8th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent)
Encyclopedia
The 8th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent) was an infantry
regiment
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. It was composed primarily of freed or escaped slaves from Louisiana
's plantation
s and was commanded by white officers.
Hiram Scofield
, a veteran officer from Iowa
, organized the 8th Louisiana Infantry at Lake Providence, Louisiana
. The new regiment was mustered into service on May 5.
, the regiment was attached to the African Brigade, District of Northeast Louisiana. The brigade
was led successively by Col. Isaac F. Shepard (who was under arrest at the time of the Battle of Milliken's Bend
) and then Hermann Lieb
(wounded June 7, 1863). Finally, Lt. Col. Charles J. Paine led the brigade as the campaign wound down. Returning to Lake Providence, the regiment was engaged in a minor battle on June 9 against a small Confederate
force composed of the 13th Texas Infantry Regiment and the 13th Louisiana Cavalry Battalion.
The 8th Louisiana was then on routine garrison duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi
, until the late winter of 1864. Then, it participated in the expedition up the Yazoo River
from February 1 until March 8, and participated in the capture of Yazoo City, Mississippi
, on February 4.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It was composed primarily of freed or escaped slaves from 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...
's plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s and was commanded by white officers.
Organization
In the spring of 1863, Col.Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Hiram Scofield
Hiram Scofield
Hiram Scofield was a lawyer and Union Army officier during the American Civil War. He entered the Army as a private in 1862 and mustered out as a brevet brigadier general in 1866.-Early life and career:...
, a veteran officer from Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, organized the 8th Louisiana Infantry at Lake Providence, Louisiana
Lake Providence, Louisiana
Lake Providence is a town in and the parish seat of East Carroll Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,104 at the 2000 census.-Civil War:...
. The new regiment was mustered into service on May 5.
Vicksburg Campaign
During the Vicksburg CampaignVicksburg Campaign
The Vicksburg Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi River. The Union Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gen....
, the regiment was attached to the African Brigade, District of Northeast Louisiana. The brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
was led successively by Col. Isaac F. Shepard (who was under arrest at the time of the Battle of Milliken's Bend
Battle of Milliken's Bend
The Battle of Milliken's Bend, fought June 7, 1863, was part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Confederate Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton and his army were besieged in Vicksburg, Mississippi, by Union commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
) and then Hermann Lieb
Hermann Lieb
Hermann Lieb was a Swiss immigrant to the United States who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is best remembered as the commander of the Union forces at the Battle of Milliken's Bend in 1863.-Early life:Lieb was born in Switzerland in 1826 and was educated there and in...
(wounded June 7, 1863). Finally, Lt. Col. Charles J. Paine led the brigade as the campaign wound down. Returning to Lake Providence, the regiment was engaged in a minor battle on June 9 against a small Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
force composed of the 13th Texas Infantry Regiment and the 13th Louisiana Cavalry Battalion.
The 8th Louisiana was then on routine garrison duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, until the late winter of 1864. Then, it participated in the expedition up the Yazoo River
Yazoo River
The Yazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Mississippi.The Yazoo River was named by French explorer La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe living near the river's mouth. The exact meaning of the term is unclear...
from February 1 until March 8, and participated in the capture of Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City is a city in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle. It is the county seat of Yazoo County and the principal city of the Yazoo City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the...
, on February 4.