7th Louisiana Cavalry

[Rusty_S]

I am looking for any information or photos pertaining to the 7th Louisiana Cavalry specifically Company C if possible. I did some reading and I found a mention of it possibly being known as Whitaker's but wasnt finding much outside of taking me to this website that just lists a bunch of officers but nothing about the unit itself, what battles it was in, the units movement during the war, etc.

 

[danny]

I am looking for any information or photos pertaining to the 7th Louisiana Cavalry specifically Company C if possible. I did some reading and I found a mention of it possibly being known as Whitaker's but wasnt finding much outside of taking me to this website that just lists a bunch of officers but nothing about the unit itself, what battles it was in, the units movement during the war, etc.

There is precious little about the late forming La cavalry units such as the 7th, but I'm happy to share with you my personal use notes.

Bush's 7th La Cav

Bush- Col
*Bringier- Lt Col [Lt & ADC to Gen Taylor] 11/26/63 asks to resign his position on the staff
Young, J. L., Lt. Col 7th La Cav Official Rolls of Paroled Officers, C. S. A., Paroled-Shreveport, June 20, 1865.
*Bringier's papers are located at LSU
---Civil War letters reflect camp life, destruction of property, scarcity of food, slavery, and the search for "jayhawkers" and deserters. Military correspondence includes letters by Colonel Louis Bush and Simon B. Buckner and relates the history, organization, and election of officers of the 4th Louisiana Cavalry Regiment. Other letters discuss camp conditions, morning report, and election of officers of the 7th Cavalry.

3/13/64 Org as 4th [aka 2nd] La Cav at Moundville
Oct 64 Reorg as 7th La Cav
Sept-Oct 1864 Vincent's La Cav Bgde of 1st Corps
Dec 64-May 1865-1st Vincent/Brent's La Cav Bgde La Cav Div 1st Corps

From a variety of sources including Official Records, National Archives Confederate Records, compiled service records and others

2/2/64 Taylor to Boggs-I have the honor to forward herewith a report* of Maj. W. M. Levy, & earnestly recommend the same for immediate action. The outrages of the enemy during his late movements in the Attakapas region have induced the Creole inhabitants for the first time in the war to manifest a desire to enter the service. I think there is no doubt that if immediate measures are adopted to take advantage of this feeling a good Regt of Cav can be placed in the field in three weeks. We could then enforce the conscript act thoroughly in all this region of country, where it has been practically a dead letter from the universal hostility of the people.
The entire population of this Attakapas country is of French origin, & but few speak our language. This has increased the difficulty of operating on their feelings of patriotism. In addition, there are large numbers of arms in this region left by deserters from both armies. The men desiring to form these Co's have most of these arms among them, & all have horses. The field officers suggested by Maj Levy belong to the Creole race, & have all served since the commencement of the war. As these companies are awaiting a decision, I respectfully ask for an early reply. There is no doubt, in my judgment, that this plan is the only one likely to utilize these men.

2/16/64 Taylor to Boggs-I renew my request for the formation of a Cav Regt. The Co's previously alluded to still await their instructions. [Creoles for first time in war express desire to serve & Taylor says veteran Creole officers in the army should command this all Creole Regt]. If approved, I can have an effective Regt in the field in a week.

3/13/64 "Taylor authorized the formation of this Regt to operate against Jayhawkers in southwestern La. Many of the men who joined it in early 64 were deserters from Infy units, principally the 10th​ La (Yellow Jackets) Infy Bn. Col Louis Bush mustered in the Regt as the 4th​ La Cav on March 13, 1864, at Moundville, though its organization remained incomplete.

3/13/64 Bush's 4th​ [later 7th​] La Cav organized-Taylor had offered no charges for deserters if they came back & joined this Regt including many from the 10th​ [Yellow Jacket] Bn. He also promised that the Regt's service would be S. La, where they went after Mansfield campaign.

The men retreated to Natchitoches in advance of Banks' Union army, which had started its Red River Campaign.

4/2-4/7/64 The Regt did picket duty between Natchitoches & Alexandria & participated in skirmishes at Crump's Hill, 4/2, & at Wilson's Farm, 4/7.

4/11 [About] the Regt accompanied the 2nd​ La Cav on a raid into the Opelousas & Attakapas region to clear out small bands of enemy soldiers & groups of Jayhawkers.

4/22 the men had returned to the Red River area by now, when they fired on a Union transport about fourteen miles southeast of Alexandria. After a few days in that area, the Regt returned to south La to recruit & perform outpost duty.

