in due time, and I breathed 
 the free air of Dixie. Captive never longed more 
 for light, or enjoyed it more exquisitely, than I did 
 this first breath of Spring laden with the perfume of 
 her earliest flowers — a calm Confederate sky above — 
 the blue waters of the bay sleeping in the distance, 
 and good Confederate men, women and children 
 around me. 
 
 I went from Pascagoula to Mobile. The Fourth 
 and Thirtieth Louisiana Regiments had just reached 
 the latter place. The parish of Lafourche had fur- 
 nished a company to each. I went at once to a cot- 
 ton press where the regiments were bivouacking, and 
 gave our boys the latest news from home. I enter- 
 tained the crowd to the best of my ability, and then 
 I was subjected to a direct, as well as to a raking fire 
 of sharp-shooting questions about mother, father and 
 all — not omitting the girls they left behind them. 
 
 I determined to go to Richmond to redress a per- 
 sonal grievance in the refusal to accord to me com- 
 mutation for quarters in Vicksburg. I conceived it 
 my right and intended to spare no effort to obtain it. 
 As it was likely I would be on parole for some time, 
 I travelled by easy stages, stopping at Montgomery, 
 Augusta and Raleigh, where, I had friends, and in 
 
112 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 due time reached Richmond, where, with my com- 
 mutation account in hand, passed up adversely by 
 successive headquarters, I presented myself, unheart- 
 ened by prior defeats, and it was allowed. 
 
 While in Richmond I called upon General M. L. 
 Smith, our whilom Brigadier and Division Comman- 
 der, now with Lee's army. The conversation, in 
 time, drifted into the defence of Vicksburg, and his 
 command there; the General remarked he consid- 
 ered the Louisiana and Mississippi troops he com- 
 manded there, a fine body of soldiers. "Indeed," 
 said he, and he seemed loth to say it — so fearful he 
 was of uttering a sentiment that might savor of a 
 compliment, or detract from the sincerity of his na- 
 ture — " Indeed, I think they were as good as any 
 troops in Lee's army.'' Praise from so genuine a 
 source, and from one so reticent, was, in truth, a 
 gratification. He had tried us, and found us worthy 
 to stand side by side with the heroes of Stonewall 
 Jackson, of Longstreet, and the Hills ! 
 
 I called upon General Bragg, in view of my ex- 
 change, to know whether I might not serve in some 
 capacity until able to take the field, for the injured 
 limb was slow in gaining strength. He offered me 
 membership on the military court attached to Gen- 
 eral S. D. Lee's Cavalry Corps, which I accepted, 
 and went to Raleigh to await my exchange. Pa- 
 tience being sorely taxed at what seemed uncalled-for 
 delay, I decided to go to Richmond and look into 
 the cause. I reached there on June 3. As the train 
 approached the city, the boom of great guns an- 
 nounced the shock of arms. It stirred me deeper 
 than a trumpet's sound. I longed to be free from 
 the shackles of my parole, and to stand side by side 
 with my brothers in arms, breasting the surge. A 
 long railway train filled with our wounded passed by 
 
IN DIXIE. 113 
 
 on its way to hospitals in the interior. It was a sad 
 sight to see our own brave boys mutilated in every 
 conceivable manner! 
 
 Everything in Richmond wore a quiet air. 'Twas 
 early day. Newsboys were crying the papers. Milk- 
 men in their carts were ringing their bells, as of old, 
 at the doors of their customers, ice carts were going 
 their usual rounds — and amid this booming of artil- 
 lery at the very gates of Richmond, valise in hand, I 
 limped into the Spotswood Hotel, registered my 
 name, took a bath and breakfasted, apparently heed- 
 less of the great drama going on so near to me. 
 
 I went to see Commissioner Oulds about my ex- 
 change. He offered no explanation of what seemed 
 unusual delay. I could only possess my soul in pa- 
 tience. In the course of the day I visited the Sen- 
 ate and House of Representatives, then in session, 
 and heard the affairs of the Confederacy quietly dis- 
 cussed, while the welkin rung with the roar of can- 
 non. As it appeared I could not advance my ex- 
 change by remaining in Richmond, I left the matter 
 with my old acquaintance, Duncan F. Kenner, and 
 returned to Raleigh. 
 
 As an incident of the time I may mention that as 
 my correspondence with Mrs. Hall was now across 
 hostile lines, and as I wished to say much more than 
 I could mention in an open letter by the usual flag 
 of truce communication, our good friend, James J. 
 Tarlton, with Power, Low & Co., made an arrange- 
 ment under which letters passed regularly between 
 us, by means of blockade runners. Her letters to 
 me were simply directed to '-J. M. Arendano, Ha- 
 vana," which being opened at Havana disclosed a let- 
 ter directed to " Bogart & Co., Nassau, N. C," this 
 being opened at Nassau disclosed a letter directed to 
 "Power, Low & Co., Wilmington, N. C." which on 
 
 15 
 
114 TWENTY-SIXH LOUISIANA REGIMENT. 
 
 being opened there showed Mrs. Hall's letter which 
 our friend Tarlton, who kept advised of my address, 
 sent to me. My letters to her were sent to Tarlton, 
 who sent them to her by the reverse directions and 
 route. 
 
 In the expectation some of my letters might be 
 captured, I was careful to state in them whatever 
 was encouraging in the way of news; whether it re- 
 lated to substituted material, infant manufacture, the 
 extent of our resources, or the determination of our 
 whole people to fight, if need be, to the bitter end. 
 
 I received notice of my exchange on June 13, 1864, 
 It had been delayed so much more than I had ex- 
 pected, that my limb, in the meanwhile, had recov- 
 ered sufficiently to enable me to take the field. 
 Therefore I wrote to General Bragg that I would re- 
 port for duty at once on the military court, but de- 
 sired to rejoin my regiment, as the temporary disa- 
 bility was now removed. 
 
 On June 18 General Bragg wrote to me and sug- 
 gested I recall my acceptance of the appointment on 
 a military court. I addressed, accordingly, a com- 
 munication to General S. Cooper, Adjutant and In- 
 spector General, recalling my acceptance of the po- 
 sition on the court, provided the recall would re-in- 
 state me as Colonel of the 26th Louisiana Infantry, 
 and stating I bad accepted the appointment by reason 
 of temporary disability, caused by a wound received 
 in service, and that the disability was now removed. 
 General Bragg made a favorable endorsement on the 
 communication. General Cooper forwarded it to 
 the Secretary of War^with the endorsement that no 
 promotions had been made to the vacancy caused by 
 my appointment ; but the Secretary of War decided 
 it was too late to make the change " unless with the 
 assent of all officers affected " by my resignation. 
 
In DIXIE 115 
 
 On the receipt of this decision adverse to my re- 
 quest, I wrote to General Cooper stating the entire 
 facts of the case, and that while in Richmond on 
 June 3d last I had seen in the hands of Captain J. G. 
 Clark, A. A. G. of Brigadier General Allen Thomas, 
 an application on the part of the Lieutenant Colonel 
 of the 26th Louisiana Regiment, to be promoted to 
 the rank of Colonel, upon which there was an en- 
 dorsement of the War Department, refusing the ap- 
 plication, on the ground the regiment was depleted 
 to an extent that did not justify further promotion 
 among the field officers, and that my re-instatement 
 therefore would not interfere with the rights of any 
 officer of the regiment. I further mentioned it 
 would detract from the dignity of my office, and de- 
 crease the sphere of my usefulness, to resume my 
 position by the favor of subordinate officers, as inti- 
 mated in the communication to me from the War 
 Department, .and that I could not accept rank at 
 their hands. 
 
 I received no reply to this communication, the 
 Adjutant General doubtless looking upon it as the 
 dust and smoke that arises from a conflict and a de- 
 feat — something expected, but not worthy of note. _ 
 
 In June, 1864, I went to Jackson, Miss., where I 
 joined the members of the military court. It was 
 composed of Colonel James Phelan of Mississippi, 
 formerly of the Confederate States Senate, Colonel 
 T. A. Jones, of Alabama, and myself, with Captain 
 Austin PoUand, of Mississippi, as Judge Advocate, 
 Captain Phelan as Provost Marshal, and Mr. Carter 
 Clerk. We held court at Jackson and Meridian. In 
 leisure moments I studied the law relative to courts 
 martial: We were made welcome to the inviting 
 hospitahty of Jackson, and as the members of the 
 court messed together, time did not pass tardily. 
 
Il6 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 While camping at West Point, Mississippi, we 
 made an effort to get into the fight of Lee and For- 
 rest at Harrisonburg. Failure to procure horses 
 prevented us. After the battle I learned a train of 
 our wounded would pass through the town. I went 
 to the station to meet them, and to help them, or at 
 least speak a few words of comfort. I met a pri- 
 vate of "the 26th " who had been in the fight, sorely 
 wounded, but full of enthusiasm. The poor wounded 
 fellows were packed in close box cars, almost stifled 
 with the heat of a midsummer day. I went on one 
 of the cars, used my cavalry boot vigorously and suc- 
 ceeded in kicking off a plank or two from the sides, 
 so as to admit the air. Others followed my exam- 
 ple, and soon all the suffering boys had draughts of 
 fresh air. 
 
 As correspondence seemed of no avail in advanc- 
 ing my return to the regiment, which had rendez- 
 voused near Alexandria, Louisiana, and already num- 
 bered 312 men, I obtained leave of absence, in order 
 to go to Richmond and plead my cause in person. 
 My acquaintances there, Mr. Charles M. Conrad, 
 Mr. Duncan F. Kennar of the House of Represen- 
 tatives, General Sparrow of the Senate, Mr. Benja- 
 min, Secretary of State, all considered I would fail in 
 my endeavor. 
 
 Mr. Kennar laid the matter before the Secretary 
 of War and the President successively, without avail. 
 I was about to leave Richmond in disgust, but re- 
 mained, at the suggestion of Colonel Sale of General 
 Bragg's staff, who had encouraged me from the be- 
 ginning, and through Colonel Burton N. Harrison, 
 the President's Private Secretary, he obtained for 
 me another hearing before the President. I took 
 my papers to Mr. Harrison, who requested me to 
 wait and perhaps I could see the President. A page 
 
IN DIXIE. 
 
 117 
 
 soon entered the room and informed me I could see 
 the President in his private room. As soon as I was 
 within the room, President Davis rose from his seat 
 and saying, "How do you do. Colonel," advanced to 
 meet me, with a quiet, unassuming air. His pres- 
 ence, simple as it was, moved me as I have seldom 
 been moved. I stated to him I had some papers to 
 lay before him relative to my return to the regiment, 
 and begged leave to make a verbal explanation. 
 When I had done so, he suggested I should put my 
 explanation in writing and leave it with the papers. 
 In a few days my application was returned with a fa- 
 vorable endorsement. 
 
 I was anxious to return at once to the regiment ; 
 there was no outgoing train, save a freight train, 
 which I boarded. The cars were locked, and I was 
 not allowed in the caboose. My sole chance was 
 the top of the caboose, where I found a mulatto as a 
 fellow passenger. We kept close to the pipe of the 
 stove in the caboose. It was midwinter. Snow lay 
 upon the ground and it was bitter cold. The train 
 would move only a few miles at a time. While in 
 motion it seemed as if the cold wind pierced every 
 sensitive part of my body. I laid down to avoid it, 
 and very near the mulatto. Seldom had I passed 
 such a night of suffering. I tried whiskey, without 
 avail, as a restorative. The dawn brought relief, as 
 I was then transferred to the rear platform of a car, 
 which shielded me from the wind. 
 
 At Jackson, Mississippi, I met D. Bergeron, a pri- 
 vate of " Co. D," who had been in prison at Elmira, 
 New York, and was returning to the regiment. I 
 obtained a Jersey wagon to take us to a point on the 
 Mississippi River where there were means of cross- 
 ing. We were kindly entertained on our way, our 
 last stopping place being a planter's dwelHng near 
 
Il8 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA 'INFAiSfTRY. 
 
 the river, where we stayed a night with the intention 
 of attempting to cross in the morning, with a pro- 
 viso that no gun boats of the enemy were near. 
 
 I was elated with the prospect of having my regi- 
 ment in Louisiana, as dear to me as my native State, 
 associated as it was with cherished memories going 
 back and beyond my early manhood, and I fancied 
 myself saying, as soon as I touched the soil, " I stand 
 upon my native heath, and my name is McGregor." 
 
 On the morrow we went to the bank of the river, 
 our coming having previously been made known. A 
 ferryman soon made his appearance and offered to 
 take us over for $200, which I was quite willing to 
 give. We started and made good headway. When 
 about the middle of the stream, we descried the 
 smoke of a steamer coming down. The ferryman 
 pulled with a will, landed us, tumbled out my trunk, 
 and pushed from shore, to seek his refuge on the 
 other side. We hid the trunk in a clump of bushes, 
 and sought shelter ourselves from unfriendly obser- 
 vation. The steamer soon came in view. It proved 
 to be a transport. Any one from its deck could 
 have swept the field about us with glasses, but the 
 bushes we were in, doubtless, concealed us from 
 view. 
 
 It was while I was crouched in the bush, hidino- 
 from the enemy, and as a guilty thing, fearing to face 
 the day, I recalled, with pity to my " best part of 
 valor," the words of the Scottish chieftain : 
 
 " I stand upon my native heath, and my name is 
 McGregor." 
 
 The transport was hardly out of sight when my 
 fellow-traveller, true to a soldier's instinct, went for- 
 aging and soon returned with a number of eggs. We 
 procured a team, consisting of a yoke of oxen, and 
 the tongue and fore wheels of a wagon, upon which 
 
IN DIXIE. 119 
 
 we lashed the trunk, and started to reach a planta- 
 tion house a mile and a half from the river, the dri- 
 ver of the team cheering us with the remark that a 
 gang of men from a gunboat had destroyed a skiff 
 about a fortnight before, on the spot where we 
 stood. When we reached the plantation house, 
 we entered and met some of the occupants, the 
 owner being out. Soon, however, he made his ap- 
 pearance and seemed extremely unhappy to enter- 
 tain us, and in his heart doubtless wished us in Hali- 
 fax or — a more remote region, although he allowed 
 us to sleep on the floor. In the morning we made 
 preparation to leave before breakfast. In his surly 
 way he intimated we could have breakfast. I 
 thanked him and told him that unpleasant as it was 
 for him to entertain, it was more unpleasant for us 
 to be entertained. We stopped at a negro cabin 
 near, bought some bread and meat for our breakfast, 
 and resumed our journey. 
 
 Raiding parties of the enemy's cavalry had become 
 more familiar than agreeable to the people within a 
 few miles of the river, so that we had to travel cau- 
 tiously to avoid being picked up by them. In time 
 we were beyond the limit of their forays, and among 
 friends. We took the road to Harrisonburg, thence 
 to Alexandria, which we reached on April 4, 1865. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT. 
 April— May, 1865. 
 
 After the surrender of Vicksburg, it was Grant's 
 policy to disorganize and scatter the entire Confed- 
 erate forces there, in such manner that neither the 
 authority of the Confederate Government, nor any 
 personal appeal to the patriotism of the soldier, 
 would be able to unite the severed members into a 
 shapely and effective body. 
 
 In the valuable notes, already referred to, fur- 
 nished to me by Captain Moss, he says : 
 
 " My recollection is, that we were not allowed to 
 march out in regular military order— it seemed to be 
 the policy to disorganize our forces." 
 
 " After receiving rations and our paroles from the 
 Federals, we marched out of the city, and it soon 
 became known that we were to report at Enterprise, 
 Mississippi, and go into parole camp. It was too 
 much to expect from ragged, starved and suffering 
 men, to go into a parole camp for an indefinite time, 
 which proved afterwards to be about twelve months. 
 So, they nearly all went home — many of them had 
 families in want and misery — to recuperate and be 
 ready for duty when exchanged." 
 
 The poHcy of disintegration, we have alluded to, 
 was favored by the fact that the homes now sought 
 by these men were in territory subject to the ene- 
 
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT. 121 
 
 my's control, where this policy was not only encour- 
 aged, but, in a measure, enforced. 
 
 But General Grant mistook the temper of the 
 men with whom he was dealing, and long before an 
 - exchange was effected, paroled soldiers who had gone 
 into Federal territory to see their families had re- 
 turned to Confederate lines, to be ready to serve, as 
 soon as the ban of their parole was lifted. Captain 
 Moss states in the notes I have mentioned: 
 
 " In the Spring of 1864 a parole camp was estab- 
 lished in Lafayette Parish, for Companies A and E, 
 and subsequently we were ordered to report at Pine- 
 ville," and on May i, 1864, a parole camp was estab- 
 lished near Nat<;hitoches, Louisiana, for the regi- 
 ment, and particularly for Co- G, whose members re- 
 sided in its neighborhood. 
 
 In the first draft of these memoirs I had not any 
 notes of what occurred in relation to the regiment 
 after the surrender of Vicksburg and before I joined 
 the regiment at Pineville, Louisiana. The gap has 
 been happily closed by the following interesting nar- 
 rative from the p,en of Lieutenant Bossier of Co, G. : 
 
 " Natchitoches, La., Sept. 23, 1889. 
 
 Major Lagarde of the 26th Louisiana Regiment 
 reached Natchitoches, Louisiana, about May i, 1864, 
 three weeks after the battles of Mansfield and Pleas- 
 ant Hill, where Banks' army was defeated and routed 
 by the Confederates, under command of General 
 Dick Taylor. 
 
 Major Lagarde, Captain Metoyer, Lieutenant Le- 
 mee and myself decided to establish a parole camp 
 at Camp Salubrity. We notified all the paroled sol- 
 diers of Co. G, and persuaded about one-half to join 
 us in camp, about three miles north of this city, 
 where we had the best spring water in abundance. 
 
122 TWENTY-SIXH LOUISIANA REGIMENT. 
 
 Major Lagarde and myself went to work to find 
 cooking utensils, etc., for the men. We succeeded 
 in finding a supply in deserted negro quarters down 
 Cane River, about ten miles from this point. 
 
 Co. G remained at Cairip Salubrity, adding pa- 
 roled soldiers to its ranks, until about June 20, 1864. 
 Having now about 35 men assembled, we decided to 
 move to Alexandria. 
 
 We made arrangements for a steamboat to take us 
 down, thus avoiding to paroled soldiers the fatigue 
 of the march in midsummer. 
 
 Ours being the only company of the 26th in this 
 locality, was consequently the first to make the move 
 to establish a parole camp for the regiment. We se- 
 lected a point across the river opposite Alexandria, 
 near Pineville, where we established our camp about 
 June 25, 1864. Here we were joined by a few offi- 
 cers and men of the 26th from lower parishes, dur- 
 ing the months of July and August, but I do not re- 
 member from what companies. 
 
 News of our being exchanged reached us by the 
 last of August, 1864, when an order emanating from 
 headquarters, at Alexandria, was read to the soldiers, 
 all of whom had been assembled for that purpose. 
 This news was received in camp with demonstrations 
 of joy, and contributed largely to dispel the monot- 
 ony of soldiers in a parole camp. 
 
 Major Lagarde was in command, and Lieutenant 
 Lemee Acting Adjutant of the battalion. 
 
 Arms and accoutrements were furnished the men 
 in camp, a guard house improvised, guard mounting, 
 company drill and dress parade established ; and, in 
 a word, we felt like soldiers once more, and ready to 
 perform our duties as such. 
 
 During the months of September, October and 
 November officers and men continued to come in 
 and report for duty. 
 
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT. I 23 
 
 Guard mounting, battalion drill and dress parade 
 were had daily. Detachments were made from all 
 the battalions of our brigade to work on the two 
 forts, in process of construction, one mile above 
 Pineville, on the river. Details to guard the many 
 prisoners in Alexandria were of frequent occurrence. 
 
 The prisoners referred to were deserters, jay- 
 hawkers, etc. Among them was a noted Major Mc- 
 Gee, for trafficking with the Federals in cotton, 
 while Banks' army was at this point. 
 
 Some time in November, 1864, the 26th and. 28th 
 Louisiana battalions, in command of Colonel Allen 
 Thomas or Lieutenant Colonel Landey, were ordered 
 to march down to Evergreen, about thirty miles be- 
 low Alexandria, to meet the enemy, reported to be 
 advancing from below. 
 
 The boys in grey raised a shout, which meant they 
 were always ready for business when called upon to 
 meet the enemy. 
 
 We shouldered arms and marched out of camp — 
 haversacks pretty well filled with sweet potatoes — to 
 meet the enemy, for the first time since the siege of 
 Vicksburg. 
 
 While crossing the pontoon bridge at Alexandria, 
 the boys made the welkin ring with their shouts of 
 joy. 
 
 Our forces, about 600 strong, presented a sol- 
 dierly appearance, and attracted a crowd of people 
 on. the levee, in front of Alexandria, wondering what 
 was up. When told of our mission to meet the 
 Yanks they cheered us vociferously. 
 
 We reached Evergreen next day, where me met 
 General De Bray commanding picket forces of that 
 section. 
 
 The General was a gay old chap, and told us, 'if 
 we were 'not afraid,' we 'could stay all night,' and 
 
124 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 we 'might have a little picnic with the blue-bellies 
 next morning.' 
 
