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Civil War History - The South & Western Theaters Check this forum for all South and Western Theater Questions. Included are the Western, Pacific, Trans-Mississippi, & Lower Seaboard and Gulf Approach Theaters.

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  #1  
Old 07-11-2007, 03:23 PM
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Default Louisiana Militia & Confederacy 1861-62

The following is the list of Louisiana state troops accepted by the Confederate Army as of late November 1862.
=====
O.R.--SERIES IV--VOLUME I [S# 127]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, REPORTS, AND RETURNS OF THE CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES, DECEMBER 20, 1860-JUNE 30, 1862.(*)--#30
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
New Orleans, November 22, 1861.
His Excellency T. O. MOORE,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Louisiana Militia:
SIR: I respectfully transmit my annual report of the condition of the militia of this State:
...
A recapitulation of the forces as above stated shows:
Regiment of artillery (regulars) 740
Regiment of infantry (regulars) 1,033
1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 17th,18th, and 19th Regiments Louisiana Volunteers 14,949
Wheat's battalion 415
Dreux's battalion 480
Fourteen companies transferred to the Confederate service for State service 1,231
Four companies of Orleans Artillery 304
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of troops in service of the Confederate States 19,152

Thirteen companies for service within the State, at Camp Lewis 1,050
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total number of troops thus far organized by the State 20,202
(I can only approximate the number of the troops volunteering independently into the Confederate service.)
One company Orleans Chasseurs 95
Sulakowski's regiment (14th Regiment) 850
Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford's regiment (15th Regiment) 450
Pointe Coupée Light Artillery 90
Washington Artillery 320
Crescent Blues 80
Donaldsonville Artillery 85
Marion Infantry 129
Watson Artillery 100
Carroll Guards 75
Jackson Regiment 450
Zouaves 650
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 3,375

Which would make a force in the field from the State of Louisiana 23,577
...
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. GRIVOT,
Adjutant and Inspector General of Louisiana.
=====
Regards,
Tim
__________________
"Let us, then, consider all attempts to weaken this Union, by maintaining that each state is separately and individually independent, as a species of political heresy, which can never benefit us, but may bring on us the most serious distresses."
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina, 1740-1824, Revolutionary War soldier, one of the authors of the US Constitution in 1787, speaking at the South Carolina Ratifying Convention in 1788.
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  #2  
Old 07-11-2007, 03:30 PM
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In addition to the forces in the first message of this thread, the Louisiana Militia consisted of the following forces on this late November 1861 date:
=====
O.R.--SERIES IV--VOLUME I [S# 127]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, REPORTS, AND RETURNS OF THE CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES, DECEMBER 20, 1860-JUNE 30, 1862.(*)--#30
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
New Orleans, November 22, 1861.
His Excellency T. O. MOORE,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Louisiana Militia:
SIR: I respectfully transmit my annual report of the condition of the militia of this State:
...
I herewith annex the returns of the militia of the State so far as received. Only a few of the officers have complied with that portion of the order. I hope soon, however, to be able to report to the Legislature a full statement of the militia force. In the First Division the returns show a force of (see Document D(*)) 30,499; Confederate Guards (see Document F(*)), 752; making a total of that division of 31,251.

The following parishes have made their returns, to wit:
Parish of Iberville 634
Parish of Natchitoches 1,031
Parish of Livingston 754
Parish of Saint Tammany 442
Parish of Saint Charles 210
Parish of Washington 441
Parish of Carroll 691
Parish of East Baton Rouge 1,200
Parish of East Feliciana 495
------------------------------------------
5,898
...
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. GRIVOT,
Adjutant and Inspector General of Louisiana.
=====
The Louisiana Native Guard is apparently a regiment included in the total for the First Division(30,499) which is the city of New Orleans. Document D was not included in the Official Records when published, so I have no breakdown of it. However, at the "grand review" in New Orleans on November 23, the regiment had almost 800 men march, with enough absent to bring their total to 909 officers and men. Lt. Col. (Judge) Ogden was the only white officer.