6/27/64 Gen Walker issued an order reorganizing the10th​ [Yellow Jacket] La Bn & established their Hqs at Alexandria. The authorities considered breaking up the consolidations, & made promotions as if the units were separate. This would affect the 7th​ La Cav more than others, since it had so many former members of the Yellow Jacket Bn. the 7th​ La Cav feared their men would return to their homes or disappear if ordered back to the Infy.

Late Aug 64-Efforts began again to reorganize the Yellow Jacket Bn. Apparently, Gabriel Fournet got involved at this time. The officers of the 7th​ La Cav urged their superiors not to tamper with their unit. Col Bringier wrote his wife that most of the men would return to their places of refuge rather than go back to their old commands. When Buckner replaced Walker, he too urged that the 7th​ La Cav be kept intact.

10/30/64 despite the fact that Maj Simon & other officers of the Yellow Jacket Bn went to S La to get their men from the 7th​ La Cav, K Smith issued orders 10/30, formally transferring the former Yellow jackets to the 7th​ La Cav. The attempt to reorganize the Bn had failed. The 7th​ La Cav continued to do duty in S. La until the end of the war. The record of the Yellow Jacket Bn is not exemplary, as many of the men considered their unit raised for duty in the southern parishes

In Oct, 1864, the Regt reorganized & changed its designation to the 7th​ La Cav.

From June, 1864, until the end of the war, the men remained in the latter duty, occasionally engaging in campaigns against Jayhawkers or in picket duty near the Atchafalaya River.

11/15 Ref to 7th​ La Cav, Lt Col Bringier cdg

12/31/64 Organization of Trans Ms Dept
1st La Cav Bgde Actg. Brig Gen Brent
2nd La, Col William G. Vincent.
7th La, Lt Col Amedee Bringier.
8th La, Col B. W. Clark.
Vinson's (La) Scouts, Capt B. P. L. Vinson.

Late 1864 & early 1865-Small parties of the Regt, particularly from Co's A & C, made raids into the Bayou Lafourche region These raids had as their objective the acquisition of horses & supplies as well as the harassment of the enemy.

Capt William A. Whitaker commanded Co C, 7th La Cav Regt. He & men from his Co, as well as men from Co A, made raids into the Bayou Lafourche region in late 1864 & early 1865.

1/7/65 Col Bush became presiding officer of the military court in Shreveport [apparently Lt Col Bringier then took command of the Regt]

3/2/65 Election to be held in 7th​ La for a Lt Col vice Bringier promoted Col & for the vacancy of Major

3/19 Reference to Bringier, Cdg 7th La Cav

3/23 Hqs Brent Cav Bgde, Lodi Plantation, Brent to Maj J P Smith-
...On the 21st an expedition of the enemy came up Grand Lake & landed fifty negro troops just back of Charleston, on the Bayou Teche. ...immediately attacked them with twenty men of Co F, 7th La Cav, & drove them back to their transport, which opened with Arty on him. The expedition then left & sailed for Bayou Pigeon.
I have ordered Capt Hand's detachment to be reinforced by another Co of the 7th La Cav, in view of this expedition & another which is being prepared by the enemy in the waters of the Black, in rear of Brashear City...

3/29/65 Lodi, Hqs Brent's Cav Bgde-message [not copied] to Capt & cdg outpost Bayou Teche [Capt cdg Co A, 7th​ La Cav]

3/31 Lodi, Hqs Brent's Cav Bgde, Brent to Col Bringier cdg 7th​ La Cav- Upon yesterday Capt Whitaker was to have crossed the lakes for a raid into the La Fourche. Information has been received that the enemy have a large number of boats & launches in Bayou Black, in rear of Brashear City, capable of carrying 200 or 300 men. If this be correct, upon the crossing of Capt Whitaker, the enemy may adopt two courses: One to follow him & attempt his capture in the Bayou Pigeon, or to throw themselves on Murphy, & occupying the Teche country from New Iberia down, await Whitaker's return.

To guard against these contingencies as far as possible, I desire you to proceed to the Teche & assume command of the front. You will move the main body of your Regt either to the Teche or to some point where you can easily counteract any attack of the enemy. I will not undertake to designate that point, leaving it to your discretion, with the remark that while it is probable that the enemy may prefer to land in the vicinity of Charleston, it is not certain that he would do so, as, for many reasons, he might endeavor to strike farther to the rear of Murphy. It would be well to conceal your movement as far as possible. Capt Whitaker is informed of the danger that he is exposed to, & may find himself forced to abandon his boats & take to the swamps. He expresses no fear of being entrapped. It would then be well to have a boat ready at the Bayou Portage or Fausse Pointe to cross at once & communicate with him when necessary.