 Next day we were told by our humorous old Gen- 
 eral he reckoned ' the Yanks had heard something 
 about your record at Chickasaw Bayou, where Gen- 
 eral Stephen D. Lee had whipped and routed Gen- 
 eral Sherman.' After pausing a while until the boys 
 ceased to cheer, he added, ' I wanted to say some- 
 thing to you about your record at the siege of Vicks- 
 burg, but am afraid you will cheer so loud — the 
 Yanks might come to see what's the matter.' One 
 should have been there to hear the boys cheer and 
 laugh. Some of them, I believe, laughed time and 
 again, for a month, over the old General's amusing 
 ways. 
 
 Being: left masters of the situation, as the Yanks 
 were not to be found, we marched back, passing 
 through Cheneyville, and reached the river, where a 
 boat was waiting for us. 
 
 Our brigade embarked and reached Alexandria — 
 all feeling better for the exercise of the march, after 
 a long rest, and the fun provoked about this blood- 
 less victory. 
 
 Some time in November, 1864, Lieutenant Gen- 
 eral S. B. Buckner took command of the army 
 corps, with headquarters at Shreveport. We then 
 had several brigade drills, our regiment taking part 
 in all. 
 
 About December, 1864, Lieutenant Moore, of the 
 Confederatie army, was court-martialed, found guilty 
 of desertion and shot opposite Alexandria. Our 
 regiment and others were witnesses of the sad spec- 
 tacle. 
 
 Some time in December, 1864, Commodore Raph- 
 ael Simms, of the Alabama, whose name was a terror 
 .to Yankee vessels, arrived at Alexandria; on which 
 
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT. I 25 
 
 occasion the 26th and all other battalions of this 
 army, commanded by Lieutenant General Buckner, 
 had a grand brigade drill, and passed in review be- 
 fore the hero of many daring adventures with the 
 renowned Alabama, on the bosom of the deep blue 
 seas. Firing of cannon and general rejoicing pre- 
 vailed on this occasion, when the Commodore made 
 his appearance on the field selected for the purpose, 
 in the rear of Alexandria. 
 
 Finally in January, 1865, the, reorganization of the 
 26th and other regiments being completed, formed 
 the Louisiana brigade of the Trans-Mississippi De- 
 partment. A camp was established above Pineville. 
 
 The men hastily constructed small cabins with 
 pine boards. Chimneys were added, and these, with 
 a good log fire, served to protect them from the se- 
 verity of this hard winter. The ground was frozen 
 from the ist to the loth of January, 1865. All suf- 
 fered much from the cold. 
 
 The different regiments composing the brigade 
 continued to drill by company and battalion, have 
 dress parades, etc., and at times working on the forts 
 and in fact performing all the duties of a soldier in 
 camp. 
 
 During the months of February and March there 
 was nothing of interest that transpired worth record- 
 ing or relating. 
 
 This scrap of history bring us up to the time Col- 
 onel Hall arrived in camp and assumed command." 
 
 I have already stated I reached Alexandria on 
 April 4th. 
 
 I called upon Brigadier General Allen Thomas, 
 commanding the brigade to which the 26th was now 
 attached, and handed him a communication from the 
 Department of War reinstating me in command of 
 the 26th, accompanied by a written request on my 
 
126 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 part to assign me to duty. He stated he could not 
 do so, as the Colonelcy had been considered vacant, 
 and promotions made accordingly. 
 
 It appears that Lieutenant Colonel Crow had been 
 promoted to the office of Colonel, Major Lagarde to 
 to the office of Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain 
 Bateman to the office of Major; but as the promo- 
 tions had not been confirmed by the Secretary of 
 War, the General commanding the Trans-Missis- 
 sippi Department ordered them to be annulled. 
 
 Prior to these promotions I had mentioned to 
 Lieutenant Colonel Crow I was taking steps to re- 
 turn to the regiment; as General Thomas, however, 
 did not assign me to duty, I took a steamer at 
 once for Shreveport, and called at General E. Kirby 
 Smith's headquarters. Col. S. S. Anderson, A. A. 
 G., informed me that my application would be favor- 
 ably acted upon and forwarded to General Buckner's 
 headquarters at Natchitoches. I went to Natch- 
 toches and received orders from the latter headquar- 
 ters to report to the regiment. 
 
 On April 19, 1865, I joined the regiment at Pine- 
 ville, near Red River, opposite Alexandria, where it 
 had taken possession of some vacant cabins. I found 
 one not occupied and made it my quarters. The first 
 evening I passed there I had the compliment of a 
 serenade by the brigade band, directed by Theodore 
 Minvielle, who after vain efforts to hear from me as 
 to a regimental band, had organized a band for the 
 brigade. 
 
 I found the regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel 
 Crow's command; in fine and effective condition ; 
 there was nothing wanting his zeal and energy could 
 have secured. Lack of memoranda prevents me 
 from detailing all he had accomplished, from the ren- 
 dezvous of the regiment up to the time I resumed 
 
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT. 12 7 
 
 command. A morning report before me, of April 
 20, shows an aggregate of 542, only one enlisted man 
 under arrest, and eleven enlisted men absent without 
 leave. 
 
 On April 25 the morning report showed an aggre- 
 gate of 571, 
 
 On April 26 the division commanded by Major 
 General Harry T. Hays, to which our brigade be- 
 longed, moved up Red River under orders. From a 
 fragmentary itinerary kept by me at the time, I make 
 the following extracts : 
 
 Bivouac Near Monette's Ferry, April 29. 
 
 Left Cot'isle for Natchitoches — regiment in line 
 at 6.30 a. m. The division begun the march at 7.40 
 A. M., and went 13 miles to this place— weather op- 
 pressively warm — seven of the regiment had to fall 
 to the rear. 
 
 Bivouac, April 30. 
 
 Regiment in line before 5 a. m. Made about 13 
 miles to-day, weather warm and men thoroughly 
 tired, although we rested four times during the 
 march, about twenty minutes each time. 
 
 Bivouac Near Cane River, 
 
 Three Miles From Natchitoches. 
 
 Reveille at 4 a. m. Line formed before 5, the 26th 
 leading the brigade. The boys marched so well, the 
 field officer of the day told us we were going too 
 fast. General Thomas very soon came up and made 
 the same remark. Reached the camp about i p. m. 
 
 Camp Salubrity, Near Natchitoches, 
 
 May 2, 1865. 
 
 Reached here early this morning, the entire march 
 of about 50 miles having been made, without un- 
 
128 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 necessary fatigue to the men, in a small fraction over 
 three days. 
 
 News of Ihe surrender of Lee's army in Virginia 
 reached us about April 20th. Viewing it, in the 
 most favorable light, it was, undoubtedly, a serious 
 blow to the Confederacy; and it is not saying too 
 much for the intelligence of the officers of the 26th 
 to assert they so regarded it; but it wrought no 
 change in their subordination, or their sense of mili- 
 tary propriety. It may be conceived that, under 
 tnese circumstances, I was astounded to receive a 
 communication from brigade headquarters to the ef- 
 fect that in my command " officers upon whom 
 devolves the high duty of sustaining a noble cause, 
 should have proved recreant to all principles of man- 
 liness and soldierly obedience, and shown by their 
 insubordinate and mutinous language that they are 
 no longer fit to fill positions of responsibility" — 
 
 — And this to officers who so gallantly led in 
 our first fight against heavy odds at Chickasaw 
 Bayou; who night and day for over forty days were 
 in the trenches of Vicksburg; and whose discipline 
 in camp was as exact and complete as their conduct 
 in the field was intrepid and praiseworthy ! 
 
 I was directed by this communication to " insti- 
 tute strict inquiry, and whenever it is found that 
 officers use language calculated to weaken faith in 
 our cause, or tending to destroy discipline, you will 
 immediately place them under close arrest, prefer 
 charges against them and report the facts to these 
 headquarters." 
 
 I was also directed by it to report the spirit of the 
 command. 
 
 On April 24 I repHed to this communication, 
 which was dated the day preceding, stating I had in- 
 stituted strict inquiry as to whether any officers of 
 
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT. I2g 
 
 command had been guilty of the serious charges 
 mentioned, and that I had not been able to ascertain 
 upon whom even suspicion could rest, and that I 
 regretted the informer did not mention the names 
 of the officers accused, in order I might have at once 
 proceeded against them. 
 
 I continued, " I have now to respectfully ask the 
 names be ascertained and made known to me in or- 
 der I may proceed to fix the charge upon the guilty, 
 if such there be, and relieve the remainder of the 
 officers from the odium necessarily attached to this 
 grave accusation. I ask this as a matter of right 
 concerning the honor of the regiment, its officers 
 and men in my keeping, and that it is my duty, in 
 the premises, to protect those who are innocent, and 
 to purge the regiment of the guilty. As an act of 
 justice to the officers of the regiment, I beg leave to 
 state they have always performed their duties cheer- 
 fully and faithfully, and have ever been mindful of 
 military subordination and propriety. The spirit of 
 the regiment is equal to any in the army, and its dis- 
 cipline and subordination all I could desire" 
 
 On the same day I received a reply stating : " My 
 communication was not one addressed only to you 
 and reflecting on the officers of the 26th Regiment 
 Louisiana Infantry, but was a copy of a letter sent to 
 all the commands, for it is known to General Thomas, 
 that since the reception of the bad news, numbers of 
 officers, including some in your regiment, have ex- 
 pressed sentiments doing little credit to their patriot- 
 ism or habits of military discipline. The General is 
 glad to know that the spirit of the regiment is good, 
 and he is assured that to bring these facts to your 
 notice is sufficient." 
 
 As this was not responsive to my request and my 
 right to have the names of the officers so grievously 
 
 17 
 
130 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 accused, but rather a repetition of the charge, though, 
 perhaps, in milder form, I wrote to Brigade Head- 
 quarters, enclosing a copy of my communication of 
 April 24th, stating I had not had a reply, and now 
 had the honor of inviting attention to it. 
 
 On May 6th I received a note from Headquarters 
 stating this communication and enclosure had been 
 received, adding: "The Brigadier General com- 
 manding is gratified at being assured by you of the 
 good spirit of officers and men of your command un- 
 der the recent adverses." 
 
 On the same day I acknowledged receipt of the 
 note, and stated: "I beg leave to call your attention 
 to my communication of the 24th ult., in which I de- 
 mand specifically, as a right, the names of the offend- 
 ing officers be given up to me. I now reiterate ray 
 request that the offenders, if such there be, be made 
 known to me, and I will further ask that I be placed 
 in possession of the evidence against them, in order 
 I may make the charges and specifications, and fur- 
 nish the evidence to the proper tribunal." 
 
 This communication was returned to me with the 
 following endorsement : "Mayi, 1865. Resp'ly re- 
 turned. It IS not necessary to take further action in 
 the case, the proposed ends having been attained by 
 calling the attention of Colonel Hall to the facts." 
 
 Subsequents events rendered it impracticable to 
 pursue the matter and vindicate the smitten honor 
 of the regiment. So the affair rested — with the ac- 
 cusation made — the names of the accused asked for 
 and not given — the evidence called for and not fur- 
 nished. It seems fair to presume the evidence did 
 not exist, and that the recreant officers were a myth. 
 I believed there was not the slightest ground for this 
 serious arraignment of the officers of the 26th upon 
 one of the gravest charges known to the articles of 
 
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT. I3I 
 
 war. There was not one who would not have in- 
 vited the strictest scrutiny into his conduct, and an 
 investigation would have simply served to bring to 
 light an unsmirched record of absolute fidelity to the 
 flag. The sequel will show with what stern views of 
 discipline, and with what lofty sense of duty, the 
 26th — officers and men — stood by that flag, until it 
 passed into history. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE DISBANDING. 
 
 May, i86s. 
 
 " Rebellion ! foul dishonoring word ! 
 
 Whose wrongful blight so oft has stained, 
 The holiest cause that tongue or sword 
 
 Of mortal, ever lost or gained. 
 How many a spirit born to bless, 
 
 Hath sunk beneath that withering name, 
 Whom but a day, an hour's success. 
 
 Had wafted to eternal fame. 
 As exhalations when they burst, 
 
 From the warm earth, if chilled at first, 
 If checked in soaring from the plain, 
 
 Darken to fogs, and sink again ; 
 But if they once triumphant spread 
 
 Their wings above the mountain head, 
 Become enthroned in upper air. 
 
 And turn to sun-bright glories there." 
 
 I have already alluded to the fact that the surren- 
 der of Lee was considered by the officers of the 26th 
 a serious blow to the Confederacy. Indeed, these 
 views permeated the division to which we belonged, 
 and as the Army of Virginia was the keystone of the 
 Confederate arch, before sages recovered breath to 
 predict the sequence, the arch gave way, and the 
 Confederacy was a thing of the past. 
 
THE DISBANDING. I 33 
 
 It must be borne in mind the Trans-Mississippi 
 Department was severed by hostile lines from the 
 main portion of the Confederacy; couriers consti- 
 tuted the tedious and uncertain channel of inter- 
 course ; and in the stirnng events that quickly suc- 
 ceeded the surrender at Appamatox, orders could 
 not be intelligently given, so that the commanding 
 General was left to act, as I believe, on his own 
 sense of duty. The situation of his command was 
 peculiar. The military organization was intact. No 
 enemy was near. To disband, under the circum- 
 stances, seemed to be assuming a grave responsibil- 
 ity, and otherwise jarred the sense of military pro- 
 priety. 
 
 Meanwhile, rank and file, hardly less intelligent 
 than the officers, perceived they could not further 
 serve the cause, and were anxious to return to their 
 families and homes. Some turbulent spirits, too, 
 considered the military supplies and stores were now 
 derelict, and belonged to the first who could seize 
 and hold. 
 
 In this dilemma we received the only orders mili- 
 tary discipline would allow — to move westward to- 
 wards Mansfield. The order, while not based on an 
 apparent motive, was not ours to question. It 
 served, in a measure, to distract the attention of the 
 men, and enabled the commanding General to take 
 advantage of any contingency that might arise in 
 our favor, hopeless as that contingency might ap- 
 pear. 
 
 I mention these surrounding circumstances as 
 those in which subsequent events are to be viewed, 
 explained, and to a certain extent condoned. 
 
 On May loth, while the regiment was near 
 Natchitoches, I received a communication from Bri- 
 gade Headquarters, directing me to assume charge 
 
134 TWENTY-SIXH LOUISIANA REGIMENT. 
 
 of the brigade, assigning as a reason the illness of 
 General Thomas. Soon after this General Buckner, 
 our corps commander, ordered a review of the divi- 
 sion. An old field near Natchitoches was selected 
 for the purpose. At the appointed hour, under a 
 genial sky, at this high tide of Spring, passing sweet 
 and beautiful in its lavish array of Flora's choicest 
 offerings, there was gathered for our last ceremonial, 
 and as if to be anointed for our burial, as fine a body 
 of men as fought at Antietam or Chickamauga. 
 
 It was a scene worthy of the highest touch of art, 
 when General Buckner, with head uncovered, and 
 his long hair given to the wind, rode rapidly down 
 the line followed by his staff, his stalwart form and 
 bearing the ideal of a soldier, possessing every heart 
 of his command with the enthusiasm that swelled in 
 the breasts of the followers of Cleburne or Forrest, 
 and willing to go wherever he led. 
 
 On May 13, 1865, our division. Colonel Robert 
 Richardson commanding as Senior Colonel, in the 
 absence of General Flays, moved, under the orders 
 mentioned, in the direction of Mansfield. 
 
 In spite of the vigilance of the officers, the picket- 
 ing of roads, the doubling of camp guards, and other 
 precautions, desertions were now becoming numer- 
 ous among those who considered further contention 
 useless, butwho, I believe, to a man, would have kept 
 true to the last, and fought against desperate odds, 
 as long as there was the slightest hope of success. 
 The 26th stood by their colors ; there may have been 
 desertions from it, but none I can call to mind ; and 
 the organization and esprit de corps was maintained 
 in its integrity. 
 
 These desertions were not only demoralizing to 
 the men who remained with us, but as tney were ac- 
 companied by the depletion of our supplies, each 
 
THE DISBANDING. I 35 
 
 squad of deserters left us with less means to keep to- 
 gether, or to make a lengthy march. 
 
 It is a noteworthy and creditable fact that the offi- 
 cers of the division were steadfast to the bitter end, 
 and did all in their power to preserve subordination, 
 although the men knew all authority had ceased — 
 all rank levelled. Some were ready to assert it in 
 speech and act. It was only the habit of disciphne 
 with some, and patriotic motives of others, that kept 
 together those of the rank and file that stood by 
 their colors to the last. 
 
 On May 19 we camped near Mansfield. Each 
 successive day had increased the desperateness of 
 our situation. Colonel Richardson sent for me. 
 We canvassed our condition. No orders had been 
 received by us since we left Natchitoches on the. 
 13th. Commissary stores were nearly exhausted, 
 and there was no legitimate source of supply. It 
 seemed impracticable to keep the command together. 
 We were of one mind that the only thing to be done 
 was to disband until further orders. Accordingly, 
 he issued the following order : 
 
 " Headquarters Hay's Division, ) 
 
 Buckner's Corps, Army W. La., l 
 
 Camp Near Mansfield, La., 19 May, 1865. ) 
 
 General Orders No. 13 : 
 
 The major portion of the command having de- 
 serted camp and gone to their homes, all the gov- 
 ernment animals and most of the wagons having 
 been forcibly taken possession of and carried away, 
 the Commissary and Quartermaster's Departments 
 of this command and the Post at Mansfield having 
 been pillaged by the troops ; all completely paraliz- 
 ing the present military organization, and rendering 
 the maintaining of discipline and the subsistence of 
 
136 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 the troops any longer impossible ; brigade comman- 
 ders are hereby authorized to temporarily disband 
 the troops under their command, and to permit 
 them to proceed to their homes, there to await fur- 
 ther orders from their commanding officers. 
 
 By order of Col. R. Richardson, 
 
 Commanding Hays' Division. 
 
 J. J. Clarke, A. A. A. General." 
 
 Our last day in camp was a stirring time. Many 
 of the men looked upon the Government property 
 as abandoned, and sought to appropriate whatever 
 could be found. Early in the morning news came 
 to me that the ordnance stores of the brigade were 
 being plundered. As I did not think it expedient, 
 under the circumstances, to give an absolute order, 
 I called for volunteers from the 26th to protect the 
 stores. The call was without response. I thought 
 it strange my faithful boys would desert me in this 
 extremity. Soon an officer called upon me and re- 
 marked the men said if a formal detail was called it 
 would be filled. I ordered the detail. It was 
 promptly furnished, and very soon it was guarding 
 the stores. 
 
 Amid much lawlessness and confusion the 26th 
 drew regimental lines about its camp — established a 
 cordon of pickets for its protection, and officers of 
 other regiments availed themselves of the security 
 afforded, and the hospitality tendered, within these 
 lines. 
 
 Two captains of the 26th got into an altercation, 
 revolver in hand. I put both under arrest, which 
 they submitted to without a word. I smoothed their 
 difficulty and released them. . 
 
 I gave the officers and men a certificate of faith- 
 ful service in the form used in the following to Cap- 
 tain Moss: 
 
the disbanding. 137 
 
 "Headquarters Thomas' Brigade, 
 Near Mansfield, May 19, 1885. 
 
 "This is to certify that Captain A. J. Moss has 
 honorably served from the loth March, 1862, to this 
 date, in the Provisional Army Confederate States, 
 and that this Brigade has from this day disbanded 
 until further orders. Winchester Hall, 
 
 "Colonel commanding Thomas' Brigade." 
 
 1 
 
 The 28th Louisiana gathered around the flag they 
 had long followed with infinite credit. While the 
 band played a dirge it >vas torn in pieces, and a piece 
 given to each member as a memento. Not a word 
 was spoken, but hardly an eye that was not dimmed 
 with a tear. 
 
 The 26th gathered around its colors. Again a 
 dirge was played by the band, with Minvielle as its 
 chief. The colors were taken down and torn in 
 pieces. Silently, with heavy hearts and eyes that 
 spoke more than words, each member took a piece. 
 I broke the staff and burned it. 
 
 After the disbanding the 26th took up its line of 
 march homeward, and maintained its organization 
 until its members one by one dropped out of the 
 ranks, as they reached their respective dwellings. 
 
 I remained with them until we came to a place 
 where our routes were in different directions. I 
 stood in the road, and shook hands with each one 
 as they filed by me, saying: " Vous avez bien fait 
 votre devoir." 
 
 This simple story of the 26th was written over 
 twenty years after the war. Its end seems like an- 
 other leave-taking of the regiment — so much has it 
 been " in my mind's eye " as I penned these pages. 
 I should be glad if what I have written impresses 
 the reader with the esprit de corps of the regiment, 
 
 18 
 
138 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 as it impressed me. Its bearing in the closing scene 
 is ciiaracteristic of its career. It stood, as a Roman 
 phalanx, unmoved, during the sad throes of the last 
 days of the Confederacy. When military rank was 
 levelled, and subordination resolved into equality, it 
 denied my appeal for volunteers, but responded 
 promptly to a command. When the Brigade had 
 disbanded, its innate sense of discipline maintained 
 its organization intact, and it marched homeward in 
 unbroken ranks, and obeyed the orders of its now 
 self-imposed officers, with the same alacrity a repre- 
 sentative portion of it, went through the manual of 
 arms, during the heat of the battle of Chickasaw 
 Bayou. 
 
 There were many regiments of other States and 
 of our own that had shared in more battles of the 
 war, but a lofty position could be well accorded to 
 that command that surpassed the 26th in discipline, 
 in military propriety, in devotion to the flag and in 
 high patriotic purpose. 
 
