8th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent)

The 8th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent) was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was comprised primarily of freed or escaped slaves from Louisiana's plantations and was commanded by white officers. [cite book | last = Dyer | first = Frederick Henry | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Compendium of the War of the Rebellion: Regimental Histories | publisher = T. Yoseloff | date = 1908 | location = New York | pages = | url = http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2001.05.0146%3Achapter%3D16%3Aregiment%3DLA8 | doi = | id = | isbn = ] [cite book |author=United Nations Library |title=Bibliography Of State Participation In The Civil War, 1861-1866 |publisher=Martino Publishing |location= |year=2006 |pages= |isbn=1-57898-519-6 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=]

In the spring of 1863, Col. Hiram Scofield, a veteran officer from Iowa, organized the 8th Louisiana Infantry at Lake Providence, Louisiana. The new regiment was mustered into service on May 5.

During the Vicksburg Campaign, the regiment was attached to the African Brigade, District of Northeast Louisiana. The brigade was led successively by Col. Isaac F. Shepard (who was under arrest at the time of the Battle of Milliken's Bend) and then Hermann Lieb (wounded June 7, 1863). Finally, Lt. Col. Charles J. Paine led the brigade as the campaign wound down. [Bearss, Edwin, "The Vicksburg Campaign", Volume III, p. 1206.] Returning to Lake Providence, the regiment was engaged in a minor battle on June 9 against a small Confederate force composed of the 13th Texas Infantry Regiment and the 13th Louisiana Cavalry Battalion. ["Official Records", Series I, Volume XXIV, Chapter XXXVI, Part 2, p. 448.]

The 8th Louisiana was then on routine garrison duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi, until the late winter of 1864. Then, it participated in the expedition up the Yazoo River from February 1 until March 8, and participated in the capture of Yazoo City, Mississippi, on February 4. [ [http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unlainf.htm#8thinf Civil War Archive] ]

The regiment subsequently returned to Vicksburg, where it was reorganized as the 47th Regiment Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops on March 11. [ cite web|url=http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/uncolinf3.htm |title=Union Regimental Histories: United States Colored Troops Infantry |accessdate=2008-08-18 |work=The Civil War Archive ]

References

External links

* [http://home.nps.gov/vick/historyculture/8th-louisiana-infantry-african-descent.htm 8th Louisiana Infantry, African Descent – Vicksburg National Military Park]
* [http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unlainf.htm#8thinf Civil War Archive]