Company D, 28th LA

[Steven B]

Sirs,
Please allow me to present some information on the men of Company D (Claiborne Invincibles) 28th LA. I do this in an effort to provide a starting point for some first person research regarding these men. I pray that this post is received in the spirit in which it was conceived. That it will foster a desire for others in the Western Company at IPW to bring forth even greater details regarding this command.

This information came from two primary sources. The "Young_Sanders Center for the Study of the War Between the States in Louisiana"
http://www.youngsanders.org/youngsan...scommands.html

and "Louisianana's 28th Infantry Gray's Regiment" http://www.penandsaber.com/grays28th/index.html

In Claiborne Parish, Marcus O. Cheatham rallied men in Athens, Haynesville, Homer, Lisbon and Summerfield to recruit for a company of infantry to be known as the Claiborne Invincibles.

On May 10, the newly formed company departed from Homer. It was ordered to Monroe where they were mustered into Confederate service as Company D, with Cheatham as captain.

When 10 companies were assembled at Monroe, they were organized into the 28th Louisiana Infantry. Henry Gray as colonel, William Walker as lieutenant colonel and Thomas Pool as major. The regiment numbered 902 men.

Almost 95 percent of the men of the 28th named their occupation as farmer. Fifteen other occupations were listed, ranging from physician, to teacher, to merchant, to daguerreotypist. The average age of the men in the regiment at the time of their enlistment was 26, with 15 percent being less than age 20 and five percent older than age 35.

The 28th was assigned to Gen. Richard Taylor's command and ordered to the Bayou Teche region. Upon arrival in the Bayou Teche region, the men of the 28th were assigned to Gen. Alfred Mouton's brigade at Camp Bisland. Here the men would remain encamped until the Battle of Bisland on April 13, 1863.

In late January, 1864, the 28th was ordered to return to Pineville where they remained until Banks began his Red River Campaign in mid-March.

The roster is based on the last roll available for the regiment (July/August 1863). I did not include any men who were listed as dead or paroled prisoners of war on the aforementioned roll. I did include men who were listed on the roll of prisoners of war after 1864. I included dates and places of enlistment, ages, and remarks (i.e. "Detalied Clerk Brigade Commissary") where appropriate.

28th LA Inf. (Gray’s)

Field and Staff Officers

Gray, H., Col., 28th (Gray's) La. Inf., promoted brigadier general April 15, 1864
McGuinty, Elisha K., Sergt. Maj., apptd. Sergt. Maj., July 10, 1863.
Pool, Thomas W, Major, promoted colonel April 15, 1864
Walker, William, Lt. Col., killed April 8, 1864 at the Battle of Mansfield.
Blackman, W., F., Major, A. A. A.Gen. Rmks., Acting Adjt. Gen. of the Brigade, apptd. May 14th, 1863
Gray, J. H., Asst. Surg. En. May 15, 1863.

General Staff

Dr. B. S. Aswell - Hospital Steward
Richard M. Crowson - Chaplain
Abram Madden - Quarter Master (A.Q.M.)
W. L. Green - Quarter Sergeant
John D. Imboden, A.C.S.
W. J. Slaton - Ordinance Sergeant
John Trussell - Wagon Master
W. Sheen - Comsarry Man
Robert A. M. Winn – Engineer

Company D

Officers

Cheatham, Marcus O., Capt. En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe, La.
Simmons, James A.,1st Lt. En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862. Acting Q. M. of Regt. since Aug. 1, 1863.
Grimmitt, Thomas J., 2nd Jr. Lt. En. Monroe, La., May 15, 1862.
Thompson, John L., Jr.2nd Lt. En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Wasson, Elisha, 2nd Lt. En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.

Sergeants

Meador, Thomas J.,1st Sergt. En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Walker, William A. J., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Williams, Sabert O., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.

Corporals

Craker, Josiah F.,1st Corpl. En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Young, Charles D., 2nd Corpl. En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862. Age 23.
Harrist, A. D. A., (also Harvist, Abner D. A.), 4th Corp. En Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Edmonds, William B., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Massey, George W., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Greer, John T., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Peevy, James J.,Corpl. En. May 11, 1862, Monroe, La., Detailed shoemaker at Sparta.

