Shiloh

[Peter r]

Come across general JJ alfred Mouton , while searching opelousas louisiana.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Born in Opelousas, LA, Jean Jacques Alfred Alexander Mouton (1829-1864) was apparently considered to be quite a charismatic Confederate military commander in the CW.

At Shiloh, Col. Mouton led the 18th LA Infantry and was wounded in the face forcing him to retire from the field late in the battle. His post-action report of the engagement is found at 'OR': Vol. 10, Part 1, @ pp. 521-22.

A few days after Shiloh, Mouton was promoted to B-G. He was later killed by a Federal sharpshooter heading an infantry division at Mansfield during the Red River Campaign, although there was some controversy about the circumstances of his death.

There is a separate thread previously created, titled 'Mouton, Alfred' under 'Biographic Profiles' that contains more information on him.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Below is another version of how Mouton was killed on Apr. 8, '64, at Mansfield:-

..."Taylor had nothing but praise for Mouton's brave charge at Mansfield. Despite heavy casualties, Mouton's men pressed on across an open field, through a ravine and up a hill. They captured several Federal guns and caused the enemy line to break. Thirty-five Federal soldiers threw down their rifles to surrender. Mouton watched as his men raised their rifles to fire on the defenseless enemy soldiers. He immediately rode his horse in front of his men and ordered them to hold their fire. Five of the surrendering enemy soldiers reached down and grabbing their rifles opened fire on the man who had just saved their lives.
Mouton was hit by several bullets and fell from the saddle, killed almost instantly. The act so enraged Mouton's men that they immediately opened fire killing all thirty-five of the enemy troops. One Confederate soldier said the dead enemy soldiers lay around the body of General Mouton looking like a guard of honor pulled from the Federal ranks to honor such a brave man."...

(Source - https://trrcobb.blogspot.com/2010/12/general-with-long-name-jean-jacques.html )

 

[Peter r]

Born in Opelousas, LA, Jean Jacques Alfred Alexander Mouton (1829-1864) was apparently considered to be quite a charismatic Confederate military commander in the CW.

At Shiloh, Col. Mouton led the 18th LA Infantry and was wounded in the face forcing him to retire from the field late in the battle. His post-action report of the engagement is found at 'OR': Vol. 10, Part 1, @ pp. 521-22.

A few days after Shiloh, Mouton was promoted to B-G. He was later killed by a Federal sharpshooter heading an infantry division at Mansfield during the Red River Campaign, although there was some controversy about the circumstances of his death.

There is a separate thread previously created, titled 'Mouton, Alfred' under 'Biographic Profiles' that contains more information on him.

I didn't come across the later account , has a wiff about it ,possably friendly fire during attack ..

 

[delta rifles]

Alfred Mouton's father was also a governor of Louisiana, and they were prominent members of the french speaking community of Louisiana. Alfred himself was a graduate of West Point Class of 1850.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Confederate B-G J.J.A. Alfred Mouton, the son of LA Governor Alexander Mouton, had close family ties with NY-born Confederate M-G Franklin Gardner. (Gardner performed well commanding Confederate defenses during the siege of Port Hudson).

Mouton was the brother-in-law of Gardner, who married Mouton's sister, Marie-Celeste Mathilde Mouton.

If that's not confusing enough, Gardner's older sister, Emma Kitchell Gardner, became the second wife of LA Governor, Alexander Mouton.