The 1st Louisiana Native Guard was a Confederate Louisianan militia that consisted of Creoles of color. Formed in 1861 in New Orleans, Louisiana, it was disbanded on April 25, 1862. Some of the unit's members joined the Union Army's 1st Louisiana Native Guard, which later became the 73rd Regiment Infantry of the United States Colored Troops.
Colonel Felix Labatut Lt. Colonel Henry D. Ogden[1] Major S. St. Cyr
The Native Guards were on duty and at their post when Federal ships arrived opposite New Orleans, April 25, 1862[2]Approaches to New Orleans, Department of the Gulf Map Number 5, February 14, 1863.[3]
Shortly after Louisiana's secession, Governor Thomas Overton Moore issued pleas for troops on April 17 and April 21, 1861. In response to the governor's request, a committee of ten prominent New Orleanian Creoles of color called a meeting at the Catholic Institute on April 22. About two thousand people attended the meeting where muster lists were opened, with about 1,500 gens de couleur signing up. Governor Moore accepted the services of these men as part of the state's militia.
The new militia regiment was formed during May 1861, consisting mostly of French Creoles of color. While some members of the new regiment came from wealthy prominent Creole families, a majority of the men were clerks, artisans, and skilled laborers.[4]Louisiana and New Orleans had an estimated 25,000 Creole of color residents.
On May 29, 1861, Governor Moore appointed three white officers as commanders of the regiment, and company commanders were appointed from among the Creoles of the regiment. The militia unit was the first of any in North America to have officers of color, preceding the United States Colored Troops. This regiment was called the Louisiana Native Guard. Ten percent of its members would join the Union Army's 1st Louisiana Native Guard.
Activitiesedit
The Native Guards were volunteers, and as such supplied their own arms and uniforms. These were displayed in a grand review of troops in New Orleans on November 23, 1861, and again on January 8, 1862.[5] They offered their services to escort Union prisoners (captured at the First Battle of Bull Run) through New Orleans. Confederate General David Twiggs declined the offer, but thanked them for the "promptness with which they answered the call."[6] The Louisiana State Legislature passed a law in January 1862 that reorganized the militia into only “...free white males capable of bearing arms… ”[7]
The Native Guards regiment was forced to disband on February 15, 1862, when the new law took effect. "Their demise was only temporary, however, for Governor Moore reinstated the Native Guards on March 24 after the U.S. Navy under AdmiralDavid G. Farragut entered the Mississippi River."[8] As the regular Confederate forces under Major GeneralMansfield Lovell abandoned New Orleans, the militia units were left to fend for themselves. The Native Guards were again, and in finality, ordered to disband by GeneralJohn L. Lewis, of the Louisiana Militia, on April 25, 1862, as Federal ships arrived opposite the city. General Lewis cautioned them to hide their arms and uniforms before returning home.[9]
Notable membersedit
Felix Labatut (Colonel)- State senator, soldier, and signer of Louisiana's declaration of secession.[10]
Armand Lanusse (Captain)- Soldier, educator, writer. The prime motivator in the formation of the Native Guards Regiment.[11]
André Cailloux, who later became a hero of the Siege of Port Hudson as a Union officer, served as a lieutenant in this Confederate Louisiana militia regiment of the Native Guard.
Companiesedit
Companies of the Confederate 1st Louisiana Native Guard prior to disbanding in 1862:[12]
^Terry L. Jones (2012-10-19) "The Free Men of Color Go to War" - NYTimes.com. Opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-18.
^Bergeron, Arhur W., Jr. Louisianans in the Civil War, "Louisiana's Free Men of Color in Gray", University of Missouri Press, 2002, p. 105-106.
^Jno. G. Devereux to J. L. Lewis, September 29, 1861, in War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 4, Volume 1, 625.
^Official copy of the militia law of Louisiana, adopted by the state legislature, Jan. 23, 1862
^James G. Hollandsworth, The Louisiana Native Guards, 8.