Capt Murphy had better be retained in the command of his detachment, so that he may continue to perform the valuable scouting & secret service he is rendering to these Hqs, but in active operations you will act according to your discretion. The reports & intelligence from the advanced post will be forwarded without delay. As soon as Whitaker returns & you are satisfied no probability of a raid of the enemy, you can withdraw with your Regt to your camp, leaving always a good reserve in the vicinity of New Iberia.

Capt's Murphy & Whitaker both have written relative to the fine opportunity presented for a raid to Houma. You can act according to your judgment, sending it or not, as after investigation you think best. All animals brought over by Capt Whitaker will be taken possession of by your QM & held subject to my orders. Capt Murphy will show you the various orders he is acting under.

4/1/65 Brent to Maj J P Smith-...I report the arrival at my Hqs of twenty-three mules captured by Capt Whitaker, 7th La Cav, within the picket line of the enemy & within three miles of the forts of Donaldsonville, on the Ms River. Capt Whitaker was discovered while taking these animals & was fired on, but, mounting his men on the mules, taking to the swamps, & swimming numerous bayous, escaped pursuit, & reaching his boats, he embarked his mules on a large fiat. Just before daybreak he discovered a Federal gun-boat directly on his course, & only a few miles distant, evidently cruising for him. He immediately approached a small island, disembarked his mules & men & covered his boats with brush. Disguised thus his boats escaped the observation of the gun-boat, which, after cruising about for four or five hours, then bore away, when he safely reached Mossy's Shell Bank. The perseverance & energy exhibited by Capt Whitaker & his men in this expedition, in which they carried a heavy flat & boats over 100 miles, are highly meritorious.

4/5/65 Lodi, Brent cdg Cav Forces front lines to Col Bringier cdg 7th​ La Cav-Orders have been received by me from district Hqs directing the impressments "of able-bodied negroes on plantations belonging to owners within the Federal lines & all others not usefully employed, in localities exposed to the enemy's raids. " YOU will make the impressments of the able-bodied negroes described above, but you will not cause the impressments of any negroes who are properly employed in cultivating provision crops. You will select a discreet officer to perform this duty, who will consult with Capt D. Kerr, agent of commissary Dept. When impressed, the negroes will be brought up under guard to these Hqs, when they will be turned over to Maj Mason, chief commissary of subsistence, District of West La, according to orders. The duty entrusted to you is a delicate one, & care will be taken not to interfere with any planter so as to curtail the provision crop which he may be cultivating.

4/29 Alexandria, Hqs Brent's Cav Bgde-S O #95-Capt Fuselier upon reporting to Col Bringier [7th La Cav] will be assigned to duty as Maj of said Regt

5/10/65 Morning report of Brent's Cav Bgde prepared by J B Whittington
Station

Washington

Bringier

7 La Cav

10 Co's

15 officers

251 men

266 agg

1/157 spec or xtra duty

0/18 sick

0/2 arrest

449 agg

18/337 dtchd service

3/106 leave or sick

5/15/65 Capt J C & Co A 7th​ La Cav] cdg advance post forces of lower Teche, Camp Brent-to Maj Boyd AAG, Brent's Bgde-sending in some of New Orleans newspapers & giving rumors of Federal plans to Alexandria & also expedition by sea to Texas.

5/17/65 D F Boyd AAG to Bringier cdg 7th​ La Cav-Gen Brent has directed me in his temporary absence to open all communication to him marked "personal" or "private," &, if they related to official matters requiring immediate attention, to refer them to Col Vincent, cdg the front. In accordance with those instructions-Your communication of the 16th was referred to Col Vincent, who would respectfully direct you to use your own discretion in granting leaves of absence to your men for such time & purpose as you think best consistent with preserving your Regimental organization.

Indeed, with the whole country filled with deserters with arms in their hands, the question would naturally arise whether many of those who have thus far remained true & fast to their Colors should not be allowed to go home to defend their families. The fact can no longer be concealed that the whole army & people, with scarce an individual exception, are resolved to fight no more, & to break up the army at all hazards.

All is confusion & demoralization here, nothing like order or discipline remains. Heavy desertions & plundering of Gov't property of every kind is the order of the day. There are but 86 enlisted men at the forts. All the commands of every arm of the service at & near Alexandria are destroyed, viz: Yost's & McMahan's Btrys; the Hvy Arty & Infy at the forts; the 3rd​ & 5th La Cav.