 In common with the army of which it was a part, 
 it fell short of that material success, which is a test 
 of merit with the multitude; but it achieved that 
 grander success derived from the consciousness of 
 having performed a duty, amid perils of the field and 
 privations of the camp and the siege, in a heroic and 
 steadfast vindication of the right, and with a deep 
 scorn of the consequences. 
 
 And when the end came, and it found all resistance 
 vain, its elements of true manhood found relief in 
 the reflection that heavy battalions may overwhelm 
 but not subdue; that no weight of metal can mar a 
 principle ; and that while nations rise or fall, the tri- 
 umvirate of honor, fidelity, and constancy reigns 
 forever. 
 
ARPfiNDIX. 
 
 Note A. 
 
 The following is a note from Co. I., alluded to in 
 the text, which was sent to me just after the battle 
 of Shiloh, when I had become major of the regi- 
 ment : 
 
 " Camp Lovell, April 12, 1862. 
 Saturday Night. 
 To Captain Winchester Hall. 
 
 We address you by that title, for you are still to us, 
 our Captain. What has transpired this evening 
 forces us to make a request of you, which we hope 
 and trust will be granted, if such power can be 
 assumed by you. 
 
 That is for our company, under your command, 
 to proceed immediately to the scene of action, where 
 our brothers in arms and friends have been made to 
 bite the dust by the Lincoln vandals. 
 
 In God's name, in the name of those who now 
 sleep the eternal sleep, in the name of bereaved 
 mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers' homes made 
 desolate by the loss of their hearts' idols ; in the name 
 of all you hold dear, our beloved Captain, do grant 
 us this request. 
 
140 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 We are but dallying in this regiment ; months will 
 elapse, perhaps, before we may be useful to our 
 brothers if we are still detained here. We speak 
 but the hearts' truth when we say that we want you 
 as our leader, and will follow you wherever you will 
 lead us. 
 
 Your sympathy this evening for our dead brothers 
 and friends proves to us that you cannot, will not 
 refuse to reassume your command over us, and im- 
 mediately lead us to avenge the death of our brothers 
 and friends wWb fell gallantly defending our rights, 
 our homes, .and our sacred honor. 
 
 SIGNATURES: 
 
 L. A. Leblance, 
 
 Philip A. Vanderdoes, 
 
 C. J. Guedry, 
 
 P. Guillot, 
 
 G. A. Roger, 
 
 F. Bergeron, 
 
 T. Hepler, 
 
 E. Leonval, 
 
 H. P. Poche, 
 
 T. D. Collins, 
 
 T. F. Roussell, 
 
 P. E. Champagne, 
 
 A. Hebert, 
 
 P. Scott, 
 
 W. J. Gladish, Jr., 
 
 E. A. Flepler, 
 
 Louis Toups, 
 
 Wm. T. Knobloch, 
 
 Terence Toups, 
 
 Joseph Sevin, 
 
 N. Chaisson, 
 
 H. C. Bernard, 
 
 A. Brand, 
 Jos. F. Caillouet, 
 Prosper Boutery, 
 Frangois Ledet, 
 E. A. Dusky, 
 M. Naquin, 
 Seraphin Laine, 
 Chs. M. Gaude, 
 Ernest Morvan, 
 T. P. Lawless, 
 Justilien Stivens, 
 Octave Poche, 
 Henry Estiven, 
 Jules Dantin, 
 Frangois Ledet, 
 P. A. Ledet, 
 Justilien Martin, 
 Gustave Morvan, 
 J. A. Champagne, 
 Felix Delatte, 
 Joseph Landry, 
 S. F. Dusky, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 141 
 
 Jno. J. Smith, 
 H. F. Ledet, 
 Prosper Boudreau, 
 Prosper Toups, 
 Felicien Toups, 
 T. Emile Toups, 
 Wm. N. Dyer, 
 Wm. Tabor, 
 Joseph Trosclair, 
 Constant Simoneau, 
 F. Wagespack, 
 P. Bourgeois, 
 L. Trosclair, 
 Lovinsi Trosclair, 
 Victor Simoneau, 
 Ulger Wagespack, 
 E. H. Gaudet, 
 
 John H. 
 
 Pierre Boudreau, 
 J. B. Dusky, 
 Ozeme Toups, 
 J. N. Atkinson, 
 Emile Champagne, 
 Doradou Parr, 
 Clidamant Thibodaux, 
 Ernest Adam, 
 Emile Adam, 
 A. S. Bourgeois, 
 D. Barras, 
 Ed. Tabor, 
 On^sime Falgout, 
 Ernest Picou, 
 W. P. Picou, 
 Theophile Picou, 
 A. Melangon, 
 Hill. 
 
 Note B. 
 
 The following are the statements mentioned in a 
 note to the text relative to companies A., B., FL, 
 and I., going through the manual of arms during 
 the battle of Chickasaw Bayou: 
 
 STATEMENT MADE BY LIEUT. HAZARD EASTIN, OF 
 
 CO. A. 
 
 On Monday, December 29, 1862, immediately after 
 the main assault upon the Confederate lines, at 
 Chickasaw Bayou, Colonel Winchester Hall, com- 
 manding the 26th Louisiana Regiment, received 
 orders from General S. D. Lee to report to him with 
 six companies of that regiment. As six companies 
 had already been detached. Col. Flail took the re- 
 maining companies, to wit, the companies of Captain 
 
142 TWENTY-SIXH LOUISIANA REGIMENT. 
 
 Mouton, Bateman, Bisland, and Company I., com- 
 manded by Lieut. Webre, and moved toward Gen. 
 Lee's position. While on the way we came in view 
 of a body of the enemy at short range, and gave them 
 some of our ammunition. When we reached Gen. 
 Lee he directed us to move to the open ground in 
 front of our line, and secure whatever prisoners we 
 could. We moved out, and when we had reached a 
 point about a hundred yards in advance of our line. 
 Col. Hall came in front, ordered us into line, and put 
 us through the manual of arms. Gen. Lee rode up 
 while we were going through the drill. We presented 
 arms to him. He ordered us to fall back near the 
 trenches, where we protected ourselves as well as we 
 could, by lying flat in the rut of a wagon road. We 
 remained in this position, exposed to shells and 
 sharpshooters, until late in the afternoon. 
 
 H. Eastin. 
 Lafayette, La., 
 
 July I St, 1889. 
 
 statement of sergeants o'brien and malcom. 
 
 We were sergeants of Company B, 26th Louisiana, 
 at the battle of Chickasaw Bayou. After the main 
 attack on our line had been repulsed. Colonel Hall, 
 with companies A., B., H., and I., reported to Gen. 
 Lee. We then moved out in the open ground about 
 one hundred yards in advance of our line, our object 
 being to secure prisoners, of which many had already 
 gone to the rear. There was no more of the enemy 
 very near that we could capture. All had retreated 
 to cover of the bayou banks and woods in front, 
 from which an artillery and sharp-shooter fire was 
 kept up, which annoyed us. Colonel Hall had given 
 the order to cease firing ; but the men were excited. 
 
APPENDIX. 143 
 
 and some. were firing against orders. Colonel Hall 
 came from the rear to the front, ordered us into line, 
 and drawing his revolver, said he would shoot any 
 man that fired a shot, then put the line through the 
 manual of arms. General Lee rode up while we 
 were going through it, and we presented arms to 
 him. He ordered Colonel Hall to move us to the 
 rear, where we were less exposed, and protected 
 somewhat by lying flat in a wagon rut, and here we 
 remained until dark, and although less exposed than 
 at the point where we went through the drill, we 
 were annoyed all the afternoon by shell and sharp- 
 shooters. 
 
 Farley O Brien, ] o <. 
 
 T A/r > Sergeants. 
 
 James Malcom, j ° 
 
 Parish of St. Mary, La., 
 
 December, 1889. 
 
 statement of sergeant hepler. 
 
 I was a member of the 26th Louisiana Infantry, 
 and at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou I was Ser- 
 geant of Company I, commanded by Captain Tucker, 
 and after his death on the field, by Captain Webre. 
 On Monday, December 29, 1862, just after the as- 
 sault on our line. Colonel Hall took Companies A, 
 B, H and I, and reported to General S. D. Lee,, 
 who ordered Colonel Hall to move out on the open 
 ground in front of our rifle pits, and take whatever 
 prisoners we could. We marched out, in columns 
 of companies, to a point about one hundred yards in 
 advance of our rifle-pits, which had been reached by 
 the main body of the enemy during the assault. 
 Various ' bodies of the enemy's troops had already 
 been captured, and sent to the rear, and there were 
 no more, near to us, we could take. 
 
144 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 The enemy were keeping up their artillery fire, 
 and the sharp-shooters annoyed us. The boys were 
 excited, and some were firing against orders whenever 
 a suitable mark was offered. When we had reached 
 the point mentioned, Colonel Hall came from the 
 rear to our front, ordered a halt, then ordered us into 
 line, drew his revolver, and said, " I will shoot the 
 first man that fires a shot" ; and to cool the boys 
 down, as I suppose, put the line through the manual 
 of arms. General Lee rode up while we were in 
 line, and we presented arms to him. He then ordered 
 Colonel Hall, on account of our exposed position, 
 as I presume, to move us to the rear, in front of our 
 rifle pits, where we protected ourselves, to some ex- 
 tent, by lying flat in a wagon rut. We remained 
 here exposed to rflusketry and artillery fire, for several 
 hours, until da,rk. 
 
 Thomas J. Hepler. 
 St. Charles Parish, La. 
 May 25, 1890. 
 
 Note i. 
 
 The forces under General Sherman at the battle of 
 Chickasaw Bayou, near Vicksburg, in December, 
 1862, consisted of four divisions : 
 
 The first division, under Brigadier General A. J. 
 Smith, consisted of ten regiments and two batteries. 
 
 The second division, under Brigadier-General M. 
 L. Smith, consisted of eight regiments and two 
 batteries. 
 
 The third division, under Brigadier General G.. W^. 
 Morgan, consisted of eight regiments and four 
 batteries. 
 
 The fourth division, under Brigadier General 
 Frederick Steele, consisted of seventeen regimectts 
 and the First Iowa Artillery. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 H5 
 
 Besides these, there was battalion 13th United 
 States Infantry, Thielman's Cavalry, pontoon com- 
 panies, &c. 
 
 The above regiments classified by States are : 
 
 3rd, 9th, and 22nd Kentucky 3 
 
 42nd, 5^th, 57th, 58th, 76th, 83rd, 96th, 114th, 
 
 i2oth, 148th Ohio 10 
 
 6th, 1 6th, 54th, 67th, 69th, 83rd, 97th, 1 1 8th 
 
 Indiana 8 
 
 13th, 55th, 77th, 113th, ii6th, 127th Illinois.... 6 
 
 4tn, 9th, 26th, 28th, 31st, 34th Iowa 6 
 
 23rd Wisconsin i 
 
 ist, 3rd, 6th, i2th, 17th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd 
 
 Missouri 9 
 
 Note 4. *43 
 
 Extracts from the report made by Major-Geaeral 
 M. L. Smith of the operations of the division com- 
 manded by him during the siege of Vicksburg : 
 
 "During the night of the i8th (May) my troops 
 and artillery were all withdrawn within the mainlines 
 and placed in position, from which they were never 
 for an instant dislodged during the entire siege. On 
 the 19th the enemy's main force arrived, and pro- 
 ceeded at once to make a direct assault on my right, 
 and the first effort was directed against the centre of 
 Shoup's brigade ; but being exposed to a heavy and 
 well-directed fire, the enemy broke and fled. Re- 
 forming again, a second advance was attempted 
 against my extreme right, and a bold effort made to 
 rush over into the works. The assaulting columns 
 seemed to consist of six or seven regiments, and was 
 formed behind an elevation, concealing it from sight, 
 
 * See Sherman's Memoirs, Vol. i, p. 286. 
 
146 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 After coming into view, it moved confidently and 
 determinedly forward. The 26th and 27th Louisiana, 
 supported by the ist Missouri, in reserve, received 
 the charge with a withering fire, and after a second 
 volley the enemy fled in confusion, leaving five colors 
 on the field, and strewn with the dead and wounded. 
 One or two feeble attempts to rally were easily re- 
 pulsed, and the day closed with the artillery and 
 sharp-shooters keeping up a continuous and heavy 
 fire. The 20th and 21st were spent by the enemy 
 in erecting new batteries, and keeping up from day- 
 light until dark the heaviest possible firing, both of 
 musketry and artillery. The 22nd passed in the 
 same manner until about 2 p. m., when a column was 
 discovered advancing Against the right of Shoup's 
 brigade. It was immediately driven back. Another 
 then appeared on the right of the centre. This was 
 dispersed without great effort, and with considerable 
 loss. 
 
 Again the enemy appeared in increasing force on 
 my right and Forney's left. He was promptly re- 
 pulsed, and with heavy loss. This terminated the 
 day's operations, with the exception of a heavy fire 
 of musketry and artillery, kept up until dark along 
 my entire front, After these several decided re- 
 pulses, the enemy seemed to have abandoned the 
 idea of taking by assault, and went vigorously at 
 work to thoroughly invest and attack by regular 
 approaches." 
 
 " The good conduct of both officers and men 
 during forty-seven days in the trenches is worthy of 
 special praise. Neither one or the other could have 
 behaved better." 
 
 In reference to the siege operations generally, he 
 says: 
 
APPENDIJt. 147 
 
 "The heaviest and most dangerous attack was on 
 the extreme right, and nobly did the 26th, 27th, 28th, 
 and 31st Louisiana repel and endure it. The casual- 
 ties among the officers of these regiments indicate 
 the nature of the defence required. In the 26th 
 Louisiana Major Martin, one captain, and two lieu- 
 tenants were killed; Colonel W. Hall seriously 
 wounded; in the 27th Louisiana Lieut.-Colonel 
 McLaurin, one captain, one lieutenant killed. Colonel 
 D. L. Marks dangerously *; Major Norwood, one 
 captain, one lieutenant severely wounded ; in the 
 28th one lieutenant killed and three lieutenants 
 wounded; in the 31st Colonel Griffin wounded. 
 
 " The conduct of the entire division was most ex- 
 emplary, and its courage and cheerfulness increased, 
 if possible, from day to day, under the hardships and 
 privations of the siege." 
 
 Note 5. 
 
 The following quotations from the official report 
 of Brigadier-General F. A. Shoupe, who commanded 
 the brigade to which the regiment was attached, will 
 serve to show some of the trials and some of the 
 triumphs of the 26th in this memorable siege.f 
 
 " May 19th, at daylight, the enemy had taken pos- 
 session of the heights, abandoned a few hours before 
 by our troops, from which position he soon opened 
 upon us with artillery. By 10 a. m. he had placed 
 his batteries in our front, as well as at the right and 
 left of my position, the line making a very decided 
 salient. The fire from artillery and sharpshooters 
 soon became very heavy." 
 
 * Colouel Marks died of his wounds. 
 
 \ See the Report War of the Rebellion, Official Records, Vol 24, 
 Part 2, p. 405- 
 
148 TWENTY-SiXTM LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 "About I P. M. the enemy debouched in force from 
 a gorge in front of the centre of my position. We 
 opened on him. He broke, and fled to the cover of 
 the hills. After a time he reappeared in greater 
 force farther to the right, in front of redan, occupied 
 by Col. Marks' regiment. Our force staggered him, 
 but the fragments of several regiments succeeded in 
 Sfainina: the cover of a ridsfe in front of the redan. 
 Here he remained some time, almost wholly free 
 from our fire. He finally made a rush with the in- 
 tention of carrying our line, but was met by a terrific 
 fire in front and flank, and fled in utter confusion, 
 leaving many dead." 
 
 " The enemy continued a terrific fire until dark." 
 
 "May 20th and 21st. — Continued fire from the ar- 
 tillery and sharp-shooters of the enemy." 
 
 " May 2 2d. — Fire from the enemy before dawn. 
 Keep it up with extreme vigor. A little after noon 
 the enemy attempted to carry my position on the ex- 
 treme right; another failure." 
 
 "A force on my extreme left begins to assemble. 
 Taking advantage of the gorge in front, they gain 
 the cover of the steep declivity at the foot of the 
 ridge, running down from our line into the gorge. 
 Severel regiments are finally assembled. About 3 p. 
 M. a very heavy force discovers itself on my right, 
 and General Hebert's left. It moves forward to 
 assault our line. It is repulsed with great loss." 
 
 "About 5 p. M. the force on my left just spoken 
 of makes a dash at my line, it is slaughtered and flies 
 in confusion. 
 
 "The troops behaved most admirably — mount the 
 parapets with enthusiasm. Colonel Marks, 2 7th La. ; 
 Lieutenant-Colonel McLauren, 27th La. ; Lieuten- 
 ant-Colonel Crow, 26th La.; Major Martin, 26th 
 La.; Major Norwood, 27th La., each display great 
 gallantry." 
 
APPENDIX. 149 
 
 " May 23 to 31. — Enemy entrenching energeti- 
 cally at night. Keeping up a continous fire during 
 the clay." 
 
 "June 5. — During the night the enemy kept up 
 an incessant artillery fire and occasional musketry." 
 
 "June 6. — Enemy fired nearly all night from ar- 
 tillery." 
 
 "June 8. — Continuous fire during the night." 
 
 "June 9. — Last night the enemy fired into our 
 working party on the left, wounding two men. We 
 are constructing a rough stockade at that point, to 
 prevent a dash from the enemy's works, now not 
 more than 75 yards distant." 
 
 "June II. — The sharp-shooters are extremely vigi- 
 lant, and are within 60 or 70 yards, excellently cov- 
 ered. The 26th Louisiana is securing its front 
 against a dash, by means of a picket with brush en- 
 tanglements." 
 
 "June 13. — Sharp-shooting very bitter." 
 
 "June 15. — Gap at redan (held by 27th Louisiana) 
 very close, within ten paces of ditch. We are using 
 hand-grenades on working parties." 
 
 "June 1 7. — We are on speaking terms with the 
 enemy at the redan. The picket parties at that 
 point agree upon short truces, duringwhich neither 
 party is to fire. Notes are thrown across from one 
 party to the other. Some trading going on in cof- 
 fee, etc. Have forbidden communications. I per- 
 mit it only in presence of the officer of the day." 
 
 " June 20. — Furious cannonading began at day- 
 light and continued a good part of the day." 
 
 "June 22. — Major W. W. Martin, 26th Loui- 
 siana, was killed instantly by sharp-shooters. He was 
 one of the most gallant and excellent young officers 
 of the command." 
 
 "June 29. — Are using hand-grenades on him" (the 
 enemy.) 
 
150 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 "July 2. — Enemy advancing his sap in front of 
 stockade. Protects himself from hand-grenades by 
 covering his tracks with rails. We are running a 
 gallery from our trenches to blow in the enemy's 
 works." 
 
 "July 3. — Enemy is running a gallery, with the 
 intention of blowing up the stockade between lu- 
 nette and redan. Is hard at work to-day. We fol- 
 low the example. The question is which shall ex- 
 plode first ?" 
 
 "July 4. — Capitulation ordered. At 10 a. m. we 
 moved out of our trenches by battalions, stacked 
 arms, and returned to our old quarters in town. The 
 men were full of indignation. Though they have 
 had very scant fare, and had been exposed to a mer- 
 ciless and almost continuous fire, remaining at their 
 posts in the trenches without relief, I have rarely 
 heard a murmur or complaint. The tone has al- 
 ways been, ' This is pretty hard, but we can stand 
 it.' Too much praise cannot be given to officers 
 and men." 
 
 :i: * * 
 
 " Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. C. Crow, 26th Regi- 
 ment Louisiana Volunteers, bore himself with 
 marked gallantry throughout the siege. He was the 
 only field officer remaining in his regiment." 
 
 * * :!: 
 
 "My thanks are due to the following officers:" 
 * * * 
 
 •'Lieutenant Lewis Guion, Acting Inspector Gen- 
 eral." 
 
26th regiment LOUISIANA INFANTRY, 
 
 C. S. A. 
 
 FIELD AND STAFF. 
 
 Alexander de Clouet. 
 
 Duncan S. Cag-e. 
 
 Winchester Flail. 
 
 William C. Crow. 
 
 W. Whitmel Martin. 
 
 FIELD. 
 
 Elected Colonel April 8, 
 1862. 
 
 Captain of Company H. 
 Elected Lieutenant-Colonel 
 April 5, 1862. Colonel by- 
 promotion November 10, 
 1862. Resigned November 
 25, 1862. Resignation ac- 
 cepted December 30, 1862. 
 Captain of Company i. 
 Elected Major April 8, 
 1862. Lieutenant-Colonel 
 by promotion November 
 10, 1862. Colonel by pro- 
 motion November 25, 1862. 
 Captain of Company E. 
 Major by promotion No- 
 vember 10, 1862. Lieuten- 
 ant Colonel by promotion 
 November 25, 1862. 
 Captain of Company C. 
 Major by promotion No- 
 vember 25, 1862. 
 
152 
 
 TWENTY-SIXH LOUISIANA REGIMENT. 
 
 Cleophas Lagarde, 
 
 Edward Pilsbury. 
 
 John R. Bisland. 
 
 L. E. Nee. 
 A. J. Moss. 
 
 E. L. Lash brook. 
 
 Alfred Hall. 
 
 Captain of Company D. 
 Major by promotion June 
 
 2 1, 1863.* 
 STAFF. 
 
