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

MAJOR C R WHEAT

Company A Walker Guards: CAPT. R A HARRIS
Company B Tiger Rifles: CAPT. A WHITE
Company C Delta Rangers: CAPT. H C GARDNER
Company D Catahoula Guerillas: CAPT. J W BUHOUP
Assigned to replace the Rough and Ready Rangers and transferred to the Washington Battalion Infantry, St Paul's Foot Rifles, Company B, on 1 October, 1861.
Company E (1st) Old Dominion Guards: CAPT. O P MILLER
Assigned as Company D to replace the Catahoula Guerillas on 1 October, 1861. Reorganised as an independent mounted infantry company on 1 September, 1862.
Company E (2nd) Wheat's Life Guard: CAPT. R G ATKINS
Assigned to the battalion on 1 September, 1861.
Unlettered Company Rough and Ready Rangers: CAPT. H Chaffin
Disbanded on 10 June, 1861, due to failure to fill its muster rolls.

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

A Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Organizations 1861–1865, by A W Bergerun, Jr.

Notes

The 1st Special Battalion Louisiana Infantry completed its organisation at Camp Moore on 6 June, 1861, with five companies. The Rough and Ready Rangers or Orleans Claiborne Guards, under the command of Captain H Chaffin, was disbanded on 10 June, 1861, due to failure to fill its muster rolls.

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