6th Louisiana Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Louisiana

The 6th Louisiana Infantry Regiment enrolled 1,146 men during the Civil War. Of these, 219 were killed in battle, 104 died of disease, 5 were killed in accidents, 1 drownded and 1 man was executed for desertion. Over 20% of the regiment – 232 men – deserted during the war.

1861
May 23 Organized at Camp Moore near Tangipahoa under Colonel Isaac G. Seymour, Lieutenant Colonel Louis Lay, and Major Samuel James.
June 4 Mustered 916 men into Confederate Service, two companies for twelve months and eight companies for the duration. Lieutenant Colonel Lay resigned and Joseph Hanlon was elected lieutenant colonel.
June 9 -14 Companies A,D,F,H & I moved by train for Lynchburg, Virginia under Lieutenant Colonel Lay.
June 11-16 Companies B,C,E,G & K moved by train for Lynchburg under Colonel Seymour.
June 15 -18 Moved in two sections to Manassas, Virginia.
June Went into camp at Fairfax Station and
June 20 Assigned to the Second Brigade, Army of the Potomac, under Brigadier General Richard Ewell.
June 21 Moved to Fairfax Station.
July 17 Stationed at Union Mills.
July 18 The regiment’s pickets were driven in and it was withdrawn to the army’s main position behing Bull Run, burning the railroad bridge after it crossed. The regiment’s first fatality was Sergeant Francis Demaign, who was shot by friendly fire of a Mississippi regiment.
July 21
First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

The regiment was ordered to advance across Bull Run and then was to withdraw, taking no other part in the fighting.
July 23 Moved to Sangster’s Crossroads
July 25 Assigned to the Eighth Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac. Colonel I.G. Seymour took command of the brigade as senior colonel.
July 28 Moved to Camp Bienville at Centreville.
September The regiment was brigaded under Brigadier General William H.T. Walker with the 7th, 8th and 9th Louisiana Infantry Regiments and Wheat’s Battalion and was assigned to Ewell’s Division.
October Captain Tenney of Company D was mortally wounded when his pistol discharged into his stomach as his company tried to settle a drunken revel by the men. In another incident, Private John Travers murdered Private James McCormack, and four men died of disease during the month.
October 21 General Walker resigned and was replaced as brigade commander by Colonel Richard Taylor of the 9th Louisiana, who was promoted to brigadier general.
November 22 Major James resigned. Captain George W. Christie of Company G was promoted to major.
Mid-December The brigade went into winter quarters at Camp Carondelet near Manassas.
1862
March 8 The brigade was ordered to break camp to withdraw south of Manassas. The 6th Louisiana would be among the last of the army to leave and served as the rear guard.
May 9 In the reorganization Major Christie did not seek reelection. Captain Henry B. Strong of Company B was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Captain Arthur McArthur of Company C was promoted to major.
May
Shenandoah Valley Campaign

Attached to Taylor’s Louisiana Brigade of Ewell’s Division, which joined Jackson’s Army of the Valley in the Shenandoah.
May 23
Battle of Front Royal

The regiment was in reserve.
May 24
Middletown

The regiment captured two sets of colors.
May 25
First Battle of Winchester

Lieutenant Colonel Hanlon was wounded and Major Arthur McArthur was killed. Nathaniel G. Offutt was promoted to major.
June 1 Lieutenant Colonel Hanlon had to be left behind in Winchester due to his wound and was captured when the army retreated. Captain Monaghan was also captured.
June 8-9
Battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic

The regiment lost 66 men.
June 27
Battle of Gaines’ Mill

Colonel Seymour was killed. Lt. Colonel Strong was promoted to colonel and Major Offutt to lieutenant colone and Captain Monaghan of Company F (still a prisoner) to major.
August 5 Major Monaghan was exchanged and returned to the regiment.
August 29-30
Second Battle of Manassas

Colonel Strong temporarily commanded the brigade after Colonel Forno was wounded
September 1
Battle of Ox Hill (Chantilly)

