Taken from the "New Orleans Bee" but forgot to note the reference details.
The "capture" of the U. S. barracks at New Orleans, by a company of State
troops, is thus described by the Delta: On arriving at the place, the men
marching without uniform ? or any arms whatever, they found in command
an Orderly Sergeant of the United States Army, who, upon being informed
of the nature of the demand upon him, very gracefully invited our men to
walk in and make themselves perfectly at home, proffering any assistance
in his power in the way of showing the officers over the grounds and buildings, &c.
He did not deem it necessary to leave the place in consequence of the new
state of affairs, but remained as before, with all but his actual authority.
Yesterday he made an inventory of everything of any value on the premises,
and formally surrendered them to the State of Louisiana, gravely stating
that it would be mere folly in him to offer resistance "when the garrison
was outnumbered more than one hundred to one." We believe that no one will
doubt the sagacity of his conclusion. The troops had received their undress
uniform, under-clothing and shoes yesterday, but had no caps as yet; and
when drawn up in a line, there was a motley array of silk hats, slouched
tiles and glazed caps, all of which will soon be replaced by graceful Zouave
cap. of navy-blue cloth. The undress uniform is a dark blue jacket, coming
down to the hip, single-breasted, with five pelican buttons, and dark blue
pants, with a stripe of yellow cord.
The Daily Dispatch: January 22, 1861.
Letter from New Orleans.
New Orleans, April 28, 1861.
Going down Canal street this morning we met a column of over five hundred
volunteers from the country, who were marching from their camp on Metairie
Ridge to the Jackson Railroad Depot. At the head of one of the companies
(the Lafourche Volunteers) marched a young girl in bloomer costume, and
in the gray Louisiana uniform of the company. She was the Vivandiere of
the company, and although they were marching in a long swinging trot, she
led them on at the same pace. . . .
DAILY ADVOCATE [BATON ROUGE, LA], May 2, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
Creole Guards.—This excellent company, under command of Capt. Fremaux,
Lieuts. Gusman, Lewis and McGimsey, marched through our streets yesterday
evening in fine style, with fife and drums and colors flying, on their
way to Greenwell Springs, to go into encampment for the purpose of undergoing
the strictest military discipline. They will remain at the Springs until
their regiment, the Sixth, is organized and ordered to the scene of action.
The Creole's [sic] are a fine body of men, numbering about 80. They were
dressed in blue flannel trimmed with yellow, presenting quite a fine display.
DAILY ADVOCATE [BATON ROUGE, LA], May 14, 1861, p. 2, c. 1
The Ladies Volunteer Sewing Society. Too much praise cannot be awarded
the ladies of our city for the perseverance they have manifested by devoting
their time and labor in preparing the different volunteer companies that
have already gone, and are about leaving for the seat of war. Day after
day, for a month past, have they toiled with their needles, in their labor
of patriotism, and still they do not weary of well doing. The amount of
work they have accomplished is astonishing. They have made the uniforms
and entire wearing apparel of four volunteer companies. But notwithstanding
so much has been accomplished, there are a great many ladies in Baton Rouge
whose patriotism has not prompted them to come out and meet the society
in their labor—who have never devoted one minute's time to the praiseworthy
objects of this society. We are requested to appeal to the ladies of our
city to turn out en mass next week, and devote the whole of it to sewing
for our gallant volunteers. We trust that there is not a lady in town but
will feel a pleasure and a pride in doing something to promote our glorious
cause. The following is a complete list of the various articles made up
by the ladies: Pelican Rifles.—18 shirts, 16 pairs drawers, 96 pairs pants.
Total, 110. Creole Guards.—185 shirts, 148 pairs drawers, 73 pairs pants,
73 coats. Total, 429. National Guards.—131 pairs drawers, 180 shirts, 60
pairs pants, 60 coats. total, 431. Delta Rifles.—130 pieces on hand: 175
canteen covers. Total, 305. Making all together 1211 pieces.
DAILY ADVOCATE [BATON ROUGE, LA], May 26, 1861, p. 2, c. 1
With the "Crescent Blues" I am very little acquainted, and consequently
know scarcely anything of the history of the organization. The company
presents a very fine appearance, and is well drilled and orderly. Although
called the "Blues," they are so only in name, for the old uniform has been
exchanged for a suit of light gray, similar to that used by the Maryland
troops.
The Richmond (VA) Daily Dispatch: December 6, 1861.
Passing a little to the north of the last-named camp was the camp of the
Issaquah Artillery, from Louisiana. This was really a fine looking, well-uniformed
set of men. Their uniform, like all their artillery, was of light gray,
with red trimmings, their caps having a wide, red band.
The Richmond (VA) Daily Dispatch: March 4, 1862.
$50 bounty.--CrescentZouaves Battalion. Wanted--Recruits to fill up the
battalion of Crescent Zouaves, under the command of Major W. Holstered.
A bounty of fifty dollars will be paid each recruit upon enlistment. A
neat uniform of gray cloth, Zouave style, will be furnished.
The Richmond (VA) Daily Dispatch: April 12, 1862.
The Tensas Cavalry, It's Origin, Tensas Parish, Louisiana
The uniform, of which we had two suits, a dress and a fatigue. The dress was of blue cloth, trimmed with yellow. The fatigue was of gray and coarser material. Cavalry boots reaching to the knee. A gray hat, with a black ostrich feather. Each man's measure was taken and the uniforms and boots were made in New Orleans. Each man's uniform cost him $48.00..... and the presentation by the ladies of Tensas Parish of a beautiful silk flag to the Company. (That flag is now one of the relics in Memorial Hall, New Orleans.)
Tensas Gazette, 26 January 1906
Comment - Somewhere I have a description of this flag, will post it as soon as I can find it.
—————oOo—————Fournet’s command ultimately received the official designation 10th Louisiana Infantry Battalion, but it was more commonly known by its nickname, the Yellow Jackets Battalion. While it sounds as if the nickname derived from the wasp like insect known for its vicious sting, that was not the case at all. In a letter written after the war a former officer of the battalion, explained. it received the name of Yellow Jackets Battalion as most of the men were dressed with home made yellow cottonade suits.
"Louisianians in the Civil War" By Lawrence L. Hewitt.
YELLOW JACKETS BATTALION - Arthur W. Bergeron Jr. Page 51
The Pelican Guards, - Company A, Pelican Guards, which is one of our crack city companies commanded by Capt. F. A. Mader, and Company B, which is organised from it for active service as Company E of Col Ed…ton’s Battalion, under the command of Capt. James O’Hara, made a splendid show on our streets yesterday, with a fine band of music. In the morning, at their armoury, No. 12 Carondelet Street, a flag was presented to the second company by the first. The presentation fell upon Capt. F. A. Mader, and it was received by Capt. James O’Hara. The standard is a rich Confederate field flag, with the name “Pelican Guards” embroidered in gold on the white bar.
New Orleans Bee, 21 Oct 1861
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