Privates

Allen, Joshua, En. Vernon, La., Dec. 30th, 1862; Age, 28 Years.
Allen, Young D., En. May 11th or 13th, 1862, Monroe, La. Age, 19 Years.
Applewhite, Dempsey, En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Atkins, Emanuel, En. Monroe, La., May 11th, 1861
Bailey, John G., En. May 14th, 1862, Monroe, La.
Bailey, Joseph H., En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe, La.
Bailey, William, En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe, La.
Bass, Jeptha D. En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe, La.
Bennett, Jerome, En. May 16th, 1862. Monroe. La.
Bennett, John J., En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe, La.
Boggs, John A., En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe, La.
Bostnick, Elijah W., En. June 4th, 1861, Baton Rouge, La. "Detailed Clerk Brigade Commissary."
Boykin, Allen B., En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe, La.
Brown, William F., En. May 11th, 1862. Monroe, La.
Brown, William W., En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe. La.
Butler, Ransom, En. Oct. 10th, 1862, Monroe, La. Age 47.
Butts, James M., En. Tallulah, La., Sept. 1st, 1862. Age 37.
Byrd, George W. H., En. Dec. 20th, 1862, Vernon, La.
Carr, John H., En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe, La.
Christian, David A., En. Delbi, La., Oct. 13th, 1862. Age 19 years.
Cooksey, Robert A., En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe, La.
Crosby, Harry C., Appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War, Paroled at Monroe, La., June 15th, 1865.
Dansby, John, En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe, La.
Deloach, William, En. May 13th, 1862, Monroe, La. Age 34 years.
Deszotel, Adolph, On Roll of Prisoners of War, Paroled at Washington, La., June 16th, 1865.
Dixon, Francis M., En. Monroe, La., May 11th, 1862
Duggin, John F., May 11, 1862, Monroe, La.
Everett, John C., En. May 11. 1862, Monroe, La.
Harden, Elijiah M., En. May 11, 1862, Monroe, La.
Hinis, Bennett M., En. May 11, 1862, Monroe, La.
Holland, Mordecai, En. May 8, 1863, Homer, La.
Hood, Frederick, En. April 24, 1863, Alexandria, La.
Hood, William H., En. May 11, 1863. Homer, La.
Hood, William S., En. May 11, -, Monroe, La.
Hudgins, Ambrose, En. May 11, 1862, Monroe, La.
Hudgins, Bassil, En. May 11, 1862, Monroe, La.
Hudgins, John M., En. June 18, 1863, Monroe, La.
Johnston, John W., En. May 11, 1862, Monroe, La. Age 29 years.
Kinnebrew, Eugene A., En. Jan. 18, 1863, Homer, La.
Kirkpatrick, Thomas J., En. May 14, 1862, Monroe, La.
Lee, William S., En. Feb. 14, 1862, Camp Bisland. Age 35 years.
Monk, Merrell, En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Mullins, Duke W., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Mullins, John W., En. Monroe, La., May 14, 1862.
Mullins, Overton W., En. Monroe, La., May 14, 1862.
Murrell, Hugh H., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
McCasland, John B., En. Monroe, La., Dec. 20, 1862.
McKinley, Hugh B., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Nolen, Stephen, En. May 11, 1862, Monroe, La.
Palmer, John A., En. May 11, 1862, Monroe, La., 20 years of age.
Peterson, Daniel, En. May 11, 1862. Monroe, La, age 27 years.
Peterson, Nathan, En. March 10, 1863, Camp Bisland, for three years or the War
Richard, A., On Roll of Prisoners of War, C. S. A., Paroled Washington, La., June 21, 1865. Res. St. Landry Par., La.
Seth, Isaac, En. Natchitoches, La., June 2, 1863.
Sheppard, Jessee, En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Sheppard, William D., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Shockley, Mitchell L., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Simmons, A. C., En. Vicksburg, Miss., Aug. 14, 1862. Remarks: Detailed apothecary in Alexandria Hospl.
Simmons, Augustus M., En. Vicksburg, Miss., Aug. 14, 1862. Remarks: Detailed in Q. M. Dept., 28th Regt. La. Vols.
Smith, William J., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Spivey, James J., En. Monroe, La., Nov. 1, 1862.
Whitehead, Benjamin M., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Whitehead, William J., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Wilson, Jesse S., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Winn, Gennebreth, En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Winn, Robert A. M., En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Womble, James, En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1862.
Worley, John, En. Monroe, La., May 11, 1863. Age 34.
Young, Napoleon B., En. Sparta, La., July 17, 1862. Age 19.

