The Crescent Regiment is one of those unique, early war regiments that existed for only a short amount of time. Originally, the regiment served as one of the several Louisiana State Militia organizations, but the emergency developing in the Western Theater in the spring of 1862 necessitated a change. As units from all over the south were brought up to Corinth, the Crescent Regiment entered Confederate service for 90 days, during which the men fought in the Battle of Shiloh. After suffering nearly 130 casualties over the two days of fighting, the regiment fell back to Corinth along with the rest of the army. On June 3, 1862, the 90 day term of enlistment expired, and many of the men joined the 18th Louisiana.[1]
The author of this letter is possibly W.D. Heyer, who deserted on May 31, 1862 as the army abandoned Corinth, Mississippi. The same Heyer appears on the rolls of Company B and I of the 18th Louisiana.[2]
The New Orleans Crescent
April 17, 1862
The Battle of Shiloh
The following letter, though a private one, contains some interesting particulars of the great battle:
Headquarters Crescent Regiment,
Camp near Corinth, April 9, 1862
My Dear Aunt,
The battle is over and the victory is ours! In order to give you a full account I will commence at the beginning. On Thursday, April 3, we received orders to cook five days rations and march against the enemy near the Tennessee River. Not having any rations to cook, it did not take us long to obey the first order. We each managed to obtain five crackers a piece however, and taking our blankets, we formed in line and marched off. Camping the night in the woods, without shelter, the next morning we again set off in the midst of a terrific thunder storm, the hailstones falling as large as birds' eggs. The storm continued a great part of the day, and again we bivouacked at night in the woods, without other shelter than our blankets. During the night it rained furiously, and most of us, being too extremely fatigued to be cautious, slept in pools of water; notwithstanding, but few caught cold. Saturday night we passed in a beautiful spot of woodland, so near the enemy's camp that we could hear their drums. The next morning the pickets commenced firing. As the firing became more and more heavy, our regiment was marched within half a mile of the place where the battle was then raging, and we awaited orders to advance. About 12 o'clock the order was given and we hastened on to the fray. The enemy's dead and dying lay scattered around, and while passing their first encampments our men, being almost starved, rushed into the now deserted tents and seized on all the provisions they could find, which they devoured ravenously.
As we moved further on the cannon balls and bomb shells from the enemy's gunboats whizzed over our heads and burst in the air or carried away tops of trees. Reaching the place assigned to us we were drawn up in line of battle and ordered to lie down to avoid the balls and shells which were now pouring into us from the artillery. But a few minutes elapsed, when we were ordered to charge on the enemy, who were protecting themselves behind a fence, some cotton bales and a log house. We rushed forward and repulsed them, while their balls whistled about our ears like hail. We then fell back into line. While stationed here kneeling, with my musket ready for any emergency, a cannon ball struck the ground about twelve inches from my feet, and another struck my bayonet, passing within a few inches of my head, carrying away part of the bayonet and bending the remainder nearly double, and knocking me flat to the earth. With some difficulty I managed to unscrew the useless weapon and threw it away. Again we advanced and fired into the Federal infantry, which were being pretty badly peppered by two other regiments. At length they threw down their arms and surrendered. We took about four thousand prisoners. The enemy were now driven from their encampments, and we had now only about ten thousand of the fifty thousand, left to contend with. Our artillery and theirs again commenced, our regiment lying close on the brow of a hill, the shot and shell pouring over us occasionally killing one of us. The enemy was soon entirely routed and driven back to the boats.
We passed that night in a Yankee encampment, where we found and enjoyed all the comforts of home and provisions in abundance.
Learning that the enemy were heavily reinforced during the night, we knew another big battle would result on Monday; accordingly, our regiment marched to the support of the artillery, who were already engaged in battle. Again the shot and shell showered around us in profusion, but we were becoming accustomed to the deadly missiles and did not pay much attention to them. We kept advancing with the artillery until their ammunition, giving out, they fell back, and the enemy charged our lines furiously with their infantry; we met them half way, and the minie balls whistled about us by the thousands. Just as I had my musket at a charge bayonet, a ball struck my right hand, wounding it sufficiently to prevent my using it for one day at least; another ball struck my left food and I fell. However, I sprang up immediately on my knees and endeavored to cock my gun, but was unable. Still I kept my position in line until I saw the greater part of the regiment falling back. Thinking they were retreating, I kept my post when I saw the Sumter rifles also moving, and was told the order was given to fall back and load. I accordingly went back as fast as I was able, and got in a gutter, which protected me somewhat. I was now between the two fires, and balls fell around me in every direction. The artillery having a received a fresh supply of ammunition stood their ground, and by our united efforts we repulsed the enemy. After the retreat, one of our Lieutenants noticing my wounded condition helped me off the field, and placing me in charge of a friend to take me to the hospital. We wandered about five miles without finding any, and then taking the Monterey road traveled about five miles more, reaching that place by night. I was pretty well used up, as you may imagine. I had managed to get through those ten miles by leaning on my friend's arm, and using as a cane a Yankee's sword, which I took the previous day. I had no shelter that night, and it rained very hard.
The army was now falling back to Corinth, leaving Gen. Breckinridge's division on the field--who, I understand, drove the enemy back to their boats and fired all their encampments.
The enemy acknowledge that their loss in killed and wounded is 12,000 and 6,000 in prisoners. Our loss is about 4,000 killed and wounded.
The army was all night passing Monterey. I joined them in the morning and walked, or rather limped, to Corinth, a distance of fifteen miles, where I arrive at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, completely worn-out. My wounds are slight and I am now getting on finely.
I have spoken of the Crescent Regiment only, because it is impossible for a soldier in one to know how the others were conducted. After I left the field the Crescent Regiment made two more charges, in one of which Capt. Campbell, of our company, was killed, being shot through the heart with a minie ball. He was a fine man in every particular, a noble and brave soldier. Many a soldier shed tears when they heard of his death. There was not a finer officer in the entire regiment. Before leaving the camp for the battlefield he was offered a furlough but refused to accept it, although he was sick.
The fatigues of the march and Sunday's fight almost prostrated him. Then scarcely able to stand, on Monday he persisted in leading his men in their charge, and he fell nobly at his post. The regiment became greatly scattered, some fighting with other regiments, which I believe is always the case with men in great battles, yet the majority kept well together.
We lost in our company, the Sumter Rifles, two killed, two mortally wounded, eight wounded and two are missing--making all fourteen, which is one-fifth of our company.
If I return home, I can give you many details of the battle, which I am unable to do now on account of my injured hand, which, being not in good order, I can scarcely write at all.
Accept my best love and wishes,
Affectionately your nephew, W.D.H.[3]
Sources:
[1] Arthur W. Bergeron, JR. Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Units, 1861–1865, 131-132.
[2] Compiled Service Record of W.D. Heyer.
[3] The New Orleans Crescent, April 17, 1862.
Derrick Lindow is an author, historian, teacher, and creator of the WTCW site. His first book, published by Savas Beatie, was released in 2024. Go HERE to read more posts by Derrick and click HERE to visit his personal page. Follow Derrick on different social media platforms (Instagram and Twitter) to get more Western Theater and Kentucky Civil War Content.
Comments