 Adjutant. Resigned dur- 
 insr Summer of 1862. 
 Adjutant. Appointed dur- 
 ing Summer of 1862. 
 Captain and Quartermaster. 
 Private of Company A. 
 Captain and Assistant Com- 
 missary of Subsistence. Af- 
 terward Commissary to 
 Thomas' Brigade. 
 Surgeon. Resigned Decem- 
 ber 18, 1862. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon, and Sur- 
 geon on resignation of Sur- 
 geon Lash brook. 
 
 NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. 
 
 James Bryan Martin. 
 
 Sergeant Major. After- 
 wards elected Junior Lieu- 
 tenant of Company C, June 
 4, 1863. Actmg Ordnance 
 Officer and A. D. C. to 
 Brigadier General Allen 
 Thomas. Captain Com- 
 pany A, Weatherly's Bat- 
 talion of Sharp-shooters. 
 Sergeant of Company H. 
 Succeeded Sergeant Major 
 Martin on June 4, 1863. 
 
 * NuTE. — On promotion uf Major Crow on Nov, 25, 1862, to Lieuten- 
 ant Colonel, Captain Lagarde was the ranking Captain, buX d,eqlined pro- 
 motion at the time. 
 
 John M. Knight. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 153 
 
 Aubain P. Thibodaux. 
 Dupre BroLissard. 
 George F. Hooper. 
 
 Joseph T. Greig. 
 
 Frank Haines. 
 
 H. Clay Bernard. 
 
 Hardgrove. 
 
 Charles O. Helwig. 
 Thomas S. Bisland. 
 
 Private of Company H, 
 Ordnance Sergeant. 
 Sergeant of Company A. 
 Commissary Sergeant. 
 Private of Company A. 
 Commissary Sergeant on 
 discharge of Sergeant Brous- 
 sard under Surgeon's certi- 
 cate. 
 
 First Sergeant of Company 
 A. Commissary Sergeant 
 on transfer of Sergeant 
 Hooper to a Texas com- 
 mand. 
 
 Private of Company B. 
 Commissary Sergeant on 
 death of Sergeant Greig, 
 who was killed in battle 
 May 22, 1863. 
 
 Corporal of Company I. 
 Succeeded Sergeant Haines 
 as Commissary Sergeant. 
 Assistant Surgeon. 
 Assistant Surgeon. Detailed 
 for duty Februaiy 25, 1863. 
 Quartermaster Sergeant. 
 
 MUSTER ROLLS, DEATHS IN THE SERVICE, CASUALTIES, 
 DISCHARGES, &C., OF THE SEVERAL COMPANIES. 
 
 Note. — There may be errors and omissions in the 
 following compilation, as it was not attempted until 
 many years after the war, when much valuable ma- 
 terial had been dissipated, and many sources of in- 
 formation had been sealed by death ; I have, how- 
 ever, made every effort in my power to have it as 
 
^54 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 accurate as these circumstances permitted, and as 
 much in detail as the lapse of time allowed : 
 
 COMPANY A MUSTER ROLL AT ORGANIZATION. 
 
 RANK. NAMES. 
 
 Captain. Eraste Mouton. 
 
 1 Lieut. Hazard Eastin. 
 
 2 Lieut. William Campbell. 
 Junior. Fernest Martin. 
 
 1 Sergt. Joseph Sosthene Mouton, 
 
 2 Sergt. Anderson Joseph Moss, 
 
 3 Sergt. ' O. Rousseau Mouton, 
 
 4 Sergt. Valerie D. Martin, 
 
 5 Sergt. Dupre Broussard. 
 
 1 Corp. John M. Miles, 
 
 2 Corp. Ernest Bernard, 
 
 3 Corp. Benjamin Bailey, 
 
 4 Corp. Joseph T. Greig. 
 Private. Albarado, Sebastien, 
 
 Albarado, Bernard, 
 " Bernard, Joseph, 
 
 " Bernard, Alcide, 
 
 " Bernard, Desire, 
 
 " Bernard, Lucas, 
 
 Broussard, Alexandre D., 
 Broussard, St. Maurice, 
 " Broussard, Leon, 
 
 " Broussard, Desircj, 
 
 " Broussard, Treville, 
 
 Broussard, Elizd, 
 Broussard, Dupreville. 
 Brasseux, Adam, 
 Babineaux, Emilien, 
 Babineaux, Charles V., 
 Babineaux, Belizaire, 
 Babineaux, Athanase, 
 
APPENDIX. 155 
 
 Private Babineaux, Theodore, 
 
 Breaux, Valerie, 
 Breaux, Sosthene, 
 " Breaux, Lucien, 
 
 " Boudreaux, Gustave, 
 
 Begnaud, Stanislas, 
 Begnaud, Toledano, 
 Begnaud, Marcel, 
 
 " Begnaud, Franyois, 
 
 Begnaud, Felix, 
 
 " Begnaud, John, 
 
 " Bausept, Xavier J. N., 
 
 " Bourg, Frangois, 
 
 " Boutt^ Leopold, 
 
 " Comeau, Aladin, 
 
 " Comeau, Valerie V., 
 
 " Comeau, Charles Ovide, 
 
 Cormier, Clemile, 
 
 " Cormier, Joachim, 
 
 Cormier, Lastie, 
 Campbell, George W., 
 Dominigue, Vincent P., 
 Dominigue, William J., 
 Dominigue, Antoine Pierre, 
 Dugas, Eraste, 
 Dugas, Duplessin, 
 
 " Dugas, Cadet, 
 
 Dugas, Jules, 
 Dugas, Joseph, 
 
 " Dugas, Alexandre, 
 
 " Doucet, Gerassin, 
 
 " Duhon, Treville, 
 
 " Duhon, Emile, 
 
 " Duhon, Alexis, 
 
 " Dubois, Aladin, 
 
 " Dubois, Desir6, 
 
156 
 
 TWENTY-SlXtH LOtJtSIAMA INPANTRV". 
 
 Private Delhomme, Octave, 
 
 Donohue, Christopher, 
 Fabre, Martial, 
 Fabre, Dorneville, 
 Fabre, Jean, 
 Guidry, Edmond, 
 Guidry, Jean Baptiste, 
 Gauthrean, Onezime, 
 Hidalgo, Felix, 
 Hooper, George F., 
 Joyner, Samuel T., 
 Lastrapes, Leon, 
 Louviere, Joseph, 
 Landry, J. B. Desird, 
 Landry, Derbes, 
 Landry, Sosth^ne, 
 Landry, Gustave, 
 Landry, Emile Ursin, 
 Landry, Desir^, 
 Landry, Jules, 
 Langlinais, Onezime, 
 Lee, Robert B., 
 Mouton, Jules, 
 Mouton, Anthony, 
 Mouton, Jean, 
 Martin, Darmas, 
 Martin, Balthazar, 
 Mai-tin, Louis A., 
 Martin, Alexandre, 
 Martin, Phileas, 
 Mouton, Frangois, 
 Mhire, Edouard, 
 Morvan, Norbert, 
 Morvan, Numa, 
 Morvan, Belizaire, 
 Melangon, Napoleon, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 157 
 
 Private Melangon, Alcide, 
 
 Nerault, Andre, 
 Portier, Ernest, 
 Prejean, Dupr6, 
 Roy, Frangois Lastie, 
 Racca, Clairville, 
 Savoie, Hiliare, 
 Savoie, Desire, 
 Solari, Jean, 
 Sonnier, Oscar, 
 Sonnier, Cyprien, 
 Sonnier, Alexandre, 
 Trahan fils, Maximilien, 
 Trahan, Desir^ 
 Trahan, Alcide, 
 Taylor, Hiliare, 
 Thibodaux, Martin. 
 
 The following roll, and the rolls of the remaining 
 companies of the regiment from August 31 to Octo- 
 ber 31, 1862, (which will be found in their proper 
 place,) are copies of the original rolls iu the Confed- 
 erate archives of the War Department of the Fed- 
 eral Government at Washington, D. C. : 
 
 MUSTER ROLL. 
 
 COMPANY A AUG. 3 I -OCT. 3 I, I 862. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Captain. E. Mouton. 
 
 I St Lieut. H. Eastin. 
 
 2d Lieut. W. Campbell. 
 
 3d Lieut. F- Martin. 
 I St Sgt. 
 
 J. S, Mouton. 
 
 On furlough since 
 Oct. 20, '62. 
 
 Promoted to Major 
 by Gen. Mouton 
 Sept. 24. 
 
158 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 2d Sgt. V. D. Martin. 
 
 3d Sgt. O. R. Mouton. 
 
 4th Sgt. Leon Lastrapes. 
 
 5th Sgt. J. M, Miles. 
 
 I St Corp. Benjamin Bailey. , 
 2d Corp. Ernest Portier. 
 3d Corp. Ernest Bernard. 
 4th Corp. J. T. Greig. 
 
 Musician. Hiliare Taylor. 
 
 Private. Albarado, S., 
 Albarado, E., 
 Bernard, Jos., 
 Bernard, A., 
 Bernard, S., 
 Bernard, L., 
 Bernard, Desire. 
 
 Broussard, St. M., 
 Broussard, Alex. D. 
 
 Broussard, L., 
 Broussard, D., 
 Broussard, Treville. 
 Broussard, E., 
 
 Discharged by order 
 Oct. 24. 
 
 Discharged by order 
 July 2. 
 
 DiedinOuichitaJune 
 29. 
 
 Reduced to ranks 
 Sept. 24th. Dis- 
 charged on ac- 
 count of disability 
 Oct. 5. 
 
 Promoted to istSgt. 
 Sept. 24. 
 
 Promoted to ist Sgt. 
 Sept. 24. 
 
 Promoted to ist Sgt. 
 July 4. 
 
 Promoted to 4th Sgt. 
 July 4, and to ist 
 Sgt. Sept. 24. 
 
 Promoted to Corp. 
 July 2. 
 
 Promoted to Corp. 
 Sept. 24. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 159 
 
 Private Broussard, Dupre. 
 
 Extra duty in Com 
 Dept. since May. 
 Now sick inVicks- 
 burg since Oct. 28. 
 
 Brasseux, 
 
 A. 
 
 
 Sick, Magnolia, Miss. 
 
 Babineau, 
 
 E. 
 
 
 
 Babineau, 
 
 Chs. 
 
 V. 
 
 
 Babineau, 
 
 B. 
 
 
 
 Babineau, 
 
 A. 
 
 
 Died Miss. Springs 
 July 30. 
 
 Breau, V. 
 
 
 
 Discharged by order 
 Aug. 2. 
 
 Breau, J. Sosthene. 
 Boudreau, G. 
 Begnaud, T. 
 
 Begnaud, Marvel. 
 Begnaud, Felix. 
 Begnaud, S. 
 
 Begnaud, Jean. 
 Bausept, J. N. K. 
 Bourk, F. 
 
 Boute, L. 
 Buzet, Edouard. 
 Coraeau, A. 
 Comeau, U. 
 Comeau, V. V. 
 Comeau, Chs. O. 
 Cormier, C. 
 Cormier, S. 
 Cormier, J. 
 Campbell, Geo. W. 
 Dominguez, Wm. J. 
 
 Promoted to Corp. 
 
 Sept. 24. 
 
 Discharged on ac- 
 count of disability 
 July 7- 
 
 Died, E. Depot Aug. 
 9- 
 
i6o 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA REGIMENT. 
 
 Private Dominguez, Ant. 
 Dugas, D. 
 " Dugas, Eraste. 
 
 " Dugas, Jules. 
 
 Dugas, Josh. 
 Dugas, Alex. 
 Doucet, G. 
 Duhon, E. 
 Duhon, F. 
 Duhon, A. 
 Dubois, A. 
 Desire Dubois. 
 Delhomme, O. 
 
 Donahou, C. 
 Fabre/M. 
 Fabre, D. 
 Fabre, J. 
 Guidry, E. 
 
 P. 
 
 Geautreau, O. 
 Hedalgo, F. 
 Flooper, Geo. F. 
 
 Joyner, S. T. 
 
 Louviere, Jos. 
 Landry, J. B. D. 
 Landry, D. 
 Landry, S. 
 Landry, G. 
 
 Promoted to Corp. 
 Oct. 30. Sick at 
 Magnolia. 
 
 Absent sick, place 
 not known. 
 
 Discharged on ac- 
 count of disability 
 Aug. 25. 
 
 On extra duty in 
 Com. Dept. since 
 Aug. 17. 
 
 Promoted Corp. July 
 2. Promoted Ser- 
 geant Oct. 30, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 l6l 
 
 Private Landry, E. U. 
 " Landry, Desire. 
 
 " Landry, Jules. 
 
 " Langlinais, O. 
 
 Lee, R. B. 
 
 Mouton, D., 
 " Mouton, Jules. 
 
 Mouton, J. 
 
 Mouton, A. 
 " Mathew, Simon. 
 
 Martin, B. 
 
 Martin, L. A. 
 
 Martin, P. 
 
 Martin, A. 
 
 Mhire, E. 
 " Morvan, Norbert. 
 
 Morvan, B. 
 " Morvan, Numas. 
 
 Melangon, N. 
 
 Melangon, A. 
 
 Nevault, A. 
 " Ponnier, B. 
 
 Pr^jean, D., 
 
 Ray, F. L. 
 " Racca, C. 
 
 " Savoie, H. 
 
 Savoie, D. 
 
 Smith, W. O., 
 
 " Soularie, J. 
 
 " Sonnier, O. 
 
 " Sonnier, C. 
 
 " Sonnier, Alex. 
 
 Trahan, Maximilian. 
 " Trahan, D. 
 
 Never joined Regt. 
 
 Discharged on acct. 
 disability, Ang 25. 
 
 Discharged on acct. 
 disability, Oct 10. 
 
1 62 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Trahan, A., Discharged on acct. 
 
 disability Sept. 30. 
 " Thibodeau, J. 
 
 Thibodeau, M. 
 
 DEATHS IN THE SERVICE. 
 
 RANK. NAMES. REMARKS. 
 
 Private. Bourg, Frangois, Died in Hospital at 
 
 Edward's Station 
 August 9, 1862. 
 
 Babineau, Athanase, Died in Hospital at 
 
 Mississippi Springs 
 July 30, 1862. 
 " Babineau, Theodore, Died in Masonic 
 
 Hall, Vicksburg, 
 June 13, 1862. 
 
 Babineau,Charles V. Died December 16, 
 
 1862. 
 
 Breaux, Lucien, Died in House of 
 
 Sisters of Mercy, 
 Vicksburg, June 
 13, 1862. 
 
 Begnaud, Fran9ois, Died in House of 
 
 Sisters of Mercy, 
 Vicksburg, June 
 12, 1862. 
 
 Bourgeois, Fergus, Died June 13, 1862. 
 " Domingue, Vincent, 
 
 Pierre. Died at Camp Moore, 
 
 May 6, 1862. 
 
 Dugas, Cadet, Died at City Hospital 
 
 Vicksburg, June 
 23, 1862. 
 
 Dubois, Aladin, Died at home, on 
 
 Furlough, fall of 
 1862. 
 
APPENDIX. 163 
 
 Private Guidryjean Baptiste Died in House of 
 
 Sisters of Mercy, 
 Vicksburg, June 
 17, 1862. 
 
 " Lastrapes, Leon, Died in Ouchita 
 
 Parish, Louisiana, 
 June, 1862. 
 
 " Mouton, Frangois, Diedin City Hospital 
 
 Vicksburg, June 
 25, 1862. 
 
 " Mouton, Jean, Died at home on 
 
 Furlough, fall of 
 1862. 
 
 " Sonnier, Bienvenu. 
 
 " Sonnier, Eugene. 
 
 DISCHARGES FOR DISABILITY, ON SURGEON's CERTIFI- 
 CATE. 
 
 RANK. NAMES. REMARKS. 
 
 Private. Breaux, Valerie, Discharged August 
 
 2, 1862. 
 " Begnaud, Stanislas, Discharged July 7, 
 
 1862, 
 Broussard, Dupreville, Discharged June, 
 
 1862. 
 " Guidry, Edmond, Discharged August 
 
 25, 1862 
 2d Sergt. Martin. Valerie D., Discharged October 
 
 24, 1862. 
 
 3d Sergt. Mouton, O. Rousseau, Discharged July 2, 
 
 1862. 
 Private, Miles, John M., Discharged October 
 
 5, 1862. 
 " Pr^jean, Duprc^, Discharged August 
 
 25, 1862. 
 
164 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA REGIMENT. 
 
 Private Trahan, Alcide, Discharged Septem- 
 
 ber 30, 1862. 
 Smith, W. O., Discharged October 
 
 10, 1862. 
 
 CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF CHICKASAW BAYOU. 
 
 RANK. NAMES. REMARKS. 
 
 Private, Martin, Adolph, Killed. 
 
 CASUALTIES DURING THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 RANK. NAME. REMARKS. 
 
 Private, Fabre, Dorneville, Killed, May 19, 1863. 
 I St Sergt. Greig, Joseph T., " " 22, " 
 
 Private, Thibodaux, Martin, " " " " 
 
 " Begnaud, Felix, " " " " 
 
 Cormier, Lastie, " June 5, 1863. 
 
 " Solari, Jean, Disabled by concuss- 
 
 ion, June 16, 1863 
 Comeaux, Charles Ovide, Wounded June 
 
 24, 1863. 
 Dubois, Aladin, Wounded June 
 
 27, 1863. 
 Duhon, Emile,. Wounded June 
 
 29, 1863. 
 Guidry, Antoine, Wounded June 
 
 29, 1863. 
 
 ROLLS OF COMPANY B. 
 
 MUSTER ROLL AT ORGANIZATION, APRIL I, 1 862. 
 
 RANK. NAMES. 
 
 Captain. Manda W. Bateman, 
 
 I St Lieut. Augustus S. Lawes, 
 
 2d Lieut. Dennis C. Daniels, 
 
 Junior, Jared Y. Sanders, 
 
APPENDIX. 165 
 
 istSergt. Cleophas Penisson, 
 2d Sergt. James H. Harwood, 
 3d Sergt. Farley O'Brien, 
 
 4th Sergt. James Malcom, 
 5th Sergt. Alfred E. Sitansbury. 
 I St Corp. Gideon Hebert, 
 
 2d Corp. A. Burton Daisy, 
 
 3d Corp. Julius Maupas, 
 
 4th Corp. Gideon Aucoin, 
 Private Anslum, William, 
 
 Albert, A., 
 
 Albert, Clairville, 
 
 Brandenburg, Otho, 
 
 Bigler, John J., 
 
 Bigler, Nicholas, 
 
 Bourgeois, 
 
 Boudreau, Victor, 
 
 Boudreau, Joseph, 
 
 Boudreau, Louis, 
 
 Bourg, M., 
 
 Beadle, Frank, 
 
 Chase, Frank, 
 
 Cocke, Bowman, 
 
 Coppell, John B., 
 
 Carentine, Michael, 
 
 Concienne, Thomas, 
 
 Duval, William. 
 
 Duval, Felix, 
 
 Daisy, J. Pemberton, 
 
 Dailey, J. Dennis, 
 
 Evans, J., 
 
 Fayette, Martin, 
 
 Fitzgerald, Jasper, 
 
 Frost, William, 
 
 Gounin, Victor, 
 
i66 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Gautreau, Ozem^, 
 
 Green, Winfield, 
 Giroir, J., 
 Hebert, John S., 
 Head, David H., 
 Haines, Frank, 
 Heaton, J., 
 
 Holliday, 
 
 Hartman, James, 
 Irwin, William, 
 Imly, Frank, 
 Johnston, John L., 
 Johnson, Charles, 
 Johnson, James, 
 Knight, John, 
 Kennelly, Martin, 
 King, William, 
 Leger, Frederic, 
 Lee, Louis, 
 Lauterman, John, 
 Leary, Patrick, 
 Mason, Thomas, 
 McCracken, Frank, 
 McLaughlin, Robert T., 
 McKenna, Barney, 
 Nope, Felix, 
 Pulaski, Alcide, 
 Penisson, Victor, 
 Penisson, Julius, 
 Penisson, Etienne, 
 Pratt, John, 
 Rentrop, Leander, 
 Reeve, O. C, 
 Sanders, Austin, 
 Spence, John, 
 Salles, A., 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 167 
 
 Private Swearingin, Lemuel C, 
 
 Staiisbury, Andrew, 
 Stevens, Zedekiah, 
 Stiner, Christian, 
 Turaro, Henry, 
 White, John B., 
 Wafford, Joseph. 
 
 MUSTER ROLL. 
 
 Co. B, 26TH Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 DATED OCT. 3 1, 1 862. 
 
 Captain. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 M. W. Bateman, 
 
 I St Lieut. A. S. Lawes, 
 
 2d Lieut. 
 
 ist Sergt. 
 2d Sergt. 
 3d Sergt. 
 4th Sergt. 
 5th Sergt. 
 rst Corp. 
 2d Corp. 
 3d Corp. 
 4th Corp. 
 Private. 
 
 J. Y. Sanders. 
 C. Penisson. 
 J. H. Harwood. 
 
 F. O'Brien. 
 J. Malcom. 
 
 A. E. Stansbury. 
 
 G. Hebert. 
 T. Knight. 
 J. Dubois. 
 G. Aucoin. 
 Anslum, Wm. 
 Albert, A. 
 
 " C. 
 Brandenbug, O. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Absent with leave 
 on furlough of 
 20 days from 
 Oct, 8. 
 
 Absent with leave 
 on furlough of 
 30 days from 
 Sept. 28. 
 
TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Bigler, J. J. 
 " N. 
 Bourg, M. 
 " Boudreaux, L. 
 