Regards,
Tim
__________________
"Let us, then, consider all attempts to weaken this Union, by maintaining that each state is separately and individually independent, as a species of political heresy, which can never benefit us, but may bring on us the most serious distresses."
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina, 1740-1824, Revolutionary War soldier, one of the authors of the US Constitution in 1787, speaking at the South Carolina Ratifying Convention in 1788.

Last edited by trice; 07-11-2007 at 03:33 PM.
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  #3  
Old 07-11-2007, 03:41 PM
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While the number of Militia shown in the 2nd post of this thread might look impressive, the truth was that most of them were unarmed and ill-equipped. Here is a letter showing the condition they were in in Late January of 1862. This is after the new law to reorganize the state Militia was passed (January 23) and immediately before the Native Guard was disbanded (February 15 in accord with that law).
=====
O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME LIII [S# 111]
Confederate Correspondence, Etc.--#8

HDQRS. LOUISIANA MILITIA, ADJT. GEN.'S OFFICE,
New Orleans, January 28, 1862.
Hon. J.P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War:

SIR: I am instructed by Governor Moore to inform you of the position of this State in regard to arms After having responded to the several requisitions made upon it, and placing into the field not less than 20,000 troops, all armed, the State finds itself at present without arms to supply the volunteer force organized by its citizens for its defense, as there are at present no less than 15,000 troops organized in companies, battalions, and regiments, and of that number not more than 6,500 are armed, a large portion of which are the most miserable and unserviceable arms known in the civilized world; that to put the troops into the field to meet the enemy with such arms would be the result of loss and damage to our troops. This State, and this city particularly, will sooner or later be the scene of action on the part of the Federals, and should an attempt be made to attack it our force would scarcely be better off than with wooden muskets.

I am further directed to say, by the Governor, that he has been called upon for another regiment to be transferred to the Confederate States for the war. Two companies have already organized, four more are in progress of organization, find he has strong hopes that in a short time the regiment will be completed; but that he has no arms to give them, and General Lovell does not consider himself authorized to receive them unless armed. Having thus exposed to you the too true unfortunate condition of this State, I am instructed by Governor Moore to ask if there can be no possibility for this State to receive from the Confederate States arms to an amount sufficient to arm the regiment now organizing and a large portion of the volunteer troops now unarmed. The Governor respectfully requests an answer, which he hopes will be favorable.
With the assurance of the Governor's highest regard, I remain, your obedient servant,
M. GRIVOT,
[6.] Adjutant and Inspector General.
=====
Regards,
Tim
__________________
"Let us, then, consider all attempts to weaken this Union, by maintaining that each state is separately and individually independent, as a species of political heresy, which can never benefit us, but may bring on us the most serious distresses."
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina, 1740-1824, Revolutionary War soldier, one of the authors of the US Constitution in 1787, speaking at the South Carolina Ratifying Convention in 1788.
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  #4  
Old 07-11-2007, 04:16 PM
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Here we have an example of the dire shortage of arms and equipment shortage in the Confederacy, particularly away from the main front, at this time. After months of effort and expense, Governor Moore of LA gets a shipment through the blockade -- and finds the Governor of Florida and the Confederate War department have hijacked it.
=====
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME VI, Chapter XVI [S# 6]
Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating To Events In West Florida, Southern Alabama, Southern Mississippi, And Louisiana From September 1, 1861, To May 12, 1862.
CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#5