Best Regards,

[western reb]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

Thanks Steve for posting this....good stuff.

I'll see you back in Louisiana in just a few weeks from now.

[MO-Pard]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

Just an FYI....

The men of company G, from Winn parish have been sharing information/research interally offline and will be prepped in the unit's history and our backgrounds.

Just to let everyone know we are taking FP seriously and our research as well, even if we aren't doing it on the forum.

Two weeks!

[Old Reb]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

I need one person in Company G to be Joeseph McDermott. You will need to have a bit of an Irish accent since you are from Ireland. I will tell you the future and how you married a classy French Creole lady. I can also tell you when you will die and where you will be buried and about your great great granddaughter to whom I am married. I know such things!

[Steven B]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

Here's a resource for Claiborne County.

http://www.usgwarchives.org/la/claiborn.htm

I picked Ransom Butler for my impression becuase he and I are pretty close in age. I was able to trace his family back to the Revolutinary War in just a few hours. I have the location of the family farm, the names of all his siblings, the number of slaves his father owned and his father's Revolutionary War record. Petty amazing!

[MO-Pard]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

I need one person in Company G to be Joeseph McDermott. You will need to have a bit of an Irish accent since you are from Ireland. I will tell you the future and how you married a classy French Creole lady. I can also tell you when you will die and where you will be buried and about your great great granddaughter to whom I am married. I know such things!

Tom-

I can pretty much promise you one of the lads from "G" will undertake this honored role.... Wish I could.... Was a pleasure portraying Frank Aufmuth's relative at Marmys.

Certainly encourage anyone, especially at an event of this length and magnitude, to research a persona.... it will only supplement your experience....

[Campjacksonboy]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

It seems that Col. Henry Gray had assumed command of the Brigade during the battle of Mansfield following Mouton's death and was officially promoted April 15th. But another version seemed to say he had already been serving as Brigadier before Mansfield. Lt. Col. William Walker 32 years-old by 1864 and former Winn Parish Sherrif was in command of the 28th when he was killed or mortally wounded at Mansfield...You know the internet.

What I can't figure out is if this is the right version of the story. If I need to portray Gray well I might make a good match because my beard is now as long has his. If I need to portray Walker, well I don't have a picture of him.
Thanks
Frank Aufmuth

[Steven B]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

The following research is accredited to:

Terry L. Jones,
Associate Professor of History
Northeast La. University
Department of History and Government
Monroe, LA 71209

4/14/63 Battle of Irish Bend at Franklin, La. After the battles along the Teche, the 28th followed Taylor northward, with the enemy in pursuit.

After reaching Alexandria, Banks tired of the chase and returned south. The 28th, along with most of Taylor's other infantry, stayed around Alexandria until August, at which time they returned to the Teche area. At this time, Gen. Mouton was given command of the entire Division and Col. Gray was made Brigade commander to fill the vacancy created by Mouton's promotion. Capt. William Walker, of Company K, having been promoted to lieutenant-colonel earlier, took over the regiment.(26)

MANSFIELD AND PLEASANT HILL: BANK'S RED RIVER EXPEDITION

3/3/64 Marched in review for General Taylor.
3/5/64 Brigade moved camp, but stayed in same general area.
3/8/64 Started march to Lecompte and spent day crossing Red River.
3/9/64 Marched. Camped on Gov. Overton Moore's plantation on Bayou Bouef.
3/10/64 Arrived and camped at LeCompte.
3/13/64 Gray's Brigade ordered to reinforce Walker below Fort DeRussy.
3/14/64 Marched. Camped near Evergreen at Bayou Huffpower.
3/15/64 Marched toward Natchitoches on Pipe Road. Covered 50 miles on 14th and 15th. Rested at "Lloyd's Bridge" Camped 2 - 3 miles from Bayouu Bouef.
3/16/64 Marched about 20 miles.
3/17/64 Camped at Carroll Jones' Plantation, alongside Walker's Division, and others for the conflict with Banks.

NOTE: Capt. E. P. Petty of Walkers Brigade, 17th Texas Infantry described the "Grand Skedaddle" from Bayou De Glaize from March 11th through 17th as follows, "... for five days and nights he never pulled off his over coat or shoes, but slept with all on and that he marched day and night and lived on coarse cornbread and poor beef etc., was weary and foot sore ... and our deeds etc. will be remembered for years."

