8th Louisiana Infantry Regiment (African Descent)

The 8th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent) was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was composed primarily of freed or escaped slaves from Louisiana's plantations and was commanded by white officers.[1][2]

8th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent)
Active1863–1864
CountryUnited States of America
Allegiance USA
BranchUnion Army
TypeInfantry
EngagementsAmerican Civil War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Hiram Scofield

Organization

In the spring of 1863, Col. Hiram Scofield, a veteran officer in the 2nd Iowa Infantry,[3] organized the 8th Louisiana Infantry at Lake Providence, Louisiana. The new regiment was mustered into service on May 5.

Vicksburg Campaign

During the Vicksburg Campaign, the regiment was attached to the African Brigade, District of Northeast Louisiana. The brigade was led successively by Col. Isaac F. Shepard (who was under arrest at the time of the Battle of Milliken's Bend) and then Hermann Lieb (wounded June 7, 1863). Finally, Lt. Col. Charles J. Paine led the brigade as the campaign wound down.[4] Returning to Lake Providence, the regiment was engaged in a minor battle on June 9 against a small Confederate force composed of the 13th Texas Infantry Regiment and the 13th Louisiana Cavalry Battalion.[5]

The 8th Louisiana was then on routine garrison duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi, until the late winter of 1864. Then, it participated in the expedition up the Yazoo River from February 1 until March 8, and participated in the capture of Yazoo City, Mississippi, on February 4.[6]

U.S. Colored Troops

The regiment subsequently returned to Vicksburg, where it was reorganized as the 47th Regiment Infantry, United States Colored Troops on March 11.[7]

See also

References
  1. Dyer, Frederick Henry (1908). Compendium of the War of the Rebellion: Regimental Histories. New York: T. Yoseloff.
  2. United Nations Library (2006). Bibliography Of State Participation In The Civil War, 1861-1866. Martino Publishing. ISBN 1-57898-519-6.
  3. "Inventory of the Hiram Scofield Papers, 1857-1906". The Newberry Library. 2003. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  4. Bearss, Edwin, The Vicksburg Campaign, Volume III, p. 1206.
  5. Official Records, Series I, Volume XXIV, Chapter XXXVI, Part 2, p. 448.
  6. Civil War Archive
  7. "Union Regimental Histories: United States Colored Troops Infantry". The Civil War Archive. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
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