Major Monaghan was wounded.
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Henry B. Strong, who was killed in fighting near the Cornfield. Lt. Colonel Offutt took over the regiment. The 6th Louisiana lost 52 men during the Maryland Campaign.
September Major Monaghan was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Joseph Hanlon to major.
November 7 Colonel Offutt resigned under charges of cowardice. Lieutenant Colonel Monaghan was promoted to colonel, Major Hanlon to lieutenant colonel, and Captain William H. Manning of Company K was promoted to major.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 12 men.
1863
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

The 6th Louisiana lost 81 men. Lt. Colonel Hanlon was captured.
June 13
Second Battle of Winchester

Hay’s Brigade circled around the west side of Winchester and assaulted the Star Fort on the northwest side of town. The 6th, 7th and 9th were in the front line with the 5th and 8th in support as the brigade stormed the fort, capturing its artillery and driving off the defenders. The regiment lost 43 men. Major Manning and Lieutenant John Orr were wounded.
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Lt. Colonel Joseph Hanlon and brought 218 men to the field. It lost 8 men killed, 32 wounded and 21 captured. Captain Louis A. Cormier was mortally wounded, and Lieutenant Jefferson D. Van Benthuysen was wounded.
November 7
Battle of Rapahannock Station

The regiment was part of two brigades defending a bridgehead on the north bank of the Rappahannock River that was overrun in a rare night attack. Over 1,600 Confederate prisoners were taken from the eight understrength regiments defending the bridgehead, with only a few men swimming across the river at their backs. Of the 1200 men of Hays’ Louisiana Brigade, 699 were captured, 89 from the 6th Louisiana.
November-December
Mine Run Campaign

A soldier who had deserted from the 6th Louisiana and joined the United States Army was captured and executed for treason.
1864
March 500 of the 699 men from the brigade captured at Rappahannock Station were exchanged and returned to duty
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness

Major Manning was captured.
May 12
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
June 1864
Early’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign

Assigned to Hays’ Brigade (Colonel William R. Peck commanding) of Brigadier General Zebulon York’s Consolidated Louisiana Brigade in Gordon’s Division of the Army of the Valley

July 1 Colonel Monaghan left on sick leave to Richmond.
July 9
Battle of Monocacy

The regiment was commanded by Lt. Colonel Joseph Hanlon, who was wounded but remained on the field. Five men were killed and two mortally wounded. Lieutenant Michael Murray of company F was killed, and Lieutenant Robert Lynn of Company E was wounded and captured.
July 23 Camped near Strasburg. The 6th Louisiana mustered 50 men.
July 24
Second Battle of Kernstown

The regiment lost 3 men killed or mortally wounded, and three others wounded.
July 27 Tore up the tracks of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad near Martinsburg.
Early August Colonel Monaghan returned to the regiment. He resumed command of the remnants of Hays’ Brigade as well, about 400 men in the remnants of five regiments.
August 25
Battle of Smithfield Crossing

Colonel Monaghan was killed.
September 19
Third Battle of Winchester
September 21-22
Battle of Fisher’s Hill
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek

Lieutenant Colonel Hanlon was captured at Strasburg.
October The ten regiments of the Louisiana brigade were reorganized as a battalion of six companies with less than 500 men, although it would continue to be referred to as a brigade. Colonel Raine Peck (at 6’3″ and 300 pounds known as “Big Peck”) was given command of the brigade.
November Consolidated with the 5th and 7th Louisiana
December The regiment left the Army of the Valley and returned to the Petersburg defences with the remnants of the Second Corps
1865
January-March
Siege of Petersburg
February 5-7
Battle of Hatcher’s Run
February 18 Colonel Peck was promoted to brigadier general and transferred to the Western Theater. Colonel Eugene Waggaman of the 10th Louisiana was given command of the brigade of 400 men
March 25
Battle of Fort Stedman
April 2
Final Assault on Petersburg
April 6
Battle of Sayler’s Creek
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The 6th Louisiana surrendered 4 officers and 48 men. The entire brigade only had 373 men.