3/17/64 Alexandria occupied by Union forces under General Bank's.
3/24/64 Camped 22 miles from Natchitoches.
3/30/64 Camped at Bellwood in Natchitoches parish.
4/2/64 Mouton's Division " sent down to ... stop the advance of their calvary..."
4/8/64 Confederate victory at Mansfield.
4/9/64 Draw at Pleasant Hill.
4/15/64 Col. Henry Gray promoted to Brigadier General to replace General Mouton, who died at the battle of Mansfield.
4/15/64 Major Thomas W. Pool Promoted to Colonel and takes over the command of the 28th after the death of Lt. Col Walker who died at the battle of Mansfield.
4/16/64 Richard Taylor commissioned Lt. General.
5/13/64 Bank's retreating forces burn Alexandria.

26. Poche, Louisiana Confederate, 106.

Frank,
Based on the above research by Professor Jones and the diary of Judge Poche I believe that during the retreat up the Red River Col. Gray was the Brigade Commander and Lt. Col. Walker was commanding the regiment. After the Battle of Mansfield it all changed again as a result of the casualties. I haven't found a picture of Walker.

I do like Capt. E. P. Petty's description of Taylor's retreat, the "Grand Skedaddle". Sounds like a Texian.

I hope I'm not repeating something you've already dug up yourself.

Best Regards,

[biddler165]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

Frank,
You are probably better looking than Walker, with or without the beard.

[Auld Pelty]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

I am thinking about portraying Robert Stumbling Bear or Pvt. Hiram Abiff Willson.

[Old Reb]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

Fergus,
Since Mr. Stumbling Bear will be at the event, it might not be a good idea to pretend that you are him. The last person that pretended to be him was found floating in an un-named creek up in the Indian Territory.

[Campjacksonboy]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

I guess I needed another set of eyes. Steve what you came up with goes along with what I suspected.
Thanks,
Frank Aufmuth

[Steven B]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

Col. Walker,
Just a quick note to thank you for your service to the 28th LA.

The night you took two companies out of the line and flanked the Federals was an experience I will never forget. The sight of a Federal Company with it's back to us not twenty yards away with no idea of our presence was thrilling. It reminded me of General Jacksons march around the Federal line at Chancellorsville. Company D lost our First Sergeant and my Corporal captured but they were soon exchanged.

Later that night on picket I could hear the Federals charging thru the woods firing wildly as they thought we was coming to get them again. We got them so riled up a few of them got lost for several hours. I apologize for firing on their Colonel when he came to inquire if we had them prisoner but he failed to answer my challenge and I thought it best to send him back to his camp with a shot.

Best Regards,
Pvt. Ransom Butler, 28th LA Inf., Co D (Claiborne Invicibles)

[Michael Comer]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

Actually, we weren't that riled up that night. The wild firing you refer to wasn't quite what you may think. My company, Co. F was actually on the attack against your left flank while you were hitting ours so we didn't know anything about your flanking maneuver. That was unfortunate because we and the company to our left might have been able to just sweep up that hill and take your position if we had known.

That evening, I was officer of the guard and sent out a patrol on the left flank to see if we could get some intelligence from you all and maybe grab a picket or two. I had one man very close to your lines but not quite close enough to pick up your countersign. He could hear talking and was there when rounds were made but the wind changed direction on him about that time and he was unable to hear the countersign.

Two of my men ran into your outpost on your right flank, fired on it and fell back. Unfortunately, the other three got discombobulated in the darkness and ended up wandering off too far. They actually ended up coming completely around your forces like Jeb Stuart circling the AOP and counted you and came back with reports of where everything was. We knew your entire layout and roughly how many men you had up there. So while you were on your picket post hearing that, we knew exactly where you were and had someone very close with eyes on you.

I was worried about them though since they were supposed to be back in 30 minutes and it ended up being a couple of hours. They did fire off behind your lines but that was done hoping to get some sort of response so they could fix their position. They finally hit the road and were able to orient themselves and get back to us. At the point where you you were approached it was from a concern for their safety, not knowing if you might have captured them or if they were lost and we needed to go to the next step to get them back.

So you all do get kudos for the surprise but I think we recovered nicely and were not as nervous or jumpy as you might think that evening.

[tmdreb]

Re: Company D, 28th LA

Mr. Comer,

I compliment your optimism!