 Beadle, F 
 Cocke, B., 
 
 Coppell, J. B. 
 Carentine, M. 
 Concienne, T. 
 Duval, W. 
 Duval, F. 
 Daisy, J. P. 
 Daily, D. 
 Dubois, Delmas. 
 Evans, J. 
 Fayette, M. 
 Frost, W, 
 Gounin, V. 
 Gautreaux, O., 
 
 Discharged Oct. 
 5th from disab- 
 li.ty. 
 
 Hebert, Alexander S., 
 
 Giroir, J., 
 
 Rejoined from un- 
 avoidable ab- 
 sence on Oct. I, 
 r862. 
 
 Rejoined from un- 
 avoidable ab- 
 sence on Oct. 14 
 1862. 
 
 Died at Vickburg 
 during the bom- 
 bardment; no re- 
 cord kept of his 
 death. 
 
 Hebert, J. S. 
 Head, D. H. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 169 
 
 Private Haines, F., 
 
 Heaton, J". 
 Irwin, W. 
 Imly, F. 
 Johnston, J. L. 
 Johnson, C. 
 Johnson, James. 
 Kennelly, M. 
 King, W. 
 Leger, F. 
 Lee, L. 
 Lauterman, J. 
 Leary, P. 
 Maupas, J. 
 Mason, Thomas. 
 McLaughlin, R. T. 
 McKenna, B. 
 Nope, F., 
 
 Pulaski, A 
 Pennisson, V. 
 Pennisson, J. 
 Pennisson, E 
 Pratt, J. 
 Rentrop, L. 
 Reeve, O. C. 
 Sanders, A. 
 Spence, J. 
 Stevens, L. 
 Stiner, C. 
 
 On daily duty at 
 Com. Depart- 
 ment. 
 
 In Confederate 
 Hospital at 
 Vicksburg, Mis- 
 sissippi. 
 
 In Confederate 
 Flospital at 
 Vicksburg, Mig^ 
 sissippi. 
 
I 70 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Turaro, H. 
 White, J. B. 
 Wofford, J. 
 
 Resignations and Promotions. 
 
 On resignation of 2d Lieut. Daniels about August 
 1862, junior 2d Lieut. Sanders became 2d Lieut- 
 enant, and Sergeant Penisson became junior 2d 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 On resignation of Lieut. Lawes about October 28th 
 1862, 2d Lieut. Sanders became ist Lieutenant; 
 Junior 2d Lieut. Penisson became 2d Lieutenant, 
 and private Delmas Dubois became Junior 2d 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 ROLLS OF COMPANY C, 
 
 26TH Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 MUSTER roll AT ORGANIZATION, APRIL 2, 1 862. 
 
 KANK. NAMES. 
 
 Captain. W. Whitmel Martin, 
 
 ist Lieut. Lovincy Himel, 
 
 2d Lieut. Numa Arrieux, 
 
 Junior. Leon Ach^e, 
 
 ist Sergt. Emile Tailliu, 
 
 2d Sergt. John Carrifere, 
 
 3d Sergt. Aubert Hebert, 
 
 4th Sergt. Nicholas Duffy, 
 
 5th Sergt. Norbert Courcier, 
 
 ist Corp. Anatole D. Foret, 
 
 2d Corp. Trasimond A. Boudreau, 
 
 3d Corp. Guillaume Arrieux, 
 
 4th Corp. Appolinaire Gilbert, 
 
 Private. Allemand, Antoine, 
 
 " Arsement, Jules, 
 
APPENDIX. 171 
 
 Private Aucoin, Etienne, 
 
 Aucoin, Frangois, 
 Aucoin, Gideon, 
 Aucoin, Jules, 
 Bergeron, Dubreg^ 
 Bergeron, Emile, 
 Bergeron, Homer, 
 Bergeron, Alfred, 
 Bernard, Clezia, 
 Berthelotte, August, 
 Berthelotte, Frangois, 
 Blanchard, Am6d6e, 
 Blanchard, Louis, 
 Bolotte, Camille, 
 Bonnamour, Clovis, 
 Bonvillain, Liz6, 
 Boudeloche, Adolphe, 
 Boudreau, Ernest, 
 Boudreau, Frangois, 
 Boudreau, Clitus, 
 Boudreau, Frangois G., 
 Boudreau, Trasimond, 
 Bourg, Alfred, 
 Bourg, Fdix, 
 Bourg, Marcillain, 
 Bourg, Th^odule, 
 Cancienne, Bazil, 
 Delaune, Am6d6, 
 Delaune, Cledomire, 
 Delaune, Frangois, 
 Devine, Charles, 
 Dolan, Michael, 
 Dooly, Patrick, 
 Dubois, Zephyr, 
 Fremin, Am^dde, 
 Frerain, Trasimond, 
 
17^ 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Forgi, Pierre, 
 
 Gauthreaux, Fortunatus, 
 Gauthreaux, Hermenegele, 
 Gauthreaux, Maurice, 
 Giroir, Achilla, 
 Gros, Justilien, 
 Gros, Seraphin, 
 Hebert, Adelin, 
 Hebert, Lovincy, 
 Hebert, Pierre, 
 Hebert, Vileor, 
 Himel, Adolphe, 
 Himel, David, 
 Himel, Frangois, 
 Jolet, John, 
 Kerne, Ismael, 
 Labiche, Gustave, 
 Landry, Hermog^ne, 
 LeBlanc, Gustave, 
 LeBlanc, Theodule, 
 Leche, Charles, 
 Leche, Jean Baptiste, 
 Martin, Leonard, 
 Martin, Joseph J., 
 Melangon, Noe, 
 Pregeant, Edouard, 
 Robichaud, Louis, 
 Schmidt, Herman; 
 Rousseau, Edmond, 
 Thibodaux, Alfred, 
 Thibodaux, Joseph, 
 Thibodaux, Narcisse, 
 Triche, Elphege P., 
 Truxillo, Andr^, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 173 
 
 MUSTER ROLL. 
 
 Company C, 26th Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 AUGUST 31-OCTOBER 31, 1862. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Captain 
 I St Lieut, 
 2d Lieut. 
 2d Lieut. 
 
 I St Sergt. 
 2d Sergt. 
 3d Sergt. 
 4th Sergt. 
 5th Sergt. 
 I St Corpl. 
 2d Corpl. 
 3d Corpl. 
 4th Corpl. 
 Private 
 
 W. Whitmel Martin. 
 Lovincy, Himel. 
 Numa, Arrieux. 
 Leon, Achee, 
 
 Resigned Septem- 
 ber 29, 1862. 
 
 Emil^, Talliu. 
 John, Carriere. 
 Aubert Hebert. 
 Nicholas Duffy. 
 Norbert Courcier. 
 Anatole D. Foret. 
 Trasimond A. Boudreau. 
 Gillaume Arrieux. 
 Appolinaire Gilbert. 
 Alleman, Antoine. 
 Arseman, Jules. 
 Aucoin, Etienne. 
 Aucoin, Francois. 
 Aucoin, Gideon. 
 Aucoin, Jules. 
 Bergeron, Dubregd. 
 Bergeron, Emile. 
 Bergeron, Omer. 
 Bernard, Alfred. 
 Bertelotte, Auguste. 
 Bertelotte, Francjois. 
 Blanchard, Am^d^e. 
 Bolotte, Camille. 
 Bonnamour, Clovis. 
 
174 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA REGIMENT. 
 
 Private Bonvilain, Euzt^lien. 
 " Bonvilain, Lize. 
 
 " Boudeloche, Adolphe. 
 
 " Boudreau, Ernest. 
 
 Boudreau, Clitus. 
 " Boudreau, Francois. 
 
 Boudreau, Francois G. 
 " Boudreau, Trasimond. 
 
 Bourg, Alfred. 
 " Bourg, Felix. 
 
 " Bourg, Marcellain. 
 
 " Bourg Theodule. 
 
 Cancienne, Basil. 
 
 Delaune, Amedd. 
 
 Delaune, Cledomire. 
 " Delaune, Frangois. 
 
 Devine, Chas. 
 
 Dolan, Michael, 
 
 Sick in Hospital 
 at Edwards De- 
 pot, Miss. 
 
 Dooley, Pat'k. 
 Dubois, Zephire. 
 Fremin, Amede. 
 Freraiii, Trasimond. 
 Forgi, Pierre. 
 
 Died October 21, 
 
 1862. 
 
 Gautreau, Fortunatus. 
 Gautreau, Flermenegele. 
 Gautreau, Maurice. 
 Giroir, Achille. 
 Gros, Justilien. 
 Gros, Seraphin. 
 Hebert, Adelin. 
 Flebert, Auguste. 
 Flebert, Lovincy. 
 Hebert, Pierre. 
 
APPENDIX. 175 
 
 Private Hebert, Vileor. 
 " Himel, Adolphe. 
 
 " Himel, David. 
 
 Himel, Franc-ois. Died October, 31, 
 
 1862. 
 
 Jolet, John. 
 
 Kerne, Ismael. 
 
 Labiche, Gustave. 
 " Landry, Flermog^ne. 
 
 " LeBlanc, Gustave. 
 
 " LeBlanc, Theodule. 
 
 Leche, Charles. 
 " Leche, J. Baptiste. 
 
 Martm, Leonard. 
 
 Melancoa, N06. 
 
 Pregeant, Edward. 
 " Robichaux, Louis. 
 
 Roubatham, Joseph. 
 " Rousseau, Edward. 
 
 " Schmidt, Herman. 
 
 Thibodaux, Alfred. 
 
 Thibodaux, Joseph. 
 " Thibodaux, Narcisse. 
 
 " Triche P. Elphege. 
 
 " Truxillo, Andre (fils.) 
 
 Co. C, 26TH LOUISIANA INFANTRY, 
 
 MUSTER ROLL FROM FEBRUARY 28, 1 863, TO APRIL 
 
 30, 1863.* 
 
 KANK. NAMES. 
 
 I St Lieut. Lovincy Himel, 
 2d Lieut. Numa, Arrieux, 
 
 Junior. Robert C. Martin, 
 
 * The above is a copy from the original roll furnished by Captain 
 Himel. 
 
I 76 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 I St Sergt. 
 2d Sergt. 
 3d Sergt. 
 4th Sergt. 
 5th Sergt. 
 I St Corp. 
 2d Corp. 
 3d Corp. 
 4th Corp. 
 Private 
 
 Emile Talliu, 
 John Carriere, 
 Aubert, Hebert, 
 Nicholas Duffy, 
 Norbert Courcier, 
 Anatole D. Foret, 
 Trasimond A. Boudreau, 
 Guillaume Arrieux, 
 Appolinaire Gilbert, 
 Allemand, Antoine, 
 Arsement, Jules, 
 Aucoin, Etienne, 
 Aucoin, Francois, 
 Bergeron, Dubr^ge, 
 Bergeron, Homer, 
 Berthelotte, Auguste 
 Berthelotte, Frangois, 
 Blanchard, Amedee, 
 Bolotte, Camille, 
 Bonnamour, Clovis, 
 Bonvillain, Euzdlien, 
 Bonvillain, Liz6, 
 Boudeloche, Adolph. 
 Boudreau, Ernest, 
 Boudreau, Clitus, 
 Boudreau, Francois, 
 Boudreau, Frangois G, 
 Boudreau, Trasimond, 
 Bourg, Alfred, 
 Bourg, Felix, 
 Bourg, Marcillain, 
 Bourg, Theodule, 
 Cancienne, Basil, 
 Delaune, Amedee, 
 Delaune, Cledomire, 
 Delaune, Frangois, 
 
APPENDIX. 177- 
 
 Pri-vate Devine, Charles, 
 
 Dolan, Michael, 
 " Dooly, Patrick, 
 
 " Dubois, Zephire, 
 
 " Fremin, Am^d^e. 
 
 " Fremin, Trasimond, 
 
 " Gauthreaux, Fortunatus, 
 
 " Gauthreaux, Hermeneg^le, 
 
 " Gauthreaux, Maurice, 
 
 " Giroir, Achille, 
 
 " Gros, Justilien, 
 
 " Gros, Seraphin, 
 
 Hebert, Adelin, 
 " Hebert, Auguste, 
 
 " Hebert. Lovincy, 
 
 " Hebert, Pierre, 
 
 " Hebert, Vileor, 
 
 " Himel, Adolphe, 
 
 " Himel, David, 
 
 " Kerne, Ismael, 
 
 " Labiche, Gustave, 
 
 " Landry, Hermogene, 
 
 " LeBlanc, Gustave, 
 
 LeBlanc, Thdodule, 
 
 Leche, Charles, 
 
 Leche, Jean Baptiste, 
 
 Martin, Leonard, 
 " Pregeant, Edward, 
 
 " Robichaud, Louis, 
 
 Roubatham, Joseph, 
 " Rousseau, Edmond, 
 
 " Schmidt, Herman, 
 
 Thibodaux, Alfred, 
 
 Thibodaux, Joseph, 
 
 Thibodaux, Narcisse, 
 " Triche, Elphdgd P, 
 
 " Truxillo, Andr^, 
 
178 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Company C, 26th Louisiana Infantry. 
 
 RESIGNATIONS AND PROMOTIONS. 
 
 On resignation of Junior 2d Lieutentant Achee, on 
 September 29, 1862, Robert Campbell Martin 
 was promoted Junior 2d Lieutenant. 
 
 On promotion of Captain Martin to the rank of 
 Major on November 25th, 1862, Lieutenant 
 Himel was promoted captain; 2d Lieutenant 
 Arrieux was promoted ist Lieutenant; Junior 
 2d Lieutenant Robert C. Martin was promoted 
 2d Lieutenant, and Sergeant Emil Tailliu was 
 was promoted junior 2d Lieutenant. 
 
 On death of Lieutenant Arrieux, killed in battle 
 May 22d, 1863, Lieutenant Robert C. Martin 
 was promoted ist Lieutenant, Junior 2d Lieu- 
 tenant Tailliu, was promoted 2d Lieutenant, and 
 James Bryan Martin was elected and promoted 
 Junior 2d Lieutenant. 
 
 DEATHS IN THE SERVICE. 
 
 Private 
 
 Aucoin, Etienne, 
 
 Died June 14, '62. 
 
 n 
 
 Delaune, J., 
 
 t 
 
 " 15, " 
 
 it 
 
 Formental, Louis, 
 
 • 
 
 " 23, " 
 
 It 
 
 Barilleau, D., 
 
 i 
 
 " 27, " 
 
 Corp. 
 
 Hebert, J. B., 
 
 i 
 
 " 30, " 
 
 Private 
 
 Blanchard, Louis, 
 
 I 
 
 July, 4, " 
 
 ti 
 
 Bourg, Clovis, 
 
 i 
 
 " 6, " 
 
 t i 
 
 Bernard, Clezia, 
 
 ' 
 
 " 14, " 
 
 ti 
 
 Gauthreaux, Camille, 
 
 i 
 
 " 16, " 
 
 It 
 
 Forgi, Pierre, 
 
 Died October 21, 
 1862. 
 
 It 
 
 Himel, Francois, 
 
 Died October 31, 
 1862. 
 
 tf 
 
 Aucoin, Jules, 
 
 Died November 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 , 1862. 
 
APPENDIX. i 79 
 
 Private Jolet, John, Died November 
 
 2d, 1862. 
 " Aucoin, Gideon, Died December 
 
 31, 1862. 
 Leche, Charles, Died May 2, '63. 
 
 " Rousseau, Edmond, " " 8, " 
 
 DISCHARGES FOR DISABILITY UNDER SURGEON's 
 CERTIFICATE. 
 
 Private Achee, Kleber, Discharged July 
 
 12, 1862. 
 " Fremin, Rosemond, Discharged July 
 
 12, 1862. 
 " Martin, Joseph J., Discharged Aug- 
 
 ust 13, 1862. 
 
 CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF CHICKASAW BAYOU. 
 
 Private Bergeron, Emile, Killed December 
 
 28, 1862. 
 
 CASUALTIES DURING THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 Private Kerne, Ismael, 
 4th Sergt Nicholas Duffy, 
 2d Lieut. Numa Arrieux, 
 
 Private LeBlanc, Theodule, Wounded May 
 
 23, 1863. 
 " Fight, Martin, Wounded June 
 
 23. 1893- 
 " Fremin, Trasimond, Wounded June 9, 
 
 1863, and Died 
 
 July, 1863. 
 " Boudreau, Clitus, Killed June 14, 
 
 1863. 
 
 Wounded M 
 
 ay 
 
 19, 1863. 
 Wounded M 
 
 ay 
 
 21, 1863. 
 Killed May 
 1863. 
 
 22, 
 
i8o 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Leche, Jean Baptiste, Wounded June 
 
 24, 1863. 
 Arsement, Jules, Wounded June 
 
 24, 1863. 
 " Cancienne, Bazil, Died July, 1863. 
 
 Hebert, Adelin, 
 
 DESERTIONS. 
 
 Private Medus, Pierre, 
 Zacharie, Andr6, 
 
 Deserted May 5, 
 
 1862. 
 Deserted May 5, 
 
 ROLLS OF COMPANY D. 
 
 I have been unable to procure a muster roll of 
 Company D as organized. The following were 
 the officers at the organization : 
 
 Captain 
 I St Lieut. 
 2d Lieut. 
 Junior 
 ist Sergt. 
 2d Sergt. 
 3d Sergt. 
 4th Sergt. 
 5th Sergt. 
 I St Corp. 
 2d Corp. 
 3d Corp. 
 4th Corp. 
 Drummer 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 Cleophas Lagarde. 
 Lewis Guion. 
 Silvere Navarre. 
 M. Augustin Legendre. 
 J. Octave Picou. 
 Armand Britsch. 
 J. D. Bessons. 
 T. P. Larkin. 
 Ludger Bergeron. 
 Aubert Herbert. 
 Honord Champagne. 
 Oz^m^ Naquin. 
 Emile Trosclair. 
 Martin Elphdge. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 I»I 
 
 MUSTER ROLL. 
 
 Company D, 26th Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 AUGUST 31 OCTOBER 30, I 862. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Captain Lagarde, Cleophas. 
 
 I St Lieut. Guion, Lewis, 
 
 2d Lieut. Navarre, Silvere. 
 
 3d Lieut. Legendre, M. Augustin 
 
 ist Sergt. Picou, J. Octave. 
 
 2d Sergt. Britsch, Armand. 
 
 5th Sergt. Bergeron, Ludger. 
 
 ist Corp. Naquin, Ozem^, 
 
 2d Corp. Champagne, Honor^, 
 3d Corp. Troxler, Emile, 
 4th Corp. Parr, Aurelien, 
 
 Musician 
 Private 
 
 Promoted 3d Ser- 
 geant August 
 13, 1862 
 
 Promoted 4tii 
 S er ge an t Aug- 
 ust 13, 1862. 
 
 Promoted i st 
 Corporal Aug- 
 ust 13, 1862. 
 
 Promoted 2d 
 Corporal Aug- 
 ust 13, 1862. 
 
 Left sick at Ed- 
 wards Depot 
 Hospital Aug- 
 ust 26, 1862. 
 
 Adam, Mathurin. 
 
 Adam, Auguste. 
 
 Bernard, Miles Taylor, Left sick at Ed- 
 wards Depot 
 Hospital Aug- 
 ust 26, 1862. 
 
 Martin, Elph^ge. 
 Adam, Octave, 
 
I»2 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Babin, Marcel. 
 
 Bergeron, Drozin. 
 Bergeron, Eugene. 
 Bergeron, Euzebd. 
 Boudreaux, Olezi. 
 Bourgeois, Vasseur. 
 Bourgeois, Marcilien. 
 Bourgeois, Norbert S. 
 Breaux, Augustin. 
 Breaux, Felicien. 
 Brown, Robert. 
 Cantrel, Oscar. 
 Cantrel, Ernest, 
 Cadi^re, Louis. 
 Cogan, John. 
 Champagne, J. Florestan 
 Cantrel, Jackson. 
 Cantrel, Armogene. 
 Dantin, Livaudais. 
 Darc6, L^on. 
 Droz, Louis. 
 Dupr^, Theophile. 
 Exnicios, Joseph. 
 Farell, Frank. 
 Grima, Michael. 
 Guerrin, C. G., 
 Guillot, Ulysse. 
 Guillot, Joseph, 
 
 Guillot, Francois, 
 
 Left sick at Mis- 
 sissippi Springs, 
 June 20, 1862, 
 never reported. 
 
 Left sick at Don- 
 alsonville, La., 
 April 26, r862, 
 never reported. 
 
APPENDIX. 183 
 
 Private Guillot, Jean B., Died at C. S. 
 
 Hospital at Mis- 
 sissippi Springs 
 July, 1862. 
 
 Hawk, Raymond. 
 
 Hawk, Theolin. 
 
 Hebert, Hypolite. 
 
 Hebert, Oz(^m6. 
 
 Hebert, Wellington F., Promoted 4th 
 
 Corporal Aug- 
 ust 13, 1862, 
 
 LeBlanc, Oville. 
 
 Ledet, Am^de. 
 
 Ledet, Amdd^ A. 
 
 Lejeune, Ovile. 
 
 Lirette, Pierre. 
 
 Martin, Georges. 
 
 Malbroux, Leme, Detailed as team- 
 
 ster, August 12, 
 1862. 
 
 Mirre, Evariste. 
 
 Molaison, Augustin. 
 
 Naquin, Joseph. 
 
 Naquin, Eugene. 
 