NEW ORLEANS, LA., April 1, 1862.
President DAVIS,
Richmond, Va.:
I purchased eight months ago 1,880 rifles and 30,000 cartridges, and have just succeeded, after infinite trouble and over $60,000 of outlay, in having them landed on the Florida coast. They were at once seized by Governor Milton, and I telegraphed they must be sent to me. I have received his reply, in which he coolly informs me he has taken one-half and your Secretary of War the other. This unpardonable and unparalleled outrage is nothing less than robbery, and just as bad. I cannot use Louisiana's money to buy arms when they are to be seized by the first freebooter that meets them. I have given out all the arms I had, expecting that these would be in the hands of my own troops. Now that thirty-seven sail of the enemy are in the river, in God's name, in the name of my State, I ask you to order them to be sent to me immediately.
THO. O. MOORE.
-----
RICHMOND, VA., April 2, 1862.
Governor MOORE,
New Orleans, La.:
I was not aware that the arms in the hands of Governor Milton belonged to the State of Louisiana. One-half of them, sent to Pensacola, have been ordered to be placed subject to your order, and I have requested Governor Milton to make the same disposition of the remainder. He took them supposing that they were arms given him by Mr. Benjamin, when in fact they were part of a different cargo. I did not know until Mr. Benjamin informed me of it that the arms held by Governor Milton were a part of the cargo of the Florida. Col. T. M. Jones, commanding at Pensacola, will communicate to you the arrival of the arms at that place.
G. W. RANDOLPH,
Secretary of War.
-----
MOBILE, April 2, 1862.
Col. THOMAS M. JONES,
Pensacola:
I have resumed command of this department. Nine hundred rifles on the way to you for war troops.(*)
SAM. JONES.
-----
NEW ORLEANS, LA., April 3, 1862.
General GEORGE W. RANDOLPH:
The seizure of Governor Moore's guns by the War Department leaves me in a precarious condition. We sent off all our men, relying upon those guns to arm others. Please order them here.
M. LOVELL.
-----
NEW ORLEANS, LA., April 10, 1862.
General GEORGE W. RANDOLPH:
Can you possibly order here 4,000 or 5,000 small-arms? I have sent all my troops to Corinth, but have several unarmed war regiments.
M. LOVELL.
=====
Regards,
Tim
__________________
"Let us, then, consider all attempts to weaken this Union, by maintaining that each state is separately and individually independent, as a species of political heresy, which can never benefit us, but may bring on us the most serious distresses."
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina, 1740-1824, Revolutionary War soldier, one of the authors of the US Constitution in 1787, speaking at the South Carolina Ratifying Convention in 1788.
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Old 07-16-2007, 10:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trice
In addition to the forces in the first message of this thread, the Louisiana Militia consisted of the following forces on this late November 1861 date:
=====
O.R.--SERIES IV--VOLUME I [S# 127]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, REPORTS, AND RETURNS OF THE CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES, DECEMBER 20, 1860-JUNE 30, 1862.(*)--#30
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
New Orleans, November 22, 1861.
His Excellency T. O. MOORE,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Louisiana Militia:
SIR: I respectfully transmit my annual report of the condition of the militia of this State:
...
I herewith annex the returns of the militia of the State so far as received. Only a few of the officers have complied with that portion of the order. I hope soon, however, to be able to report to the Legislature a full statement of the militia force. In the First Division the returns show a force of (see Document D(*)) 30,499; Confederate Guards (see Document F(*)), 752; making a total of that division of 31,251.

The following parishes have made their returns, to wit:
Parish of Iberville 634
Parish of Natchitoches 1,031
Parish of Livingston 754
Parish of Saint Tammany 442
Parish of Saint Charles 210
Parish of Washington 441
Parish of Carroll 691
Parish of East Baton Rouge 1,200
Parish of East Feliciana 495
------------------------------------------
5,898
...
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. GRIVOT,
Adjutant and Inspector General of Louisiana.
=====
The Louisiana Native Guard is apparently a regiment included in the total for the First Division(30,499) which is the city of New Orleans. Document D was not included in the Official Records when published, so I have no breakdown of it. However, at the "grand review" in New Orleans on November 23, the regiment had almost 800 men march, with enough absent to bring their total to 909 officers and men. Lt. Col. (Judge) Ogden was the only white officer.

