Episode 5: COL Winchester Hall and the 26th Louisiana at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou

On 28 and 29 December 1862, COL Hall and the 26th Louisiana fought against General Shermans Army at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou in Mississippi, approximately 10 miles north of Vicksburg. The 26th Louisiana held a heavily entrenched line on 28 December against a two brigade attack and fought off the assault on 29 December in the center of the Confederate line. It is after this assault and while on detail that COL Hall had to threaten his men with force to restore discipline within the ranks.

Hall, Winchester. The Story of the 26th Louisiana Infantry, In the Service of the Confederate States. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo1.ark:/13960/t9f487w3q&seq=5

Local Designations of Confederate Troops. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo1.ark:/13960/t02z1t570&seq=9.

Scott, Robert N. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser.1, vol. 17, pt. 1: Reports. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1886. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077728248&view=1up&seq=3.

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Hello, my name is bill Caughlin and welcome to first person civil war podcast. Which retails the stories of the soldiers and officers on the ground, in the battles of the civil war. Episode five is entitled Colonel Winchester hall and the 26th Louisiana. At the battle of Chickasaw by you. And Winchester hall wrote the source used for this episode entitled. The story of the 26th Louisiana infantry in the service of the Confederate states. The battle of Chickasaw by you was one of the first of a series of battles in what would become the Vicksburg campaign. And the final days of 1862 general Sherman attempted an approach upon Vicksburg from the north by boat. Vicksburg at this time was the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi river. And general Sherman landed his forces in the vicinity of Chickasaw by you, Mississippi. Approximately 10 miles north of the city and attempted to take it. This was just one part of a grander operation envisioned by general grant against the city. As part of the comparatively small force facing general Sherman. Was carnal Winchester hall and his 26th Louisiana. Winchester hall worked as a partner in the law office of Bush and hall before the war began in Tibideau Louisiana. At the beginning of the war, the owner joined the Confederate army. And left hall in charge of the offices. It was not until the fall of 14 Henry and Donaldson in early February, 1862. Did Winchester hall decide to join the Confederate army? And help raise a company of infantry from the parish or county. Of love FOOSH. Winchester hall became the commander of the Allen rifles, which named itself after our H Allen. Who raised funds for the company and mustered into service on 15 March, 1862. Though the parish had already contributed to companies prior to the Allen rifles. Enough men volunteered to form yet another company during this time. With both assigned to the same regiment. The Allen rifles became company. I have the 26th Louisiana. Which completed its formation in new Orleans. On 20 April, 1862. Winchester hall and his company were part of a defensive line around new Orleans. But retreated before federal forces took the city. And without being engaged. They then embarked by train to Vicksburg, where it would stay to defend the city. Winchester hall became the commander of the 26th Louisiana on 25, November, 1862. And was assigned to Withers brigade at the battle. The 26 Louisiana arrived at Chickasaw by you on 24, December, 1862. Just two days before Sherman's men disembarked. The Confederate army arrayed along a Ridge line that faced the by you. But the 26 Louisiana would not occupy those positions. And instead skirmish with the union army for several days in vicinity of the Yazoo river. Colonel hall recounted. His orders were to annoy the gunboats repel, any attempt at landing. And dispute the enemies advance inland. Uh, 26 Louisiana did not skirmish as a whole regiment. But instead Colonel hall, detached companies from 26 to 27 December. To carry out their orders. Besides skirmishing Colonel hall ordered his men to dig rifle pits in their position. Which straddled a wagon road that went all the way to the Yazoo river. The 26 Louisiana skirmish line was in front of the Confederate center and face north toward the Yazoo river and the advancing union army. Shervin began his advance on 28 December. Which promptly pushed all of the 26 Louisiana. Skirmishers back to its main line of rifle pits. Colonel hall recounts of this first engagement. There was now nothing between the enemy and the 26th. And on, they came. I passed near each company and spoke to each a few words of cheer. The shelling was kept up and the mini balls soon began to whistle about us. But as the firing was undercover of woods, which came within 200 yards of our pits. We could have only occasional glimpses of a moving body. Therefore we fired sparingly. The 26 Louisiana remained in this position throughout the day. And faced further attacks on their right. Colonel hall continued. The enemy ran up a battery on this road. Which was the wagon road. To within about 400 yards of our line. And in plain view. About the time the guns were unlimited, we peppered them. So hotly, they retired hastily without favoring us with a single shot. The ground that became the Chickasaw by you battlefield on those two days was densely wooded and proved difficult to bring sufficient firepower to bear. As noted by Colonel hall already. But this dense foliage almost led to the flanking of the 26th Louisiana. Flanking was a common tactic. And was something that 26 Louisiana was under threat because there was no Confederate regiment to its right. Colonel hall recalled. In the early afternoon, we noted the movement in the woods on our right. It seemed to be a body of men and we opened on them. Someone cried out. They are our own men. Firing ceased without an order. I then had to determine whether it was friend or foe. After a moment of awful suspense, I decided I hardly know how. That it was a hostile line and ordered the firing kept up. All signs of them soon. Disappeared. We learned afterwards, it was two regiments in line of battle. Uh, regiment attacked on the flank has a harder time repelling such a maneuver because the weight of the regiment is facing in a different direction. And cannot adequately defend itself. In this case, the 26 Louisiana halted this flanking movement. According to union reports. These two regiments were the 69th Indiana of veteran regimens. And the 120th Ohio. Which was in his first fight. Both of these regimens belonged to Colonel Sheldon's brigade. And he reported the assault as such. In advancing amid obstacles in line of battle, the 120th became crowded together in the center. And receiving a sharp fire from the enemy for the first time. Some confusion