Col. William H. Parsons was already known as a hard-riding cavalryman by the time his troopers rode into northeast Louisiana in late June, 1863. On June 29, he discovered two companies of the Union 1st Arkansas Infantry, African Descent, fortified more »
In the early morning darkness of June 6, 1863, around 2a.m., Col. Hermann Lieb took his regiment of new recruits out for a reconnaissance toward the railroad depot, near Tallulah and Richmond, Louisiana. Two companies of the irritable 10th Illinois Cavalry were more »
The men in the camp of the 10th Illinois Cavalry were in an uproar. Pvt. John O’Brien was being held in the nearby camp of the 1st Mississippi Infantry, African Descent, (a Union unit despite its name). Col. Isaac F. more »
On April 14, 1863, Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas announced his appointments for officers for the 9th Louisiana Infantry, African Descent. Despite its name, this was a Union regiment. Officered by whites, the enlisted men would be black, and recruited a more »
In early April 1863, Adjutant General of the United States, Lorenzo Thomas, stopped at many of the posts along the Mississippi River and addressed the troops. His mission, authorized by the secretary of war as well as President Lincoln, was more »