- Abraham Dowden
Abraham Rinkle Dowden (
February 14 ,1839 –September 18 ,1907 ) was a minor Democratic political figure inNatchitoches Parish ,Louisiana in the late- 19th and early-20th centuries.He was the son of
Hugh Dowden , who was born in theMississippi Territory to a family of early pioneers. Abraham Dowden marriedLouisa Ann Dendy inKisatchie, Louisiana onDecember 23 ,1856 .He enlisted in Co. E,
11th Louisiana Infantry , onMay 14 ,1862 inMany, Louisiana during theAmerican Civil War . This regiment was combined with the16th Louisiana Infantry and theCrescent Regiment to form theConsolidated Crescent Regiment onNovember 3 ,1863 inSimmesport, Louisiana . Dowden rose to the rank ofsergeant during the war. The Consolidated Crescent Regiment was heavily involved in contesting Union GeneralNathaniel Banks 'Red River Campaign . At theBattle of Mansfield , Louisiana onApril 8 ,1864 , the unit took more than 175 casualties and was the only Louisiana unit to lose all three field officers in a single battle. Among the casualties were Dowden's brother-in-law, CorporalThomas J. Dendy , who was killed, and his brother, SergeantStephen Grant Dowden , who was wounded. The Consolidated Crescent Regiment surrendered with the ConfederateArmy of the Trans-Mississippi onMay 26 ,1865 . Dowden was paroled onJune 8 ,1865 and returned home to Natchitoches Parish.He became active in local politics later in life, and at the time of his death, was serving on the Natchitoches Parish
Police Jury .
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