 Navarre, Evariste. 
 
 Picou, Leon. 
 
 Picou, Gustave. 
 
 Rensch, Charles. 
 
 Robicheaux, Louis. 
 
 Robicheaux, Theophile. 
 
 Rodrigue, Louis. Left Company 
 
 April 26, 1862, 
 near Donalson- 
 ville, Louisiana, 
 never reported, 
 
 Roger, Augustin. 
 
1 84 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Roger, Frangois. 
 " Roger, Joseph. 
 
 " Sevin, Nicolas. 
 
 " Tausin, Justilien. 
 
 Thibodeaux, Claiborne G., Promoted 3d 
 
 Corporal 
 August 13, 
 1862. 
 Thibodeaux, Frangois. 
 Thibodeaux, Joseph. 
 " Toups, Pierre. 
 
 " Toups, Onesime. 
 
 " Toups, L. Oz6m6. 
 
 PROMOTIONS. 
 
 On promotion of Captain Lagarde to the rank of 
 Major on June 21, 1863. 
 
 I St Lieutenant Lewis Guion was promoted to Cap- 
 taincy. 
 
 2d Lieutenant Silv^re Navarre was promoted to ist 
 Lieutenancy. 
 
 Junior 2d Lieutenant M. Augustin Legendre was 
 promoted to 2d Lieutenancy. 
 
 Honors Champagne was promoted to Junior 2d Lieu- 
 tenancy. 
 
 DEATHS IN THE SERVICE. 
 
 Private Guillot, Frangois, 
 
 Guillot, Joseph, 
 
 Left sick at Don- 
 alsonville, Loui- 
 siana, on April 
 26th, 1862, and 
 subsequently 
 died. 
 
 Left sick at Mis- 
 sissippi Springs, 
 on June 20, 1862 
 and died after- 
 ward. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 185 
 
 Private Armstrong, George, 
 
 Pontiff, Charles, 
 Guillot, Jean B., 
 
 " Robichaux, Louis, 
 
 " Toups, Onezime, 
 
 " Cadiere, Louis, 
 
 Died in Vicks- 
 burg, June 26, 
 1862. 
 Died at Camp 
 Cage, June, '62. 
 Died in Hospital 
 at Mississippi 
 Springs, July'62. 
 Died at Camp 
 Hall about Aug- 
 ust, 1862. 
 Died near Mans- 
 field, Louisiana, 
 about April, 1862 
 Died in Hospital 
 at Vicksburg. 
 
 DISCHARGES FOR DISABILITY UNDER SURGEON's 
 CERTIFICATE. 
 
 I St Corp. Aubert, Hebert, 
 
 Discharged about 
 June, 1862. 
 
 CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF CHICKASAW BAYOU. 
 
 Private Lirette, Pierre, Killed. 
 
 CASUALTIES DURING THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 Private Adam, Mathurin, 
 
 Lieut. Silv^re, Navarre, 
 
 Private Babin, Marcel, 
 
 Private Grima, Michel, 
 
 Wounded in the 
 
 head on May 21, 
 
 1863. 
 Wounded June 
 
 5- 1863. 
 Wounded June 
 
 7. 1863. 
 Killed June 18, 
 
 1883. 
 
1 86 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private 
 
 Private 
 
 Wounded June 
 i8, 1863. 
 Honore, Champagne, Wounded June 
 
 25, 1863. 
 
 Severely wound- 
 ed June 26, '63. 
 
 2d Sergt. Armand, Britsch, 
 Lieut. 
 
 Leblanc, Oville 
 
 DESERTIONS. 
 
 Rodrigue, Louis, 
 
 Left company 
 near Donaldson- 
 ville, Louisiana, 
 April 26, 1862. 
 
 ROLLS OF COMPANY E, 
 
 26TH Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 MUSTER roll AT ORGANIZATION, APRIL, 1 862. 
 
 Captain William C. Crow, 
 
 I St Lieut. Edward B. Crow, 
 
 2d Lieut. Joseph C. Riu, 
 
 Junior Joseph Louviere, 
 
 ist Sergt. Thdodule E. Landry, 
 
 2d Sergt. John O. Richard, 
 
 3d Sergt. Pancrasse L. Riu, 
 
 4th Sergt. Aim6 D. Landry, 
 
 5th Sergt. Penotte E. Arcenaux, 
 
 ist Corp. Paul Broussard, 
 
 2d Corp. Pierre *P. Richard, 
 
 3d Corp. Alexandre M. Broussard, 
 
 4th Corp. Alfred Peck, 
 
 Private Arcenaux, Destival, 
 
 " Arcenaux, Numa, 
 
 " Braux, Clairville, 
 Braux, Paul O., 
 
APPENDIX. 187 
 
 Private Braux, Joachim, 
 
 " Braux, Norbert, 
 
 " Braux, Simon, 
 
 " Braux, Oscar, 
 
 " Bourgeois, Pierre, 
 
 " Boudreau, Adrien, 
 
 " Boudreau, Lessin, 
 
 " Bodoin, Camille, 
 
 " Bodoin, Delpliin, 
 
 " Broussard, Jules, 
 
 " Broussard, Desir^, 
 
 " Chiasson, Dupr^, 
 
 " Chiasson, Theog^ne, 
 
 " Comeau, Ovide, 
 
 " Comeau, Lessin, 
 
 " Cormier, Belonie, 
 
 Duhon, Jules, 
 
 " Duhon, Valentin, 
 
 " Duhon, Vileor, 
 
 " Duhon, Ondzime, 
 
 " Duhon, Lucien, 
 
 " Forestier, Philomien, 
 
 " Guilbeau, Adolphe L., 
 
 Girouard, Norbert, 
 
 Grififith, John, 
 
 " Guidry, Alexandre, 
 
 " Hebert, Eliz^, 
 
 " Keough, Peter, 
 
 ^ " Landry, Basil D., 
 
 " Landry, Athanase, 
 
 " Landry, Jules, 
 
 Landry, Olivier, 
 
 " Leblanc, Neuville, 
 
 " Leblanc, Duplesin, 
 
 " Lebert, Louis, 
 
 " Lebert, Pierre, 
 
1 88 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Langlinais, Hermogene, 
 
 " Langlinais, Jules, 
 
 " L6gere, Pierre, 
 
 " L^gere, Constant, 
 
 Louviere, Oz^m6, 
 
 Louvi^re, Olepsi, 
 " Louviere, Cleyt, 
 
 " Louviere, Joseph, 
 
 Melangon, On^siphore, 
 
 Mallet, Dolz6, 
 
 Mallet, Emile, 
 
 Mont6, Onezime, 
 
 Pr^jean, Andrd, 
 " Prdjean, Sosthene, 
 
 " Pr^jean, Agerin, 
 
 " Roy, C^venne, 
 
 " Rowan, Wyatt, 
 
 " Smith, Hypolite, 
 
 " Sonnier, S(!vign6, 
 
 " Stutes, Tobias, 
 
 " Simon, Eugene, 
 
 " Trahan, Rdmond, 
 
 " Trahan, Pierre, 
 
 " Webre, Martin. 
 
 ROLLS OF COMPANY E. 
 MUSTER ROLL. 
 
 Company E, 26th Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 AUGUST 31 TO OCTOBER 3I, 1862. 
 
 RANK NAMES. REMARKS. 
 
 Captain William C. Crow. 
 I St Lieut. Edward B. Crow. 
 2d Lieut. Jos. C. Riu. 
 
APPENDIX. 189 
 
 2d Lieut. Joseph Louviere. 
 I St Sergt. John O. Richard. 
 2d Sergt. Pancrasse L. Riu. 
 3d Sergt. Th^odule E. Landry. 
 4th Sergt. Penotte E. Arcenaux. 
 5th Sergt. Adolphe L. Guilbeau. 
 I St Corp. Aim^ D. Landry. 
 2d Corp. Pierre O. Richard. 
 3d Corp. Paul Broussard. 
 
 4th Corp. Florence Gonzales, Died in Vicks- 
 
 burg, October 
 21, 1862. 
 Private Arcenaux, Destival. 
 
 Arcenaux, Numa. 
 
 Bourgeois, Pierre. 
 
 Broussard, Jules. 
 
 Broussard, Alex. M. 
 
 Braux, Clerville. 
 
 Braux, Joachim. 
 
 Braux, Paul O. 
 
 Braux, Simon. 
 
 Braux, Norbert. 
 
 Braux, Paul. 
 
 Boulet, Eraste. 
 
 Boudreau, Adrien. 
 
 Boudreau, Moise L. 
 
 Bodoin, Camille. 
 
 Bodoin, Delphin. 
 
 Brown, Charles. 
 
 Cormier, Belonie. 
 
 Comeau, Lozin. 
 
 Comeau, Ovide. 
 
 Chiasson, Theog(^ne. 
 
 Chiasson, Dupr6 L. 
 
 Del'hommes, Jules, 
 
 Duhon, Lucien. 
 
190 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private D.uhon, Valentin. 
 
 Duhon, Onezime. 
 
 Duhon, Jules. 
 
 Duhon, Vileor. 
 
 Forestier, Philomien. 
 
 Guedry, Alexandre. 
 
 Girouard, Norbert. 
 
 Glaude, Ernest. 
 
 Hebert, Sylvester. 
 
 Hebert Elize. 
 
 Hebert, Theodule L. 
 
 Keough, Peter. 
 
 Landry, Olivier. 
 
 Landry, Victor Ach. 
 
 Landry, Jules. 
 
 Landry, Jean. 
 
 Landry, Athanase. 
 
 Landry, Bazil D. 
 
 Landry, Clerville. 
 
 Louvi^re, Ozemd. 
 
 Louvi^re, Cleyt. 
 
 Louviere, Olypsi. 
 
 Louviere, Jos. E. 
 
 Lebert, Pierre. 
 
 Lebert, Louis. 
 
 Leblanc, Duplesin. 
 
 Leblanc, Neuville. 
 
 Legerre, Pierre. 
 
 Legerre, Constant, On sick furlough 
 
 in Louisiana, 
 since July 15, '62. 
 
 Langlinais. Hermogene. 
 
 Laass, Fredric, On furlough in 
 
 Louisiana, since 
 April 15, 1862. 
 
 Mallet, Dolze. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 191 
 
 Private Morite, Onezime. 
 
 " Melangon, Onesiphore. 
 
 " Massy, Jno. P. 
 
 " Prdjean, Andr^ 
 
 Pr^jean, Sosthene. 
 Peck, Alfred. 
 Quebodeau, Andeal. 
 Roy, Cayenne. 
 Rayner, Geo. 
 Rowan, Wyatt. 
 Savoie, Jean. 
 Smith, Hypolite. 
 Sonnier, S^vignd 
 Stutes, Tobias. 
 Trahan, Pierre M. 
 Trahan, R6mond. 
 Trahan, Henriart. 
 Whittington, Alex. 
 Webre, Martin. , 
 
 Regimental Team- 
 ster since Octo- 
 ber 28, 1862. 
 
 PROMOTIONS. 
 
 Captain William C. Crow, 
 
 I St Sergt. Joseph O. Richard, 
 
 Promoted Major 
 November 10, 
 1862, and Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel, 
 November 25, 
 1862. 
 
 Promoted ist Lieu- 
 tenant about 
 November 30, 
 1862. 
 
tQ2 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 2d Sergt. Pancrasse L. Riu, Promoted 2d Lieu- 
 
 tenant about 
 November 10, 
 1862, and to cap- 
 taincy about 
 November 30, 
 1862. 
 
 5th Sergt. Adolph L. Guilbeau, Elected and pro- 
 moted 2d Lieu- 
 tenant about 
 November 30, 
 1862. 
 
 Note. — Junior 2d Lieutenant Joseph Louviere de- 
 clined promotion, 
 
 DEATHS IN THE SERVICE. 
 
 Private Broussard, Ernest, 
 
 Private Mallet, Emile, 
 
 Corporal Gonzales, Florence, 
 
 Lieut. Edward B. Crow, 
 
 Private Boudreau, Adrien, 
 
 Lieut. Joseph C. Riu, 
 
 Private Braux, Oscar, 
 " Prejean, Agerin, 
 
 " Legere, Pierre, 
 
 Died in Vicksburg 
 
 on May 27, 1862. 
 Died in Vicksburg 
 
 May 31, 1862. 
 Died in Vicksburg 
 
 October 21, '62, 
 Died in Vicksburg 
 
 November 18, 
 
 1862. 
 Died in Vicksburg 
 
 April 30, 1863. 
 Died at home, 
 
 while on leave, 
 
 about N o V e m- 
 
 ber 1862. 
 Died in 1862. 
 Died in 1862. 
 Died in 1863. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 193 
 
 discharges for disabilities under surgeon s 
 'certificate. 
 
 Private Griffith, John. 
 " Legere, Constant. 
 
 " Simon, Eugene. 
 
 CASUALTIES DURING THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 Private Louvier, L., 
 " Hebert, Elise, 
 
 " Louvier, J. L., 
 
 May 19, 1863, gun 
 
 shot wound in 
 
 the head. 
 May 22, 1863, gun 
 
 shot wound in 
 
 the head, 
 May 23, 1863, 
 
 wounded. Left 
 
 arm amputated. 
 June 13, 1863, 
 
 wounded. 
 Killed. 
 
 " Roy, Cevenne, 
 
 Mallet, Dolze, 
 ROLLS OF COMPANY F. 
 MUSTER ROLL. 
 
 Company F, 2 6th Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 AUGUST 31 OCTOBER 3 I, I 862. 
 
 Captain John J. Shaffer, 
 
 ist Lieut. J. A. Leonard. 
 
 2d Lieut. T. J. Shaffer. 
 
 3d Lieut. E. L. Aycock, 
 
 Absent without 
 leave since Octo- 
 ber 12, 1862. 
 
 ist Sergt. P. P. Le Blanc. 
 2d Sergt. Evariste Leonard. 
 
194 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 3d Sergt. 
 4th Sergt. 
 5th Sergt. 
 ist Corp. 
 2d Corp. 
 3d Corp. 
 4th Corp. 
 
 Private 
 
 Lovincy Dugas. 
 X. Giroir. 
 N. Boudreaux. 
 Adrien Cancienne. 
 Octave Bodoin. 
 Henry Labit. 
 Gervais Duplantis, 
 
 Ancoin, Adrien. 
 Bergeron, Germain. 
 Bergeron, Trasimon. 
 Bergeron, Erminville. 
 Bourgeois, Florence. 
 Bougeois, Joseph. 
 Bourg, Aulime. 
 Boudreaux, Adrien. 
 Boudreaux, Victor. 
 Boudreaux, Clovis. 
 Boudreaux, Emile. 
 Besse, C. A., 
 
 Brue, Ulysse, 
 
 Chiasson, Schuyler. 
 Colonate, Joseph. 
 Cantev, John D. 
 
 Delatte, F. 
 Davis, Joe. 
 Darce, John. 
 Dubois, J. B. 
 Gros, Gerazime. 
 Giroir, Theles. 
 
 Nurse at Mississip- 
 pi Springs. 
 
 Nurse at Vicks- 
 burg hospital. 
 
 Discharged on ac- 
 count of sickness 
 September 29, 
 1862. 
 
 Enlisted in Regi- 
 ment, October 
 27, 1862. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 195 
 
 Private Giroir, J. B. 
 " Gautreaux, Ed. 
 
 Hebert, Theles. 
 " Hebert, Lusignan. 
 
 " Hebert, Evaristc. 
 
 Hebert, Oville. 
 " Hebert, Theodule. 
 
 " Jenkins, Ed. 
 
 " Junot, Aristide. 
 
 " Keller, Gustave. 
 
 " Kallahen, Ben. 
 
 Kallahen, C. 
 " LeBlanc, Prosper F. 
 
 " LeBlanc, Oleus, 
 
 " Labit, Joseph. 
 
 " Lassaigne, Abel. 
 
 " Lassaigne, John. 
 
 " Munson, T. B. 
 
 " Naquin, Joseph. 
 
 " Ozelet, Jules. 
 
 " Perilloux, Joseph. 
 
 " Pitre, Faustin. 
 
 Pitre, J. B. 
 " Part, Clodomire. 
 
 " Portier, Victorin. 
 
 Polit, Felix, 
 
 Roger, Alex. 
 Richard, Louis, 
 
 Sick at Mississippi 
 
 Springs. 
 Sick at Mississippi 
 
 Springs. 
 
 Died in Camp on 
 September 27, 
 1862. 
 
 Absent without 
 leave since March 
 1862. 
 
 Thibodaux, Oville. 
 Thibodaux, Evariste. 
 
196 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOIIISIaNA INfANTRY. 
 
 Private Thibodaux, Flilaire. 
 Us6, J. B, 
 " Whitney, George. 
 
 MUSTER ROLL.* 
 
 Company F, 26th Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 MARCH IST-APRIL 3OTH, 1 863. 
 
 Captain John J. Shaffer. 
 
 I St. Lieut. F. A. Leonard. 
 
 2d. Lieut. Thomas J. Shaffer. 
 
 Junior P. P. Leblanc. 
 
 2d. Sergr. Evariste Leonard, 
 
 Promoted ist. 
 Sergeant, April 
 I, 1863. 
 
 Promoted 2d. Ser- 
 geant April 
 I, 1863. 
 
 Promoted 3d. Ser- 
 geant April 
 I, 1863. 
 
 Promoted 4th Ser- 
 geant April 
 I, 1863. 
 
 Promoted 5th Ser- 
 gean t April 
 I, 1863. 
 
 Promoted ist. 
 Corporal * April 
 h 1863, 
 
 Promoted 2d. 
 Corporal April 
 I, 1863. 
 
 " The above is a copy of the original roll furnished by Capt. Shaffer. 
 
 3d. Sergt. J. Lovincy Dugas, 
 4th. Sergt. X. Giroir, 
 5th Sergt. J. L. Canty, 
 ist. Corp. Adrien Cancienne, 
 2d. Corp. Octave Bodoin, 
 3d. Corp. Henri Labit, 
 
APPENDIX. 197 
 
 3d. Corp. Gervais Duplantier Reduced April 
 
 I, 1863. 
 Private Aucoin, Adrien. 
 
 Bergeron, Germain. 
 
 Bergeron, Trasimon. 
 
 Bergeron, Erminville. 
 
 Bourgeois, Florence. 
 
 Bourgeois, Joseph. 
 
 Bourg, Aulime. 
 
 Boudreaux, Adrien. 
 
 Boudreaux, Clovis. 
 
 Boudreaux, Emile. 
 
 Boudreaux, Victor, Promoted 4th 
 
 Corporal April 
 I, 1863. 
 
 Boudreaux, N. 
 
 Brooks, T. F., Steward, Regi- 
 
 mental Hospital 
 
 Chiasson, Schuyler. 
 
 Colonate, Joseph. 
 
 Delatte, F. 
 
 Darce, John, 
 
 Dubois, J. B. 
 
 Gros, Gerazime. 
 
 Giroir, Theles. 
 
 Giroir, J. B. 
 
 Gautreaux, Ed. 
 
 Hebert, Lusignan. 
 
 Hebert, Evariste. 
 
 Hebert, Oville. 
 
 Flebert, Theodule. 
 
 Jenkins, Ed. 
 
 Junot, Aristides. 
 
 Keller, Gustave. 
 
 Kallahen, Ben. 
 
 Kallahen, C. 
 
1 98 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private 
 
 LeBlanc, Oleus. 
 Labit, Joseph. 
 Munson, T. B., 
 
 Naquin, Joseph. 
 Ozelet, Jules. 
 Perilloux, Joseph. 
 Pitre, Faustin. 
 Pitre, J. B. 
 Part, Clodomire. 
 Portier, Victorin. 
 Thibodaux, Oville. 
 Tnibodaux, Hiliare. 
 Use, J. B. 
 Whitney, George. 
 Hebert, Theles, 
 
 Besse, C. A., 
 Richard, Louis, 
 Lassaigne, Abel, 
 
 Promoted 3d. 
 Corporal April 
 I, 1863, 
 
 Died March 16, 
 1863, at Regi- 
 mental Flospital 
 
 Steward, Vicks- 
 burg Hospital. 
 
 Absent without 
 leave. 
 
 Absent without 
 leave. 
 
 DEATHS IN THE SERVICE. 
 
 Private LeBlanc, Prosper. 
 Us6, Joseph. 
 Molaison, Adrien, 
 " Pontiff, Dorneville, 
 
 " LeBlanc, Ernest, 
 
 " Polit, Felix, 
 
 Died June 3, 1862. 
 Died June 12, 
 
 1862. 
 Died June 15 
 
 1862. 
 Died September 
 
 27, 1862. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 199 
 
 Private Lassaigne, John, 
 I-Iebert, Theles, 
 
 Died November 
 13, 1862. 
 
 Died March 18, 
 1862, at Regi- 
 mental Hospital 
 
 DISCHARGES FOR DISABILITY UNDER SURGEON S 
 CERTIFICATE. 
 
 Brue, Ulysse, 
 
 Discharged Sep- 
 tember 29, 1862. 
 
 CASUALTIES DURING THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 Private Chiasson, Schuyler, Wounded May 19, 
 
 1863. 
 " Bourgeois, Florence, Wounded May 21, 
 
 1863. 
 Ozelet, Jules, 
 
 Corporal Victor Boudreau, 
 Private Whitney, George, 
 
 Head shot off. 
 
