Louisiana 1st Cavalry Regiment

HISTORICAL NOTES: The Louisiana 1st Cavalry Regiment, organized at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during the late summer of 1861, recruited its members in Baton Rouge and the parishes in East Baton Rouge, Rapides, St. Landry, and Orleans. It skirmished in Tennessee and Kentucky, fought at Murfreesboro and Chickamauga , then was active in the Knoxville Campaign. Later the regiment was on duty in Southwest Mississippi and East Louisiana. In March, 1865, it disbanded.

The following editorial is from the Clinton, La., Patriot, which at that time was edited by Wm. Greene:

"JOHN S. SCOTT."
"This gallant son of our parish, whose recent noble conduct in Virginia has given so much pride and pleasure to our people, will be here to-day. He will find in East Feliciana, among those who have known him from his birth, a hearty greeting. There is nowhere to be found a more gallant, chivalrous, hightoned Southern gentleman than John S. Scott, and we hope John, since he has been in the big fight at Manassas, and done such valorous and noble deeds of daring on the peninsular in Eastern Virginia, wont forget his old companions in arms in Capt. Comstock's company, "Andrew Jackson Regiment" in Mexico. You know, John, that you and we of the "Patriot" were high privates in that command and if we didn't do any fighting it was no fault of ours, as we had no chance. We predict for Colonel Scott's battalion a brilliant and glorious future. It cannot be otherwise with such men as he will have under his command, added to his own universally admitted qualifications for a military leader. Capt. Gus Scott's company from this parish, of this battalion, is composed of our best citizens, planters, who are used to the saddle and who enter this branch of the service and join this military corps because they think it affords the most prospect of getting into the fray. Col. Scott, we know, will see that our boys are not disappointed; if there is any fighting he will take care to have a hand in it. Capt. Gus Scott's list, we understand, will be closed to-day. All who wish to join him should do so at once, they may be too late."

The New Orleans Crescent's special correspondent from Richmond, under date of June 15, 1861, writes: "The most notable man in the Confederate army north of Virginia, is a Louisianian, John S. Scott, a native of one of the Felicianas, who has rendered valuable service to Gen. Magruder and his command, in his capacity as scout. He is fearless and has passed through the most imminent dangers without injury. It was Scott who penetrated the lines of the enemy at Newport News and reported the strength and position to Gen. Magruder. He passed the pickets on the 4th of June, just before daylight and taking his position on the roof of an uninhabited house remained there until guard mounting, undiscovered. It was Scott who notified Gen. Magruder of the advance of the Federal forces on Great Bethel on the 10th of June. He reported their number also; reported the detour made by Major Winthrop for the purpose of turning Magruder's batteries, in which he was foiled by a cruel and destructive fire of the masked battery, killing Winthrop and dispersing the enemy. He never hunts in couples, but relies alone on his woodcraft and daring; from retreat to tattoo he selects as the period for passing the guard, takes some cold provisions for himself and a few ears for corn for his horse. He never lights a fire nor sleeps near his horse, but lays in the thicket for hours awaiting the enemy; if in force he mounts his horse and reports, if only one or two he is certain to bag one of them and leave the other one terrified and amazed at the sudden loss of his companion, Gen. Magruder, recently at Young's Mills, when annoyed by the contradictory reports of his scouts, said to one of his aides: 'If Scott was here we should learn the truth; he makes no reports that can be questioned; whatever he says is considered true and reliable.'"

Source: Excerpted from the special correspondence of the New Orleans Delta: Great Bethel, York Co., Va. June 17, 1861.

On line site dedicated to this regiment.


FIELD OFFICERS:

Scott, John S. - Colonel
Nixon, James O. - Lieut.-Colonel
Schlater, Gervais - Major
Taylor, J. M. - Major
Cammack, Albert - Quartermaster
Robinson, N. T. N. - commissary
Fox, Peter C. - Adjutant
Hotchkiss, Dr. T. P. - Surgeon
Gurley, Dr. J. L. - Assistant Surgeon
Leake, James R. - Sergeant Major
Colton, Joseph - Forage Master
Wilson, A. - Wagon Master.


BATTLES:

Murfreesboro
Chickamauga
Knoxville Campaign


ROSTERS:

The composite roster of this regiment contains the names of 2211 men.


BIBLIOGRAPHY:

REFERENCES:
Sifakis - The Compendium of the Confederate Armies










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