The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1921-04-21

From the Shreveport Times of the 18th.
April Is. 1861. just sixty years ago
to-day. the Shreveport Grays, Caddo's
first company to volunteer in the Army
of the C0nfederacy, about 100 strong,
and from all vocations, left for the
front by steamboat down the Red River.
Many. women and citizens accompanied
the Boys" on the trip to New Orleans,
on board the steamer Champion. April
10th, when the company was mustered
In, it numbered LAG, eight Of the num-
Der coming from Catahoula Parish,
who. with others, formed the fifth Lou
iSiana company to be mustered into
service.
From New Orleans the company was
hurried to Pensacola, Fla, where, with
four companies from New Orleans and
the Griyot. Guards from Terrebonne,
Dreux's First Battalion, Louisiana Vol.
unteer Infantry, was organized, with
Capt j. H. Beard promoted to major.
Soon after that the battalion was sent
to Gen. Magruder. at Yorktown. Va.
Further history of the famous Dreux
Battalion and the prowess shown by
the valiant troops, is best told by Capt.
George L. Woodward, only survivor of
the Shreveport Grays. now residing In
Shreveport. Capt. Woodwa1ds story
follows:
On the 9Th of July, in skirmish,
Steve r. Hackett, a private, was killed;
also Col. Dreux. About April l, 1862.
Gen. Mcclellan began his advance up
the peninsula. The Grays, with Louis
lana Guards. Company &C" occupied
small earthwork and received their
first " baptism of fire. being shelled for
two hours from a six-gun battery. Four
companies were mustered out before
the list of May. The night Of the Sd Of
May the Yorktown lines were aban-
doned. the, Grays and Louisiana Guards,
Company &C. being the rear guard on
the Williamsburg and Newport News
road. On the 4th Of May the company
was reorganized and attached to the
9TH Louisiana Infantry. Col. Hunt late
THAT. evening assisted In checking Nc
Clellan's advance until Gen. Longstreet
arrived.
On the retreat from Williamsburg the
battalion commanded by Capt. w. II.
Moore, of the Grays. was with the
rear guard almost continuously. skirm-
fishing until Chickahoniny River was
reached, and took part In the battle OF
Seven Pines. Soon after the Louisiana.
Guards. Company c. Captain Rawlet
battalion was no more. The Grays were
kept on picke- duty along the Chick
al,oinipy River lines almost to the be-
ginning Of the seven days lighting end
ing at Malvern Hill. Had heavy skir-
mish early In June to prevent building a
bridge by the enemy across the Chick
ahominy. We're at the battles Of Saw
age Station and Malvern Hill.
After Malvern Hill the Grays were
sent to the First Louisiana Infantry,
Col. Nolan, which. with the ID. 10th,
14th and 18th regiments OF Louisiana
Volunteer Infantry, became the ID
louisiana Brigade, commanded by
Brig. Gems. Starke. Nichols and STAFF
ford. in succession. forming part Of
StOnewall JacksOn's old Division, I'd
Corps, A. n Y. Made the famous cam
paign around Pope. with the battles of
Second Manassas and Groyet0n. On
to Maryland at Harper's Ferry
| and Sharpesburg. or Antietam. where
the brigade lost practically all of It's
field officers and a heavy percentage Of
regimental and company officers and
men. the Grays losing 20 per cent of
those IN action. The career Of the
Grays from April to October. 1862. was
active and strenuous.
About October /, 1862. an order came
disbanding the Grays and Its members
attached themselves to commands from
Texas to Virginia. Promotions from
the company We're frequent-one brig
adler. some six or more cOlonels. sew
eral majors. with many staff and com
pany officers. There We're large details
to navy, ordnance, medical and other
bureaus and departments. The COM
pany had four captains, with lieute1-
ants proportionate. The captains were
j. n. Beard. George Williamson, b. L.
Moore and w. +. Moore The last off,
GERS were w. +. Moores Captain; J. 4.
I.amkin,i First Lieutenant; r. r. Gates,
Second Lieutenant L Thomas IA. Her,
Third Lieutenant.
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