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1st Louisiana Native Guard (CSA)
Encyclopedia
The 1st Louisiana Native Guard (CSA) was a Confederate Louisiana militia of "free persons of color" formed in 1861 in New Orleans, Louisiana
. It was disbanded in February 1862; some of the members joined the Union Army's 1st Louisiana Native Guard regiment (later the 73rd Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops).
, 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 Orleans free blacks 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 free blacks signing up. Governor Moore accepted the services of these men as part of the state's miltia. The new militia regiment was formed on May 2, 1861, consisting mostly of "free persons of color" Creole French Speakers (gens de couleur
) between the ages of 15 and 50. At that time, an estimated 10,000 African American
residents of the state of Louisiana
and the city of New Orleans had gained their freedom. On May 29, 1861, Governor Moore appointed three white officers as commanders of the regiment, and company commanders were appointed from among the free blacks of the regiment. The militia unit was the first of any North American unit to have African-American officers. This regiment was called the Louisiana Native Guard. Though ten per cent of its members would later join the Union Army's 1st Louisiana Native Guard, the two were separate military units.
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. LT Morris Morris, who served as an officer in the Confederate Louisiana militia regiment and subsequently served for six weeks in the Union Native Guard regiment, was unique in that he was of Jewish ancestry, making him both the only Black Jewish Confederate officer and the only Black Jewish Union officerhttp://www.jewish-history.com/civilwar/morris.html. He late became a famous actor as Louis Morrison and his granddaughters, Joan and Constance Bennett, were actresses of the 1940s whose Black ancestry was never revealed.
The South did not use this Confederate Native Guard regiment in any military action, and failed to provide it with uniforms or arms. Most of the men in the unit used their own resources to obtain weapons and uniforms which were displayed in a parade in New Orleans on January 8, 1862. It was largely considered part of the Confederacy's "public relations" campaign. The Native Guard tried to gain notoriety by offering their service to escort Union prisoners, captured from Manassas
, through New Orleans. Despite the Confederacy choosing white militiamen instead, the Native Guard still participated in two other grand reviews. When the Louisiana State Legislature passed a law in January 1862 that reorganized the militia
by conscripting “all the free white males capable of bearing arms… irrespective of nationality”, the 1st Louisiana Native Guard was also affected. It was forced to disband on February 15, 1862, and many of its white officers reassigned to the new Confederate regiments.
Companies of the Confederate 1st Louisiana Native Guard prior to disbanding in 1862:
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. It was disbanded in February 1862; some of the members joined the Union Army's 1st Louisiana Native Guard regiment (later the 73rd Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops).
Confederate Louisiana militia
Shortly after Louisiana's secessionSecession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
, Governor Thomas Overton Moore
Thomas Overton Moore
Thomas Overton Moore was an attorney and politician who was the 16th Governor of Louisiana from 1860 until 1864 during the American Civil War.-Early years:...
issued pleas for troops on April 17 and April 21, 1861. In response to the governor's request, a committee of ten prominent New Orleans free blacks 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 free blacks signing up. Governor Moore accepted the services of these men as part of the state's miltia. The new militia regiment was formed on May 2, 1861, consisting mostly of "free persons of color" Creole French Speakers (gens de couleur
Gens de couleur
Gens de couleur is a French term meaning "people of color." The term was commonly used in France's West Indian colonies prior to the abolition of slavery, where it was a short form of gens de couleur libres ....
) between the ages of 15 and 50. At that time, an estimated 10,000 African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
residents of the state of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and the city of New Orleans had gained their freedom. On May 29, 1861, Governor Moore appointed three white officers as commanders of the regiment, and company commanders were appointed from among the free blacks of the regiment. The militia unit was the first of any North American unit to have African-American officers. This regiment was called the Louisiana Native Guard. Though ten per cent of its members would later join the Union Army's 1st Louisiana Native Guard, the two were separate military units.
André Cailloux
Andre Cailloux
Andre Cailloux was one of the first black officers in the Union Army to be killed in combat during the American Civil War. He died heroically during the unsuccessful first attack on the Confederate fortifications during the Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana...
, who later became a hero of the Siege of Port Hudson
Siege of Port Hudson
The Siege of Port Hudson occurred from May 22 to July 9, 1863, when Union Army troops assaulted and then surrounded the Mississippi River town of Port Hudson, Louisiana, during the American Civil War....
as a Union officer, served as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in this Confederate Louisiana militia regiment of the Native Guard. LT Morris Morris, who served as an officer in the Confederate Louisiana militia regiment and subsequently served for six weeks in the Union Native Guard regiment, was unique in that he was of Jewish ancestry, making him both the only Black Jewish Confederate officer and the only Black Jewish Union officerhttp://www.jewish-history.com/civilwar/morris.html. He late became a famous actor as Louis Morrison and his granddaughters, Joan and Constance Bennett, were actresses of the 1940s whose Black ancestry was never revealed.
The South did not use this Confederate Native Guard regiment in any military action, and failed to provide it with uniforms or arms. Most of the men in the unit used their own resources to obtain weapons and uniforms which were displayed in a parade in New Orleans on January 8, 1862. It was largely considered part of the Confederacy's "public relations" campaign. The Native Guard tried to gain notoriety by offering their service to escort Union prisoners, captured from Manassas
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
, through New Orleans. Despite the Confederacy choosing white militiamen instead, the Native Guard still participated in two other grand reviews. When the Louisiana State Legislature passed a law in January 1862 that reorganized the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
by conscripting “all the free white males capable of bearing arms… irrespective of nationality”, the 1st Louisiana Native Guard was also affected. It was forced to disband on February 15, 1862, and many of its white officers reassigned to the new Confederate regiments.
Companies of the Confederate 1st Louisiana Native Guard prior to disbanding in 1862:
| Company Name | Commander | Peak Strength | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native Guards | Capt. St. Albin Sauvinet | 85 men | |
| Savary Native Guards | Capt. Joseph Joly | 85 men | |
| Beauregard Native Guards | Capt. Louis Golis | 52 men | |
| Young Creole Native Guards | Capt. Ludger B. Boquille | 76 men | |
| Labatut Native Guards | Capt. Edgar C. Davis | 110 men | |
| Mississippi Native Guards | Capt. Marcelle Dupart | 64 men | |
| Economy Native Guards | Capt. Henry Louis Rey | 100 men | |
| Meschacebe Native Guards | Capt. Armand Lanusse | 90 men | |
| Order Native Guards | Capt. Charles Sentmanat | 90 men | |
| Crescent City Native Guards | Capt. Virgil Bonseigneur | 63 men | |
| Perseverance Native Guards | Capt. Noel J. Bacchus | 60 men | |
| Louisiana Native Guards | Capt. Louis Lainez | 75 men | |
| Ogden Native Guards | Capt. Alcide Lewis | 85 men | a.k.a Turcos Native Guards |
| Plauche Guards | Capt. Jordan Noble | 100 men | |
| Total | 1,135 men | ||
See also
- Military history of African Americans in the American Civil War