2nd Regiment, Louisiana Infantry (Confederate)

Brief History
2nd Infantry Regiment [also called Louisiana Zouaves] was formed at Camp Moore in Tangipahoa, Louisiana, during the spring of 1861 Only 3 officers and 41 men surrendered in April, 1865. .

Another source states that this regiment was organized at Camp Walker, New Orleans on 11 May 1861, was sent first to Richmond, Virginia, and then to Yorktown. After a few months of building defenses in Yorktown, they were then moved to Williamsburg. In April of 1862, the regiment was at Lee’s Mill and was attacked there on April 16. This regiment served as part of General Howell Cobb’s brigade near Richmond at the Seven Days’ Battle, but did not see action until July at Malvern Hill, where 182 soldiers were either wounded or killed. Later that month, on July 26, the 2nd Louisiana Infantry joined in a brigade with the 1st, 9th, 10th and 11th regiments, as well as the “Coppens’ Zouave Battalion.” They fought briefly at Cedar Mountain on August 9, and were engaged in heavy fighting at the Battle of 2nd Manassas from August 28-30 of 1862. The latter battle resulted in 130 men either wounded or killed. This regiment then participated in the capture of Harper’s Ferry on September 14, fought in the Battle of Sharpsburg on September 17, and was briefly engaged at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13.

In 1863, the 2nd Louisiana Infantry fought with its brigade with General Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville on May 2, and lost more than 100 men. On June 15 they fought in the Battle of Winchester, and in July fought in the Battle of Gettysburg, participating in the attack on Culp’s Hill. The regiment fought in October at the Bristoe Station Campaign, and again at the end of November at the Mine Run Campaign.

On May 5, 1864, the 2nd Louisiana fought at the Battle of the Wilderness, then moved into the Shenandoah Valley. The other battles they fought in that year included: The Battle of Monocacy, July 9; Battle of Winchester, September 19; Battle of Fisher’s Hill, September 21-22; Battle of Cedar Creek, October 19; and the Siege of Petersburg, which lasted from the winter of 1864 to the spring of 1865.

The regiment surrendered at Appomattox Court House after the Siege, only 44 men were present. Of the 1,297 men originally part of the 2nd Louisiana Infantry, 218 men were killed, 181 died of disease, 4 died in accidents, and 88 deserted.

Companies in this Regiment with the Parishes (Counties) of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,048 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Louisiana in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Louisiana in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Louisiana, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.