The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

Seventh (Demi) Brigade, Army of the Potomac

Major C R Wheat

Major C R Wheat, commanding the 1st Special Battalion Louisiana Infantry

First Special Battalion Louisiana Infantry

Mustered in Confederate service on 6 June, 1861, and arrived at Manassas Junction on 22 June, 1861

MAJOR C R WHEAT

Company A Walker Guards: CAPT. R A HARRIS
The company was organised on 22 April, 1861.
Company B Tiger Rifles: CAPT. A WHITE
Company C Delta Rangers: CAPT. H C GARDNER
The company was organised on 28 April, 1861.
Company D Catahoula Guerrillas: CAPT. J W BUHOUP
The company was organised at Trinity, Louisiana, on 14 May, 1861, and was mustered in state service on 18 May, 1861. The company was ordered to New Orleans, Louisiana, on board the steamer E R Hart on 23 May, 1861, and arrived on 25 May, 1861. The company was originally assigned to the 8th Louisiana Infantry but was transferred on 10 June, 1861, when the Orleans Claiborne Guards failed to muster in Confederate service (See the 8th Louisiana Infantry). assigned to replace the Rough and Ready Rangers and was transferred to the Washington Battalion Infantry, Company B, on 1 October, 1861 (See the Washington Battalion Artillery).
Company E Old Dominion Guards: CAPT. O P MILLER
The company was assigned as Company D to replace the Catahoula Guerrillas on 1 October, 1861, and was reorganised as mounted infantry on 1 September, 1862.
Company F Wheat's Life Guard: CAPT. R G ATKINS
The company was organised, under the command of Captain G W Hanna, with remnants of the Orleans Claiborne Guards. Captain G W Hanna resigned shortly afterwards and was replaced by Captain R G Atkins. The company was assigned on 1 September, 1861, and was assigned as Company E (2nd) in November 1861.
Unlettered Company Rough and Ready Rangers: CAPT. H Chaffin
The company was organised at New Orleans, Louisiana, and was later known as the Orlean Claiborne Guards. The company was mustered in Confederate service on 6 June, 1861, and was disbanded on 10 June, 1861, due to failure to muster in Confederate service. Captain H Chaffin resigned and the company was reorganised as the Wheat's Life Guard, under the command of Captain G W Hanna. The company was mustered in Confederate service on 26 June, 1861, and assigned as Company E (2nd) in September 1861.

Sources

"Nevertheless, the Tiger Rifles were a spirited, daredevil company, rakish in the picturesque new Zouave uniforms. A wealthy citizen, A Keene Richards, was so taken with the Tiger spirit, that at his own expense he outfitted the Tiger Rifles. Their uniform consisted of a scarlet skull cap with long tassel, red shirts and open brown jackets and baggy trousers of blue and white striped bed ticking, tucked into white leggings."

"Shortly after Wheat and his men reached Camp Moore two more companies were assigned to him, the Rough and Ready Rangers, commanded by Captain H Chaffin and the Delta Rangers, led by Captain Henry Clay Gardener."

Gentle tiger: The gallant life of Roberdeau Wheat, by Charles L Dufour

Southern Historical Society Papers Volume 17: 'Bury me on the field, boys!' Memoir of Gen. C. R. Wheat, commander of the 'Louisiana Tiger Battalion', by Leo Wheat

A guide to Louisiana Confederate military organizations 1861–1865, by A W Bergerun, Jr.

Notes

The 1st Special Battalion Louisiana Infantry was organised at Camp Walker, near New Orleans, Louisiana, on 10 May, 1861, and was ordered to Camp Moore, near Tangipahoa, Louisiana, on 14 May, 1861. The battalion was mustered in Confederate service on 6 June, 1861, and the Delta Rangers was assigned between 8 and 9 June, 1861. The Rough and Ready Rangers, later known as the Orleans Claiborne Guards, under the command of Captain H Chaffin, was disbanded on 10 June, 1861, due to a failure to muster in Confederate service. The Catahoula Guerrillas, under the command of Captain J W Buhoup, was mustered in Confederate service for the war on 9 June, 1861, and replaced the Orleans Claiborne Guards, on 10 June, 1861. The 1st Special Battalion Louisiana Infantry was ordered to Lynchburg, Virginia, on 13 June, 1861, and arrived on 19 June, 1861. The battalion was ordered to report to Colonel P St. G Cocke at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 22 June, 1861, and was ordered to join the 4th South Carolina Infantry and the Campbell Rangers, under the command of Colonel N G Evans, at Frying Pan Church, Virginia, between 24 and 25 June, 1861. Detachments of the Catahoula Guerillas and the Tiger Rifles were engaged in a skirmish with detachments of the 5th District of Columbia Militia Battalion Infantry at Seneca Falls, Virginia, on 28 June, 1861 (See the District of Columbia militia).

On 25 July 1861, the Army of the Potomac was reorganised and the 1st Special Battalion Louisiana Infantry was assigned to the Eighth Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the temporary command of Acting Brigadier General I G Seymour, senior colonel, 6th Louisiana Infantry.

Report

REPORTS TO ADDENDUM: Series I, Volume 2, pp. 194–195
Major C R Wheat, First Special Battalion Louisiana Infantry