Cajun neutrality shenanigans in the Red River Campaign

Rusk County Avengers

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Muster Stunt Master Stones River / Franklin 2022
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This thread is for me is mainly a discussion, for knowledge and or just laughs at "Cajun Diplomacy" as I like to call it, when the Union Army of the Gulf began the Red River Campaign. When the Union Army began to move up the Red there seems to have been a great fear of the Union burning and confiscating property, (that fear seems to have justified when the historical record of events is read), but the citizens of Avoyelles Parish in Louisiana, also seemed to lack faith in the Confederate Army's ability to protect them. While I'm using the term "Cajun" a little freely, especially as there were some actual French immigrants in the area, the majority were most likely Cajuns, and Union accounts refer to them as French immigrants, which indicates to me, the efforts of the citizenry payed off.

Here are some interesting accounts of the French speaking citizenry the Union encountered when they entered Avoyelles Parish. Both of these accounts being excerpted from the excellent book "Earthen Walls, Iron Men: Fort Derussy and the Defense of the Red River" by Steven Mayeux

Brigadier General Thomas Kilby Smith:
"We suddenly emerged in one of the most beautiful prairies imaginable, high-table land, gently undulating, watered by little lakes, with occasional groves, the landscape dotted with tasteful houses, gardens and shrubberies. This prairie, called Avoyelles, is settled exclusively by French immigrants, many of whom, as our army passed, sought shelter of the tricolor of France."

Captain William Burns of the 24th Missouri:
"Nearly all the citizens were French, and at almost every house the French flag was flying to protect them, which annoyed many of us, considering the French performances then being enacted in Mexico."

These are just two accounts of the French flag being used as a "shelter", and almost all Union accounts describe them as recent French immigrants, which the vast majority were not, and I must say as someone who has spent a lot of time in Louisiana, I can't say I'm surprised this stroke of genius on the part of South Louisiana citizenry. There's a lot more to this story, for the sake of discussion, I'll leave it at this for now.

Please discuss. Lets get the new Trans-Mississippi Forum thriving on it!
 
Love it !

While there are many Acadians (Cajuns ) . . . and (Creoles ) . . . that performed gallantly within the Confederate Military, the average Cajun probably just wanted to be left alone.

One still gets that vibe, even today . . . in those sections of Louisiana.

Personally, being in NE Texas, I don't have to go far for that vibe, having Cajun neighbors, Cajun decent extended family, and plenty of Cajun friends, I've earned my right to speak on them over and over lol!

All things considered, I highly doubt the Union Army got to sample great Cajun cuisine. One account, (I'll have to find it) by a soldier speaks of how hungry they were and vengeful when they got to Fort Derussy. Although I imagine Gumbo would have been welcome, I doubt them Yankee boys would liked Crawfish. I know I don't!
 
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/louisiana-jayhawkers.49333/#post-375142

The Calcasieu and Mermentau Jayhawkers

There was much enthusiasm in Louisiana when the American Civil War first began. The wealthier cotton and sugar planters usually owned many slaves, and the war was seen by them as the only way to preserve the plantation manner of life. Many young men flocked to the colors, seeking the glory and fame that a soldier’s life might bestow upon them, unmindful that war’s most frequent ‘gifts’ were death and severed limbs instead of fame. Many youths enlisted, fearing the war would end before they could see action, and almost no one foresaw a war that would last for four years.

A year later, though, it became increasingly obvious that the war would last much longer. However, events of April, 1862, were soon to dampen enthusiasm for the war among Louisianans. In that month, the Confederate Congress passed a military draft for all men ages 18 to 35, later extending the years from 17 to 50 for three years of service. Also in April, 1862, Admiral David Farragut’s West Gulf fleet ran passed the Lower Mississippi River forts to capture New Orleans, leaving only Port Hudson and Vicksburg to block the Union’s Navy’s advance along the entire river.