The 2nd La Cav still retains its organization, but there have been heavy desertions, the men are thoroughly demoralized, & all may leave at any moment; in a word, Col, the army is destroyed & we must look the matter square in the face & shape our actions (personally & officially) accordingly. The Col cdg commends you highly for your success in preserving thus long your organization & so many men. He thinks that all that can be expected of You is to use every mild & conciliatory means to preserve your Regt organization, but any violent measures to restrain desertions now is believed both by him & Gen Brent to be conducive of no good results, & would only tend to exasperate the soldiery & cause them to commit many depredations on citizens, besides endangering the lives of officers uselessly.

The Col cdg hopes the tenor of this communication will be properly understood; it is designed to be merely advisory, & you are left free to act as you think best, & at the same time to preserve your Regimental organization.

5/20/65 Hqs Forces Front Lines, Alexandria, Boyd to Col Bringier cdg 7th​ La Cav-the Col cdg congratulates you on your safe arrival at Tanner's with your train. He directs that you remain at or near Tanner's till further orders, & if you find yourself unable to preserve your train You will distribute Your wagons & teams to responsible planters in the neighborhood of Your camp, taking a receipt "to be returned on your order." It would be worse than useless to attempt to bring your train here. Every wagon & mule would be stolen in less than four hours after your arrival. There is corn at Tanner's at your own depot, it is said, & also Gov't beeves in the swamps nearby. Col Vincent believes, therefore, that you will have no difficulty in subsisting your command. He furthermore impress upon You the necessity of preserving Your Regimental organization intact, & for that reason & the fact that Gen Brent expressly ordered that Your leave of absence be withheld till further orders, Col Vincent in the absence of any order from Gen Brent on the subject, does not feel authorized to send you your leave of absence. He regrets that he feels it his duty to contravene your wishes in that regard, but your presence is so necessary at all times to your command, & especially at this juncture, that he feels confident that you will cheerfully acquiesce in his decision. Gen Brent is now on the Miss River attempting to negotiate a surrender of Gen Hays' command, the District of West La.

The La Gen'ls are acting independently of Gen Smith & Gen Buckner, who are determined in no event to surrender, have now no hope of success, & would bring ruin on La & Texas merely to enable them to escape with a corporal's guard into Mexico. From these reason's La must look out for herself, & there is but little doubt that in a few days the district will be surrendered on the terms granted Gen Taylor. Enclosed please find copy of General Order from these Hqs. Should you have any difficulty to subsist let it be known; an effort (but in vain we fear) will be made to relieve you.

5/27/65 Alexandria, Hqs Forces Front Lines, S O #106-Col Bringier cdg 7th​ La Cav is granted authority to grant furloughs of 7 days renewable on expiration to the officers & men of his command

From Fold3-CS Misc

8/15/63 First Lt Wm A Whitaker cdg escort company, Major's brigade signs receipt for $150 for expenses apprehending deserters for self for transportation & allowance for baggage & porterage in traveling from and to [can't read]
Whitaker declares amount was actually paid for 4 days of ferrying from Massey's Landing to Bay [Natchez?]

9/25/63 Bayou Petite Prairie-Lt Wm A Whitaker cdg company signs receipt for clothing for company since none has been drawn and was not given time to procure any before leaving home


From Fold3-7th​ La Cav

6/11/65 Capt Whitaker [from Napoleonville, La] signs his parole at New Iberia

2/18/22 apparently Government agency responding to Mrs Whitaker:
No roles for 7th​ La Cav on file in this agency

5/8/65 Hqs 7th​ La Cav, Camp Handy/Henly-Pvt L Mayard Co C is granted a pass from 5/9-5/12 to home & get clothes

5/9-#51 J C Murphy cdg outpost on Teche
Referred to Capt Oliver P QM thru Col Harrison cdg Cav Bgde
Capt J C Murphy Co A 7th​ La Cav


Capt William A. Whitaker [Assumption Parish] commanded Co C, 7th La Cav Regt. He & men from his Co, as well as men from Co A, made raids into the Bayou Lafourche region in late 1864 & early 1865. "These raids had as their objective the acquisition of horses & supplies as well as the harassment of the enemy." The men returned to the Regt & were paroled in south La at the end of the war.

May 1865 the majority of the Regt occupied a camp near Alexandria in May, 1865, when the TM Dept surrendered; but some men received their paroles at Franklin."