Holden, Randall G., "Futile Valor", MCG Publishing, 1997
External linksedit
Black Soldiers in Louisiana Collection at The Historic New Orleans Collection
February 15, 2024
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For the Union Army regiment see 1st Louisiana Native Guard USA The 1st Louisiana Native Guard was a Confederate Louisianan militia that consisted of Creoles of color Formed in 1861 in New Orleans Louisiana it was disbanded on April 25 1862 Some of the unit s members joined the Union Army s 1st Louisiana Native Guard which later became the 73rd Regiment Infantry of the United States Colored Troops 1st Louisiana Native GuardActiveMay 29 1861 February 15 1862 March 24 April 25 1862 Field officers commissioned May 29 1861 Country Confederate States of AmericaAllegianceState of LouisianaBranchConfederate militiaTypeInfantrySize1 135CommandersNotablecommandersColonel Felix LabatutLt Colonel Henry D Ogden 1 Major S St Cyr The Native Guards were on duty and at their post when Federal ships arrived opposite New Orleans April 25 1862 2 Approaches to New Orleans Department of the Gulf Map Number 5 February 14 1863 3 Contents 1 Confederate Louisiana militia 2 Activities 3 Notable members 4 Companies 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksConfederate Louisiana militia editShortly after Louisiana s secession Governor Thomas Overton Moore issued pleas for troops on April 17 and April 21 1861 In response to the governor s request a committee of ten prominent New Orleanian Creoles of color called a meeting at the Catholic Institute on April 22 About two thousand people attended the meeting where muster lists were opened with about 1 500 gens de couleur signing up Governor Moore accepted the services of these men as part of the state s militia The new militia regiment was formed during May 1861 consisting mostly of French Creoles of color While some members of the new regiment came from wealthy prominent Creole families a majority of the men were clerks artisans and skilled laborers 4 Louisiana and New Orleans had an estimated 25 000 Creole of color residents On May 29 1861 Governor Moore appointed three white officers as commanders of the regiment and company commanders were appointed from among the Creoles of the regiment The militia unit was the first of any in North America to have officers of color preceding the United States Colored Troops This regiment was called the Louisiana Native Guard Ten percent of its members would join the Union Army s 1st Louisiana Native Guard Activities editThe Native Guards were volunteers and as such supplied their own arms and uniforms These were displayed in a grand review of troops in New Orleans on November 23 1861 and again on January 8 1862 5 They offered their services to escort Union prisoners captured at the First Battle of Bull Run through New Orleans Confederate General David Twiggs declined the offer but thanked them for the promptness with which they answered the call 6 The Louisiana State Legislature passed a law in January 1862 that reorganized the militia into only free white males capable of bearing arms 7 The Native Guards regiment was forced to disband on February 15 1862 when the new law took effect Their demise was only temporary however for Governor Moore reinstated the Native Guards on March 24 after the U S Navy under Admiral David G Farragut entered the Mississippi River 8 As the regular Confederate forces under Major General Mansfield Lovell abandoned New Orleans the militia units were left to fend for themselves The Native Guards were again and in finality ordered to disband by General John L Lewis of the Louisiana Militia on April 25 1862 as Federal ships arrived opposite the city General Lewis cautioned them to hide their arms and uniforms before returning home 9 Notable members editFelix Labatut Colonel State senator soldier and signer of Louisiana s declaration of secession 10 Armand Lanusse Captain Soldier educator writer The prime motivator in the formation of the Native Guards Regiment 11 Andre Cailloux who later became a hero of the Siege of Port Hudson as a Union officer served as a lieutenant in this Confederate Louisiana militia regiment of the Native Guard Companies editCompanies of the Confederate 1st Louisiana Native Guard prior to disbanding in 1862 12 Company Name Commander Peak Strength NotesNative Guards Capt St Albin Sauvinet 85 menSavary Native Guards Capt Joseph Joly 85 menBeauregard Native Guards Capt Louis Golis 52 menYoung Creole Native Guards Capt Ludger B Boquille 76 menLabatut Native Guards Capt Edgar C Davis 110 menMississippi Native Guards Capt Marcelle Dupart 64 menEconomy Native Guards Capt Henry Louis Rey 100 menMeschacebe Native Guards Capt Armand Lanusse 90 menOrder Native Guards Capt Charles Sentmanat 90 menCrescent City Native Guards Capt Virgil Bonseigneur 63 menPerseverance Native Guards Capt Noel J Bacchus 60 menLouisiana Native Guards Capt Louis Lainez 75 menOgden Native Guards Capt Alcide Lewis 85 men a k a Turcos Native GuardsPlauche Guards Capt Jordan Noble 100 menTotal 1 135 menSee also editList of Louisiana Confederate Civil War units Military history of African Americans in the American Civil War nbsp American Civil War portalReferences edit https www alexautographs com auction lot 1st louisiana native guard col henry d ogden C48D2D2BE6 See An Ex Native Guard and My Tardy Compatriots New York Times November 5 1862 1 Official atlas plate XC Terry L Jones 2012 10 19 The Free Men of Color Go to War NYTimes com Opinionator blogs nytimes com Retrieved on 2012 12 18 Bergeron Arhur W Jr Louisianans in the Civil War Louisiana s Free Men of Color in Gray University of Missouri Press 2002 p 105 106 Jno G Devereux to J L Lewis September 29 1861 in War of the Rebellion A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Series 4 Volume 1 625 Official copy of the militia law of Louisiana adopted by the state legislature Jan 23 1862 James G Hollandsworth The Louisiana Native Guards 8 Hollandsworth ibid 9 10 Official Journal of the Proceedings of the Convention of the State of Louisiana 1861 New Orleans 1861 231 232 Mary Niall Mitchell Raising Freedom s Child 43 Daily Dispatch Richmond Va June 1 1861 Bergeron Arthur W Jr Louisianans in the Civil War Louisiana s Free Men of Color in Gray University of Missouri Press 2002 p 106 107 Hollandsworth James G The Louisiana Native Guards LSU Press 1996 Trethewey Natasha Native Guard Houghton Mifflin 2006 Holden Randall G Futile Valor MCG Publishing 1997External links editBlack Soldiers in Louisiana Collection at The Historic New Orleans Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1st Louisiana Native Guard Confederate amp oldid 1188395656, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