 May 24, 1863. 
 Arm broken by a 
 
 shell. May 29, 
 
 1863. 
 Wounded, June 7, 
 
 1863. 
 Killed June 12, 
 
 1863. 
 Bergeron, Germain, Wounded June 12, 
 
 1863. 
 Mortally wounded 
 
 June 19, 1863. 
 Wounded June 25, 
 
 1863, 
 Mortally wounded 
 
 June 29, 1863. 
 
 Bourg, Aulime 
 
 Kallahan, C., 
 Sergeant Evariste Leonard, 
 Private Parr, Clodomire, 
 
20G TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 ROLLS OF COMPANY G, 
 
 Company G. 26th Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 MUSTER roll AT ORGANIZATION, APRIL 3, 1 862. 
 
 RANK. NAMES. 
 
 Captain Octave V. Metoyer. 
 
 I St Lieut. George W. Cobb. 
 2d Lieut. Seneca Pace. 
 
 Junior Louis Alexandre Bossier. 
 
 I St Sergt. Francis M. Evans. 
 2d Sergt. Pierre Notrebe Ternier. 
 
 3d Sergt. Alexis E. Lemee. 
 
 4th Sergt. John M. Durrett. 
 5th Sergt. Richard G. Nash. 
 ]st Corp. Joseph T. Lynch. 
 2d Corp. William B. Sharp. 
 
 3d Corp. William M. Lynch. 
 
 4th Corp. Pierre Emanuel Prudhomme. 
 Private Agaisse, Ambrose, 
 
 Afford, W. Riley, 
 " Bridges, L. P., 
 
 " Bishop, Isaac C, 
 
 " Brazzcl, Russel, 
 
 Buard, Joseph Evariste, 
 " Baldwin, Thomas J., 
 
 Brazzel, William, 
 Chelettre, F. Neville, 
 Cobb, John, 
 " Clark, James, 
 
 Chain, William D., 
 Curtis, Thomas E., 
 " Campion, Louis, 
 
 " Derusseaux, Frangois X., 
 
 Duke, R. Newton, 
 " Derbaune, P., 
 
APPENDIX. 20I 
 
 Private Eversull, William F., 
 
 Edens, John, 
 
 Edwards, Mitchell, 
 " Edwards, Wood, 
 
 " Favron, Azenor, 
 
 Flaniken, J. J., 
 " Grandchampt, Ernest, 
 
 " Gamas, Casimir, 
 
 " Graham, Isaac, 
 
 " Goodman, Samuel E., 
 
 " Glass, John, 
 
 " Horn, Isaac, 
 
 Horn, L. D., 
 
 Horn, William C., 
 
 Hernandez, Gilbert, 
 
 Hudler, William, 
 " Jarnac, Jean, 
 
 Jackson, Henry J., 
 
 Jones, Hugh B., 
 
 Jones, J. L., 
 " Lavoo, George N., 
 
 " Lamb, Samuel, 
 
 " Labatt, Jack C., 
 
 McDonald, John R., 
 
 McClendon, Bright H., 
 " Maximilien, Antonio, 
 
 " Montgomery, Alexander, 
 
 Nash, William, 
 
 Nash, Ely, 
 " Ortolan, David, 
 
 Prescott, F. M., 
 " Park, Joseph, 
 
 Rhodus, John J., 
 " Sampitd, Albert, 
 
 Shull, John Mat., 
 
 Taylor, J. G., 
 
202 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Trammell, George W., 
 
 Vercher, John B., 
 Vercher, Casimir, 
 Wade, Augustus, 
 Whiteside, James J., 
 Wall, Thomas T., 
 Valery, Benoist. 
 
 MUSTER ROLL. 
 
 Company G, 26th Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 August 31ST — October 31ST, 1862. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Captain O. V. Metoyer. 
 
 2d Lieut. Seneca Pace. 
 
 3d Lieut. L. A. Bossier. 
 
 I St Sergt. P. N. Ternier. 
 
 2d Sergt. A. S. Lemee. 
 
 3d Sergt. J. M. Durrett. 
 
 4th Sergt. R. N. Nash. 
 
 5th Sergt. J. T. Lynch. 
 
 I St Corp. Wm. Lynch. 
 
 2d Corp. W. B. Sharp. 
 
 3d Corp. Em. Prudhomme. 
 
 4th Corp. Narcisse Prudhomme. 
 
 Private Agaisse, A. 
 
 Alford, W. B. 
 
 Bridges, L. P. 
 
 Bishop, I. C. 
 
 Brazzell, R. 
 
 Buard, J. E. 
 
 Baldwin,T. J. 
 
 Besaury, Jean. 
 
 Chelette, F. N. 
 
 Cobb, John. 
 
APPENDIX. 203 
 
 Private Clark, James. 
 Chain, W. D. 
 Curtis, T. E. 
 " Campion, Louis. 
 
 " Derusseaux, F. X. 
 
 Duke, R. N. 
 Eversull, W. F. 
 " Edens, John. 
 
 " Elliot, Henry. 
 
 " Edwards, M. 
 
 " Edwards, W. 
 
 " Favron, A. 
 
 " Grandchampt, E. 
 
 " Gamas, O. 
 
 " Graham, J. 
 
 " Goodman, S. E., Discharged, Oct- 
 
 ober 13, 1862. 
 " Horn, I. 
 
 Horn, W. C. 
 " Horn, L. D. 
 
 " Hernandez, G. 
 
 " Hudler, Wm. 
 
 " Jarnac, Jean. 
 
 " Jackson, H. J. 
 
 " Lavoo, G. W. 
 
 " Lamb, Sam'l. 
 
 McDonald, J. R. 
 " McLandon, B. H. 
 
 Maximillian, A. 
 " Nash, Wm. 
 
 " Nash, Ely. 
 
 " Ortolan, David, Discharged Sep- 
 
 tember I, 1862. 
 
 Park, Jos. 
 Rodus, J. J. 
 Sampite, A. 
 
204 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Simms, C. 
 Shull, J. M. 
 Trammell, G. W. 
 Taylor, J. G., 
 
 Vercher, J. B. 
 Vercher, C. 
 Valery, B. 
 Wade, A. 
 Whiteside, J. J. 
 Wall, T. T., 
 
 Discharged Sep- 
 tember I, 1862. 
 
 Discharged Oct- 
 ober 3, 1862. 
 
 Company G, 26th Louisiana Infantry. 
 
 MUSTER ROLL FROM MARCH I, 1 863, TO APRIL 30, 1 863* 
 
 RANK. NAMES. 
 
 Captain Octave V. Metoyer, 
 
 I St Lieut. Seneca Pace, 
 2d Lieut. Louis Alex. Bossier, 
 Junior Pierre N. Ternier, 
 
 I St Sergt. Alexis E. Lemee, 
 2d Sergt. Richard G. Nash, 
 3d Sergt. John M. Durrett, 
 4th Sergt. Joseph T. Lynch, 
 5th Sergt. H. N. Jones, 
 I st Corp. William Lynch, 
 2d Corp. William B. Sharp, 
 
 3d Corp. E. Prudhomme, 
 
 4th Corp. N. Prudhomme, 
 Private Agaisse, A., 
 
 Alford, W. B., 
 
 Airhart, Wm., 
 
 Bridges, L. P., 
 
 * The above is a copy of the original roll furnished by Lieutenant 
 Lemee, 
 
APPENDIX. 205 
 
 Private Bishop, J. C, 
 
 Brazzel, R., 
 Buard, J. E., 
 Baldwin, T. J., 
 Chelette, F. N., 
 Cdbb, John, 
 Chain, W. D., 
 Campion, Louis, 
 Curtis, T. E., 
 Caradine, T., 
 Derusseaux, F. X., 
 Duke, R. N., 
 Eversull, W. F., 
 Edens, John, 
 Edens, Overton, 
 Edwards, M., 
 Edwards, W., 
 Favron, A., 
 Grandchampt, E., 
 Gamas, C, 
 Horn, Isaac, 
 Horn, W. C, 
 Horn, L. D., 
 Hernandez, G., 
 Jarnac, Jean, 
 Jackson, H. T., 
 Key, T. T., 
 Lavoo, G. N., 
 Lamb, S., 
 Labatt, J. E., 
 Lacaze, A., 
 McDonald, J. R„ 
 McLandon, B. PL, 
 Maximillien, A., 
 Nash, Ely, 
 Nash, Wm., 
 
2o6 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Park, Joseph, 
 
 Perot, G. E., 
 Rachal, P., 
 Rayburn, S. A., 
 Sampit6, A., 
 Shu]], J. M., 
 Vercher, J. B., 
 Vercher, C, 
 Va]ery, B., 
 Wade, A., 
 Whiteside, J. J., 
 Wright, Joseph, 
 
 Company G, 26TI-1 Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 MUSTER roll AT RE-ORGANIZATION IN TRANS- 
 MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT, JANUARY, 1 864. 
 
 Captain Octave V. Metoyer, 
 
 I St Lieut. Seneca Pace, 
 
 2d Lieut. Louis Aiex. Bossier, 
 
 Junior Alexis E. Lemee, 
 
 ist Sergt. Pierre E. Prudhomme, 
 
 2d Sergt. Richard S. Nash, 
 
 3d Sergt. John M. Durrett, 
 
 4th Sergt. Joseph T. Lynch, 
 
 5th Sergt. Joseph Evariste Buard, 
 
 I St Corp. William Lynch, 
 
 2d. Corp. William B. Sharp, 
 
 3d. Corp. L. Narcisse Prudhomme, 
 
 4th Corp. L. P. Bridges, 
 
 Private Agaisse, Ambrose, 
 
 Alford, W. Riley, 
 
 " Brazzel, Russell, 
 
 Chelettre, F. Neville, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 207 
 
 Private Cobb, John, 
 
 Cobb, William, 
 Derusseaux, Frangois X., 
 Duke, R. Newton, 
 Edens, John, 
 Edwards, Mitchell, 
 Edwards, Wood, 
 Favron, Azenor, 
 Grandchampt, Ernest, 
 Gamas, Casimir, 
 Hernandez, Gilbert, 
 McClendon, B. H., 
 Nash, William, 
 Nash, Ely, 
 Park, Joseph, 
 Sampitd, Albert, 
 Vercher, John B., 
 Valery, Benoist, 
 Wade, Augustin. 
 
 RESIGNATIONS AND PROMOTIONS. 
 
 1st Lieut. George W. Cobb, 
 
 2d Lieut. Seneca Pace, 
 
 Junior Louis A. Bossier, 
 
 I St Sergt. Pierre N. Ternier, 
 
 Resigned August 
 1862. 
 
 Promoted ist 
 Lieutenant 
 November, 1862 
 
 Promoted 2d 
 Lieutenant 
 November, 1862 
 
 Promoted Junior 
 Lieutenant 
 November, 1862 
 
208 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 I St Sergt. Alexis E. Lemee, Promoted Junior 
 
 Lieutenant 
 May, 1863, and 
 in Trans-Missis- 
 sippi Depart- 
 ment, Acting 
 Adjutant of the 
 Regiment. 
 Promoted ist 
 Sergeant July, 
 1862. 
 Promoted ist 
 Sergeant Nov- 
 ember, 1862. 
 
 Private Joseph Evariste Buard, Promoted ist 
 
 Sergeant May, 
 1863. 
 
 DEATHS IN THE SERVICE. 
 Private Glass, John, 
 
 2d Sergt. Pierre N. Ternier, 
 
 ]d Sergt. Alexis E. Lemee, 
 
 ist Sergt. Francis M. Evans, 
 Private Nash, William, 
 
 Died in Vicksburg 
 June, 1862. 
 
 Died at Clinton, 
 Mississippi, July 
 1862. 
 
 Died at Camp 
 Crow, March 1 1, 
 1863. 
 
 DISCHARGES FOR DISABILITY UNDER SURGEON's 
 CERTIFICATE. 
 
 Private Goodman, Samuel E., Discharged Oct- 
 ober 13, 1862. 
 
 " Ortolan, David, Discharged Sep- 
 
 tember I, 1862. 
 
 " Taylor, J. G., Discharged Sep- 
 
 tember I, 1862. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 209 
 
 Private Wall, Thomas T., Discharged Oct- 
 ober 2, 1862. 
 
 CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF CHICKASAW BAYOU. 
 
 Private Rhodus, John J., Killed, shot 
 
 through the 
 head. 
 
 Shull, John M., Shot through the 
 
 legs and died in 
 
 City Hospital 
 
 March 25, 1863. 
 
 " Edwards, Mitchell, 'Wounded in the 
 
 shoulder. 
 
 Alford W. Riley, Wounded. 
 
 CASUALTIES DURING THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 Jun. Lieut. Pierre N. Termer, Killed May 19, 63. 
 Private Perot G. E., " " 20, " 
 
 " Gamas, Casimir, Gun shot on chin 
 
 and left should- 
 er. May 22, 1863. 
 " Lamb, Samuel, Killed June 13, '63. 
 
 " Maximilien, Antonio, Mortally wounded 
 
 June 25, 1863, 
 and died of the 
 wound. 
 Curtis, Thomas E., Wounded June 25, 
 
 1863. 
 " Edwards, Mitchell, Wounded June 25, 
 
 1863. 
 Baldwin, Thomas J., Shot in the mouth. 
 
 DESERTIONS. 
 
 Wright, Joseph, Deserted April 24, 
 
 1863. 
 
2IO 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 ROLLS OF COMPANY H. 
 
 Company H, 26th Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 MUSTER ROLL AT ORGANIZATION. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 Captain 
 
 Duncan S. Cage, 
 
 ist Lieut. 
 
 William A. Bisland, 
 
 2d Lieut. 
 
 Joseph Aycock, 
 
 Junior 
 
 Homer Lirette, 
 
 ist Sergt. 
 
 PI. Claiborne Daspit 
 
 2d Sergt. 
 
 Telesphor Babin, 
 
 3d Sergt. 
 
 J. Schuyler Porche, 
 
 4th Sergt. 
 
 John M. Knight, 
 
 5th Sergt. 
 
 M. Serville Trahan, 
 
 ist Corp. 
 
 Elias Haines, 
 
 2d Corp. 
 
 A. Thibodaux Porche, 
 
 3d Corp. 
 
 Leopold Boudreaux, 
 
 4th Corp. 
 
 Frederic Lottinger, 
 
 Private 
 
 Arceneaux Wilfred, 
 
 It 
 
 Arceneaux, Sosthene, 
 
 11 
 
 Antil, Albert, 
 
 iC 
 
 Ayos, G. 0., 
 
 It 
 
 Boudreaux, Jules, 
 
 tt 
 
 Bergeron, Octave, 
 
 tl 
 
 Bergeron, Washington 
 
 It 
 
 Bergeron, Charles, 
 
 n 
 
 Bergeron, Schuyler, 
 
 tt 
 
 Brunet, Faustin, 
 
 tt 
 
 Babin, Theodule, 
 
 ti 
 
 Babin, Joseph, 
 
 tt 
 
 Bourg, Edouard, 
 
 tt 
 
 Bourg, Faustin, 
 
 It 
 
 Bernard, Lewis A., 
 
 tt 
 
 Buford, William, 
 
 tt 
 
 Board, J. W., 
 
APPENDIX. ill 
 
 Private Broussard, Augustin, 
 
 " Bellanger, Henri, 
 
 Blanclrard, J. B. 
 " Blanchard, Theodule, 
 
 " Blanchard, Edouard, 
 
 Burns, John, 
 " Boudreaux, Numa, 
 
 " Bourgeois, Adam, 
 
 Crochet, Edouard, 
 " Crepelle, Severin, 
 
 " Cooper, Ezra, 
 
 " Clark, Thomas, 
 
 " Chaisson, Bernard. 
 
 " Chauvin, Leufroi, 
 
 " Chauvin, Felix, 
 
 " Clement, Joseph, 
 
 Davis, M. P., 
 " Dupr(!, J. B., 
 
 " Duprd, Ludger, 
 
 Dugas J. N., 
 " Domingue, Antoine, 
 
 " Domingue, J. B., 
 
 " Daignon, Euzelien, 
 
 " Dupr(§, Simeon, 
 
 " Duplantis, Euseb^, 
 
 Ellender, Henry, 
 " Etheridge, William G., 
 
 " Ford, Robert B., 
 
 " Fremin, Aurelien, 
 
 " Flippin, James D., 
 
 " Forestier, Caesar, 
 
 " Guidry, Ludger, 
 
 " Guidry, Onezime, 
 
 " Guidry, Hebert, 
 
 " Guidry, Ernest, 
 
 Hatch, Alphonse, 
 
212 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Hebert, Louis, 
 
 Hutchinson, Adolphe, 
 " Hotard, Joseph, 
 
 " Kiger, Henry C, 
 
 King, Thomas, 
 King, George, 
 Knight, W. O., 
 " Knight, Joshua B., 
 
 " Lirette, Belloni, 
 
 " Lyons, L. C. P., 
 
 " Lecompte, Justin, 
 
 " LeBlanc, Henri, 
 
 " Lancon, Fortune, 
 
 " Landry, Sosthene, 
 
 " Lenain, J. B., 
 
 " Lorio, Donatien, 
 
 " Munson, Frank, 
 
 " Munson, Sylvanus, 
 
 Miller, Christopher C, 
 Miller, Elias, 
 Marcel, Sead A., 
 " Michel, Prosper, 
 
 •' Marlborough, Joseph, 
 
 " Munson, Asa, 
 
 Olive, Joseph, 
 " Ordenau, John, 
 
 " Poincot, Etienne, 
 
 Pichoff, Augustin, 
 Porche, H. C, 
 Roundtree, Thomas, 
 Rougelet, Alfred, 
 " Savoie, Marcellin, 
 
 " Savoie, William, 
 
 Sparks, J. N., 
 " Skinner, Samuel, 
 
 " Thibodaux, Augustin, 
 
 " Thibodaux, Aubain P., 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 213 
 
 Private Thibodaux, Emile, 
 
 Thibodaux, Adam, 
 Trahan, Onesiphore, 
 Trahan, Oz6m6, 
 Thenot, Aurelie, 
 Theriot, Oliva, 
 Toups, George, 
 Voisin, Leonard, 
 Vies, Emile, 
 Vallette, A., 
 Wyman, Charles H., 
 
 MUSTER ROLL. 
 
 Company H, 26x1-1 Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 AUGUST 31 OCTOBER 3I, 1862. 
 
 KEMARKS. 
 
 Captain 
 I St Lieut. 
 2d Lieut. 
 2d Junior 
 I St Sergt. 
 id Lieut. 
 3d Sergt. 
 
 Wm. A. Bisland. 
 Joseph Aycock. 
 Homer Lirette. 
 H. C. Daspit. 
 Charles M. Daspit. 
 John M. Knight. 
 Elias Miller, 
 
 4th Sergt. Aurelie Theriot, 
 
 5th Sergt 
 1st Corp. 
 2d Corp. 
 3d Corp. 
 
 M. Serville 7>ahan. 
 Elias Haines. 
 A. T. Porche. 
 Fred'k Lottinger, 
 
 4th Corp. G. O. Ayos, 
 
 Promoted Septem- 
 ber 2&, 1862. 
 
 Appointed Sep- 
 tember 26, 1862. 
 
 Promoted Septem- 
 ber 26, 1862. 
 
 Appointed Sept- 
 ember 26, 1862. 
 
214 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Arceneaux, Sosthene, Left at home sick- 
 on furlough May 
 8, 1862. 
 
 Antil, Albert, Died October 8, 
 
 1862, at Missis- 
 sippi Springs. 
 
 Boudreaux, Jules. 
 
 Bergeron, Octave. 
 
 Bergeron, Washington. 
 
 Bergeron, Charles. 
 
 Bergeron, Schuyler. 
 
 Brunet, Faustin. 
 
 Babin, Theodule. 
 
 Babin, Joseph. 
 
 Babin, Telesphor. 
 
 Bourg, Edward. 
 
 Bourg, Faustin. 
 
 Bernard, Louis A. 
 
 Buford. Wm. 
 
 Board, J. W. 
 
 Bellanger, Henry. 
 
 Blanchard, J. B. 
 
 Blanchard, Theodule. 
 
 Boudreau, Numa. 
 
 Bourgeois, Adam. 
 
 Crochet, Edward. 
 
 Crepelle, Severin. 
 
 Cooper, Ezra. 
 
 Chaisson, Bernard. 
 
 Chauvin, Leufroi. 
 
 Chauvin, Felix. 
 
 Clement, Joseph. 
 
 Davis, M. P. 
 
 Dupr6, Ludgere. 
 
 Dugas, J. N. 
 
 Domingue, J. B. 
 
APPENDIX. 215 
 
 Private Daignon, Euzelien. 
 " Dupr6, Simeon. 
 
 " Duplantis Eus^b^. 
 
 Etheridge, Wm. G. 
 
 Ford, Robert B. 
 " Fremin, Aurelien. 
 
 " Guidry, Ludger. 
 
 Guidry, Onez^me. 
 " Guidry, Hubert. 
 
 " Guidry, Ernest. 
 
 " Hatch, Alphonse. 
 
 " Hebert, Louis. 
 
 Kiger, Henry C. 
 " King, Thomas. 
 
 " King, George. 
 
 Knight, W. O. 
 " Knignt, Joshua B. 
 
 " Lirette, Belloni. 
 
 Lyons, L. C. P. 
 " Lecompte, Justin. 
 
 " LeBIanc, Henry. 
 
 " Lancon, Fortune. 
 
 " Landry, Sosthene. 
 
 " Lenain, J. B. 
 
 " Munson, Frank. 
 