Very quickly thereafter, the Civil War became known as "a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight." While the Confederate government championed the cause of States Rights, many poor Southerners soon viewed it as a war to preserve the institution of slavery, and hence the way of life of the wealthy planter class that slavery permitted to flourish. It is believed that only one out of each twenty Confederate soldiers actually owned slaves. While a few of South Louisiana’s French Acadians belonged to the planter class, most of them were poor farmers, who depended for farm labor on their own large families, and who regarded the conflict as "the American war" (la guerre de les Americains).1

The first evidence of Louisiana’s Jayhawkers appeared with the Union invasion in May, 1863 of the Bayou Teche country between Opelousas and Brashear (Morgan) City. And very quickly three groups of men could be identified, all of whom the Confederates labeled as "Jayhawkers." The first of those were draft dodgers and conscripts, who hid out in the swamps. One writer explained their intents and way of life as follows:

...Many honest and hard working men deserted or evaded the draft because they never owned a slave, never participated in the planter’s way of life, and decided not to defend it. They are not to be confused with the bands of lawless men, composed of deserters and draft dodgers, who organized into bodies which they called...guerrillas. They were mounted and armed...2

A third group whom the Confederates also called Jayhawkers were Unionists, whom General Nathaniel Banks permitted to take the oath of allegiance, and he organized them into a regiment known as the First Louisiana Scouts, who did little in 1864 except exact "revenge against their former neighbors..."3 More about the Louisiana Scouts will be recorded later.