Regards,
Tim
The N______ G____ was the first b____ regiment to do service under national authority.
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"Your New-York bankers and merchants are shrewd people, but I never gave them credit for so much sagacity as when they took the Government Loan. It was not merely patriotism, it was a high stroke of policy. It has saved the Government, and what they will regard as equally important, saved them from a great financial disaster."

New York Times, 27 September 1861
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Old 07-16-2007, 11:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Battalion
The N______ G____ was the first b____ regiment to do service under national authority.
Assuming you mean that "The Native Guard was the first black regiment to do service under national authority.", you would be wrong, because the Confederacy never accepted them. However, it was my understanding that we were asked not to have any more "black Confederate" discussions on this board, so I really have no idea what you are talking about. Please be clear.

Tim
__________________
"Let us, then, consider all attempts to weaken this Union, by maintaining that each state is separately and individually independent, as a species of political heresy, which can never benefit us, but may bring on us the most serious distresses."
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina, 1740-1824, Revolutionary War soldier, one of the authors of the US Constitution in 1787, speaking at the South Carolina Ratifying Convention in 1788.
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Old 07-16-2007, 10:16 PM
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It's pathetic to see you guys skirt around this topic. Can't leave it alone. Maybe if people could discuss it without the anger and sarcasm, Ami wouldn't lock the threads. yeah buddy, I said sarcasm, and I meant you.

Nice information Tim, thanks for digging it up.
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Old 07-17-2007, 06:00 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by matthew mckeon
Nice information Tim, thanks for digging it up.
In common with most Confederate states at this point, Louisiana was having trouble arming any additional troops she tried to raise. At the same time, militia and Volunteers offered to Confederate service were supposed to be armed before they were accepted and mustered in, so Confederate officers like Lovell felt they could not accept them.

The arms shortage was also why Lovell could not get the arms he needed, particularly heavy guns, to defend New Orleans. Even when the Confederate siege of Ft. Pickens in Pensacola was broken up, most of those heavy guns went elsewhere (largely to Mobile). The CSA had to make choices between too many places, with not enough resources: Tennessee and Virginia and the Carolinas and Florida and the Gulf Coast. Too many places to defend, not enough men and guns and arms; maybe they should have concentrated on defending New Orleans, but what happens up at Corinth or Mobile if they do?

The Governor of Florida, BTW, held onto those guns from the shipment mentioned above, even after the CSA War Department started applying pressure. Undoubtedly he had his reasons, but Louisiana was getting badly treated.

Regards,
Tim
__________________
"Let us, then, consider all attempts to weaken this Union, by maintaining that each state is separately and individually independent, as a species of political heresy, which can never benefit us, but may bring on us the most serious distresses."
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina, 1740-1824, Revolutionary War soldier, one of the authors of the US Constitution in 1787, speaking at the South Carolina Ratifying Convention in 1788.
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Old 07-17-2007, 10:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by matthew mckeon
It's pathetic to see you guys skirt around this topic. Can't leave it alone. Maybe if people could discuss it without the anger and sarcasm, Ami wouldn't lock the threads.
They want the thread closed.
That's the reason for the personal attacks and smears.

They cannot stand to have their sacred version of history being threatened.
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"Your New-York bankers and merchants are shrewd people, but I never gave them credit for so much sagacity as when they took the Government Loan. It was not merely patriotism, it was a high stroke of policy. It has saved the Government, and what they will regard as equally important, saved them from a great financial disaster."

New York Times, 27 September 1861

Last edited by Battalion; 07-17-2007 at 01:44 PM.
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Old 07-17-2007, 06:00 PM
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Trice,
In your post about the dilemnas facing the Confederacy: which area to reinforce and commit resources, I'm reminded of the statement of an Israeli general in the 1948, facing assaults by multiple Arab armies from different directions, "I'm like a naked woman with one handerchief."
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