occurred. Order was soon restored. And the regiment put into position. The contest was very sharp for about 30 minutes, both regiments putting a well-directed fire into the enemies. Entrenchments. Colonel Sheldon's brigade was a part of a two brigade assault on the 26th Louisiana. While Sheldon maneuvered on the right flank of the 26th. Colonel decor sees brigade would assault the 26th front. Colonel Sheldon continued his report. I continued to advance until reaching the edge of the Bayou. And he was still engaging the 26 Louisiana. When the enemy opened on us with shell and grape. To which we could not reply with any effect. De Coursey did not charge as I was informed, he would. And I did not deem it advisable to do so unsupported. After a contest of some 45 minutes, I retired. And just as a quick side note, it is interesting while reading reports from both sides. As to how one summarization of a length of time can be different to another. Though Colonel hall describes his defenses as rifle, pits or trenches. He gives a little more information beyond that. From the attacker's perspective, we can gather more information as to how formidable this fighting position was. Well, Colonel Sheldon spoke of obstacles on the battlefield. Colonel decor see used a better term for what they faced in front of the 26 Louisiana. we're a type of field fortification used by both sides on several battlefields in the war. Felled trees or large branches usually sharpened and placed in front of rifle. Pits provided an extra layer of protection to a unit like the 26 Louisiana. And can explain why the regiment stayed in this fighting position during the entire first day of the fight. Colonel hall stated that the 26 Louisiana was ordered to vacate the trenches by 2:00 AM on 29 December. And reported losses for the first day was one officer at six privates killed. With two more privates wounded. The regiment again, formed in the center of the line and dug shallow rifle pits with swords and bayonets. Though the union army still outnumbered the Confederates they face. The assault on 29, December, 1862 became costly. Colonel hall set of this assault. The enemy's line continued to advance. Although every weapon on our side was warm and every man was doing his best. Some approached within 50 yards of our line. But it was their last assault. Soon the line waivers and breaks and confusedly attempts to retire. The union assault on 29 December was a complete failure. And in its aftermath, the 26 Louisiana was ordered to report to general Steven Lee, the division commander for detail. Colonel hall recalls. We had hardly started when the command reached a point where a body of the enemy was in full view, only a hundred yards away. The temptation was too great for the naughty boys. They stopped without orders and savagely peppered, the blue coats. I thought it best to let them have their own way for a while. As if a part of the program of the occasion. As I feared, they might not respond to an order to move with their usual subordination. I waited a while. And when the enemy had got well out of the way. I gave the order to cease firing. Which was readily obeyed. Perhaps in view of the fact that none of their opponents were visible from that point. The 26 Louisiana had been ordered forward to take prisoners, but here we see a breakdown in the command of the regiment. And Colonel hall contributed to this by not immediately ordering a cease fire. He had to restore order to his regiment immediately. We moved out. The boys considerably rocked up. Uh, Sergeant of company, a spite of blue coat. And although the order to cease firing had been given, sent a mini ball after him. I was in the rear at the time. I ran up to the Sergeant and gave him a smart wrap on the back with the flat side of my sword. He turned round to look where the blow came from. And when he saw me. Seemed as much astonished as if a shell had stung him. I went in front. Ordered the column into line. Cocked Myra fall over and said, I would shoot the first man that would fire. In order to quiet them. I put them through the manual of arms in plain view and entirely exposed to the enemy. Colonel hall had to threaten his men with force and drilled them while under artillery range to get them back under control. Which he succeeded in doing. Doing. Ultimately the regiment returned to the line in anticipation for another assault. In 1889 and 1890. Winchester hall obtained four sworn statements from veterans of the regiment. That we're also a part of this detail. Lieutenant hazard Easton of company, a sergeant's O'Brien and Malcolm of company B. And Sergeant Hepler from company. I all substantiated the firing on union soldiers while on this detail. But seem to differ on how many men actually opened fire. All of the noncommissioned officers, corroborated Colonel hall statement of pulling out his pistol and threatening to shoot the next man in line who fired his weapon. And all agreed that the 26 Louisiana. I performed drill after this incident. The failed assault of 29, December, 1862. Prove to be the end of the battle of Chickasaw by you. And Sherman eventually left by the Yazoo river. The 26th, Louisiana marched back to Vicksburg where it participated in further operations through the first half of 1863. As an interesting note, Colonel Hall's family managed to make the trip from their home and Tibideau Louisiana. To be with him in Vicksburg because union forces had overrun, Willa, FOOSH, and surrounding parishes. Colonel hall, his family and the 26 Louisiana would stay in Vicksburg through the siege and fall to Grant's army on four July, 1863. After being paroled, Winchester hall returned to Tibideau Louisiana by late July of 1863. Winchester hall was not officially exchanged until August, 1864. And therefore cannot serve in an infantry regiment. Between that time he served as a member of a military court in Mississippi. But eventually reassume command of the 26 Louisiana on 19, April, 1865. Which officially disbanded on 19 May, 1865. Winchester hall compiled the story of the 26 Louisiana and published his book sometime in the 1890s and titled. The story of the 26 Louisiana infantry in the service of the Confederate states. You can find the link to this source on the podcast website. If you'd like to read it further. Thank you for listening to the fifth episode. The podcast continues to expand its footprint online. And then this past week now has a presence on Facebook and Instagram. Just search first person, civil war podcast, and on X at F P civil war pod. On these social media posts expect to find pictures of the authors. Or sketches of the battles. All of these links are available at first person civil war, podcast.com. Just look for the social media icons at the top of each page. Whether you are listening to the podcast on the website or through the various podcasting apps. Be sure to like comment and subscribe. And please share the podcast with your friends. My name is bill Coughlin. And thank you for listening to first person civil war podcast.