Short History of the 1st Louisiana Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A.

In June, 1861, Colonel John Sims Scott, native son of East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, serving as a Scout for the Confederate Army in Virginia, was ordered to return to Louisiana and raise a regiment of cavalry. Col. Scott immediately returned to Louisiana and began his recruiting in Baton Rouge, La.

The organizational date for the 1st Louisiana Cavalry Regiment was September 11, 1861, in Baton Rouge, La. The Regiment consisted of 10 companies. The 10 companies were reported to Baton Rouge, La. On October 4, 1861 and were enlisted in Confederate service. The newly organized companies were sent to various camps throughout the state for drill and training. The regiment was again mustered at Baton Rouge Barracks on October 31, 1861. The total strength of the regiment was about 900 officers and enlisted men. Attached to the regiment were the Regimental Battery Howitzer Battery or sometimes referred to as the Louisiana Horse or Mountain Artillery. (In the summer of 1863, former members of Wheat's Louisiana Tiger Battalion were added to the battery to make it a full company).

Colonel Scott's 1st Louisiana Cavalry Regiment was one of the most heavily endowed regiments, receiving some $500,000.00, largely from Louisiana planters, as many of the troopers of the Regiment were sons of planters or their relatives.

The 1st Louisiana Cavalry Regiment was ordered to Headquarters, Western Department, C.S.A. on November 6, 1861. The Regiment traveled by steamboat from Baton Rouge, La. To Memphis, Tenn., then by railroad to Nashville, Tenn. The Regiment then marched to Bowling Green, Kentucky, reporting to General Albert Sidney Johnston, Commander of the Western Department.

The 1st Louisiana Cavalry Regiment was outside the state of Louisiana from November, 1861 until April, 1864, participating in more than 75 engagements during this period. Some of the more notable ones are Nashville, Elk River, Richmond, Ky., Munfordville, Stone's River, Murfreesborough, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Big Hill, Ky., Perryville, Ky., and Danville, Ky., where the battle flag of the 1st Louisiana Cavalry Regiment was raised over the town after its capture.

After April, 1864 the Regiment was ordered back to Louisiana and continued to fight in the eastern Louisiana and western Mississippi area.

*** Assignments to higher command were as follows:

• Dept. #1 (Sept.-Oct., 1861)
• Unattached, Buckner's Division, Central Army of Ky., Dept. #2 (Jan.-Feb., 1862)
• Bowen's Bde, Pillow's Division, Central Army of Ky., Dept. #2 (Feb.-Mar., 1862)
• Cavalry, Army of the Mississippi, Dept. #2 (Mar.-June, 1862)
• Forrest's Cavalry Bde., Army of the Mississippi, Dept. #2 (June-July, 1862)
• Forrest's Cavalry Bde., Heth's Division, Dept. Of E. Tennessee (July, 1862)
• Unattached, Heth's Division, Dept. Of E. Tennessee (July, 1862)
• Scott's Cavalry Bde, Army of Kentucky, Dept. #2 (Aug.-Oct., 1862)
• Scott's Cavalry Bde., Dept. Of E. Tennessee (Oct.-Nov., 1862)
• Pegram's Bde., Wheeler's Cavalry Division, Army of Tennessee (Nov, 1862-Jan. 1863)
• Pegram's Cavalry Bde., Dept. of E. Tennessee (Jan.-Apr., 1863)
• Scott's Cavalry Bde, Army of Tennessee (July-Aug., 1863)
• Scott's Bde., Pegram's Division, Forrest's Cavalry Corps, Army of Tenn. (Sept.-Oct., 1863)
• General Headquarters, Army of Tennessee (Nov., 1863-Jan., 1864)
• Unattached, Army of Tennessee (Jan., -Mar., 1864)
• District of S. Mississippi and E. Louisiana, dept. Of Ala., Miss., and E. La. (Apr.-June, 1864)
• Scott's Cavalry Bde, W. Adam's Cavalry Division, Dept. Of Ala., Miss, and E. La. (June-Aug, 1864)
• Scott's Cavalry Bde, District South of Homochitto, Dept. Of Ala., Miss., and E. La. (Aug.-Oct., 1864)
• Sub-District of SW Miss. and E. La., Dept. of Ala, Miss., and E. La. (Nov.-Dec., 1864)
• Scott's Cavalry Bde., Northern Sub-District of Miss., Dept. Of Ala., Miss., and E. La. (Dec. 1864-Feb., 1865)
• Scott's Cavalry Bde., District of N. Miss. And W. Tenn., Dept. Of Ala., Miss., and E. La. (Feb.-May, 1865)

Lt. General Richard Taylor, CSA, surrendered his army, which included the 1st Louisiana Cavalry Regiment, to Major General E.R.S. Canby, USA, near Citronelle, Alabama, on May 5, 1865. Final parole was at Gainesville, Alabama, on May 12, 1865.

FEATURES: CIVIL WAR UNITS: 1st Louisiana Cavalry, CSA

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