 " Munson, Sylvanus. 
 
 Marcel, S. A. 
 " Michel, Prosper. 
 
 " Malborough, Jos. 
 
 Munson, Asa. 
 
 Miller, C. C., Died September 
 
 27, 1862, at Ed- 
 wards Depot. 
 " Olive, Joseph. 
 
 " Ordenau, John. 
 
 " Poincot, Etienne. 
 
2l6 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Porche, J. Schuyler 
 
 Porche, FI. C. 
 Pichoff, A., 
 
 Reduced Septem- 
 ber 26, 1862. 
 
 Died supposed 
 about June, 27, 
 at Vicksburg. 
 
 Roundtree, Thos. 
 Savoie, Marcellin. 
 Sparks, J. N. 
 Skinner, Samuel. 
 Thibodaux, Emile. 
 Thibodaux, Adam. 
 Trahan, Onesiphor. 
 Trahan, Ozeme. 
 Theriot, Oliva. 
 Toups, George. 
 Voisin, Leonard. 
 Vies, Emile. 
 Wyman, C. H. 
 
 PROMOTIONS. 
 
 On the election and promotion of Captain Cage to 
 the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on April 3, 1862, 
 ist Lieutenant William A. Bisland was promot- 
 ed to the rank of Captain; 2d Lieutenant Joseph 
 Aycock to the rank of 1st Lieutenant; Junior 
 2d Lieutenant Lirette to the rank of 2d Lieuten- 
 ant, and I St Sergeant H. Claiborne Daspit to the 
 rank of Junior 2d Lieutenant. 
 
 On the resignation of 2d Lieutenant Lirette about 
 November 1862, Junior 2d Lieutenant Daspit 
 became 2d Lieutenant and ist Sergeant Charles 
 M. Daspit became Junior 2d Lieutenant. 
 
 DEATHS IN THE SERVICE. 
 
 Private Burns, John, Died June 7, 1862. 
 
 , 'I " I c " 
 
 Blanchard, Edward, 
 

 APPENDIX. 
 
 21/ 
 
 Private 
 
 Lorio, Donatien, 
 
 Died June 17, 1862 
 
 ti 
 
 Hotard, Joseph, 
 
 " 22, ' 
 
 i 
 
 (I 
 
 Savoie, William, 
 
 " 22, 
 
 
 it 
 
 Flippen, James D., 
 
 " " 23, ' 
 
 
 it 
 
 Forestier, Caesar, 
 
 " 26, 
 
 
 li 
 
 Broussard, Augustin, 
 
 " 26, 
 
 
 (( 
 
 Hutchinson, Adolphe 
 
 " 26, 
 
 
 a 
 
 Pichoff, Augustin, 
 
 " 27, 
 
 
 1 ( 
 
 Ellender, Henry, 
 
 " Juiyi5> " 
 
 a 
 
 Domingue, Antoine, 
 
 " 19, 
 
 a 
 
 Dupre, J. B., 
 
 " 26, 
 
 it 
 
 Clark, Thomas, 
 
 "Aug'st2, 
 
 a 
 
 Miller, Christopher C 
 
 " Sept. 27, 
 
 i i 
 
 Antil, Albert, 
 
 " Oct, 8, " 
 
 a 
 
 Ordenau, John, 
 
 " Feb'y25, 1863. 
 
 a 
 
 Hebert, Louis, 
 
 " July 4, 
 
 CASUALTIES DURING THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 Corporal 
 
 Frederic, Lottinger, 
 
 Gun shot wound 
 in shoulder, May 
 19, 1863. 
 
 Lieut. 
 
 Charles M. Daspit, 
 
 Wounded May 20, 
 1863. 
 
 Private 
 
 Lyons, L. C. P. 
 
 Serious gun shot 
 wound in left 
 breast May 22, 
 1863. 
 
 it 
 
 Kiger, H. C. 
 
 Wounded May 26, 
 1863. 
 
 (t 
 
 King, George, 
 
 Killed May 29, 
 1863. 
 
 ii 
 
 King, Thomas, 
 
 Wounded May 29, 
 1863. 
 
 it 
 
 Bergeron, Washington 
 
 , Wounded in scalp 
 by shell May 29, 
 
 
 
 1863. 
 
 
2l8 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Babin, Joseph, 
 
 Bergeron, Charles, 
 Cooper, Ezra, 
 Bourgeois, Adam, 
 Babin, Theodule, 
 Babin, V., 
 Crepelle, Severin, 
 Dugas, J. N. 
 
 DESERTIONS. 
 
 Private Vallette, A., 
 
 " Poincot, Etienne, 
 
 Wounded in foot 
 
 by a shell May 
 
 29, 1863. 
 Mortally vi^ounded 
 
 June 5, 1863. 
 Wounded June 9, 
 
 1863. 
 Severely wounded 
 
 June 10, 1863. 
 Killed June 12, 
 
 1863. 
 Wounded June 25, 
 
 1863. 
 Severely wounded 
 
 June 25, 1863. 
 Mortally wounded 
 
 June 25, 1863, 
 
 and died of the 
 
 wound June 28, 
 
 1863. 
 
 Deserted May 8, 
 1862. 
 
 Deserted Decem- 
 ber 21, 1862. 
 
 ROLLS OF COMPANY I. 
 Company I, 26TH Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 MUSTER ROLL AT ORGANIZATION. 
 
 RANK. NAMES. 
 
 Captain Winchester, Hall, 
 
 ist Lieut. Caleb J. Tucker, 
 2d Lieut. Lovincey A.- Webre, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 :2i9 
 
 Junior Clay Knobloch, 
 
 I St Sergt. F. E. Guedry, 
 2d Sergt. Lovincey A. LeBlanc, 
 3d Sergt. C. J. Guedry, 
 4th Sergt. Aurelien Braud, 
 5th Sergt. Thomas J. Hepler, 
 I St Corp. Charles Myrtilde Gaudet, 
 2d Corp. Gustave Morvan, 
 
 3d Corp. Clay Bernard, 
 
 4th Corp. A. Schuyler Bourgeois, 
 Private Adam, Ernest, 
 
 " Adam, Emile, 
 
 Atkinson, J. N., 
 " Aucoin, Alphonse, 
 
 " Bark, Auguste, 
 
 " Brown, Robert, 
 
 " Bergeron, Franklin, 
 
 " Boutary, Prosper, 
 
 " Boudreau, Pierre, 
 
 " Boudreau, Prosper, 
 
 " Bourgeois, Paul, 
 
 " Barras, Demosth^ne, 
 
 " Bourgeois, Maximilien, 
 
 " Bourgeois, Appolinaire, 
 
 " Chiasson, Octave, 
 
 Chiasson, Edmund, 
 Collins, Thomas J., 
 " Champagne P. Ernest, 
 
 " Caillouet, Joseph F., 
 
 " Champagne, J. A., 
 
 " Champagne, Emile, 
 
 " Chiasson, Ulysse, 
 
 " Champagne, Robert, 
 
 Duskey, Eli D., 
 Duskey, Silas F., 
 Duskey, James B., 
 " Dantin, Jules, 
 
:S20 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Deslattes, Felix, 
 
 Dyer, W. N., 
 Clement, Trasimon, 
 Estiven, Henri, 
 Francioni, Laurent, 
 Falgout, Onezime, 
 Guedry, J. J., 
 Guedry, J. B. Eno, 
 Guillot, Paulin, 
 Guillot, Teles, 
 Gladish, Jr., William J. 
 Gaud6, Emile FL, 
 Green, W. P., 
 Hepler, Ernest A., 
 Hill, John H., 
 Hebert, Alphonse, 
 Knobloch, Wm. Tell, 
 Leonval, Emile, 
 Ledet, Frangois, 
 Ledet, Paulin A., 
 Ledet, Henri, F., 
 Lain6, Seraphin, 
 Lawless, T. Percy, 
 Landry, Joseph, 
 Morvan, Ernest, 
 Martin, Justilien, 
 Melangon, Aim^, 
 Molaison, Jules, 
 Naquin, Melville, 
 Poch6, H. P., 
 Poch6, Octave, 
 Picou, Ernest, 
 Picou, Urbain P., 
 Picou, Theophile, 
 Parr, Doradou, 
 Roger, Gustave A., 
 Roussel, Thomas F., 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 221 
 
 Private Scott, Paul, 
 
 Sevin, Joseph, 
 Smith, John J., 
 Stivens, Justilien, 
 Simoneau, Constant, 
 Simoneau, Victor, 
 Trosclair, Eusfcne, 
 Trosclair, Joseph, 
 Trosclair. Leufroi, 
 Trosclair, Lovincey, 
 Toups, Louis, 
 Toups, Terence, 
 Toups, Prosper, 
 Toups, Felicien, 
 Toups, T. Emile, 
 Toups, Oz6m6, 
 Tabor, William, 
 Tabor, Edward, 
 Thibodaux, CliSdamant, 
 Vanderdoes, Philip A., 
 Wagespack, Florian, 
 Wagespack, UIger, 
 Webre, P. Oscar, 
 Wagespack, Louis. 
 
 MUSTER ROLL. 
 
 Company I, 26th Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 AUGUST 31, TO OCTOBER 3I, 1862. 
 
 Captain Caleb J. Tucker. 
 
 ist Lieut. Lovincey A. Webre. 
 
 2d Lieut. F. Ernest Guedry. 
 
 2d Sergt. Lovincey A. LeBlanc. 
 
222 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 3d Sergt. 
 4th Sergt. 
 5th Sergt. 
 I St Corp. 
 
 2d Corp. 
 3d Corp. 
 4th Corp. 
 Private 
 
 C. J. Guedry. 
 Aurelien, Braud. 
 Thos. J. Hepler. 
 Charles M. Gaudet, 
 
 Left at Lafourche 
 on the 1 8th April, 
 1862. 
 
 Gustave Morvant. 
 Clay Bernard. 
 
 Aubain Schuyler Bourgeois. 
 Adam, Emile. 
 Adam, Ernest. 
 Aucoin, Alphonse. 
 Atkinson, J. N. 
 Boudraux, Pierre. 
 Boudraux, Prosper. 
 Bourgeois, Paul. 
 Bergeron, Franklin. 
 Bouterie, Prosper. 
 
 Clement, Trasimond, At Mississippi 
 
 Springs-nur se 
 
 Collins, Thomas. 
 Chiasson, Ulysse. 
 Champagne, J. A. 
 Champagne, Emile. 
 Duskey, Silas P., 
 
 Duskey, Eli D. 
 Duskey, James B. 
 Dantin, Jules. 
 Delattes, Felix. 
 Dyer, Wilhard N. 
 Esteven, Henry. 
 Falgout, Onezime. 
 Francioni, Laurent. 
 
 in hospital. 
 
 Left in hospital at 
 Edwards Depot, 
 August 26, '63. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 223 
 
 Private Guedry, J. B. E. 
 " Guedry, Jules J. 
 
 " Gaud6, Emile. 
 
 Gladish, Jr., W. J. 
 
 Guillot, Paulin. 
 " Hepler, Ernest A. 
 
 Hill, George. 
 
 Hebert, Alphonse. 
 Hill, John H. 
 Knoblock, W. T. 
 Landry, Joseph. 
 Lawless T. Percy. 
 Ledet, Henri F. 
 Ledet, Paulin. 
 Ledet, Frangois. 
 Leonval, Emile. 
 Martin, Justilien. 
 Molaison, Jules. 
 Morvant, Ernest. 
 Naquin, Melville. 
 Picou. Urbain P. 
 Picou, Ernest. 
 Porhe, Octave. 
 Part, Douradoux, 
 
 Roussel, Thomas F. 
 Roger, Gustave A. 
 Simoneau, Victor. 
 Simoneau, Constant. 
 Smith, John J. 
 Sevin, Joseph. 
 Scott, Paul. 
 Toups, Felicien. 
 
 Transferred Octo- 
 ber 1 1, from 4th 
 Louisiana Regi- 
 ment. 
 
 Left at Mississippi 
 Springs in hos- 
 pital. 
 
224 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Toups, Louis. 
 
 Toups, J. Emile 
 
 Toups, Ozemd. 
 
 Toups, Prosper, 
 
 Toups, Terence. 
 
 Trosclair, Lovincey. Left at Camp Ben- 
 jamin near New 
 Orleans April 
 25, 1862. 
 
 Trosclair, Leufroy. 
 
 Trosclair, Joseph. 
 
 Trosclair, Eugene. 
 
 Thidodaux, Cledamant 
 
 Vanderdoes, Philip A. 
 
 Webre, P. Oscar. 
 
 PROMOTIONS AND RESIGNATIONS. 
 
 On election and promotion of Captain Hall to the 
 rank of Major, April 3, 1862, ist Lieutenant 
 Tucker was promoted to the rank of Captain; 
 2d Lieutenant Webre to the rank of ist Lieu- 
 tenant, and Junior 2d Lieutenant Knobloch to 
 to the rank of 2d Lieutenant. 
 
 On the resignation and absence of Lieutenant Knob- 
 loch, ist Sergeant F. Ernest Guedry was pro- 
 moted to the rank of 2d Lieutenant. 
 
 On the death of Captain Tucker, killed in battle 
 December 28, 1862, Lieutenant Webre was pro- 
 moted to the rank of Captain, 2d Lieutenant 
 Guedry to the rank of ist Lieutenant, and ist 
 Sergeant Lovincey A. Leblanc to the rank of 
 2d Lieutenant. 
 
 DEATHS IN THE SERVICE. 
 
 Private Stivens, Justilien, Died June 22, '62, 
 
 at Mrs. William 
 Smith's, near Ed- 
 ward's Station. 
 
APPENDIX. 225 
 
 Private Picou, Theophile, Died in Hospital, 
 
 June 28, 1862. 
 Tabor, Edward, Died in Hospital 
 
 about July i, '62. 
 
 " Champagne, Ernest, Died in camp, July 
 
 8, 1862. 
 
 " Barras, Demosthene. Died in hospital 
 
 at Mississippi 
 Springs August, 
 1862. 
 
 " Toups, Felicien. 
 
 " Molaison, Jules. 
 
 DISCHARGES FOR DISABILITY UNDER SURGEON's 
 CERTIFICATE. 
 
 Private Caillouet, Joseph F., Discharged July 8, 
 
 1862. 
 " Guedry, J. B. Eno, Discharged Octo- 
 
 ber 17, 1862. 
 
 CASUALTIES AT CHICKASAW BAYOU. 
 
 Captain Caleb J. Tucker, Killed. 
 
 Lieut. Lovincey A. LeBlanc, Wounded severely 
 
 in the shoulder. 
 
 CASUALTIES DURING THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 Private Smith, John J., Severely wounded 
 
 May 19, 1863. 
 Private Gaudet, Emile, Killed May 22, '63. 
 
 Sergeant C. J. Guedry, Wounded May 23, 
 
 1863. 
 Private Naquin, Melville N., Mortally wounded 
 
 June 9, 1863. 
 Falgout, Onezime, Wounded June 10, 
 
 1863. 
 
226 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 Private Melangon, Aim6, 
 " Trosclair, Joseph, 
 
 Wouijded June 1 1, 
 1863. 
 
 Severely wounded 
 June 25, 1863, 
 and subsequent- 
 ly died of the 
 wound. 
 
 ROLLS OF COMPANY K. 
 MUSTER ROLL. 
 
 Company K, 26th Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A. 
 
 AUGUST 3I-OCTOBER 31, 1862. 
 
 Captain 
 
 2d Lieut. 
 2d Lieut. 
 I St Sergt. 
 2d Sergt. 
 3d Sergt. 
 4th Sergt. 
 5th Sergt. 
 
 ist Corp. 
 2d Corp. 
 3d Corp. 
 4th Corp. 
 Private 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Felix Grundy Winder, Promoted Captain 
 
 1862. 
 Charles Tennent. 
 Richard C. West. 
 Ernest Lirette. 
 Ernest Bonvillain. 
 Sosth^ne Aubain Dared 
 Wilfred Arcenaux. 
 
 Tristam S. Easton, 
 
 Crochet Prosper. 
 Cadet Echete. 
 Z^non Rodrigues. 
 George Coloitre. 
 Bonvillain, Wash. 
 Babin, Theophile. 
 Bondeloche, Jdddon. 
 Baudoin, William. 
 
 Promoted 5th Ser- 
 geant in place of 
 Hillier reduced 
 October 30, '62. 
 
(appeVdiX. 227 
 
 Private Corneau, 
 
 Coloitre, E 
 
 Doiron, Cloo^mire 
 
 Dubois, Pier^fsg^N 
 
 Dupr6, Evariste^ 
 
 'Ech6t6, Gustavd 
 
 H anagriff/i^s;^. 
 
 Labit, Daciss6-, 
 
 Hillier, James, l^e^u^^ to ranks 
 
 1^ to ranks 
 %§^ 30, '62. 
 
 Marcel, Emile. 
 Naquin, Hypolite. 
 Naquin, Chas. 
 Pitre, Alfred. 
 Pitre, Joseph. 
 Prevost, Joseph 
 Sanders, John. 
 Sice, Michael. 
 Us6, Leo. 
 Watkins, William 
 
 RESIGNATIONS AN^ ^Bm^^IONS. 
 
 Captain C. O. De La tfo^say^, resigned about 
 October, 1862. 
 
 I St Lieutenant Felix Grtmay Winder, elected ist 
 Lieutenant about July, 1862, and promoted to 
 Captaincy on resignation of Captain De La 
 Houssaye. 
 
 2d Lieutenant Charles Tennent, resigned about Aug- 
 ust 1 1, 1862. 
 
 Junior 2d Lieutenant Richard C. West, promoted to 
 I St Lieutenant on resignation of 2d Lieutenant 
 Tennent, and to rank of Captain on death of 
 Captain Winder killed in battle May 19, 1863. 
 
 Sergeant Ernest Bonvillain promoted to 2d Lieuten- 
 
228 TWENTY-SIXTH LOUISIANA INFANTRY. 
 
 ancy on resignation of 2d Lieutenant Tennent, 
 and to ist Lieutenancy on death of Captain 
 Winder. 
 
 COMPANY K. , 
 
 CASUALTIES DURING THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 Captain Felix Grundy Winder, Killed May 19, '63. 
 Private Labit, Dacis, Wounded May 19, 
 
 1863. 
 Dubois J. Pierre, Leg broken May 
 
 29, 1863. 
 " Carroll, James, Wounded June 23, 
 
 1863. 
 
 DEATHS IN THE SERVICE. 
 
 Private Gnart, Louis, Died May 31, '62. 
 
 " Enol, Died November 
 
 18, 1862. 
 
 (The two names above are from the records of the 
 Sexton of Vicksburg Cemetery.) 
 
THE FOLLOWING ROLLS WERE OMITTED IN 
 THEIR PROPER PLACE. 
 
 Company B. 
 DEATHS IN THE SERVICE. 
 
 Private Bourgeois, 
 
 Duval, Felix, 
 
 " Daisy, J. Pemberton, 
 
 2d Corp. A. Burton Daisy, 
 
 Private Fitzgerald, Jasper, 
 
 Green, Winfield, 
 Giroir, J. 
 
 Heaton. J. 
 Holliday, 
 
 Hartman, James, 
 
 Nope, Felix, 
 
 Stansbury, Andrew, 
 
 Swearingen, Lem. C. 
 
 McCracken, Frank, 
 
 Died at Camp Moore 
 
 about May i, 1862. 
 Died at Camp Hall 
 
 about Aug. 1862. 
 Died at Vicksburg. 
 Died at Camp Hall 
 
 about Aug., 1862 
 Died in hospital at 
 
 Jackson, Miss. 
 Died at Camp Hall 
 
 about Aug. 18-62. 
 Died in hospital at 
 
 Vicksburg. 
 
 Died at Camp Hall 
 
 about Aug. 1862. 
 Died at Camp Hall 
 
 about Aug. 1862. 
 Died near Vicksburg 
 
 Nov. 21, 1862. 
 Died in Vicksburg 
 
 June 14, 1862. 
 Died in hospital at 
 
 Miss. Springs. 
 Died in Vicksburg 
 
 June 12, 1862. 
 
DISCHARGES FOR DISABILITY UNDER SURGEON S 
 CERTIFICATE. 
 
 Private Cocke, Bowman 
 Salles, A. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Discharged Oct. 5, 
 
 1862. 
 Discharged Oct. 5, 
 
 1862. 
 Stiner, Christian, Discharged at Vicks- 
 
 bure. 
 
 o 
 
 CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF CHICKASAW BAYOU. 
 RANK. NAMES. REMARKS. 
 
 Private Sanders, Austin, Killed Dec. 28, 1862. 
 
 CASUALTIES DURING THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 Private Anslum, William, Wounded May 21, 
 
 1863. 
 Mason, Thomas, 
 
 " Fayette, Martin, 
 
 Evans, J., 
 Johnson, James, 
 Jr. Lieut. Delmas Dubois, 
 
 Private Boudreau, Victor, 
 Bourg, M., 
 
 Wounded and died 
 
 on a transport 
 , after surrender. 
 Woundedinthe head 
 
 June 5, 1863. 
 Killed June 11, 1863. 
 Killed June 16, 1863. 
 Wounded and foot 
 
 amputated June 
 
 27, 1863. 
 Wounded. 
 Head shot off. 
 
 DESERTIONS. 
 
 RANK. NAMES. REMAKKS. 
 
 Private Pratt, John, Deserted at Camp 
 
 Lagarde in fall of 
 1862. 
 

 11 1'MLil