http://www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/jayhawke.htm

Camp Stonewall Jackson, near Washington, La. } August 17th, 1863. }


Editor Telegraph.—As you are aware, our army has long since "changed its base" and fallen back west of the Atchafalaya, and south of Red River. A small "squad," who generally go along with Gen. Tom Green on his excursions around, stopped here awaiting orders, (principally from Banks) where we have been permitted for two or three weeks to enjoy rest for man and beast, the first for many days—but the outrageous acts of the conscripts, deserters and free negroes who inhabit the country west of this, came to the knowledge of the "powers that be" and our rest was broken. There has long been quite a number of the aforesaid class, who have taken to the woods and bottoms and evaded the enrolling officers, and declared it to be their intention not to fight for either Federal or Confederate Governments, but at the time the Federal army occupied "these parts," I have been credibly informed that the leading members of this clan formed an alliance with the "rail splitters" minions, and after giving all information required, obtained permission to remain here and plunder good citizens and murder alike citizen and soldier. They are said to be 300 or 400 strong, and commanded by one Carrier. They are principally armed with double barreled shot guns. They having recently killed some good citizens, and 4 or 5 C. S. soldiers, it was determined, if possible, to bring some at lest, of the offenders to justice. Accordingly, on the night of the 8th inst., a detachment of Co. B, Lieut. Coleman commanding, and of Co. C, Capt. Clough commanding, all of the 5th T. M. V., were ordered to report to Capt. West, (I think of Gen. Taylor's Staff) at Washington. At Opelousas we were joined by ten more belonging to Co. E, 4th T. M. V., and after dark, while on the march, by the Home Guard, 20 strong, making in all about 75 men. We proceeded about 10 miles to the westward—to a neighborhood composed principally of these fellows (Jayhawkers) and situated along bayou Mallet. We then divided into two or three parties and the performance commenced. Each party had so many, and certain houses to surround and search. The parties were to move cautiously and as noiselessly as possible until near the house. Then rush up, dismount and surround the "castle," guard every door and window, while a "storming" party entered each house, demanded lights and searched every nook and corner. Thus we hunt conscripts, visiting a man's home at the hour of midnight, and in some instances, we took them away. The women in some cases appeared, much grieved, and cried and begged at an awful rate, when their husbands, fathers and brothers were being taken away, but as they all cried and talked in French (!) and as we could not "Parley Francais," their wails amounted to nothing at all. We captured 10 or a dozen during the night. Some of them were deserters from the army, while others were liable to conscription and accused of being connected with the clan known as Jayhawkers. All of them were sent to Opelousas for imprisonment and trial. On the morning of the 9th, and our command having had nothing to eat since noon of the 8th, divided into small parties and sent to the houses in the neighborhood for breakfast, and while this state of affairs was existing, a party of 40 or 50 mounted Jayhawkers surprised a party of about 25 of our command, who believed they were some of our own command returning, and consequently they were permitted to move up in rear and on both flanks within shot gun range and fire, before it was discovered who they were. Being desirous of concentrating our different parties and as they were in the edge of the woods, rendering it impossible to learn their numbers, the order was given to fall back into the prairie. Our boys formed and dashed through their lines, the Jayhawkers firing rapidly. Roy Blondelle and Chas. Elkin, of Co. B, T. M. V., were wounded. Roy has since died—also Pearson, of Co. C. had a mule shot under him. The scoundrels never followed, having a great terror for the prairies and cavalry. There was a speedy concentration of our little party from breakfast, and so we remained concentrated during the day. For this impudence the remainder of the 5th T. M. V., Lt. Col. McPhail commanding, and 2d Louisiana Cavalry, Maj. Thompson commanding, were sent to our aid, with orders to scour the woods and country for miles around, and to shoot every man connected with the clan. We remained for that purpose until the night of the 15th, we returned. We scoured the woods and country for miles, forming in line of battle and marching abreast, across bodies of timber and the swamps—driving for them as if for deer, and on the evening of the 10th inst., while moving in this manner, we surprised them in their camp and fired into them. Most of them fled, while two or three stood up, fired, and badly wounded James C. Francis of Co. G, 5th T. M. V., (since died,) and John Watson, a member of 5th Texas Infantry. Three of them captured on the spot, and another in the same neighborhood, were shot per order the next day. The family of one of them came to take leave of him a few minutes before he was led out to be shot, and it was truly an unpleasant scene. Methinks I can hear that woman and her children's cries to this moment. However, they had already killed two of the most gallant soldiers of our regiment, and were found in arms resisting the laws of their country and as such should have died. Col. McPhail, on leaving, issued a proclamation promising pardon to all who may in future return to their due allegiance, but death to all who may be caught in these disloyal practices—whether plundering, or murdering, or caught in arms and skulking in the woods from justice. I have written this for the purpose of informing the citizens of Texas, who may intend traveling from Niblett's Bluff to the eastward, of the state of affairs existing in that portion of the State, and to ask them to remember that the late punishment inflicted on some of the conscripts renders it very unsafe for small parties to travel alone. Respectfully, W. R. H.

The Opelousas Courier, August 15, 1863:
"On Sunday last, a company of mounted troops, joined, it appears, by some citizens, started in pursuit of the jayhawkers, and when arrived in their quarter, dismounted and leisurely laid down, waiting for something or other, when, all at once here come the jayhawkers pouncing upon them and throwing dismay among the crowd. Firing commenced, running too commenced, and from what we can learn we had one man killed and several wounded, one of whom has since died. We know not the loss of the othe side..."

This is an article from Harpers Weekly, December 19, 1863, commenting on captured orders from a Confederate officer that were issued by Alfred Mouton:

