The 13th and 20th Consolidated Louisiana Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

that fought in the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. It served only in the Western Theater. The unit was created in November 1862 by combining the veteran but diminished 13th Louisiana and

20th Louisiana Infantry Regiment The 20th Louisiana Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Louisiana that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The unit began its existence as the 6th Louisiana Battalion in September 1861. The batta ...

s to form the consolidated regiment. The regiment fought at

Stones River The Stones River (properly spelled Stone's River) is a major stream of the eastern portion of Tennessee's Nashville Basin region. It is named after explorer and longhunter Uriah Stone, who navigated the river in 1767. Geography and hydrography T ...

Jackson Jackson may refer to: People and fictional characters * Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name Places Australia * Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region * Jackson North, Qu ...

Chickamauga Chickamauga may refer to: Entertainment * "Chickamauga", an 1889 short story by American author Ambrose Bierce * "Chickamauga", a 1937 short story by Thomas Wolfe * "Chickamauga", a song by Uncle Tupelo from their 1993 album ''Anodyne'' * ''Chic ...

, and

Missionary Ridge Missionary Ridge is a geographic feature in Chattanooga, Tennessee, site of the Battle of Missionary Ridge, a battle in the American Civil War, fought on November 25, 1863. Union forces under Maj. Gens. Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, a ...

in 1863. The 13th-20th Louisiana fought at Resaca, New Hope Church, Ezra Church, Jonesborough, and Nashville in 1864. The consolidation was discontinued in February 1865 and the 13th and 20th Infantry Regiments were re-consolidated with other units.

Formation

On 30 November 1862 at

Shelbyville, Tennessee Shelbyville is a city in and the county seat of Bedford County, Tennessee, United States. The town was laid out in 1810 and incorporated in 1819. Shelbyville had a population of 20,335 residents at the 2010 census. The town is a hub of the Tenness ...

, General

Braxton Bragg Braxton Bragg (March 22, 1817 – September 27, 1876) was an American army officer during the Second Seminole War and Mexican–American War and Confederate general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, serving in the Western ...

ordered the 13th and 20th Louisiana Infantry Regiments to be consolidated because of the heavy losses suffered by both units. First, each regiment reorganized into five companies. The 13th and 20th were then combined into a consolidated regiment totaling ten companies with an aggregate strength of 1,075 officers and men. Even though the two regiments merged, the officers in each regiment continued to be promoted as if the regiments were separated. The

field officer A senior officer is an officer of a more senior grade in military or other uniformed services. In military organisations, the term may refer to any officer above junior officer rank, but usually specifically refers to the middle-ranking group of ...

s were

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

Randall L. Gibson, Lieutenant Colonel Leon Von Zinken, and Major Charles Guillet. On 2 January 1863, Guillet was mortally wounded and replaced as major by Francis L. Campbell. Gibson became the brigade commander on 20 September 1863 and was replaced as colonel by Von Zinken. At that time, Campbell became lieutenant colonel and Samuel L. Bishop was promoted major. Gibson was promoted

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

on 11 January 1864. Von Zinken retired in November 1864 and was replaced as colonel by Campbell while Edgar M. Dubroca became lieutenant colonel. * Key: c = captured, ds = deserted/absent, k = killed, m = mortally wounded, p = promoted, r = resigned, u = unknown, z = became brigade assistant

adjutant general An adjutant general is a military chief administrative officer. France In Revolutionary France, the was a senior staff officer, effectively an assistant to a general officer. It was a special position for lieutenant-colonels and colonels in staf ...

Feb. 1864.

Service

1862–1863

The consolidated regiment fought at the

Battle of Stones River The Battle of Stones River, also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro, was a battle fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the Am ...

. A total of 187 men were killed, wounded, or missing on 31 December 1862, while 129 became casualties on 2 January 1863. Major Guillet and Captain Brummerstadt (Company G) were killed on 2 January and Captain Ryan (Company H) died from his wounds on 20 January. Winning placement on the Roll of Honor for gallant conduct were 22 men from the consolidated regiment. At Stones River, the 13th-20th Louisiana Infantry was in Adams' brigade, Major General

John C. Breckinridge John Cabell Breckinridge (January 16, 1821 – May 17, 1875) was an American lawyer, politician, and soldier. He represented Kentucky in both houses of Congress and became the 14th and youngest-ever vice president of the United States. Serving ...

's division, Hardee's Corps, Bragg's

Army of Tennessee The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in ...

. The other units in Adams' brigade were the 14th Louisiana Infantry Battalion, the 16th-25th Louisiana and 32nd Alabama Infantry Regiments, and the 5th Company of the

Washington Artillery Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered ...