Official Records-Union correspondence

1/16/65 Union report- …the following statement of the information received at this office this 16th day of Jan, 1865: A report from Lt Reeds of 12/24 indicates that section of the country very quiet. A report from the same source of Dec 30, 1864, states that several bands of robbers & thieves are committing depredations. These bands are supposed to belong to the Enrolled Militia of the State, & it is thought the parties will soon be brought to justice. A report from Capt Man, Morganza, La., Jan 12, 1865, states that the 2nd, 4th, 17th, [7th​] & 8th​ La Cav (rebel), forming a Bgde about 1,500 to 2,000 strong, armed with Enfield rifles, commanded by Brig Gen Joseph Brent, are stationed near Opelousas picketing the Atchafalaya from Red River down, together with two Btrys (about twelve guns) at Cheneyville, on Bayou Boeuf.

1/20/65 Union report-submit to your consideration the following report of information received at this office this 20th day of Jan, 1865: A report from Lt Haff, Thibodeaux, Jan 18, 1865, states that four deserters came within the Federal line on the 15th & made the following statements; Brig Gen Joseph Brent commands the rebel forces on the Lower Teche, Hqs at Bayou Bourbeux, six miles from Opelousas. His command consists of a Regt of Cav (ten Co's) & two independent Co's, stationed, respectively, at Franklin & Fausse Pointe. These troops have not been paid in two years, & very much discontent exists among them. They talk freely of deserting. They state there is no Arty this side of Opelousas, & they think none this side of Alexandria.
Eighteen deserters came into Donaldsonville on the 17th. Capt Man, Morganza, La., in a communication, dated Jan 18, states that the 3rd Ark Cav (rebel) are on this side the Atchafalaya near Morganza, & that there are indications of an increase of the rebel force in that vicinity. His former reports of the position of rebel troops have been confirmed by deserters & prisoners. A further examination of the deserter Lars Larsen discloses the fact that there are four gun-boats in & around Galveston Bay, viz, the Col Still, mounting two guns; the Diana, well armed; the Bayou City, mounting two guns, & the John F. Carr. There is a small supply boat (the Island City) in the bay. There is at the mouth of the Brazos River a stern-wheel steamer, the Lucy Gwin, & at Sabine the Josiah H. Bell, mounting one 32-pounder & two mountain howitzers (6-pounders).

3/16/65 The 7th La Cav returned to the Teche country from Alexandria

4/13/65 New Orleans to Lt Col C. T. Christenson, AAG, Mil. Div of West Ms- submit to your consideration the following report of information received at his office today.

------The 7th La Cav returned to the Teche country from Alexandria on 3/16. Gen Thomas still commands at Alexandria, & Brent's Bgde, Bagby's Div of Cav, holds the country this side. This Bgde has the 2nd, *4th, & 7th La Cav, & a Regt consolidated from two others. [8th​ La Cav] *Capers' 5th​ La Cav aka 4th​ La Cav

------On 3/28 I received orders to proceed to Morganza, pass through the lines, go to Washington, & thence toward Alexandria as far as practicable in quest of military Information. I passed through the lines & reached Washington on the 4/6. There I learned that on the 3/16 the 7th La Cav, Col Bush, passed down toward Brashear City, the same Regt having passed up toward Alexandria only about two weeks before. The situation at Alexandria was not changed, Brig-Gen Thomas cdg the fortifications & the Cav force of four Regts, commanded by Gen Brent, formerly a lawyer of Los Angeles

4/25/65 Union report-Capt Hargroder, Co B, 7th La Cav, reports that he left his Regt on 4/25, at which time the Co's were distributed as follows: Hqs of the Regt, with 5 Co's, a little below Vermilionville, on this side of Vermilion Bayou. (Col Bringier commands the Regt.) One Co (F), Capt Tertron, stationed near the mouth of Vermillion Bayou; 4 Co's under Capt Murphy, stationed at Burns' plantation, above Irish Bend. These Co's picket the country from Butte-a-la-Rose to Berwick Bay-The station at Butte-a-la-Rose has seven men who scout as far as Hart's plantation, on Grand River. There are 30 men on Lake Fausse Pointe & twelve at Indian Village. The posts below Franklin not known- The eff strength of the Regt is about 300 or 400. It was formerly the 4th La Cav, Col Bush cdg. It is composed mostly of men who kept out of the service as long as possible. There are about 200 of them lying in the woods waiting an opportunity to escape. Their principal duty is to catch deserters from other Regts, but will themselves desert if any demonstration is made by our forces in that country. Supplies very scarce-

4/30/65 The Informant heard by deserters who left the Regt on 4/29 that they were to move on 4/30 from Vermilionville to Opelousas. -A. J. Jackson, Maj, 10th U. S. Colored Hvy Arty. (In absence of Capt S. M. Eaton, chief signal officer, Military Div of West Ms)