THE TERROR AT THE SOUTH.
THE following letter comes to the Lounger from an officer of one of the New York regiments in the Army of the Gulf. The revelation of the suffering of faithful American citizens under the fierce terrorism of the rebellion is startling. The rebel General Orders which our correspondent incloses, and which follow his letter, were found upon an officer of the rebel General Mouton's brigade, captured by a detachment of Major-General Washburn's division, near St. Martinsville, south of the Red River. They show how desperate is the resistance made by Southern men against the "Confederate Government," and how earnest their hate of the "liberty and independence" proffered them by a slaveholding oligarchy:
CAMP AT VERMILION BAYOU, LOUISIANA, November, 1863.
To the Lounger:
The circular which I inclose will tell you its own story, and will be allowed, I hope, to appeal through you to the sympathies and faith of a hundred thousand loyal men
and women. Were there no other evidence existing of loyalty in rebellious Louisiana—of true, tried, unswerving loyalty, which lives and has its being, even though hunted, persecuted, and massacred by such incarnations of traitorous hate and cruelty as Sterling Price, Richard Taylor, and Alfred Mouton—this circular would nevertheless triumphantly prove the fact.
Are there, Mr. Lounger, among the worthy people whom you visit weekly, some who have never felt the burdens of the war, save as the tax-gatherer has knocked more loudly at their doors, and who have never felt the bitter afflictions of the war, save as they have mourned the decline of gold, and yet who have complained loudly of its hardships? Are there haply those whose faith that the old Union ship must yet outride the storm has wavered, and whose hearts have grown apathetic, even beneath the peaceful shelter of the Old Flag? If such there be, let me ask them to read and learn how the Wittingtons, the Ozimes, the Carrieres, the Huddlestons, of Louisiana, have been made the victims of a relentless and cold-blooded persecution; hunted through the swamps and brakes of their State: proscribed, outlawed, murdered in secret, because—and I would that it might be blazoned in characters of fire before Copperhead eyes—because they could not lift the traitor's hand against their beloved country! Honor, thrice honor, to these gallant spirits! The soul of all the Army of the Gulf cries out to them in sympathy and encouragement.
This circular has probably been prepared for distribution to the people of the State, and has, undoubtedly, the authority of our Generals in this Department.
Yours in loyalty.


GENERAL ORDERS.—No.—
HEAD-QUARTERS, FORCES SOUTH OF RED RIVER,
VERMILIONVILLE, June 12, 1863.
Information has been received that there are bands of outlaws, deserters, conscripts, and stragglers from a point above Hineston, on the Calcasieu River, in the parish of Rapides, down to the lower parishes, extending into the parishes of Calcasieu, through to the Bayou Teche, which are committing depredations, robberies, and incendiarism, and who are openly violating the Confederate laws, with arms in their hands. Such men can only be considered as outlaws, highwaymen, and traitors.
In consequence:
I. You will proceed with your battalion up to the Calcasieu River, and in the vicinity of Hineston, in the parish of Rapides, and from that point scour the whole country to the outer limit of Calcasieu Parish, if necessary, to the Bayou Teche, in search of these outlaws, highwaymen, and traitors. These bands, beyond the pale of society, must be exterminated, especially the leaders; and every man found with arms for the purpose of resisting the operations of the Confederate laws, or against whom satisfactory evidence may be given, must be executed on the spot.
No prisoners should be taken. Such as are not sufficiently guilty to deserve immediate execution must be liberated, and, if conscripts, ordered to report forthwith. Men by the name of Wittington, Elliot, Ozime, Carriere, Huddleston, have been designated as some of the ringleaders.
By order of Brigadier-General ALFRED MOUTON:
LOUIS BUSH, Assistant Adjutant-General,
To Major G.A. FOURNET, commanding Yellow Jacket Battalion.
These instructions are to be kept secret, and no one is allowed to know the objects of your movements except
 
I think the "Jayhawkers" of Louisiana got to be a problem for a spell, the garrison at Fort Derussy had to deal with their depredations a few times, as did some Federal troops when passing through.
 
Now I am compelled to raise to honor my ancestors who rose in a significant group to emerge from the swamp jayhawker hideaway of Saline Swamp of Catahoula Parish to make a dangerous trip to Alexandria, Louisiana. The purpose was to enroll formally into Bank’s Federal Army that appeared there suddenly in the 1864 Red River Campaign. The Federal placed them in the First Louisiana Scout Battalion with numbers just under 500 local white southern Unionists recruited within weeks from the surrounding area. I notice Borderruffian kindly cited them in this thread above. It is simply a slur to imply they did nothing but punish neighbors who as Confederate supporters had oppressed them (they were guilty of this but they did much more) until the arrival of Banks. I know for a fact they were placed on the extreme left flank of the Federal battle line at Yellow Bayou (Avoyelles Parish near Simmsport, LA) in which around 600 rebels were shot down that day; administering a severe defeat to CSA Richard Taylor. I would say that was much more than burning out and shooting your neighbors because they did the same to you.

