The First Louisiana Special Battalion

From the little-known Filibuster Wars to the Civil War battlefield of Gaines Mill, this volume details the fascinating story of one of the Souths most colorful military units, the 1st Louisiana Special Battalion, aka Wheats Tigers. Beginning with a brief look at the Filibuster Wars (a set of military attempts to annex Latin American countries into the United States as slave states), the work takes a close look at the men who comprised Wheats Tigers: Irish immigrant ship hands, New Orleans dock workers and Filibuster veterans. Commanded by one of the greatest antebellum filibusterers, Chatham Roberdeau Wheat, the Tigers quickly distinguished themselves in battle through their almost reckless bravery, proving instrumental in Southern victories at the battles of Front Royal, Winchester and Port Republic. An in-depth look at Battle of Gaines Mill, in which Wheats Tigers suffered heavy casualties, including their commander, completes the story. Appendices provide a compiled roster of the Wheats Tigers, a look at the 1st Louisianas uniforms and a copy of Wheats report about the Battle of Manassas. Never-before-published photographs are also included.