. Adams' brigade lost a total of 112 killed, 445 wounded, and 146 missing during the battle. Chickamauga Sep20 1

At 2:00 pm on 31 December, Bragg ordered Breckinridge to attack the Round Forest, which had become a Federal strongpoint. Previously two Confederate brigades had unsuccessfully attacked the position. The fences and terrain of the Cowan Farm proved difficult to navigate. The 13th-20th Louisiana first had to file through the farm, then move to take position on the brigade's right flank. When Adams' troops attacked, they became the target of four Union batteries. As the 13th-20th Louisiana advanced, it was hit in its exposed right flank by two Indiana regiments who overran and captured 78 Confederates. Within a half-hour, Adams' brigade was beaten back with the loss of 426 men killed and wounded. On 2 January, Breckinridge's division was again called upon to assault the Union forces posted on the east bank of

. Adams' brigade formed on the left in the second line. At first, the attack drove back the Union defenders, but when the pursuing Confederates approached the river, they found themselves the target of 45 Federal cannons. The ensuing barrage routed Breckinridge's soldiers. The 13th-20th Louisiana Infantry went into winter quarters near

Tullahoma, Tennessee Tullahoma is a city in Coffee and Franklin counties in southern Middle Tennessee, United States. The population was 20,339 at the 2020 census. In 2019, the population was estimated to be 19,555. It is the principal city of the Tullahoma micropo ...

. In May 1863 the regiment transferred to General

Joseph E. Johnston Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3, 1807 – March 21, 1891) was an American career army officer, serving with distinction in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848) and the Seminole Wars. After Virginia secede ...

's army at

Jackson, Mississippi Jackson, officially the City of Jackson, is the capital of and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The city is also one of two county seats of Hinds County, along with Raymond. The city had a population of 153,701 at t ...

. On 5–25 July, it served during the

Siege of Jackson The Jackson Expedition, also known as the Siege of Jackson, occurred in the aftermath of the surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in July 1863. Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman led the expedition to clear General Joseph E. Johnston ...

before withdrawing to

Morton, Mississippi Morton is a city in Scott County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,462 at the 2010 census. Geography Morton is surrounded by the Bienville National Forest. Roosevelt State Park is southwest of the community. According to the Unit ...

. In August, the regiment returned to Bragg's Army of Tennessee where it fought in the

Battle of Chickamauga The Battle of Chickamauga, fought on September 19–20, 1863, between U.S. and Confederate forces in the American Civil War, marked the end of a Union offensive, the Chickamauga Campaign, in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia. I ...

on 19–20 September. At Chickamauga, the regiment was in Adams' brigade, Breckinridge's division,

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

Daniel Harvey Hill Lieutenant-General Daniel Harvey Hill (July 12, 1821 – September 24, 1889), commonly known as D. H. Hill, was a senior officer of the Confederate States Army who commanded infantry in the eastern and western theaters of the American Civil Wa ...

's corps. Adams' brigade suffered 429 casualties in the fighting. Adams was wounded and captured, and Gibson assumed command of the brigade. The same units were in the brigade as at Stones River, with the addition of the

19th Louisiana Infantry Regiment The 19th Louisiana Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment from Louisiana that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. History Formation The future companies of the 19th Louisiana arrived at Camp Moore, esta ...

and the subtraction of the artillery. At 11 am on the second day, Adams' brigade and another brigade broke through the Federal left flank. Gibson reported that the 13th-20th Louisiana captured 80 Federals. When Adams' troops advanced directly into the Union rear, they were struck without warning by a point-blank volley from a brigade of Union troops concealed in the woods. After bitter fighting, the two Confederate brigades were forced to retreat. Captain Schneider was killed at Chickamauga. Gibson stated that the regiment took "275 muskets" into action and Von Zinken reported losses of 16 killed, 64 wounded, and 44 missing. On 25 November 1863 at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, the 13th-20th Louisiana Infantry was part of Gibson's brigade, Major General

Alexander P. Stewart Alexander Peter Stewart (October 2, 1821 – August 30, 1908) was a career United States Army officer, college professor, and a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He fought in many of the most significant bat ...

's division, Breckinridge's corps. The Alabama regiment was replaced by the 4th Louisiana Infantry Battalion, otherwise the brigade was the same as at Chickamauga. The brigade lost 28 killed, 96 wounded, and 233 missing. Breckinridge did not order the top of the ridge entrenched until the night on 23 November. When the trenches were hurriedly dug, they were placed on the crest, rather than on the forward slope, where they would have been more effective. Bragg and Breckinridge also insisted on holding rifle pits at the base of the ridge which meant that the defenders had two weak lines rather than one strong one. Finally, the Confederate commanders had no reserve to plug a gap in the line. When the Federals broke through the defenses to Gibson's right, his brigade was hit in front and flank, and disintegrated.

1864–1865

The 13th-20th Louisiana Infantry spent the winter of 1863–1864 in camp near

Dalton, Georgia Dalton is a city and the county seat of Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is also the principal city of the Dalton Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Murray and Whitfield counties. As of the 2010 census, the ci ...

before serving in the Atlanta campaign. The regiment was part of Gibson's brigade, Stewart's division, Lieutenant General

John Bell Hood John Bell Hood (June 1 or June 29, 1831 – August 30, 1879) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Although brave, Hood's impetuosity led to high losses among his troops as he moved up in rank. Bruce Catton wrote that "the de ...

