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CSWT-08N - Wheat's Tigers
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The battalion called the Louisiana Tigers was the creation of Roberdeau Chatham Wheat, and was to
become one of the most notorious military corps ever to be raised during this conflict.
In New Orleans Wheat looked for his recruits among the Irish roustabouts and riffraff of the city.
His company was soon joined by four others and on June 9 th 1861, they were mustered into the
Confederate service as the 1 st Louisiana Special Battalion.
The battalion soon gained a fine reputation for brawling and theft!
In action finally at the First Manassas, the Tigers showed they could also fight in battle.
An English observer wrote, “Although few in number these heroic soldiers sustained every shock with
unwavering courage, and on more than one occasion dropped their rifles and rushed among the enemy
with long bowie knives.”
Wheat, brave to the point of recklessness was killed 27 th June 1862 at Gaines’ Mill. For the first time the
battalion broke and ran. With Wheat gone there was no one to keep the Tigers in hand and on 21 st August
the battalion was disbanded and its men transferred to other Louisiana regiments serving in Virginia.
The name “Louisiana Tigers” however lived on to describe the Louisiana Brigade as it fought through to
Appomattox.
Brand: John Jenkins
