Confederate Regiments & BatteriesLouisiana


“Dreux-Rightor Battalion”

The five original companies of the battalion were the first to respond to Louisiana’s call for volunteers. Of the 545 men who served in the battalion, two men were killed and 16 men died of disease.

1861
April
Five companies were organized for one year’s service at New Orleans
  • Company A – “Louisiana Guards” – Orleans Parish
  • Company B – “Crescent Rifles, Company A” – Orleans Parish
  • Company D – “Shreveport Greys” – Caddo Parish
  • Company E – “Grivot Guards” -Terrebonne Parish
  • Company F – “Orleans Cadets” – Orleans Parish
mid-April The five companies were sent to Pensacola, Florida to become part of the 1st Louisiana Regular Regiment.
May 30 The companies arrived at Pensecola, but they turned out to not be needed for the 1st Louisiana. They were moved to Virginia and assigned to the Department of the Peninsula.
June 11
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Didier Dreux

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Didier Dreux


Organized in Richmond as the 1st Louisiana Infantry Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Didier Dreux and Major Nicholas H. Rightor. Dreux was a lawyer and member of the state legislature.
Late June Sent to join the Yorktown Garrison in the Department of the Peninsula.
July 5
Skirmish at Smith’s Farm

Lieutenant Colonel Dreux led 20 men from each company in a skirmish near Newport News. Lieutenant Colonel Dreux and an enlisted man were killed, the first Louisiana officer and possibly the first Confederate officer to die in the Civil War.

July 16 A company was transferred from the 1st Louisiana Infantry Regiment, becoming Company C.
August 16 Major Nicholas H. Rightor was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain James H. Beard was promoted to major.
December The battalion mustered 315 effectives. It was assigned to General Griffin.
1862
April 5 Skirmish near the junction of the Warwick and Yorktown roads.
mid April The enlistments of the five original companies expired but the men agreed to continue in service.
May 1 The 1st Louisiana Infantry Battalion disbanded. Company D, whose enlistments had not expired, was transferred to the 1st Louisiana Infantry Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Rightor resigned and Major Beard was transferred to the 11th Louisiana Battalion. Many of the men enlisted in a battery formed by Captain Charles E. Fenner of Company A that served in the Western Theater.