's corps, General

's Army of Tennessee. In addition to the 16th-25th and 19th Louisiana Infantry Regiments and the 4th and 14th Infantry Battalions, Gibson's brigade included the

1st Louisiana Regulars The 1st Louisiana Regulars Infantry Regiment, often referred to as the 1st Louisiana Infantry Regiment (Regulars), was an infantry regiment from Louisiana that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Raised in early ...

, 4th Louisiana, and 30th Louisiana Infantry Regiments. The 13th-20th Louisiana fought at the

Battle of Resaca The Battle of Resaca, from May 13 to 15, 1864, formed part of the Atlanta Campaign during the American Civil War, when a Union force under William Tecumseh Sherman engaged the Confederate Army of Tennessee led by Joseph E. Johnston. The battle ...

on 14–15 May 1864,

Battle of New Hope Church The Battle of New Hope Church (May 25–26, 1864) was a clash between the Union Army under Major General William T. Sherman and the Confederate Army of Tennessee led by General Joseph E. Johnston during the Atlanta Campaign of the American ...

on 25 May, and Battle of Ezra Church on 28 July. Captain Blasco was killed at Resaca, while Captain Webre was killed at Ezra Church. At Resaca, Stewart's division attacked and was bloodily repulsed with 1,000 casualties. Gibson's brigade in the second line was recalled before it became seriously involved. At New Hope Church. part of Gibson's brigade came into action to help repulse Union attackers. At the

Battle of Atlanta The Battle of Atlanta was a battle of the Atlanta Campaign fought during the American Civil War on July 22, 1864, just southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Continuing their summer campaign to seize the important rail and supply hub of Atlanta, Un ...

, Gibson's brigade was in Major General Henry D. Clayton's division, Major General

Benjamin F. Cheatham Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Cheatham (October 20, 1820 – September 4, 1886) was a Tennessee planter, California gold miner, and a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He served in the Army of Tennessee, inflicting ...

's corps, Hood's Army of Tennessee. In a confusion of orders, Gibson's brigade was left out of the battle. At Ezra Church, one of Lieutenant General

Stephen D. Lee Stephen Dill Lee (September 22, 1833 – May 28, 1908) was an American officer in the Confederate Army, politician and first president of Mississippi State University from 1880 to 1899. He served as lieutenant general of the Confederate ...

's staff officers committed Gibson's brigade to battle without consulting either Clayton or Gibson. Despite their misgivings, the Louisianans advanced on the Union entrenchments atop the hill, but they were quickly pinned down. They endured heavy fire for an hour, but after a brigade sent to their support fled, Clayton ordered Gibson's brigade to retreat. At Ezra Church, Gibson's brigade suffered 480 casualties. This was 50% casualties, which occurred a second time on 31 August at the

Battle of Jonesborough The Battle of Jonesborough (August 31–September 1, 1864) was fought between Union Army forces led by William Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate forces under William J. Hardee during the Atlanta Campaign in the American Civil War. On the first ...

while attacking entrenched Federals. The 13th-20th Louisiana Infantry took part in the

Franklin–Nashville campaign The Franklin–Nashville campaign, also known as Hood's Tennessee campaign, was a series of battles in the Western Theater, conducted from September 18 to December 27, 1864, in Alabama, Tennessee, and northwestern Georgia during the American Civ ...

, serving in Gibson's brigade, Clayton's division, S. D. Lee's corps. Gibson's brigade was composed of the same units as in the Atlanta campaign. On 29 October 1864, Gibson's brigade forced Federal cavalry to abandon Florence, Alabama. On 30 November, the regiment arrived too late to fight in the Battle of Franklin. On 15 December in the Battle of Nashville, Gibson's brigade formed the

rearguard A rearguard is a part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or withdrawal. The term can also be used to describe forces protecting lines, such as communication lines, behind an army. Even more ...

after part of Hood's army fled. On 16 December, Hood's army was routed again, and this time Gibson's brigade was unable to stop Union pursuers. After losing about 100 men during the retreat, Gibson's brigade, reduced to 500 men, tried to defend the bridge at

Franklin, Tennessee Franklin is a city in and county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. About south of Nashville, it is one of the principal cities of the Nashville metropolitan area and Middle Tennessee. As of 2020, its population was 83,454 ...

, on 17 December. Union cavalry enveloped the brigade, but Gibson's men managed to fight their way out at the cost of 40 more casualties. In February 1865, the 13th-20th Louisiana Infantry was discontinued. The 13th Regiment was consolidated with the 4th and 30th Louisiana Infantry Regiments and the 14th Louisiana Infantry Battalion. The 20th Regiment was consolidated with the 1st Louisiana Regulars and the 16th Louisiana Infantry Regiments.

Notes

References