Rush County Avenger is correct that the Cajun people of Louisiana were highly suspect of disloyalty to the Confederacy. This was a complaint of CSA Richard Taylor made often about draft dodging in those areas. Many could speak only French Cajun. My mother and her immediate family were Cajuns from Avoyelles Parish. The entire region of southwest Louisiana was the domain of approximately 1,500 jayhawker mostly Cajun Army of a Commander Ozemes who controlled it except for its few urban areas like Lake Charles. It is they who likely killed CAJUN05 relative if that is factual.
 
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Cajun05-----This sad incident was not uncommon as the fighting continued after April 1865 until the hate played out somewhat. Few months after the War I had one relative with another man riding down the road on horse back outside Jonesville. You may say they were suspect Jayhawkers. They were gun down in an ambush by former Confederate gang. Here in Catahoula Parish it is sometimes referred to as the Jones/Little feud. It was a dirty little war by both sides. Can you say where your relative is buried? That's a very interesting grave marking. The Ozeme Charrie Gang was down to 50 members after the War that refused to give up the fighting but they were eventually trapped and all shot dead or so I recall. Thanks for the posting!
 
Yeah his grave is close to Dry Creek, LA in Beauregard Parish off of Longville Rd on a deer lease.
His friend Lemuel Jackson Bradford was taken by Jayhawkers and killed there too.
 
Yeah his grave is close to Dry Creek, LA in Beauregard Parish off of Longville Rd on a deer lease.
His friend Lemuel Jackson Bradford was taken by Jayhawkers and killed there too.

Seems some were outlaw trash even well before the war

 
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archieclement
Thanks for the link on Ozeme Carriere! I read it carefully and did not know about his pre War activities. Great Stuff!

I had misspelled his name in haste. I had read somewhere that Carriere had his favored mistresses that were twin Creole women who rode in battle with him. It seems they had the same last name as one of his officers which may imply that officer/sub leader was their brother. Does anyone know about this?

Also in haste I got the listing wrong by saying the infamous feud Jones/Little when I think the correct listing is Jones/Liddell feud. This involved Confederate General St. John R. Liddell, who following Kirby Smith/Richard Taylor's orders to shoot and kill anyone suspected of Jayhawkerism found armed. Killing civilians in Catahoula Parish area lead to a blood feud (everyone carries at least a shotgun) leaving a number dead during and after the War. Liddell himself was assassinated while playing poker on a steamboat in (what now is named) Jonesville, Louisiana few years after the War ended. I do not know if anyone knows what poker cards he had in his hand.
 
On a side note, I observed the article listed that a number of Sonnier family members apparently died in the Bois Mallet massacre. By the way, I will have to look up where Bois Mallet is located as I never of this location. I know personally a few Sonnier family members now living in Alexandria, Louisiana area and they are Creoles of Color. Ironically, two members (Matthew and Amber Sonnier, a brother and sister) you may now find listed in the Alexandria Daily Town Talk awaiting trial for a triple murder crime involving killing two men and one woman over apparently two rival groups fighting over narcotics and money. It is highly likely they may be related to Ozeme!
 
With regards to the above issue of Jayhawkers harassment of the garrison at Fort DeRussy, I had once located a couple of Official Records reports of the following incident: a group of Jayhawkers captured a ranking engineer (name forgotten but have it somewhere) near the Fort; they delivered him to the Federal Commander at Natchez, MS for likely an award; the Federals held him a period of time and then paroled him. I found it interesting at to such behavior. It seems to imply an established system of contact/communications between the Jayhawker group and the Federal Commander in Natchez (about 50 miles away). More records I found reveal the Jayhawkers were smuggling cotton through the swamps and bayous on small barges in a Black Market type operation from Catahoula Parish region to Natchez. Very neat stuff!
 
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