Washington Battalion, Louisiana Artillery (Confederate)

Brief History
Washington Artillery Battalion was organized in 1838 and fought in the Mexican War. It then was known as the "Native American" Battery. Reogranized in 1852 as the Washington Artillery. It was mustered into Confederate service on May 26, 1861 with five companies. Company 5 was musted into Confederate Service March 6, 1862. A small number surrendered at West Point, Georgia, in mid-April, 1865.

Companies in this Regiment with the 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.


 * 1st Company – many men from Orleans Parish.
 * 2nd Company – many men from Orleans Parish.
 * 3rd Company – many men from Orleans Parish.
 * 4th Company – many men from Orleans Parish.
 * 5th Company – many men from Orleans Parish.
 * 6th Company – many men from Orleans Parish.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,840 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.